Follow me as i braaaap and cook around the world!!!!

DAY- 18<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
11/22/2011<o></o>
Woke up at Bills house where he let me camp, after fixing the bike we had victory tacos and beers in town. I then went into town due to the time of day I decided to stay one more day in good old Sayulita. I got a cheap hostel with safe parking dropped all my gear and went for a test ride on the bike into pv for a few things from autozone and Walmart. She ran great a lot of power now felt great. I really think it must have been my spark plug. I met up with two other riders when I got back to the hostel a guy on a gs1200 from AZ and a guy Quinn from Montreal on a XR650. Quinn is sticking around waiting to meet up with his parents in pv for a week, and AZ and I are heading south Tomorrow together. We went out for way to many drinks and had a blast trading stories, saw Bill again he stopped by for a few mins. <o></o>
Day- 17<o></o>
11-21-2011<o></o>
WHERES HE GOING...NOWHERE!! HAHAHA <o></o>
I got all packed up started the bike moved it to the street, loaded her up said good bye to my new friends Deigo and Lulu and left. I made it about 1.5 blocks and she turned off. I messed with it for awhile and could only get her to run with the choke all the way on. I made it slowly into town and went to get coffee and internet. Did some research and also wrote my friend bill from Advrider.com an email. He came over to where I was parked with in 30mins. We messed with it for a bit and came to relize that it wasn't a quick easy fix. So we putted up to his house where I setup a tent in his yard through some pesos to his landlord for letting me stay and stripped my bike. He went to the the beach with his family and we will meet up to take apart the carb around 5ish once it starts to cool down. He has a nice clean Garage with good light to work in. No point to be bummed wouldn't do anby good, so I am going to go for a swim and get a taco and just laugh. There would be must worse places to be stuck in. hahaha Update soon fingers crossed <o></o>
relaxing <o></o>
DAY-16<o></o>
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11/20/2011<o></o>
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Woke up ready to leave, walked into town very hot and tried to get internet and coffee. Ordered Coffee and got the interenet Key, the coffee never c ame so I left with out paying just using the internet for 30 minutes. On the way back I stopped and had these amazing goat tacos that came from a goat stew, fucking epic!!! Great Breakfast!!<o></o>
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I walked back to the camp and started to pack up got everything packed sitting on the ground started taking down the tent. Stopped walked over to my new friends Lulu and Deigo (he rides a ktm 300 rad guy very interest in my trip and generous to help ). Asked them if it would be just as busy today as it will be tomorrow, due to being end of the holiday. They said it would be, but the way I am going should not be a problem. So I quickly changed my mind and resetup my tent and threw my gear into it. Paid for another night and went for a swim. Ate awesome goat stew tacos that were on point! And cheap! Then ended up drinking to much with my new friends on the beach.<o></o>
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DAY 15- <o></o>
Day- 15<o></o>
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11/19/2011<o></o>
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Woke up around 6:30 and slowly started to get ready. We didn&#8217;t get back to the taco joint for breakfast till 9am, and the breakfast was awesome as well, deep friend chips, covered in queso and Feta, scrambled eggs, Beans, and fresh HOT torillas-(Ranchero). We heded out of town like Bandits, fucking flying passing cars as if we were running liter bikes, so much fun and beautiful. From the beach up into a mountain pass and then blasting back onto the beach. So much fun we rode hard and then bam damn ol traffic. (It&#8217;s a holiday this weekend so everyones on the coast) We past most until we hit a town and was stuck in hot dead moving traffic, he tried to take us on short cut but ended up bouncing down a sidewalk and slamming into/ over a little wall. We busted back out of town and headed making good time. He jumped around a bus in town which didn&#8217;t make the bus driver happy so he swerved trying to swipe him, and then he missed a biker but just a few inches at an intersection. We stopped at a gas staion filled up made plan if we get seperated by traffic we would meet in Sayulita. I got to Sayulita a little behind him and he was no where to be found made a few laps and could not find him. Stopped walked around thought I saw him ran back to the bike jumped on and chased after. Nope nobdy on a bike, went back to the highway got on and started heading toward PV, about 10k down the road wasn&#8217;t really feeling it and wanted just to relax no need to push down the coast if I do have to. So I headed back to Sayulita looked some more and gave up got an expensive camp spot (90 pesos) (8 bucks)-again holiday weekend and it was packed. I just ate 2 delicious tacos and will walk back to camp. I hope I will ride again with my friend, very fun to ride with.. Oh well shit happens. <o></o>
I got an message on Advrider.com that a guy Bill from Steam Boat lives here In sayulita and wanted to meet up if I came through. So I wrote him that I was there and was down to meet up. He told me 9:30 at the center of town under gazabo. I thought I had missed him and waited till about 9:45 and he showed up smiling. We sat and drank two beers each in the center, which he bought for us (very rad). Awesome to talk to another adventure rider who had ridden in Mexico, he gave me a lot of awesome tips and heads up. I learned a lot from him from the police to the food, what to do if pulled over what not, what to eat what not. Was a very friendly guy and very willling and wanting to help. I kinda of cut it short due to having to pee again in 5 minutes from drinking a lot all day. Got back to my tent by way of awesome pork tacos which was slow cooked like gyros. Then I promptly passed out cold. <o></o>
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DAY 14- <o></o>
Day-14<o></o>
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11/18/2011<o></o>
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Was all over the place last night trying to get comfy while sleeping in a movie theater type chair, finally ended up on the ground which worked great and saved me 50bucks. I was up around 5:30 watched the sunrise on the ocean with no land mass in view, just a couple of Sailboats. We had parked the bikes on the bottom level so we were the last to go to the lower decks ot move our bikes/ cars other than truckers. We finally got to go to our bikes I was praying mine didn&#8217;t fall over or else it would of smashed into the side of a Mustang hahaha. I packed up my bike as quickly as I could trying to get out of there before headache began from everyones exhaust just running waiting in line to get up ramp and out of boat. I got myself out relatively quickly and waited for my new friend (still can&#8217;t remember his name poland.<o></o>
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We headed right out of town , it was getting to be a hot day we didn&#8217;t really start riding away from ferry till almost noon. We stopped a couple of times for water, more then I usually do but it was nice to ride with someone else. He rode like a racer in and out of cars passing fast and constantly which I enjoy so we chased each other down the Pacific coast taking the 15 not toll road. We arrived at San Blas around 4 and very hungery and thirsty. We tried to ask a couple of people where to eat and all locals kept sending us to McDonalds.. no thanks. We finally chose a place to eat which turned out to be AWESOME!! I ate a lot, I had a Marlin Burrito, and three Carneasada Tacos and washed it down with two beers. It was 100 pesos each with tip, 8 bucks and I was full for the night. We headed toward Stoners Surf Camp, $4 camping, we hung out with 3 German kids, one Mexican guy who was working, and two Mexican Girls . We ended up drinking a lot of beers, the table was covered in empties and my flask was out of Tequila so I went to bed. <o></o>
DAY 13- FERRY!!!!! <o></o>
I woke up talked with a nice English girl for awhile about our trips we were on. I moved my bike to the front entrance and packed her up. I got directions and headed to the ferry port early around 9:30 (my ferry wasn&#8217;t until 6pm but I had lot to do). I got there and got my Permit for my bike with little trouble had to get extra copies made and then $444.00 later I was done, although $400 was a deposit that I will get back when I leave Mexico with the Bike intact. I met two other bikers one from England on a 1200GS BMW and a lady from Austalia on a KTM 640 enduro. Very nice, they both were doing there own spin of a RTW on there bikes in for the long haul. He had flown in and headed to AK then zigzagged through Canada and then finished by hitting every state in the US. Very nice people. After I had received my ticket and permit (ticket was 1700 peso- for bike and myself), I headed back to La Plaz. I headed through Centro and got lost found a Yamaha shop looking for Chain Lube. They were out but did have oil so I grabbed another quart, the mechanic tried to give me instructions to shop for lube but to no good. So he gave up grabbed his helmet and with a smile on his face went for a spin and showed me first hand where the shop was. It was out we just laughed and tried the next, they were out too. After they were done making fun of me for riding an Ugly KLR, he got his mechanic to give me a bottle and let me spray my chain for free. My new friend who had shown me the way headed out. <o></o>
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I headed back toward the Center after getting lost for a second I figured it out with help of gas and directions. I parked my bike and headed toward my new favorite taco stand for a coke and 4 fish/ shrimp tacos for 5 bucks. After this I went and sat on a stage near the street people watched and relaxed in the shade. I then headed down the street stopped in a popular Icecream shack and had a delicious banana Ice Cream cone. Headed back to the bike jumped on and headed out of town back toward the ferry. I stopped about 100 yards from the entrance of the check point to get out my ticket and permit. I did it again&#8230; had the bike on center stand and left the kick stand down, so when the bike came off the center stand it hit the kick stand and wooops there I go. The bike was to heavy for my right leg and I slowly let it down to the ground. I tried to pick it up three times (I could of if I had no choice but it would of hurt a lot!!). Instead I looked up at a guy who was watching me and hitch hiking, looked at him as he stared and waved his ass over to help me out. With a little fight we were able to wrestle the bike up . I crossed the permit check point with ease. I stopped and started talking to a very nice guy who was new a little english. We talked for a while then moved over to the shade. He had 6 kids and lived in Mexico City and once a month made runs over to Baja taking packages from Mexico City to Baja. He then let me follow him over to the line up where we hung out and waited till we were called to load. After he left I was hanging out with funny Mexicans who didn&#8217;t speak English and my shitty Spanish we spoke with our hands and actions very funny. Right before I loaded up a guy riding a 08 KLR650 rolled up and was like your from Colorado me too. Well then I realized he saw my Colorado Freeskier.com sticker from the front. <o></o>
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Nice guy we hung out for another 5 mins before we were waved onto the boat, we went down a few levels and found a nice place to park. He new the deal setup the right way and strapped his bike down. I was sent to the wrong place and didn&#8217;t have a great place to strap it down and was on bad angle. So I just found a pole leaned it against ans strapped it to the pole then strapped it to the floor.. (Fingers crossed hope it makes it the night or else it will be in the side of a Mustang). We were tieing the bikes up when all of a sudden he walked over in a daze and blood was flowing from his head. He had smashed his head on the the stairs tieing his bike down. He was fine but was bleeding pretty good. That&#8217;s when I found that Nazil spray slows the bleeding quickly. I found a safe seat to keep all my crap in, he joined after shower. We had a bunch of beer and a free dinner (included). Talked a lot about where our planned routes were, and how this trip hadn&#8217;t seemed real up until now. He is a lawyer and Motorcycle racer from Denver. Good night now!!!.<o></o>
DAY 12 <o></o>
Lots of goodbyes yesterday to Dan and friends. Last night just hungout with Jason for the last time in a year or so. I will def miss that man, a very close friend. I then said goodbye today after changing the oil filter. I then drove back out to Mary's house to get my camera which I left. I got on the highway and headed toward La Plaz. I was heading out and had to get through a Military Check Point, they were waving everyone through. I stopped at the gaurd, he asked if I was an American I said yes and he told me I had to pull over and get checked.. hahaha. I did and the next guy asked me what I head in my left Mannier I told him clothes and camping gear, he waved me through. <o></o>
I was heading into La plaz from Todo Santos, about 10k from town on the highway. All of a sudden I hear Fletch! Hey Fletch! I look to my right and there is Bret a friend from seattle who I met down here on his dirtbikes. We pulled over he was on his way to get his wife who flew in. His buddy who had driven down with him had broken his ribs and had to fly home. He was able to give me a quart of oil for my bike and wouldn't take any money, which was awesome of him. Then we went on our way. I recieved my first gas dontaion today on Paypal which was awesome and amazing. <o></o>
DAY 9-11 <o></o>
After a nice relaxing morning we packed up and head out to find where Jason V. was staying. We rode toward Todo Santos and right before arriving we headed left down a dirt road for about one klik. He was staying in hios own personal compound, very nice and on the beach. We just relaxed and unwound from the wedding and for me the long drive staright full throttle from Crested Butte, CO. We ate good food and drank good beer. Nothing crazy happened except jason turned his rental Nissan into a rally car and scared the crap out of Dan many times very very funny. We must of hit a water hole in the dirt road down 70mph.. SO SO FUNNY!!! He loved the Ebrake on everyturn. Woke up one mornign after heavy rain and wind and found my bike had sunk into the wet gravel and fell into trees breaking the windshield in half, ducktape and where ready to go.<o></o>
DAY 7-9 <o></o>
Day 7-<o></o>
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I woke up around 6:30 ready for action packed my bike , got a car moved so I could squezee out. I jumped across the street to the gas station. I got 80 pesos of gas and had my money all together, wen tot pay with a 200 and he turned around hten back around with a 20 in his hands. Saying I hadn&#8217;t gave him enough have a sleep I gave him more and when I left I relized he had just scammed me I had given him a 200 &#8230;well played scammed me for 16 bucks&#8230;It took me 2.5 hours to get to Todo Santos for the wedding from Laz Paz, took over 1.5 hrs to stop getting loss and get on the right road and then less then an hour to get here.. I finally made it didn&#8217;t know where to go but knew Mary and Allisons friend owned a surf camp so I stopped talked with him checked my email and found out everything I needed to know. Pulled up right before 11 and ran into all of my friends with beer and tequilla heading for the beach. Quickly threw my gear in Dans place and met them at the beach for beerfast. Hung out on the beach till 2 eating tacos and drinking beers. We got ready and headed to the surf Colonel for the wedding. Beautiful wedding.<o></o>
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Wont let me post any pics at all!!!!

Use smugmug or photobucket and you can post all the pics you like. I would like to see 'em too!

BAJA!!!! HEADING TO THE WEDDING.. WILL I MAKE IT IN TIME!!!

MY
HEADING DOWN BAJA MAKING GOOD TIP STOP FOR AMAZING BREAKFAST HERE, JUST ONE LADY WORKING IN THE BACK OF THE TRAILER WHIPPING UP AWESOME BREAKFAST/LUNCH FOR ME.

FIRST OF MANY FLATS.. WAS FLYING UP THIS TWISTY MOUNTAIN ROAD WHEN MY BACK STARTED TO FLY ALL OVER THE PLACE LIKE I HAD HIT ICE. HELD ONTO IT, SLOWED ADN GOT IT TO A FLATISH DIRT SPOT OFF OF THE ROAD. I JUMPED RIGHT INTO IT GOT IT ON THE CENTER STAND AND PUT MY BAGS ON THE BARS SO THE TIRE WAS OFF OF THE GROUND JUST ENOUGH.

EXPLODED THIS TUBE NO PATCH FOR THIS ONE... THANK YOU VERY BIG STAPLE.....HAHAHA



THIS IS FRED WE MET OUTSIDE OF NEGRO AT DUSK AND RODE IN TOGETHER AND FOUND A CHEAP HOTEL, HE IS FROM HOLLAND GOING TO BELIZE TO VISIT FRIENDS. WE BOTH GOT STUCK ON A 250KM STRETCH OF ROAD WITH OUT SERVICES.. NO CHOICE PUT HEAD DOWN AND BURY THE THOTTLE.. SECOND DAY ON IN MEXICO I CATCH A FLAT AND HAVE TO BREAK THE BIG RULE OF RIDING AT NIGHT.. LUCKLY I RAN INTO FRED..

YIPPPEEEEE.. ON THE ROAD AGAIN MAKING GOOD TIME DOWN THE EAST COAST NOW!!!!

RODE OVER 800KM'S TODAY TO LA PLAZ.

MADE IT!!! 4 HOURS TO SPARE... HAHAHA TODO SANTOS

GOODBYE!!! BAJA THAT WAS EPIC WILL COME BACK AND RIDE YOU ON A DIRTBIKE NEXT TIME!!!!

Day-18<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
11/22/2011<o></o>
Woke up cleaned the bike and put her back together. I didn’t leave until 12 not enough time to make it to next destination so I found a cheap hostel and took the gear off and ran the bike To PV for a test ride. She ran awesome, when I got back there were two other adventure bikes at the hsotel. Quinn and David, we went out for way to many shitty expensive Margaritas and beers. Great stories and friends, david hit a moose in AK and broke his wrist totalling his bike. Got a new bmw and robd back to AZ with a broke Wrist.

DAY-19<o></o>
11/23/2011<o></o>
Was pretty slow getting going this morning, Finally got out of there around 9ish As we were leaving the hostel we had to get our bikes from the back which meant we had to drop down this little dirt alley to the main road. I got out last and headed down the dirt and a fucking Jeep started heading up not stopping so I started sliding right toward her last second hit the gas and peel around her stil don’t know how my bags didn’t swipe the side of her car. We headed toward PV and I returned some stuff too Auto Zone. Half way through town my foot peg gave and swung down only on one bolt. I rode like that through PV got to the other side stopped at a gasstation and asked a cop where a hardware store was. We were litteraly right next it, so the old one had stripped out bad. So the plan was to grab a standard size one and rethread it into it. No luck small one was just a little to small and the larger one was too big. I was going to need a bead put on it or…….. I grabbed the smaller one and shoved it in then wrapped the fucker in duck tape so now It acts like a safety pin. I will get it welded when I get to andreas house. We swept up the road going from beach up into the mountains had lunch which was goat stew (awesome). David is a fast fun guy to ride with. I thought I was going to run out of gas which was fine have reserve then I have more reserve. Bike did great getting over 40mpg. We pulled into Barra De Navidad and decided to get a room and wake up early. We went split a 26 dollar room and headed in to town for beer and food. It was okay nothing special. Skyped and phoned a lot of people. Now we wake up 630 and ride…<o></o>
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DAY 20-<o></o>
11/24/2011 TURKEY DAY<o></o>
We had been warned that we were heading into sketchy area, Slept outside of the first sketchy town. Woke up early this morning and started crushing some miles. We had to pass around one city and the toll road was 109 peso’s 9 bucks!!!! The road was amazing super twisty for miles and miles like over 150miles of twisties hard sharp fast twisties. We rode around 400ish miles. We saw some of the most amazing sights. There were many animals in the roads, roosters, lizards (big), Dead Bull , dogs (dead and alive), and lots and lots of Butterflies. We stopped and ate a pretty big flavorless lunch/ breakfast. Then just kept crushing miles trying to get through, although we didn’t feel it to be sketchy or bad, just beatiful and peaceful. LOTS AND LOTS OF SPEEDBUMPS!! I went flying then skidding through a military check point they were not impressed, hahaha. We were holding around 75mph slowed down real quiick when we came upon construction road was on it for a while then finally it opened up to a nice road we started going again then every bridge had super big lips on the and off the bridge so you were gapping onto then and dropping off of them. I was following David when we came onto another long bridge we were moving pretty quickly, then with out warning the road/ bridge just dropped off we gapped down a few feet landed onto a small dirt hill then the road had collapsed on either side down into a pretty deep gully other hten than lane that shot across we barely made it onto it and luckly no cars coming or else it would have been all bad. We each almost got hit a couple of times by cars, they don’t really look for motorcycles or cars for the matter they just hit the gas and go. They pass a lot on blind hills and turns, very scary to come around a blind turn or hill and there is a car in ur lane heading your way. We finally made it to our destination last Night Z------ outside of Acopoco and slept for the night. We hiked around got lost and then a 8 year old took us down the street to find delicous tacos we were so hungry and they were so good we each had 9 little tacos for our thanksgiving dinner with rice milk. We then made it back to our hotel and skyped our families to say HAPPY TURKEY DAY…<o></o>
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Day 21-<o></o>
11/25/2011<o></o>
Today we woke up and got riding very quickly, we wanted to get to and through Acopoco by 2pm. We started laying tracks as David says, we were whipping through the turns and straight aways.. I did it again I blasted past cops all day but nobody cared. We just rode hard today head down and ripped. We were on the road David rode up asking if I wanted to stop, yup rubbed the belly wanted food. He pointed backwards which I didn’t see and I pointed forward and pinned it. We found a little town 5mins away, pulled in. Found a place to eat and just ordered whatever they were serving, which was Pollo (chicken leg) with a deep brown spicy sauce, rice, tortillas, and veggies. Perfect we hung out ate and relaxed. We got on the road again, making miles pulling into Acopoco I new it was going to be busy and stressful. I hate cities and traffic and it was both to the max. THANK YOU JASON VERNON!!! Davids GPS was no good in cities wrong maps, the GPS Jason gave me for my Bday was the best!! There were no signs at all just followed the GPS through a sea of Blue and White VW Bugs. Walking speed traffic up hill, bikes are getting hot, were just dripping in sweat, and constantly getting cut off or pushed to the side. Finally we started getting out of traffic and then every 10 meters there were huge speed bumps, if we hit one we hit three hundred of them today. We finally got back in the open space no traffic flying, and I come up on a bus. I am stuck behind it for 5 mins finally see some room to make a pass as I pull out the bus does a Nascar move and slams the bus into the left lane right out in front of me cutting me off almost taking out my front tire, like with in a half an inch or less. Then he did his pass and I was able to pass him and the slower truck in front of him.I know every single person in that bus smashed their heades when he swung out… hahaha.. Today was the first day I finally felt comfortable on the bike me and the bike were flying all day slaying the turns hard. We found an okay town to stop and stay at. Hotel was kind of expesive for such a crap hole. Beds were foam on top of cement slabs, no hot water, shower drain didn’t work just flooded the bathroom, but still was only $12 each. We went in search of food, and found my favorite. Looks like Gyro meat spinning on open flame and they just cut a little bit off at a time with a bit of Pineapple, called Taco Pastor- AWESOME!!! We both had 10 small tacos each and two beers for 5 bucks each!! So awesome!!!! <o></o>
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DAY 22- <o></o>
11/26/2011<o></o>
We woke up this morning could not find a bank, David loaned me 500 pesos for the day. We got gas and started laying tracks hard. We were nailing the turns all day throwing down, chasing each other, past a couple of cops who could careless. We went through a military check point, at first he was waving us to pull over, when neither one of us did he just waved us on. We got lost pretty quick in one town you can’t trust any of the road signs. We have been on mexico 200 but every sign that points off of it to a different town is Mexico 200 too. We followed one sign to Puerto Escondido instead of going to Centro and ended up on a dirt gnarly road that dead ended. I busted out the GPS and got us on the right road again. We hit so many Speed bumps over 200 hundred easly today. Right before lunch I was following David and he hit one no signs going 70mph wamwam… We stopped and a nice lady made us lunch four awesome tacos and a coke each, 69 pesos for both of us!! We started going and again lots of speed bumps, finally started to clear up straight clean road. All of a sudden “crap!” speed bump in the shade to late pin it!!! Wamwam 70mph that hurt, sorry bike. We cruised pretty fast dropping KM’s all the way. We got to Puerto Escondido very quickly pulled into the main beach area, pulled back out onto the road to many people not that awesome. We headed out oftown by 1 km, dropped back into another beach where the waves were huge and pumping. We rode through the town stopped to figure out where to stay, we were right in front of a cool hostel. Yup that will work 80 pesos a night I am in. We are hanging out here for the night and I wil meet up with Andrea and kye Tomorrow and stay with them. I needed cash and Internet so we jumped on the bikes and headed into town I was leading we came upon a transit cop ( I have been told not to look at them and just plain dumb gringo and ride by). Well he shot his wistle at me I thought he wanted me to pull over for speeding so I just kept going straight he was waving at me and walking toward me I just kept going. David got stuck with him in the road I thought for sure he just got a ticket and had to pay him off, I waited and waited nothing so I went to the bank. David pulled up right as I parked, Ticket? Nope he just wanted us to go out another exit… oooops.. haha no harm no foul. We then went out to dinner, I am on a tight budget Davids not. I was looking for cheap tacos, He finally was like lets go get grilled whole snapper, my treat it has been a blast riding with you the past couple of days… I fought it for a while, wasn’t going to win okay…It was an awesome dinner they just grab a fesh snapper throw it on the grill and send it out with Potatoes, salsa, and Tortilla’s. Thanks again David!!! Went back to the hostel had a few beers and played pool. Really cool hostel Mark and Louis started it about a year ago, they are both from Mexico City, Mark lived in Italy for 6 years. <o></o>
DAY 23-<o></o>
11/27/2011<o></o>
We woke up, I was planning on going to Andria’s house tonight to sleep and stay but the hostel has been nice to meet new people and is cheap ($6) a night.. I then finally got in contact with Andria and she road down on her moped with her son Kia. I sorry that sweet house and they showed me around to one of the surf breaks answered a bunch of questions. David had changed to a nicer hotel, so I got back to the hostel and was just chilling for awhile. All of a sudden I thought I heard my name “no”, then again “naw”, and then the Hostel owner Mark was like Fletch you have friends. I turned around and it was my Belguim Friends in there 4x4 van, I met them a week or two ago. They are driving from AK to South America, we started talking and what do you know they had just ran into my riding friend from Poland he was here who I had lost in Sayulita. I jumped into their van and we went and found him. HAHAHA.. That night we met up with a group of us for dinner, 7 guys riding motorcycles and a couple driving a van all heading toward South or Central America. I met a really cool group of friends Yullia from Germany, two really rad guys from Israel and a very nice Girl from Norway.. We had a few beers and play Janga. <o></o>
DAY 24-<o></o>
11/28/2011<o></o>
Woke up today with a mission find a nice cheap place to learn spanish for a week or so. Nope $170-$220 for five days….I was bumbed I really didn’t want to spend that much, because I new there were full week classes, sleeping and they feed you for $100 a week in Guatemala. I was talking to Andria and of course she new someone who taught at one of the schools I looked at but would do it out of her house for cheaper. So after we talked for a while we decided on $80 bucks a week for 2hours a night, I start tomorrow. Andrea and I rode around town on my bike she was showing me all the spots, and we found a surf board I could use or one I ould rent right on the beach. I am meeting her and Kia tomorrow to go surfing around 4pm then onto spanish classes. <o></o>
Went out for beer with an Argentina fellow who had nothing but awesome advice of where to go and what to do while in South America. <o></o>
DAY -25<o></o>
11/29/2011<o></o>
Woke up, went and had some coffee and internet. Walked around for awhile and heded back to the hostel. I ran into my friend/ owner Mark who asked if I wanted to go see his welding friend about my foot peg issue. We headed into Escondido Centro and got off the bikes and walked into an open style garage. Talked to the owner, Marks friend. I decided to say screw it and get both Footpeg bases welding to the fram and centerstand. I am used to seeing people use a torch style welder and lay beads. This guy used some type of electric clamps which held a piece of metal of type and layed a bead on my bike. Very solid, as we were standing there Mark starting telling me a story about the guy welding how he had fallen off a building and landing on a metal pole sticking straight up . The guy pulled up his shirt and had a gnarly scar from his stomach to his ribs. Suppesedly he landed on the metal on his thigh and it went up through his stoamch popped out under his rib cage. One in a million to be alive.. He only charged me 13 bucks to weld my bike, I was happy I never had to deal with it again..knock on wood so gave him a nice tip which he was very surpised by. Rode back to the hostel, made a sandwich and headed back to town to get a rash guard for surfing. Mark is letting me rent a surfboard from him for the week for less then 5 bucks a day compared to all the shops here which is 14 bucks a day. <o></o>
I grabbed the surfboard and headed up the beach toward the “smaller waves” yeah right!!! After walking 30 minutes up the bach, saw the waves there were sets coming in 6-10+ feet tall. Seth would have been pumped.. I watched a guy who had been caught stealing a tourist bag run from the cops, instead of going into the woods he ran for the WATER..hahaha after 1.5 hours of circling this guy on a jetski they finally got him to the beach arrested him got the bag back and took him away.. I was waiting for Andrea and finally just went for it… Was having no luck just getting dragged out do to the Riptide. I was getting out when I saw my friend Martin from Argentina . We talked for awhile and then he took me out surfing. I tried to catch a few wave and did but got wrecked. I was about to catch another one that Martin was yelling to paddle right as I was dropping in he started yelling no no don’t go! WAIT WHAT!!!! I tried to not catch it and pulled off the wave got dragged a little but did it, but now I am in bad spot right where the rest of the waves will crash.. I then started paddling hard toward Martin a huge wve was about to crash on me so I did that sweet surfer dive move under the wave… Yeah right it grabbed me sucked me in, dragged me, flipped me around, and held me under felt like ever. I finally got to the surface gasping for air. I finally made it to the beach trying to still breath spitting out salt water. I sat on the beach for a second, Martins sitting on his board waving me back out… OKAY OKAY I can do this. I waited for the perfect timing, ran out jumped on the board and started paddling super fast…(really I am out of shape and am moving about as fast as a sloth). Waves starting heading my wave I get through one, then a second, and then a huge ones on its way. Okay I can do this, push board down and pop up, NOPE got swept again and pounded down the beach finally coming to surface to get pounded again. I crawl ontot he beach and just start laughing. The whole day I have just been smiling and laughing, I got my butt kicked all day but had the time of my life. As I am walking up the beach I saw a few girls from the hostel, one girl looked at me and was like “man looked heavy out there”. I looke at her laughed and said “yeah I suck, but was still fun”. Hooked back up with my friend and headed back to the hostel. Changed and ran to my spanish lesson, don’t know what was harder Spanish or trying to learn to surf in beg waves. Haha <o></o>
I met back up with Martin for cheap dinner and a few beers, we tried to go out and it was not happening. We went back to the hostel ate a quick Sandi and went to bed.<o></o>
DAY-26<o></o>
11/30/2011
Woke up, Martin and I was going to surf at 9am.. I didn’t get out of bed till 9:30 I was exhausted, he didn’t get up till almost 11am. I went intot town and drank a little café and messed around on the internet. Went back to the hostel, met up with Martin found out the spot we wanted to go was flat so we headed back to Playa Puenta. We got there it was very small I was very excited, Martin was not impressed. He gave me a bunch of tips and we started to paddle out. I was exhaustewd still from ysterday, but gave it my best shot and wrecked a lot. It started getting big again, where over my head. I headed in found a nice little wave and wash (shallow but okay) Stood up for a sec and was happy. I still got a lot to work on before trying to catch any real wave I come to the conclusion. I need to work on Popping up onto the board in one motion, this is the smallest board I have ever tried to surf and it needs to be one motion not two or else you wreck a lot… haha<o></o>
We headed back into town and I was exhausted. All day feeling like I should take a nap, but I just kept pushing it. I hadn’t stopped moving and doing things since getting here, we hard ridden very hard and long hrs to get here. I was exhausted and need to lay low, but I have a hard time doing that. So I ran around did errands and my homework, took a shower and headed to Class. Class was AWESOME today, we started to do boring stuff and then she asked me what I wanted to learn. I learned everything on how to meet people, converstations, border crossing stuff, how to converse with authority, slang, bad words, and we just laughed and had a beer and learned spanish for 2 hrs. I LOVE THIS CLASS.. HAHAHA<o></o>
After class I headed back to the Hostel had a few Pineapple and Rum drinks . We headed out to a Salsa bar that was supposed to be very busy, I had my first shot of Mesquila it was coffe flavored one at that. Learned how they make it and that it was from this region. <o></o>
Was very tired falling asleep and the bar and then I made my way back to the Hostel. Slept hard for a long long time.<o></o>
Will be staying here for awhile surfing, spanish classes, and most important waiting on damn tires.. don't think I will make it to my next destination if I don't

FINGERS CROSSED FIRST FERRY RIDE WITH A BIKE, DIDN'T HAVE BEST PLACE TO STRAP IT DOWN. SO I STRAPPED IT AROUND A POLE.. HAHA

NICE SUNSET SAN BLAS, TIME FOR BEER AND TEQUILA

HOME SWEET HOME...

KLR'S IN DA BAR!!!!

HANGING OUT IN SAYULITA

NEW FRIENDS..WE SHALL BRAAAAAP TOMORROW!!!

RODE FOR ONLY 5HRS TO DAY, NICE LIGHT DAY. BEER, TACOS, WAKE UP EARLY AND START CRACKING MILES.

MY NEW RESTAURANT!!!

DAVID LOADED AND READY TO RIP

IF YOU CAN'T DUCK IT, FUCK IT!!! HAHA

LUNCH TIME.. NOT SO GOOD NO FLAVOR HERE.. NEXT..


I LOVE THE COAST, MADE DAVID STOP FOR A PIC.. HE LIKES TO JUST RIDE AND RIDE AND RIDE AND RIDE..

STORMTROOPER...

AGUA BREAK...

HORRIBLE VIEWS AROUND HERE!!!!HAHA

POLLO MOLE, TURNED INTO TACOS... I LOVE FOOD YES I DO IN MY BELLY.. HAHA

TACO TACO TACOS!!

MADE IT!! PUERTO ESCONDIDO.. THESE GUYS WANTED TO RACE..HAHA

TIME TO RELAX, SURF, LEARN SPANISH, AND WAIT FOR TIRES..

WWW.WHERESFLETCH.COM

This is my first ride report, what can I do better?
Thanks Fletch

I find it interesting because it's your first and a little raw. I have been to all those places down the coast but it was in the eighties. Nice to see them from a newcomers perspective and it is easy to sense how excited you are to be doing this trip.

Once you settle into the Latin American mode, time slows down and everything works out. Just keep writing and posting and most of all riding.

Every ride report is different, yours is as good as anyone else's.

DAY 27- <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
12/01/2011<o></o>
Had a hard time getting out of bed today, felt like crud all day. Did not go surfing or anything, just drank a lot of water and gatorade.. I have to get better at drinking water, I don&#8217;t and then I get dehydrated and feel like crud all day long. Today was a very mellow day. I got to class and again it was hilarious we just learned and laughed all class. If my college classes were this fun I probably would of graduated.. haha. I went back to the hostel skipped dinner and just passed out by 9pm.<o></o>
Day 28-<o></o>
12/02/2011<o></o>
Woke up refreshed and ready for a great day. I ran around in the Centro all day looking for a vocab book, but cannot find it anywhere. I saw Andrea for a little while and then headed back into town. I met up with Lious and Mark and went surfing with them for awhile. Didn&#8217;t have much luck again, although not as big just a lot of people. It was still a blast and a good work out. Did my spanish homework, played some pool and got a little dinner made. I headed up to class, stopped at the store to pick up some beer for us and went to class. Today was probably one of the funniest classes I have ever been envolved in, we just joked around and learned spanish for almost three hours. I was headed back to the hostel when I ran into my friend Martin from Argentina. He had just gotten back from a little surf trip down south and was headed into town, so I turned around and followed. I all of a sudden ran into three guys on motorcycles, I knew I knew one of the bikes it was a fellow I head met in Baja, one of the other guys was Patrick who I have been trying to meet up with for the whole trip. We talked for a while I showed them the hostel but they were looking for something more up scaled. I think they will be leaving today, must of the guys I have been running into are all about riding riding riding. I personally like to stop, meet people, and experience first hand where I am. Each to our own adventures. But I am truly having the time of my life, so many great new friends and experiences. <o></o>
<o></o>
<o></o>
DAY 29-33<o></o>
12/3-7/2011<o></o>
These past 4 days have been great!!! I went on a couple short surf trips, was doing spanish almost every night up until the 6<SUP>th</SUP> of December. My friend from Argentina came back from a surf trip in the South, we met back up for a few more nights of beer, cooking, and surfing. <o></o>
I have made a family dinner a couple of times this week. I started off with fresh seared Ahi, Orange Buerre Blanc on the fish, Butter smashers, and Broccoli. Everyone was blown away, I was not thought I could of done a lot better but oh well next time. The next night we did Cheese burgers and Potato salad which were delicious, took them to a Medium don&#8217;t know if I can trust the ground beef here.. gotta find that out. I then cooked a big pasta dinner for us and have been making lots of breakfast tacos. <o></o>
I have made good friends with the owners of the hostel Mark and Lious. I have been going surfing a lot with Mark and leanring from him, they took me on a little have day surf trip up north to our own secluded beach break. Which was awesome to learn on. <o></o>
I was walking into the bar to grab some pineapple juice one morning to go with my Breakfast tacos and everything is very low in mexico. I caught my head on a plastic screw nail thing and ripped my head open a little. (pictures below) Cleaned it up and went to my last spanish class on Tuesday night&#8230; sad&#8230; I learned a lot and had a lot of fun in this class. As a thank you for such fun and cheap classes, I took her out to dinner after class. We went to her friends place over looking the beach, with awesome Cerviche and Tacos. Couldn&#8217;t have been a nicer person with two rad kids, one was 7 and an amazing surfer the kid rips&#8230; <o></o>
I have been getting chewed alive by Mosquietos, started all of my Central and South America meds so I will be ready to leave in a few days.. My parts have been taking longer to get then expected so I am getting them shipped down to my Friend Ben Love and Dale Dagger Surf Hotel. I am just going to roll the dice fingers crossed that my tires have enough life to make it or another adventure with pervail.. hahaha.. I will be leaving here this weekend at some time, all my friends here want me to hangout until Christmas, but I am itching to get on the bike and ride into Gautemala.. <o></o>

MAN DOWN!!!!!! I WASN'T EVEN DRUNK...

Puerto Escondido

Breakfast view



WWW.WHERESFLETCH.COM

Have fun.... go slow, and be safe!

I have had a blast and met many new friends from just travellers, Adv Riders, to Locals.. But I am now ready to get back on the bike and shred into Gautemala will be heading that way on Monday down the coast. If anyone is near by PE and wants to catch up and ride a few hundred km's, drop me a line.

DAY 37-40<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
12/11-14/2011<o></o>
I finished up my stay day 37-38, in Puerto Escondido and it was awesome. I had an amazing surf sesh on Monday night it was a lot of fun, small but everything started to click. Mark made amazing Fried Pollo Tacos, right after I slept I passed out cold on the dinner table so tired.. Finally woke up had a coca cola and was good for another hour, then went to sleep by midnight. Woke up early rana few errands, said good bye to a few good friends, went for one last surf with Mark at Playa La Punta. Ended up meeting up with Quinn from Canada on Tuesday the 13<SUP>th</SUP> he was on a 2003 xr 650, we had met in Sayulita. We met up around 1:30ish and started to ride. We rode for about 4hrs and went through a couple of towns that we were told were supposed to be amazing one was and was was pretty horrible…I was not feeling that great all day, but pushed through. So we rode till dusk and made it to Barra De La Cruz. A very relaxed small village where we slept in a cheap Cabana for the night. <o></o>
We woke up and got a slow start, we rode half the day together. Stopped for lunch and had the worse tacos that I have ever had, to the point I was sure I was going to get sick from them we were ripping down the Mex 200 when I came up on a huge dump truck, all of a sudden a good amount of small white pebbles started to fall out on the road. Them hitting the road didn’t bother me, them bounces up at 70mph and hitting me sucked a little till I was able to get out of the twisties and pass him. We split up around 2pm he was headed east and I was headed southwest. Nice guy and nice to ride with, but I sure do enjoy riding solo. I pushed on and made it as close as I would want to sleep near the Border of Gautemala.. I am in a town called Huixtla, I will cross the border tomorrow morning and hopeful making it to or close to Antigua Tomorrow evening. I cannot wait to get into Gautemala, I hope the border crossing is smooth and I get my deposit back that I put down for my Mexican Motorcycle permit…. Pictures soon..

DAY 41-<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
12/15/2011<o></o>
I woke up pretty earlier today very anxious for my first true border crossing (Tecate, Mexico doesn&#8217;t really count) as I was going Solo. Got my bike packed up quicly and talked with the hotel owner while I strapped everything down a very nice guy. I got back onto the Mexico 200 and pushed South, as I pulled into Tapachula I saw two guys walking into the street trying to wave me down. I had been told there I guys that hang out in and near borders to try and help you through the process but want a lot of money. I knew I wasn&#8217;t at the border yet so I swung left around them and pinned it. I blasted through the city started making head way toward the border, I had typed in the wrong area for the gps, because I turned off of the Mex 200 and ended up in a little town sitting in the middle of a field in Guatemala by accident.. oooops.. I turned around headed back toward the 200 and finally got to the border. I was so nervous thought I might vomit, so excited and nervous about my first real border crossing. As I pulled in, tons of guys come running into the street making u have to either stop or gas it at them and make them move. I Stopped at first relized they just wanted to either exchange money or be my helper through the border. No Gracias was said a lot today. I made it to the border just to find out that where the guys were trying get me to stop in Tapachula, was exactly where I needed to go back to. I needed to cancel my Bike Permit and get my $400 Deposit back. So here we go I turn around and head back 20 miles of so, as I pull in I get to the side of the road and kick the stand down start to get off. My foot sleeps of the pavement and drops into the dirt which is 6inch below the pavement.. yup here I go for a third time dead stop fall over..hahaha The bike is laying at an angle I&#8217;m not going to be able to pick it up solo with all of the gear on it. All of a sudden a nice guy comes running over and helps me pick her up we just laugh and get her back up. I go into the office get all the paper work finish and canceled. I grab a quick breakfast/ lunch- Gatorade, powder donuts and little muffins. The heat is killing me at this point. I head back toward the border, filling up with gas on the way (luckly I did gas in Gautemala is 4 times the amount of Mexico. As I get back to the border this time no stopping just kept the gas ripping and only a few tried to step out and relized I wasn&#8217;t stopping so got out of my way. <o></o>
I Get my stamp, but at first he doesn&#8217;t want to give it to me because supposedly I don&#8217;t have my tax receipt, finnaly he gives up and gives me my stamps. I then head to the next stop, do exchange my peso&#8217;s for Gautemalan money. As I get off I get bombarded by people trying to help this one group with one head guy my age won&#8217;t give up just follows me around telling me where to go and park and what to do. I started getting annoyed by them, They would try and help by grabbing my papers out of my hands and trying to show me the way I would grab them back &#8220;no Gracias&#8221; Finally I gave in and let them help me kind of. He was trying to get me to pay extra to the workers so it would go faster, but no point nobody was in line and it flew by. The guy was confusing me with all these other fees finally I got him to stop talking and talked to the Border cop myself relizing I was done expect for a bike check I went to grab my bike. There was 5 of them hanging around my bike when I went to grab it and the leader kept asking or demanding we will say for a tip for all of his help. I only gave him 14bucks (didn;&#8217;t want to but rather than argue in 100 degree weather in all my riding gear. He was not happy he wanted at least 30 more, and the kid he had &#8220;watch my bike&#8221; even though it was in paid safe parking, wanted cash to. I just kept telling them I was broke. I got on my bike and slammed out of the parking lot. I got to the wash station with both of them still following me asking for money. I got the bike washed and headed to the last check point with a cop. The head guy knew he wasn&#8217;t getting anymore cash from me so he left me alone, the other kid would not leave me alone. The cop did a quick once over and then told me I was good, the kid was sitting there telling me I still needed copies and to pay him. At that I looked at the cop asked if I could go to Gautemala now, he raised the get and Sped out of there as fast as I could. <o></o>
Learned my lesson, ingore the people and push through no eye contact and don&#8217;t let them think they are helping. Haha I have many more borders to practice this at.. will see how it works out.. Although I did get done with the whole deal under an hour other than the driving back to cancel permits. <o></o>
I was on my way, I road for another 200km, the road was just amazing and a lot of fun. Super smooth for the most part, very very twisties, lots of switch backs, climbing climbing up into the Gautemala mountains and the racing back down to the fields. I ran into a couple of locals on a bmw and they road with me for a while until they pulled off talked for awhile and then headed on there own way. I made it into Quetzaltenango (also known as Xela). Rad little city, of course I was looking for a hostel with safe parking and was lost for the better part of a half hour just laughing and cruzing. Finally found one who would let me put my bike inside of the hostel locked to a metal gate. I went grabbed a quick bite, but I am very tired and am excited to get on the road tomorrow and make it to Antigua. Today was an amazing day and learning experience.

WWW.WHERESFLETCH.COM<o></o>

Pics of my home for the past two weeks, hard place to leave...7 bucks a day





Mark the owner...

Barra De La Cruz.. On the road again

Chiapas, my last state in Mexico. I was not expecting to stay so long or love Mexico as much as I did, thought I was going to be in and out.. haha not over a month.. So rad.. and I didn't even see half of it

Quinn riding in for a water break.. hot and windy today...

LIFE IS AWESOME!!!

Made it before dark...

Breakfast/lunch of Champions or idiots either way!!!

Almost there

MADE IT!! HOSTEL PARKING

I WIN!!!

nice..

I am new to this whole Forum thing.. Any advice to make it better would be great.. Like should I keep writing the way I am long stories followed by some pictures.. or just lots of pictures with short stories... ect...? Thanks Fletch

www.wheresfletch.com

also, my best friend went to Western State, been up to CB a bit. Have a blast out there!

DAY 42-<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
12/16/2011<o></o>
All day long I just rode and laughed all the way through the twisties and small villages.. This is living, at its finest…<o></o>
I woke up this morning in Quetzaltenango walked around for awhile it was very cold all night lots of blankets, I could see my breath this morning. I have been sleeping just in shorts and no sheets for over a month, this is a drastic change. I found a nice small café for coffee this morning and then roamed around looking for a bookstore. I found a nice place which luckly had the A VERY IMPORTANT BOOK THAT I DID NOT THINK TO BRING!!! English to spanish Voccab. Dictionary/ phrase book. OOOOOPS.. I wasn’t feel all that great all night so I grabbed two yogurt drinks for Breakfast and loaded up the bike. <o></o>
I think Guatemala translates to “Fletcher you’re going to get lost A LOT!!” Haha It took me a lot of wrong way on one way streets, illegal U turns, and a little sidewalk usage to finally get out of the city and get on my way. “Lets make sure I am going the right way” Stopped at a gas station.. yup that’s a negative turn around try again. Finally after a few circles I am on the right road heading in the direction I want to be. The road is a freeway 4 lanes we are moving along zigging and zagging through cars and taking nice smooth turns on a nice smooth road. It was a lot quicker than I had expected to my turn off toward a senic detour that looked nice in my book. I headed down toward Lago de Atitlan a beuatiful lake surrounded by Volcanos. I passed through the lake town of Panajachel, the road started to climb with very twisty switch backs everywhere. The road was like glass extra smooth and no traffic. I was ripping through the turns and all of a sudden the road started to get gnarlier, crazy U turn switch backs that had a steep incline ramp in the middle of the turns, road was rough and then turned into Motorcycle eating Potholes you had to swerve. The road went from a nice 2 lane mountain road to gnarly single lane toa 1.5 lane road. I came up to a detour the road had fallen into the river below, so you had to jump onto the dirt, then all of a sudden around a turn the road dropped down and vanished into the river. I stopped checked out how deep it was, watched a truck go through and then gave her a little throttle and made it through without a swim. The road just danced through the mountains/ volcanos, hands down the raddest road I have ever Ridden, so much fun I was just laughing the whole time from the twistiest to just the incredible views. All along the road today kids would either just sit there waving or run with you laughing and waving at you.<o></o>
I wasn’t sure my sweet detour would actually work and get me to Antigua, but all of a sudden I was 60km from it and was home free. I blasted through the next big city took my turn and raced through the forrest, I pooped out at a T and kept heading south, stopped for lunch and made sure I was going the right way. Nope past the turn off about 15km ago, haha well lunch was at least really good and a nice break. I finally made it to Antigua.<o></o>
I raced around town for almost an hour looking for a cheap hostal with safe parking, nope no luck. A guy who was handing out flyers for a Hostel pointed me in the direction, I checked it out but wasn’t a fan of it. There was another one next to it and I liked it a lot more, they didn’t have parking but said I could just park it in the bar. I met a couple who was from Holland and traveling the coast from Mexico on little 50cc Mopeds, with a homemade surfboard rack rigged to one of the them. I parked my bike, dropped all of my gear and took a much needed shower and a walk. Grabbed a little dinner and a beer and I am now just relaxing in Antigua Guatemala who would of ever guessed…. hahaha<o></o>

LOOK MA A VOLCANO!!!

RAD VIEWS FROM THE ROAD

LITTLE TOWNS LAY ALL ALONG THE SHORE LINE, SO RAD

FUN FUN FUN!!!!

SO SO NICE!!!! LET ER RIP

BRAKES!!!

QUICK BATH

CAN'T GET OVER THIS ROAD!!!

SAFE PARKING IN THE BAR/HOSTEL...