The Ride Home

The ride home took me a different route minus a small part around St Luis Potosi. It was a couple long days which was evident in my desire for long days many miles and the peace associated with new roads taking me through the mountains. I went through this high altitude pine forest region that was really neat. Much like what you would expect in the Adirondacks or some other Northern Woods. A night in Mexico, A night outside of Waco, TX and arrived in Memphis, TN...Loaded the bike and decided to drive through the night and reflect upon so much in my life now. The whole blog thing has been new and I realize that it is good to keep track of ones life and experiences. I have spent years focused on living in the moment and disregarding cameras. I think I will take mine with me more often. It is a nice way to create a connection to a past experience and share your path with others.

Trips like this really provide an opportunity to observe ones life and reevaluate. The funny thing is this will go on for a bit and no doubt lead to some clarity in direction and pursuits. I remember similar trips from my past and walking away feeling like I was really in need of making some changes in my life. Walking away from this one, I do not have that same intense feeling that came in my early to mid 20's. Being 31 I am realizing that it is up to me to make the best of my experiences while I am here. I do see some small changes and some potentially large ones but whatever happens...it won't last forever... The best I can do is embrace the moments and realize everything is impermanent. I can continue to lead a life in line with my values and remain open to the joys and the pains ahead as there will be both. Life is about balance and I am happy to have taken time to ride a motorbike around Mexico. I have made wonderful friends, who I intend to remain in contact with and can guarantee I will see them again.

The Mexican people have all been warm and friendly and not once did I feel unsafe. If you are a gossiper on "the dangerous Mexico", please stop this spreading how dangerous Mexico is. Please confine it to where you read about isolated occurrences usually associated with drugs or politics in border or resort towns. The mountains, small villages, towns and cities in Colonial Mexico are amazing and real. Traveling with the right individuals can help you be safe and research is a must. I think the real thing that can be frightening is stepping outside of ones own world and truly acknowledging that we are all one.

Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos

Several years ago I visited this orphanage with a group from the Quest Program at Bloomsburg University. It was part of a mountaineering trip to climb Orizaba. I see value in experiences that challenge oneself individually. I see it equally important to challenge yourself to observe and reflect on the social situations that can lead to a deeper sense of awareness. Spending a day visiting this orphanage allowed me to be with children who know very little of what it is like to have their very own set of loving parents. This does not mean they do not grow up with love but it does leave them with a lot of energy when anyone does show interest in them. The orphanage has a wonderful staff and it is amazing that the place is quite close to being self sufficient. They raise their own creatures for food, have recently added a greenhouse and even farm fish on site. The site is an old sugar plantation and has been modified to contain a school, student housing, staff quarters, a church and cafeteria. It was an amazing feeling to get back to this site and spend some time just being there with the children. I am especially grateful for the staff that I got to connect with while down there....Daniella & Vince. I do see putting together a trip that will include a return here but also to some of their other sites through out Mexico.

Miacatlin!

The road to Miacatlin got funny when it got dark and I felt I was in Cuernavaca for ever. Hoping to not go too far I was diligent and asking at toll booths and at gas stops along the way. It was great.... I am on a bike...turn around go back to the right direction and then get to the next one. I like that while the mexican lifestyle can certainly be fast paced, they very much follow common sense and do not act like a toll attendant in our country would...paralyzed by fear and saying "oh so sorry go through and pay toll." If I sound bitter....it is because it happens. Too many americans are paralyzed by fear and do not do what is right. They simply follow some authoritative figure or entity and lose that connectedness that comes from being present with those immediately in their path.

Toll Attendants and a Policeman got me on the right track and soon I was at the proper exit and asking at a roadside stand. We go through and she even makes a diagram. Stay to the left at the triangle she emphasizes..."Oh..I got this..." Come to the triangle only to realize this is not quite where she meant but more of a split in the road much like a roundabout but diamond shaped. Funny stuff and all I can think is I am glad it is me and we are not 6 strong riding the wrong way into oncoming traffic. A few more conversations with locals and I make it! I locate the site and the town is much bigger than I remember. Probably since the bus took us directly there. I found a local hotel and made some great friends that gave me a significant break on the room since I was heading to the orphanage. The older gentleman showed me the fruits of his labor and how he has managed the property from a dusty field to a beautiful garden. The younger gentleman, who had excellent english discussed his schooling, distances among towns in Mexico and the local ruins, caves and other sites to see around their region.

Once morning came, I made a new friend who made me the best little word map of the sequence of towns that I would come to. We did excellent considering I would say we were equally bad at the others language. It was fun though and he just helped me start my day in a good space.

The Group Parts Ways...

The group parts ways and 4 continue to Panama, 1 boarding a plane back to PA and I will travel alone for the next 2-3 days in Mexico. I realize traveling solo through Mexico can be seen as unsafe but in a way...traveling in our country can be quite dangerous as well. This was not my favorite option but to not go on a trip because of fear is not how I choose to live my life. At no point did I feel threatened while traveling through Mexico. This is just my experience and thought it is worth sharing.

I was heading to Miacatlin, a small town outside of Cuernavaca and the ride was absolutely beautiful. Many great toll roads through the mountains led me into the sprawling Cuernavaca. The mountains were spectacular as was the ride. At this point, my ipod has a dead battery and is out of service. I grown to enjoy the quietness and simplicity of earplugs, something that was new to me. This even allowed me a lot of time to pray and reflect on my life, its direction and the experiences at hand.

Orizaba, "The Mountain"

Chris and I took a nice rainy day drive with limited visibility up towards the mountain. Being at the base of an 18,000' mountain that we have each climbed before, we were curious what the other side of the mountain looked like. To climb Orizaba, you access it from the side opposite near Tlachachuca. We planned a route that brought us along steep switchbacks and kept us climbing higher and higher in elevation through small villages. A short distance you have a major city and up on the flanks of the mountain you have these quaint little settlements. Chris stopped and handed out some toys he picked up and we observed some holiday traditions of smashing pinatas and spending a Sunday with your friends and family.

We rode the bikes as far up as we could and I was the weak link. I took a bad route and got buried in the mud. Going into it, I didn't want to push the bike too hard since I would have another 1500 miles on my way out and it would be careless to make an extremely poor decision rooted around making it a bit further. As I get older, I realize, it is ok to not force things and sometimes we plant a flag, move in a direction and realize that the journey was more important than reaching the destination. I do see that in this scenario, a KLR is the bike you want and a BMW 1200 GS with street tires is not the best option. Needless to say....KLR's are solid bikes and I can see one coming to me in the next few years. It would be perfect for a trip through the northern part of mexico where you stick to the smaller roads and trails through the mountains. I am excited at the prospect of coming back to Mexico. If you are reading this and want to ride a motorike around Mexico, please let me know. I would be glad to share what I know about getting around mexico with you. Better yet I will even join you. I think I am going to plan a trip that would take a group around ruins, through the mountains and helping at several sites associated with the NPH organization.

Orizaba, "The City"

We left Huamantla for Orizaba and upon rolling into town, we stopped at the first convenient spot to get 6 bikes parked together...yep McDonalds...OK so there may have been some food consumed from the place as well...

The crew set out to get fed, find a hotel and I chose to hang out with the bikes and people watch. I saw a guy come riding through and park his cycle right over by ours. He had a BMW and was an engineer from Orizaba and we discussed bikes, travels and shared our appreciation for quality motorcycles.

The town of Orizaba was nice and served us well. We made it to see 2 movies, the Portadores & 2012. A nice escape and totally took us back home for a minute. It was nice to be at home, while being at home with mexicans in their home. They see movies just like us and eat popcorn, nachos and candy... One big difference...they do an intermission which I really liked. It lets you really settle in before you commit to buying something only to realize you wanted something else. The best part, you don't miss any of the movie.

Bridger found us the happening night club to go to. We are above with the owner and had great evening. Drank some cervesas and tequilla and just observed the mexican nightlife. Lots of rap music and the only main difference observed was there was just about all male waiters, which seemed to be a bit different from our country.

A long ride!

Our ride from San Miguel De Allende was an extremely long day and one that was better than the alternative of zooming on interstates through Mexico City. The bypasses around led us through many small established communities and some great fast moving roads with great sweeping curves and beautiful scenery. It was on this part of the trip that we had a fallen rider. Roy, in a feat of great courage and valor, single handedly swept two elder mexican women out of the way of a raging bull and upon completion of stopping on the rain slicked road, slipped on a patch of gravel and caught a pannier to the ankle. Unfortunately, this would be the winding down of his trip.

The town of Huamantla was a small town outside of La Malinche, a mountain about 14,000ft that I had climbed on a previous trip with Quest. This was the portion of the trip where typically we would begin catching glimpses of Pico de Orizaba, however due to the weather conditions, we did not have such luck. You'll notice I made some friends at our hotel and it is flattering to have mexican women ask for pictures with you...It reminded me of a portrayal of middle school where people look from a far and giggle. Funny because for all I know...they could be discussing my dirty jeans, worn and tattered appearance and ridiculously large motorcycle in comparison to what was typically seen in Mexico...Who knows...One thing for certain is I definitely want to get better at their language.