change in direction

Wow. It seems like a blur. I think it is. Got hit by a car while riding my bicycle early in the year, and from the accident I had to put off my journey of doing the Appalachian Trail. That was a bummer moment. Craving to go on an adventure, and decided to give the Arizona Trail Race a try. That was a real intense adrenaline rush riding down steep single track stuff on my fixie. From the beginning of the race it was intense! It was snowing, and cyclocross worthy mud. It’s been debated whether or not it’s faster to run or bicycle the trail. (that should give you a hint of how much of the trail you have to hike-a-bike the trail) It’s decently technical in some areas, and definitely not a trail you would take a newbie cycling on (unless you want them to never talk to you again). Having a GPS to help guide you through the trail is an absolute must. One day of the Great Divide is indescribably easy compared to one day of the AZT. I enjoyed the mere 40 miles I did cover on my fixed gear. My body was officially in a P.O.S. status. Unfortunately it was too short of a recovery from the accident to even be thinking of doing AZT. All well…it was nice to meet the other brave souls that were doing the race as well.

Well went a bit stagnant in physical adventures after that, but mentally thinking of some other adventures.

One thing leads to another……the creative thoughts, and ideas of adventures brewing 24/7.

SOOOO….chatting with a friend about it over a couple days/weeks/a total of like three months, and then BOOM we leave tomorrow. I’m trying to type a blog last min. Talk about living life super last minute!

The Adventure?

My ghetto Spanish translation on a rad recyclable banner, and 8 pounds of tape to hold it together. I think it's one of the coolest party banners I've made.

The living room wall in action. Maps, and banner. Too cool. My retinas are burning from the coolness.

So you want to know the nitty gritty?

*~4,000 miles

*32 days

*Start: Antelope Wells, New Mexico, USA End: Panama City, Panama. So, we go through Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. I guess we can count the tiny part of New Mexico too.

*Riding on my beloved fixed gear named Phoenix, and running a ratio of 46-17

Here is our estimated route. Meaning that it is 'always' subject to change.

part: 1

http://www.bing.com/maps/#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


Part 2:

http://www.bing.com/maps/#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


Part 3:
http://www.bing.com/maps/#JmNwPTE3Ljc3OTc0MjYyODMzNTk1Mn4tODguNzQwMzc1OTczMjg0MjQmbHZsPTgmc3R5PXImcnRwPXBvcy4xOC41MDM2NjYxNDc1ODk2ODNfLTg4LjM4ODAyNzI1MDc2Njc1X1N1YnRlbmllbnRlJTIwTCVDMyVCM3BleiUyQyUyME1leGljb19fX2VffnBvcy4xNy4wODExNTcyNjcwOTM2Nl8tODkuMTMyMjA0MTMwMjkxOTRfU2FuJTIwSm9zZSUyMFNvY2NvdGhzJTJDJTIwQmVsaXplX19fZV8mbW9kZT1EJnJ0b3A9MH4wfjB+

Part 4:

http://www.bing.com/maps/#JmNwPTE3LjA3NzY0ODkzNzcwMjE5M34tODkuNDE0ODc2NzczOTUzNDQmbHZsPTEwJnN0eT1yJnJ0cD1wb3MuMTcuMDgzMjk5NjgxNTQ0MzA0Xy04OS4xNjY3MDIwMzIwODkyM19QbGFuY2hhJTIwZGUlMjBQaWVkcmElMkMlMjBHdWF0ZW1hbGFfX19lX35wb3MuMTcuMjE2MzQ4NjQ4MDcxMjlfLTg5LjYyMzc4Nzk5OTE1MzE0X1Rpa2FsJTJDJTIwR3VhdGVtYWxhX19fZV8mbW9kZT1EJnJ0b3A9MH4wfjB+


Part 5:

http://www.bing.com/maps/#JmNwPTEzLjIwMTM0MDc0Njg3OTU5NH4tODMuOTIyMzk2MjQ1NTk4NzUmbHZsPTUmc3R5PXImcnRwPXBvcy4xNy4yMTcyODg3NjIzMzEwMV8tODkuNjM1MTYyNTc3MDMzMDRfVGlrYWwlMkMlMjBHdWF0ZW1hbGFfX19lX35wb3MuMTMuOTkzMTQ4ODAzNzEwOTM3Xy04OS41NDkxNTgyMTU1MjI3Nl9TYW50YSUyMEFuYSUyQyUyMEVsJTIwU2FsdmFkb3JfX19lX35wb3MuOC4xODU1NTAwNDg5NDczMzRfLTc3LjY4OTgxNTk4MzE3NjIzX1lhdml6YSUyQyUyMFBhbmFtYV9fX2VffnBvcy45LjA3MzUwODc1NDM3MjU5Nl8tNzkuMzgwMDY5MDAyNTA5MTJfQWVyb3B1ZXJ0byUyMGRlJTIwVG9jdW1lbiUyQyUyMFBhbmFtYV9fX2VfJm1vZGU9RCZydG9wPTF+MH4wfg==


So I think I will talk about some quick thoughts, and get back to nit-picking my gear/bicycle.
I have never taken any Spanish classes. I should of in high school, but never thought I would apply it. Well, that was dumb. So, I do know some Spanglish. Thanks to all the teachers growing up who took the time to teach us some Spanish words, and how to count in Spanish. Thanks to my older sister who went on a Spanish speaking mission. Thanks to my other sister who did take Spanish in high school, and took the time to give me a insane condensed version of speaking Spanish. My vocab is not very huge while riding long hours on a bicycle for many days in a row, but obviously it's a good idea to at least try. Try to talk within a different culture.
I remember in England, Wales, Ireland...I had a hard time understanding some people. There was an Irish man who mocked me he said "cannot ya speak English...mumble...mumble!". haha So even speaking the same language there is different dialect, and slang. Which makes it a bit hard understanding sometimes.
I'm not worried about it. Hopefully we will be lucky enough to cross paths with some kind people during this trip through Central America.

Really thinking about it. I never imagined that I would be ever traveling through Central America. I'm extremely grateful for the rare opportunity to be able to travel with my friend (also riding a fixie) for a month/4,000 miles. Cannot wait to see, and perhaps touch some of the scared Mayan temples, and ride along the Caribbean Sea. I hope to buy a real legit Luchador mask from Mexico. Nacho Libre is my all time favorite movie, and I think the storyline of the movie is amazing. If I ever make a independent film I hope it could be as rad as Nacho Libre. I think where they filmed in Mexico is really beautiful, but we won't be going through that area. I'm sure though
that there are parts that are just as pretty.

I'm going ultra light weight. So, everything I bring is weighed, and deep thoughts go into my gear choices. I don't really feel like talking about my gear, because it's all I have been focused on for the last month. Share more info about ultra light weight gear choices when I return. The total weight of my bicycle (w/ packed gear,frame pack, saddle pack, ect.) is 35.4 pounds (excluding myself, backpack with food/water/therm-a-rest). Which I think it rather decent for the weight. I think it's about 3-6 pounds lighter than Great Divide.
Learning from last cross country trip I wished I had brought a recorder, and I am bringing one with me. So, I can have a massive info to share.
Well. Signing off.

Thanks to all my support from my family, and friends. Words cannot express all the selfless acts of support showed from my family, and friends. Someday I hope to provide a good amount of selfless acts in return for the support, and help they have given me. No matter what might happen during this trip just know that I am thankful for the learning experiences adventures provide, and the creativity it provokes. I love how alive my body feels while doing these types of adventures. It might come off as self-conceded, and vain. But I believe we must do what brings us happiness in living. I enjoy cycling simplistically, sleeping in random bushes, using my hand to wipe my tears&ass, suffering/laughing while cycling through a lighting storm, drinking water from a cow trough, and living off a nasty diet of peanut butter, candy, and cookies for a month. Sure it provokes suffering, frustration, thinking that death might be easier than finishing an adventure, and let's not forget emotionally&physical pain. But really breaking everything down, and thinking about it....I have been able to define pure happiness through these life altering challenges. Might not be your cup of tea, but that's why individuality is so important. Please note the pictures my 3 year old nephew drew me in my front wheel. :-D
adiós