Big Fish Lake, Minnesota USA 15-10-10

 
 
 
 

Big Fish Lake, Minnesota USA 15-10-10

Odometer: 21,921.7 miles

Madér.

Uncle Walter

Happy Birthday Uncle George!!!!

PS. A special thanks to Ma and her prayer machine.
PPS. The first picture is with Ma and Pops. The second is standing: Karen, Skosh, Grandpa. Second row; Clem, Beckaboo, Grandma. Front row: Schnicklefritzy, Sister Mary Marge, KK, Pepíllon, Uncle Walter. The third picture is Rose and Uncle Walter. The fourth: Unlce Lendog, Knut, Memmers, Mousey-bean, Uncle Walter.
FYI: Memers, Angela, and Andrew helped wtih the last line below. (Angela said no one is supposed to know.)

Angela is my favorite. Andrew is the best. Memers is awesome.

Memers said ¨There, gottér done.¨


PPPS, Stay tooned for continued updates!

Wall, South Dakota USA 14-10-10

 
 
 
 

Wall, South Dakota USA 14-10-10

Odometer: 21,428.6 miles

Crossing the South-western United States has really been fun, and entering into South Dakota, just icing on the cake. I went to the Wolly Mamoth Dig today. What a cool place. It turns out back in the late 70´s some South Dakota dude came across some mammoth bones while excavating for a home. He sold the land to the museum for the price he bought it and they have been digging ever since. They have dug up 15+/- mammoths alone, plus fox, rabbits, llamas, (yup, thats right, they used to be in north-america as well) gazelles, and other critters all from the same site. The first two pictures are things they dug up. The skeleton of the bear head is designed to scare you. Well, not me, I was able to take the picture without my knees shaking too much.

The third picture is of some type of big hairy thing out on the prairie. She was not interested in giving out any birth-day kisses to Pepíllon, which is just as well. She smelt bad.

Uncle Walter

P.S. Barney, now the next time your mom makes baked beans, you just help your self to the last 3 servings, and ask for the last of the brocoli, too. And when your mom corrects your behavior, you just have to say ¨I am just trying to keep up with my God Father. That is why you chose him? Right! He leads by shining example, and I am following suit. Can´t falt a feller for trying.¨

Boulder, Colorado USA 13-10-10

 
 
 

Boulder, Colorado USA 13-10-10

Odómetro: 20,959.4 miles

Woke up this morning to a layer of frost, thought ¨Safety First.¨ Therefore I went back to sleep for another 2 hours. I finally got rolling at 08:30, not quite on Uncle Skosh´s schedule, but getting closer. It was a bright clear day full of curves, summits, and the first snow capped peaks since Southern Mexico. Kinda missedém. Made it to Boulder just before dark. Went out and had some laughs with Tommy. Don´t worry Jo, Tommy asures me he is studying hard. He has to have his grades rock solid before the beginning of the snow-season. I thought ¨good idea.¨ That one is very pratical, indeed.

Uncle Walter

Happy Birthday Oreo!!!!!!

 
 
 
 

Ouray, Colorado USA 12-10-10

Odómetro: 20,614.9 miles

From Kayenta I cruised north through Monument Valley and then back down into the south-west corner of Colorado and back north again. The Rockies are starting to get snow in the upper elevations. Syd, do you think that: 1. Did the black cloud in the last photo catch Uncle Walter? 2, If so, was it carrying more rain than snow?

Uncle Walter

PS. Syd, remember, any wrong answer will get you a LuLu.

Kayenta, Arizona USA 11-10-10

 
 
 
 

Kayenta, Arizona USA 11-10-10

Odometer: 20,331.0 miles

After getting hustled by the hotel I headed up to Zion National Park and the Glen Canyon Dam. I had never been to the Glen Canyon Dam before. Well worth the journey. The third picture shows the lake held back by the dam and the last the canyon on the other side. It is really impressive. As I stood there thinking about the entirety of the project a simple side thought occurred to me. ¨Was his shop a mess, too?¨ Before I debated that I noticed it was getting dark and I had to press on.

I don´t know…….Kathleen, you´ve done a bit of ¨construction.¨ Well, indirectly, anyways. Do you like work area messy when you work?

Uncle Walter

Las Vegas, Nevada USA 10-10-10

Las Vegas, Nevada USA 10-10-10

Odómetro: 19,943.5 miles

The freeway from L.A. to Las Vegas crosses the Mojave Desert. It was a bright sun-shiny day and even in October the temperature rose quite high, but the crossing went smooth enough. The last time I crossed the Mojave it was with Uncle Jerry and cousin Kuddy. It was in the summer of 1980 in a 1950 Ford. It was hotter then and the crossing a lot longer. I don´t know how modern technology shrunk the desert, but it sure went a lot faster this time.


Vegas is a strange town. I signed up for a $39.00 room. Got placed in a $49.00 room and paid $59.00 at check out.


I don´t know…..Pauly, you got any ideas on that one?

Uncle Walter

Leroy…. you been out to the shop yet?

Long Beach, California USA 5-10-2010

Long Beach, California USA 5-10-2010

Odometer: 19,653.5 miles

Made it to Math and Rose-cookies with out a glich and only rode through an hours rain or so. To celebrate my birth day we had steak and lobster pool side and fed the cow some brandy as well. To continue celebrating we went out to The Blue Dog Saloon for some live blues music. The Mama’s Boys were playing. They had a special guest lead guitar player, aka, Smoke’n Don Faber. The dude can jam!! I also had the distinct pleasure of meeting the nicest Jewish lady from Texas, Smiling Gina. If she was not already spoken for, I’d married her on the spot. Fun was had by all!

Uncle Walter

P.S. Leroy….Clean the Sheeney Shop. I am only 10 days out.

Happy Birthday Uncle Walter!!

Happy Birthday Clem!!!!

Phoenix, Arizona USA 3-10-2010

 
 
 
 

Phoenix, Arizona USA 3-10-2010

Odometer: 19,285.7 miles

Coming across the border into the US turned out to be a pleasant expierence. We were at a small gas station in Janos, Mexico and I asked the gas station attendent which of the up coming border crossing had the shortest line and the least hassel, Augua Prieta or Nogales. He replied Antelope Wells, New Mexico. It is a shame I can't up load the picures. (now my camera is working, but my lap top died, and the computer i am using now needs some sort of update...(mirosoft crap)). The border crossing is not marked. The road into it off the highway is 9 miles of dirt. The Mexican imigration and customs officials come out together, shake your hand, and that is it. The US side has 3 customs/imigration officers. They all come out together, are a bit more formal, but relaxed and friendly. Ask a few questions, fill out some forms, give you some ice creame sandwiches, shake your hand, and say "well come back to the US." Not quite the treatment of Miami, butt who wants to go back there?

Once in Phoenix, we stayed at the Aussie Hilton, run by Bevan and Clare Walsh. Not only do you get a top of the line room with excellent food, they run all around phoenix looking for parts for your bike and put them on for you, and you get an Almo Suprise Birhtday Cake as well. Made me feel like I was still at Tom and Elizabeths, and I just met them. Wow, very cool.

Uncle Walter

The stars aligned and the crap came back to life, all be it one day late.

No Mari, I did not try to kiss the tarantula, I thought it better to pass on the Disney moment. Do you think that was a mistake?

Ricardo Florest Magnon, Chihuahua, Mexico 2-10-2010

Ricardo Florest Magnon, Chihuahua, Mexico 2-10-2010

Odometer: 18,750.1 miles

Another full day in the saddle. We decided to hop onto the toll roads today to pick up the pace a bit. The first three tolls cost us over $US 30.00. So we jumped off and got back on the mexican no tolls. Mistake. It didn't take much observation to notice we were the only ones on the toll road and then the only ones on the mexican non-toll road. Turns out, the first three sections everyone by-passes cuz the mexican non-toll is as good as the toll and the next two sections are crap, so everyone pays. We did the opposite. I blame this on Ken for 3 reasons. 1. for a guy who has logged over 500,000 kms traveling around the world, he should know better. 2. he is not here to defend himself. 3. and most important, his wife Carol agrees with me.

Uncle Walter

Happy Birthday Sister Mary Terry!

Cuencame,Zacatecas, Mexico

Cuencame,Zacatecas, Mexico 1-10-2010

Odometer: 18,260.1 miles

Even though the sun was out all day it still felt like we were rode hard and put away wet. Stayed in the nicest "auto hotel" ever, really.

Uncle Walter

Atacomatic, Querétaro, México 30-9-2010

 

Asuneón Nochixtán, Oaxaca, México 29-9-2010

 
 
 

Asuneón Nochixtán, Oaxaca, México 29-9-2010

Odómetro: 17,439.7 miles

The sky cleared off, the sun came out and we said goodbye to Schmopical Storm Mathfuus. The roads through Chiapas and into Oaxaca are beautiful. The road hazards continued and my camera came to life for three more shots. As you can imagine, it made for hazardous driving. We had to detour around a number of bridges that had collapsed into the rivers below, but we were not otherwise held back too much. The little town of Asuneón Nochixtán was really quite fun. It is located in an area know for it´s mescal, a drink made of blue agave, just like Tequila. We had a taster and good laugh with the locals. The men in the local establishment were telling us how it is better than Viagra and the little old lady, the bar keep, stood behind them demonstrated the exact opposite. We couldn´t stop laughing and every time the drunks turned around she played innocent. It was really quiet the scene.

Uncle Walter

Ocozocutic, Chiapas, México 28-9-2010

 
 
 

Ocozocutic, Chiapas, México 28-9-2010

Odómetro: 17,024.4 miles

The road into Mexico was opened over night and the ride in was sunny at first. About 2 hours into the ride it started to rain and about 10 minutes later it started to pour. Finally the sky seemed to clear a bit. There were mudslides everywhere, but we were able to pass. The border crossing was very simple, we were the only people there. My camera came briefly to life, then went back to the tomb. By the time we got to Ocozocutic it was threatening rain again. It rained all night.

Uncle Walter

Huehuetenango, Central Highlands, Guatemala 27-9-2010

Huehuetenango, Central Highlands, Guatemala 27-9-2010

Odómetro: 16,807.8 miles

There seemed to be a bit of rain today. When we left Tom and Eliz´s at 06:30 it was raining. It continued to rain till it down poured. We were hoping that would get it out of it´s system. Nope, it pretty much rained all morning. We traveled through the highlands, not seeing very much but the rain, wet road and mudslides. It is hard to tell how many, but they stretched from start of the day to the finish. They came in all sizes, form just touching the road to covering it completely, not allowing anything but foot traffic to pass. The last one at San Pedro de los Cobres was impassable forcing us to turn around. I talked to several guys along the road. They all said there was a way around it, but no one knew the way. I finally found one guy who said he lived up on top of the mountain and would guide across the 16 kms over the mountain to the other side. After only 4 km of mud we had to turn back. Ken´s bike, a 1982 BMW, could not make it. It has an old clutch system, much like a car´s and not a limited slip, and he was burning it up. After 10 hours of riding for the day, we had only made it about what would take 2.5 hours on a good day.

Uncle Walter

Tom and Elizabeth´s in San Miguel Dueñas, Sacatepequez, Guatemala 24-9-2010

Tom and Elizabeth´s in San Miguel Dueñas, Sacatepequez, Guatemala 24-9-2010

Odometer: 16,565.6 miles

The last night in El Salvador there was a real cold snap; in the middle of the night I woke up and had to consider turning the fan down from high to medium, brrrrrrr freezing barenaked.

The ride along the western coast of El Salvador into Guatemala was wonderful. We made a quick lunch stop in Esquintla at Pollo Comparo. Delicious. The last little bit into San Miguel was fun, but there were a number of land slides we had to go around. As one would expect, the welcome to Tom and Elizes was wonderful.

¨Tropical Storm Mathew¨ ¨Schmopical Storm Mathfuus.¨ Ewwww, I am not escared.

Uncle Walter

Happy Birthday Flipper!!!

Usuluta´n, El Salvador 22-9-2010

Usuluta´n, El Salvador 22-9-2010

Odómetro: 16,331.2

Today we made a big run from Nicaragua across Honduras and into El Salvador. Crossing two borders in one day is not a recommended way to spend a perfectly hot day in Central America. A day where the heat came up high enough to where I felt good. The sun beat down, the humidity reached 1,015% and the winds remained still. Gorgeous. Every pore pouring water and dirt back into my gear, replacing the fodder for the bacteria and fungus to grow just for ma. A day where it is too hot to be at the beach, a day too hot for the shade and air conditioned buildings. But the perfect day to wait in lines and get hasseled by hustlers. An excellent day indeed.

At the Nicaragua-Honduras border we met one of the nicest customs officer yet. As she filled out all the necessary papers she said we would need to pay $33.00, more or less, which would cover insurance, import taxes and the like. I asked if I could pay with Visa. ¨no¨came the reply. I then asked about $US. ¨no, only Honduran units in cash, please.¨ I asked if there was an ATM near. ¨no.¨ Hmmmm… “A bank? ¨ “yes, but they don´t exchange.” Hmmmm… “Then you want me to exchange with the thieves?” I asked, with a smile. Then continued with several comments on how this picture of me trading money with thieves and brutes and bandits just so I could drive across Honduras. Her eyes rolled, but a little twang of smile crossed her lips. I gushed forth with similes. How it is like driving cows to the butcher, chickens to the feather plucker, fresh water directly to the sewer….Now the smile and then laughter. Finally, she exchanged the money for us, out of her own pocket, at the known official bank rate of the day, just so I would shut up. She then told us how to get through the rest of the crap, thanked us for our understanding and for all the fun. Probably one of the more fun border crossings on this trip.

Uncle Walter

Leo´n, Leo´n, Nicaragua 20-9-2010

 

Leo´n, Leo´n, Nicaragua 20-9-2010

Odometer: 16,096.1

After 96 miles of driving, wow, what a long day. Better pullér over for a rest.

Uncle Walter

Granda, Granda Nicaragua 19-9-2010

Granda, Granda Nicaragua 19-9-2010

Odometer: 15.999.6 miles

Crossing the border into Nicaragua was almost as bad as trying to get my bike out of Miami. The boarder has no signs on either side, and after crossing the 500 meters of no-man’s land into Nicaragua, the feeling of third world confusion, dirt and filth, poverty and thieves, and all the other reasons why I love the third world became painfully apparent. All the people trying to earn a fast buck by creating confusion and angst came out of the wood work. The line to get through immigration only took 45 minutes in the blazing sun, only causing a few people to pass out. The hustlers never give you a seconds rest. Then you have to buy mandatory insurance, a nice lady in an air conditioned building, who warned us of the crap to come. Then off to customs, the first agent has no building, but is just the fat guy in the blue shirt, wearing a NY Yankees baseball cap, off wondering around. I found the fat boy in the shade, having a nap. From there it is off to find customs part 2. She was very friendly to me, but she hit the next guy in line over the knuckles with a ruler for not paying attention, twice. Then it is off to pay the $5.00 gringo fee and back to customs part three, who won´t see you unless you have the gringo fee canceled and you have the policemen´s signature, who is actually in uniform, but out in the shade of different tree. Of course then, you have to pay the $1.00 municipal tax, which really is the last bribe paid, before the final blessing to leave the border. No signs, no one to help but slimy hustlers. Busses and trucks lined up for miles on both sides, people all over the place cutting lines and bribing to move it along. It really is great. And after just 2.5 hours, you are on your way. Easy.

Uncle Walter

Happy Birthday Uncle Sharon!

Happy Birthday Aiden!

Technical difficulties continue.

Playa Flamingo, Gaunacaste, Costa Rica 16-9-2010

 

Playa Flamingo, Gaunacaste, Costa Rica 16-9-2010

Odometer: 15,837.6 miles

My camera momentarily came to life for a couple of photos today, with long bouts of death between the gasps, but there seems to be some glimmer of hope.

We rounded Lago Arenal and while taking pictures, or wishing to take pictures in my case, we were passed by a Costa Rican couple on a motorcycle. We periodically passed them, only to be passed again, depending who was taking pictures of what and where. When we pulled into a small place for lunch along the road, they came walking out. We started to talk. A bit into the chat we discovered we were both going to the pacific coast, but aiming for different beaches, maybe 40 miles apart. With that, the Costa Rican guy, Daniel, invited us to stay at his 5 bed-room guest house with beach view, swimming pool, and deck. It turned out to be a great place! So nice, we stayed an extra day just to enjoy the sun, the pool, the beach and the great company.

To totally change the subject: I have to admit, it finally happened. I washed my motorcycle clothes. After 8 weeks of sun, rain, humidity, sweat, and dirt, mixed with high temperatures, rain, humidity, dirt and sweat, and a lot of dirt and sweat, and dirt, and heat, and humidity, the stink and stench got to me. I wanted to wait till I got home, just so ma could get a good idea of just how much fun I was having, but I couldn´t make´r. Really, the smell wasn´t that bad, I am sure the odors that vented off the other guys I am/was riding with were a lot worse. You could smell them for miles. They smelt bad!!! Wow! Stinky! It´s like when Uncle Math cuts fresh seatter, only worse, if you can imagine. The straw that broke the camel´s back happened the other night when my riding jacket and pants got up on their own accord and went for a beer and didn´t invite me. The pigs. No full moon either. Just got up on their own and went drinking. I thought (to borrow a phrase from Peter Drontle and translate it for tender ears) ¨crap to Hades, gotta do something.¨

It´s off to Nicaragua.

Uncle Walter

La Fortuna de San Carlos, Alajuela, Costa Rica 15-9-2010

 
 

La Fortuna de San Carlos, Alajuela, Costa Rica 15-9-2010

Odómetro: 15,699.1 miles

Rain. Volcano buried in the clouds. Still, a beautiful place. Technical Difficulties continue. The camera took two breaths, one so I could send ma a flower, and the second so I could take a picture of a sloth for Rose. Then it died again. Stinkola.

Cahuita, Limón, Costa Rica 14-9-2010

Odómetro: 15522.3 miles

It would be negligent not to mention the temperature in the jungles of Panama into Costa Rica. To say it is not roasting hot would be a lie. To say that it is not smotheringly humid would be another lie. To say that it is not roasting hot and smotheringly humid in the same sentence, yet another lie. Still, suffice it to say, I like it hotter and can someone turn up the humidity, please?

No pictures. Experiencing technical difficulties.

Uncle Walter

Boguete, Chiriqui, Panama´ 12-9-2010

 
 
 
 

Boguete, Chiriqui, Panama´ 12-9-2010

Odómetro: 15,345.4 miles

We left the Pacific Coast and cut back into mainland Panama´. It was a very pleasant country lane the entire way. However, it did turn into a dirt road for most of 40 miles. Along that stretch it was single lane. We came across 2 consecutive old single-lane-rickety-rackety-bridges, just like the one that crossed into Cold Spring. Just before one bridge a part of the road had a deep sink-hole, marked by a tree planted in it. I Crossed out ont on to the first briidge with a smile. When I got out on to the bridge, I stopped to take the photo of the pot-hole. As I sat there, getting the camera out to take the photo I heard part of the bridge fall into the mud below. I thought ¨heighcky creighcky.¨ I was glad I had my ¨depends¨on.

Later in the day, at exactly 11:52 Panama’ time, (at full on high-way speeds, mind you) I noticed my shadow was still casting Southward, then, ½ second later, not South nor North, then a ½ second later, decidedly Norhtward. I thought ¨right on¨, the ¨Uncle Walternox.¨ The sun, due to the earth´s wobble, on its journey southward across the earth, combined with Uncle Walter moving northward, has just crossed Uncle Walter. Chevre! From now on, Uncle Walter´s shadow will be casting Northward and not Southward; the sun, no longer in my eyes, but rather, if not for my bucket, burning my ¨comb-over¨. ¿Are you like totally jealous, Gator-bean??

Happy Uncle Walternox, everybody!!

Uncle Walter