Mexico and beyond

ok this is going in reverse from here!! I am in a very funny place this evening without any internet to distract my attention from maybe getting caught up on this blog. Funniest story every of crossing a border. I was really depressed after my first expierence a couple of days ago, when entering Guatemala. This was the first crossing since Tijuana which was a piece of cake. Worst thing that happened there was the truck stalled for a minute and I thought I was going to lose Wade and Krista. My Amigos for the trip south into Baja. Very nice couple, as nervous as I was, not so much Wade, but I am so happy they waited for me to get my papers in order to travel with them. The cusisine was out of this world. Thanks, Krista for the sushi lesson! Back to the crossing, the day before was incredible, the federal police, along the entire way were great, but for some reason below Santa Cruze, they kept asking for stuff. Playboys, dollars, sunglasses..anything of value. I only responded in classic southern..."WTF are you guys saying"..No espanula..They would give up and just wave my dumbass along...Funny but left a bad taste in my mouth for Southern Mexico.

Then I get to the border of Gautamaula...OMG..what a nightmare..people running up to the truck as far away as 50K wanting to help me get the papers right. I thought I had everything in order and enough copies to satifie everyone. Not even close. I get out of the truck and "Carlos" grabs my stuff and passport and says "Go", not come, but Go. I just rolled with it. Trying to make sure he was always in sight. We went to get copies, went to the fumigation outlet, everybody wanted money, exchange pesos for whatever they use. I still do not know the exchange rate. But feel I got a great deal....right...as it turned out only about a surcharge of 10 percent on a couple of hundred. Since this was my first real crossing, all I could think, was I was signing the truck over for a dollar to Carlos. But, he moved me right along. It took about 3 hours, but there were people there over 5, that did not get any help from the Carlo's. $50. and I felt not real good about the whole thing, but looking back on it, very satisfied, expecelly after hearing other story's today.

A few days later, I pulled into the border town of El Salvador, same thing, these guys run up and in broken english say they will help me. I set a limit of 40. for today. The line was so long. These guys just say follow them. they are running in front of the truck, waving me into the oncoming traffic lane and we went right to the front. They grab your paperwork and you see them 10 minutes later asking for 1.00 for copies and such. Out of Guatuamala border in 10 mins. Truckers and others were waiting for hours. Then they said follow. We wait for the oncoming traffic to clear and off we go passing, at least 30 more trucks and cars. right to the front. another 2.00 for that chap. Then we double park right in front of Migration office in San Salvador. They point me to the declaration office and cannot be of assistance. Just wait in the back of the line. Around 25 guys are standing in this weird ass line. I stood around, had a huge trucker take my picture, the food must be the same at truckstops around the central america, as in the U.S. I struck up a conversation with a guy transporting used school buses from Ohio to use a chicken buses here. He saw me a few days ago in mexico and said he had been in this line since 9am. I told him about using my dumbass southern the whole way down and he justed laughed like hell. I said watch....went to a window, stood for 15mins before a guy walked by, and I said TOURISTA..EVERYBODY ELSE IS COMMERCIAL, I AM TOURIST, CAN YOU HELP ME...my friend is rolling in the corner. I swear, I was out of there in 30 mins. All these guys were fuming. On my way out I yelled VIAVA SAN SALVADOR. Paid my omiegos 30 dollars and off I go. My friend will never forget how Forrest Gump I was!!!! Saved at least 5 hours! Still the tears of laughter retelling the story again. So now, after a lovely drive, in both countries, you just have to get away from the craziness of border towns. I am ready for the border of Honduras, bring it on, MO!

Now I am going to work backwards for a couple of weeks. This blog is hard to write, as I travel along, I cannot decide if it is for my memory or so my friends and family can keep up with me. I get emails reguraly telling to update. After so many miles, I cannot keep up with the exciting or the everyday stuff. I am very fortunate to be able to travel and see and meet new people everyday.

My last stop for a few days was in Porto Escondido, a wonderful place. If you ever want to experice Mexico, this is the place! I met two wonderful Aussie girls. They just opened a resturant and turned me on to Aussie Pies. Veggie. The surf was incredible and the homes and cost of living on the cheap side. Top ten places I have visited. Enough gringos, that you can get by with little or no espanola. The hotels on the beach are 20 bucks a night. Very clean and nice.

My drive down from Mazatalan was not very eventful. Acapulco, I loved, hung out at a very old school hotel on the beach, Margaritas. Tuna salad for lunch, really a cheap place to travel too.

The memory is fading but the days were bright and the temps perfect for sleeping at night. My friends that RV. Do not travel Baja in anything over 18 feet. the roads are crazy, you could be traveling on a nice two lane with hardly any pot holes and it ends without any notice. Just rubble and stuff. In the states, they would close the whole damn thing. I went across a bridge made out of 5 inch pipe, about 24 inches on each tire and nothing in the middle or on the sides. This was on a major road with just a short notice the lanes were narrowing. the whole bridge had washed away and this was a temp. Looked long term to me! As I get further down the roads are getting better, if nothing else more of a medium for cyclist. P>S> never ever cycle down the baja!

the folling is some pics I took since my last update. I hope you enjoy them.

I am writing this inside the walls of a funny as hell place in San Salvador. The music is blasting from disco outside the property, but only 9 dollars including pool and electric. Earplugs are a neseccery in central america!

What do I eat? mostly I pull up to a frutia and just buy a pineapple, some banannas, melon, apples, oranges, avacados. Just enough for the day. Vegtable stands are every mile or so. Also they roll like crazy on the floor, after a big jolt. Eggs are easy to do. If I am lucky, smoke will be present and I will find Dorado or Marlin tacos. The bomb! The beer is always present, less then a dollar. Last week I ran out of Ives bacon! Hooked making BLT with avacodo. If visting Uvita, please bring me more!! Five gallon bottle of water is easily refilled for around 1.30. I clean up with the well water. No problems.

Oh and how could I forget the TOPES! Speed bumps from hell. I bet I have only seen 10 traffic lights since San Deigo, but these things do the job! Some are marked, some not. One i did not see lifted the camper off the bed of the truck and came crashing down to break the spring. I cannot began to tell you the carnge in the fridge, it has since given up. The truck and camper are going strong. Knock on wood! Just about 300 more miles.

Santa Margarita Lake County Park

I almost forgot just how quite and dark things can be when away from the city. I have found a great little county park, just outside Santa Luis Obispo, CA. I had planned to just drive up and drop off the RV at the Elks Club. They have just completed a new storage area for members and the price is great. The club is directly on the 101 freeway, like almost every other one out here, but was told to head up just 15 miles north to a great little county park. She was right! Thanks, Elizabeth. Getting some riding in and doing some workouts. I am going to stay till the weekend. Because the price is right. FREE! No crowds. The weather is great!

Stealth Camping!

I have been tagged by the local police! I am moving, Friday. Santa Barbara is the toughest place to stealth camp. So many homeless living in RV's they really try to keep you moving on down the road. They have won the battle with me.

Planes, Trains, Buses, Camper and a Tow

Taking a train to LA, then a bus to LAX for a flight to Vegas to pickup the truck camper today. The weather turned on me, cold and windy. The low was 55 last night. Without a heater it gets cold. Thought the timing would be good to pick up the camper and bring it back to Santa Barbara for more prep work.Spent Sunday helping out with Arlington Cemetery West. These guys put out an equal amount of crosses to deaths our troops have experienced in Afghanistan. On this Sunday, 1318...incredible. The process is very precise. Very soloum. Over 35 volunteers. They use to do this for Iraq.
with over 3000 deaths it was a huge undertaking, every Sunday. My job was to unload trailer full of crosses and take them down to the beach. Phillip, in the orange, is one of the first guy's I met here.

He owns a parking area 1 block off the beach and is now letting me stay in his lot. Not for free, but close. The artichoke did the trick. The train ride down the coast this morning was beautiful.

A very smooth transition to LAS, however the initial shakedown cruise in the camper has not been very good. I blew a tire after 50 miles. Road service 2 hours later. I know how to change the tires on this now. Then 1 hour later, had to be towed 50 miles because the fuel pump was going out. Thanks Progressive for selling me the emergency road hazard insurance. Spent the night in a small hole in the earth. Arriving after 10 pm. This morning I was able to milk the camper another 60 miles to Barstow, CA. where I am waiting on a new fuel pump. At least I am safe after a very rough night on the road! Better here then on the Baja!

Santa Barbara and Camping

Arrived yesterday and working on finding a campsite. Much tougher going then in Santa Fe. Alot of homeless and people living in really run down rv's. As you can see from this picture, I am just one of many. I was told about this spot on the railroad tracks. The trains are not to often. However, the coach is parked 10 feet from the track. When it comes by at around 50mph, you know it. But only 2 blocks from the pier and harbor.

Found a great trail and hiked it this morning. 2.5 hours. Many downhill bikers, with skills, I do not posess.

Farmers Market is incredible. Bought an artichoke and a bunch of aspragus for dinner tonight. The weather is 68 and sunny. Rolling down to the beach for reading and sun. Maybe score some fresh fish as the charter boats come in.

Where did the summer go!!

It was a great summer in Santa Fe/Taos, NM. The weather was great and made some good friends! One of the best cities I have every visited! Not to big and or to small. I tried 45 different restrauants. My goal was never to go to the same place twice. When the green chillis came in, what a treat. The veggie omelets topped with green sauce is the best. I did not do a lot of riding, but I did improve upon my grilling skills. Grilled artichokes are the best! I worked for a great guy for a couple of weeks. Del runs a Pak Mail store in Santa Fe. A chance meeting in the Trader Joe's parking lot. The jokes were non stop. He let me do a couple of long distance runs, delivering furniture on the west coast, along with a trip down to Texas. Thanks Del.

Currently in Las Vegas, NV. Camped out behind the Green Valley Ranch Resort. They have a very nice pool. The sports bar offers cheaper drinks then the Elks. My friend Walt stayed for a couple of days with me. We had a great time during Interbike and attended Cross Vegas.

Which is a cycle cross race. Not the other Cross event. Scored some VIP tickets. Met and had my picture taken with my bike idol, “Ned Overend “ from Durango, CO.

Only 1 small crash during my stay here, it was on the first day. This is some tough riding, where you really need skills.

Working on my a camper I purchased a couple of weeks ago. My plans are to leave around the middle of November for the drive down the Baja coast then a ferry trip to Mexico. Continuing on to Costa Rica for the rest of the winter. If anyone wants to ride part of the trip, let me know.

I plan on traveling light in case things go really bad on the truck/camper. Salvage what I can and ride buses the rest of the way. My Spanish should get better or I will end up walking some of the trip. I am going to keep my blog going and updating much more then the last few months. Stay Brown!

This post is a couple of days late. I spent the last day in Hisperia, CA. getting service work. I had put this stuff off long enough. Finally found a small garage with a very keen mechanic. All service work done. Including the dreaded internal transmission filter. The guy was great. I spent less then I had expected and had more work done. Brown does have it’s privilages!

Should get to Santa Barbara today.

Cycling in Texas

It’s been three weeks; wow, what a long time since my last post. I’m having a hard time remembering places I’ve been, things I’ve done and people I’ve met.

I began riding again with renewed vigor. I’m looking forward to going to this year’s IMBA's World Conference, being held in Augusta, GA, early next month. I’m flying over there, renting a car and will visit with my mother and check on the house in Skylake.

I arrived at Xtreme Paint and Graphics to get the needed bulkhead repair. James and the guys did a professional job. The coach has never ridden so smoothly. Kudos to them. I really thought this was going to be a major deal, however, they put my mind to rest. They told me to go mess around in town and come back later in the day. No, I watched and detailed their every move. Another guy I know had the same problem and is going to attempt the job himself. I took photos and emailed him blow by blow action. He shouldn’t have any problems with his repair. The guys did not finish till 9pm that night which meant it was a 12-hour job. I left James two days later and he’s very happy with the results (he even throws in a full coach wash.) His rates are reasonable; under $1000. I didn’t think a foretravel owner could leave the Nacadooches city limits paying less than $2500 without penalty of law. If you ever need paint body work done on any coach, this is the place to go.

I then traveled north to St. Joe, Texas and spent a cold, wet 5 nights at “The Breaks” at Bar H ranch. They probably have the most challenging trails I have ridden in Texas. Built on the ridge and valley of the Red river, there’s some great flow and some aren’t as great. With the awful, rainy weather, I was only able to ride 2 of the six days which allowed me time to clean and do maintenance work on the RV. When I come back next month, I plan on visiting them again. I promised them some trail payback time and hopefully will complete Devil's backbone without walking most of it. On my way out, I had to stop at the casino across the river in Oklahoma. I wanted to make sure I still sucked at playing poker. I do. There were free hookups at the casino, well not exactly free but after that I made my way down to the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

I stayed at the Elk's Lodge in Lewisville, Texas located down the road from the Northshore bike trail. This trail is maintained by the members of DORBA which is a total of 19 miles out and back, much of which is a loop system. Quick and technical. The Elk’s have a great RV parking area and since I didn’t plug in, they didn’t charge.

I made it up, though, with the bar tab. I can always find a couple things to eat wherever I go but I was there for Casserole Night. Wheeee Doggies.

I camped at a marina for a couple of nights, adjacent to the trailhead. Lake Lewisville and its marina remind me of Kincaid Lake in Murphysboro. Party marina and crowd! Very good fish tacos. I visited with Paul and his friend Brian Keller from Denver. They were some of the artist's showing their work at the Southlake spring festival. We had a nice time and went out for pizza after the park closed. As a potter, Paul hooked me up with one of the coffee cups he makes. It’s from one of his T2R (time2ride) lines. You can find his stuff on line at Pauluhlpottery.com. Lucky for me the place was right across the street from the Fresh Market. I was able to restock my larder with all the veggie items I needed.

Saturday and Sunday were spent on another private ranch, owned by a true biker. Mack plotted and built an 8.1-mile trail system on his 80 acre spread. This was the second sweetest private trail I’ve ridden. Last weekend he was hosting a Texas State Championship series race. Over 475 riders came out for the ride. Paul's kids were representing the Smithville area. Kristen took 4th in the Mens pro and his daughter, Kara, who just came back from a butt kicking at Sea Otter took 1st in her class! I didn’t plan on racing but I was already in the area and wanted to test myself. I put in a good lap and came in 3rd. I was only 1 minute behind the winner. I love racing in the senior division. They still have their weight weenies. Sixty year old, 155 lbs people racing on $5000.00 bikes! Still, I was only 1 minute back! LOL


Just down the road, from Mack's Solvaca ranch was a beautiful Texas State Park. Every pasture was full of blue-bonnets. It seems I’ve been following the wild flowers of Texas, since they started blooming, just south of San Antonio a few weeks ago.

The last couple of days I’ve been riding the trails of Dinosaur Valley State Park. Located across the Paluxy River the trail system is the first place I’ve ever ridden where you had to carry your bike on your shoulder, while traversing through mid-thigh high currents. The trails were challenging with great technical downhill sections. The White trail with some blue and a little orange make for about a 8 mile loop. I did two laps in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. I’m definitely feeling stronger. I want to give a shout out to Rick and the guys at Sage Cycles in San Antonio. They did the work on my fork and tuned everything perfectly. Thanks.

Last night was very nice. I parked next to the Comfort Suites parking lot. They have a well equipped gym with a lap pool and jacuzzi hot tubs. They also provide large towels. No, I didn’t take the robe. The breakfast was great and I would highly recommend them, however, I cannot vouch for the rooms. if your ever in Glen Rose, Texas, it felt like a scene out of the weeding crashers. LOL.

Today I’m heading back to Dallas to find a place to park during my trip to Atlanta. I stopped at Cleburne State Park. They have 9 miles of pure single track. I broke my chain 3 miles in and me with no mechanic on the ride turned it into a nice hike.