Ziuaht

This last week has been pretty amazing.  My dad and Madeline flew in and we have spent the week hanging out at a condo.  It has been incredible seeing them both.  I am very sad now though because there leaving today.  While they were here we did a lot of kicking back, went snorkling, constantly swimming in the ocean, and me and Madeline rented a jet ski.  (I tipped it).

I am now headed on the road with my backpack to hitch hike around and make an attempt on the volcano Izta southeast of Mexico City.  I am looking forward to this and taking a break from the bike.  Happy trails to all of you!

Everything is Falling Apart! And lifes good

Hello folks.  Greetings from Playa Azul.  We are still on the pacific going from beach to beach for lots of beautiful camping and riding as well.  However we are rolling and three bikes with lots of miles on them.  In the past week we have had:

a snapped frame, a broken derailer, a cracked rim, at least 8 flats, another more severley cracked rim and lots of little odds and ends.  The great thing about Mexico is the peoples ability to whip up quick repairs.  Jackie got an entire wheel with a functioning cassette and freewheel for 10 dollars, Jason got his frame welded back together in minutes for 1.50.  We are rolling good now and continue to head south.

I have developed a plan for afterword.  I have about a month to kill while I wait for Vincant to get back and catch up so I am going to hitch hike around and check inland out and climb that volcano Izta I was talking about earlier.  Im really excited to take a break from the bike.

Since the last post we have passed the states of Jalisco, Colima, and Michocan and tomorrow we pass into Guerrero.  Michocan has a beautiful undeveloped coast and the cycling is great.  Love you all.

Some strange events

On the way to Chacala my bike worked itself back out of funcionality from the crash.  I ended up stuck in this extremley small little beach town 12 KM off the hishway.  It was cool, I got a free place to camp and spent about 5 days there.  3 days into it I was sitting on the beach at my little camp and all of a sudden I here somewhat shout my name and I turn around and its Jackie from the oregon coast!  The first person I had met to bike with on the trip. I didnt even know he was on the mainland and we all of a sudden met up on this little beach way off the beatin path.  He was with another cyclist, Jason who had started in Alaska.  We all got caught up and since they were both mechanics they were able to get my bike functional and so we are now all riding together!  At least until Zihuantejo.  We are now in Salulita, this is my second time here and a much different experience.  From a family Vaction to bike tour mode you have totally different agendas.  The town is getting extremley developed and has changed dramaticcaly even in the short time it was that I was here last.  Today we are going to head south and try to blast past Puerto Vallarta.  Happy Trails to all.

South of Mazatlan so far

Hi there from Zacaluapan. I have been biking the coast the last days and it has been quite a trip. I left Mazatlan the day after the Swiss crew headed out (right after my last post). The scenery is starting to get somewhat of a beachy jungaly feel with lots and lots and lots of bugs. Im not quite gonna say its as bad as Alaska, but the no-see-ums in San Blas were loco.

I left Mazatlan to come across an extremley sketchy hotel in Villa Union 30 Km south of town. It was five dollars so I took it and quickly realized my mistake. I dont even want to repeat the whole story on my blog but the hotel was pretty much a front for some very wierd stuff going on there. I woke to a rat on the bed and was out at first light.

the next day I ended a great ride in a beautiful town called Esuinapa de Hidalgo. I found a hotel for 6 dollars there that was quite amazing for the price and had a great time with the local bike guy, he ended up being a little wierd but he had a very good heart.

Next I cruised on the toll road to Tecuela. First let me say that the toll roads are awsome. No one uses them because they are quite expensive considering the economy and they have great shoulders and are well maintained. I feel very safe when there are toll roads. I ended this day in a gorgous little town called Tecuala off the main road system and camped at the river there. It was amazing all the ways the people there were using this river. People were constantly coming in and out for soil for the garden, washing the clothes, bathing, or playing to. The familys were all very nice and extremley suprised to see a gringo passing through on a bike!

Next day I biked down a rather bland section of the toll road and lost a race with the sun forcing me to stay behind a resturaunt on the highway. Good chat with some folks there anyway.

The next day I was cruising and feeling mighty good. The sun wasnt out so I had my shirt off and the ride was beautiful cause I turned off the main road. I rolled down into a dip and was cruising pretty fast down a hill when I pack of dogs began the usual chase and bark at the bike routine. Let me say that these dogs are not like the ones in America. No ones petting them and loving them, there work dogs on a ranchero. I got really scared and picked up the speed. One of them tried to head me off and I hit him dead on stopping me. I flew over the bars and hit my head first (cant tell you how glad I am to have had a helmet…wear one). I also hit my kneew pretty hard and got 2 very deep cuts but overall considering the speed I was going I got very lucky. I doctored and treated my wounds while everyone just started at me and then hit the road kind of shookin up. It became quite evident that my derailer (device for shifting) was not functioning at all and my bike was really acting up. I stopped and tried to fix it but had to hitch hike the remaing 12 KM to San Blas. When I got there the guy dropped me off at a bike shop and the man looked at it and we both could see it was bent way out, in the US this would have been a for sure “you need a new one problem”. The man put my derailer in a vice grip and bent it straight making it function nicely. He also fashioned me a pin for my trailer that I had lost and ghetto rigged with a spoke. When I asked him how much he said go down the street and by me a coke. Great man.

San Blas. Lovely little town with a visible mix of fisherman, ex-patriots, and happy people. It is a truly beautiful spot. I spent my first night there with a man from Bend named Brett. He knew the school that I went to (MBA) and we hit it off really quick and had a fun night out. The next day he talked me into fishing with him. He knew a guy that had a really nice boat and was a big game fisherman. This is a little out of my thing but I was willing to try something new and I paid 30 dollars for what should have cost 600. We went like 20 miles off shore and didnt find anything but had a great time being out to see and joking around none the less. I spent this night at the beach in San Blas trying to make up for the thirty dollars from fishing. Eatin alive by bugs.

And now I am hear in zacaluapan. I am going to camp tonight in chacala and I have an easy 45 KM ride tomorrow to the lovely Salulita just north of Puerta Vallerta. I am excited to go back there. I just went this spring with Mom, Jon, and Madeline and we had an incredible time. Yes mom, Ill call you from there, eating one of roberts pastries!

Love You all,

Adios