tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20753848761208995592024-02-18T23:55:38.268-08:00Expedition RecoveryA page for the ramblings of Zack Sherman, the lead wanderer at Expedition recovery. This blog will include my travelog as well as more concise and targeted written pieces. Reviews and how to's on topics of adventure motorcycle and overland travel will be forthcoming as well.Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-24381163625221325262017-04-15T20:52:00.000-07:002017-04-15T21:43:48.150-07:00I went for a walk today<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgZRJT_DJPZI4FvMDuZpKnPAJU-K1_GYHud0MiGTFuQirSUmNOQO15PAkG221yDrez2Sg-IDIZ7nnfyY6HJdzngTnmeRMcMDRcOPIyDt5XpPTFowR5hF2B4uE1HWXMEoneX0ffoKWyds/s1600/.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgZRJT_DJPZI4FvMDuZpKnPAJU-K1_GYHud0MiGTFuQirSUmNOQO15PAkG221yDrez2Sg-IDIZ7nnfyY6HJdzngTnmeRMcMDRcOPIyDt5XpPTFowR5hF2B4uE1HWXMEoneX0ffoKWyds/s640/.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The cool crisp morning air instantly
shocked me into remembrance, mostly the absence of Woden. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
This was my first walk without him and I miss him. I miss him every day. I soon
teared up and began to cry. I gave into the sadness, the heartbreak of loss, and
the memory of that traumatic experience. I walked our usual route that we took
so many times before, letting my mind wander.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Q0Kvwt9bIUO4k-i3BI2W1tNZQff_KdKzH_-llCpVQgcdGDWwnwNTC-wPvRDXvIVqyiU9uDDuTAVEmPYaL_OINLgFmtS7NbWVJeQ8pGNNDt9XLkagIv60mQFiBoBQHg1v_xFlzdwqhm0/s1600/Woden+and+Cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Q0Kvwt9bIUO4k-i3BI2W1tNZQff_KdKzH_-llCpVQgcdGDWwnwNTC-wPvRDXvIVqyiU9uDDuTAVEmPYaL_OINLgFmtS7NbWVJeQ8pGNNDt9XLkagIv60mQFiBoBQHg1v_xFlzdwqhm0/s640/Woden+and+Cat.jpg" width="638" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My current neck injury prevented me
from going for the run my body so desperately yearned for. Fear of re-injury
was forcing me to walk at the pace Woden and I so often have shared. Physical
pain along with the emotional pain of loss forced me to contemplate what was
going on inside my head. I reflected on the rapidly ending derby season and the
goals I set for myself. These thoughts brought on worries and fears of new
endeavors such as climbing, which caused the current injury. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
I continued walking and just letting myself feel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
I thought about myself. About one year ago or even six or seven months ago, I
would not have let myself feel. Not like this anyways. Not without fearing how
I felt, not accepting it, acknowledging it and recognizing the power it had
over me. I could see the work I put in and the growth that had occurred. Each
new step was full of confidence and pride, supported by all of my
accomplishments and hard work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I thought about how happy I am for
Zack to be home after so long. I thought about how excited I am to see him and
continue building our life together. I thought about change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought about my fears about him leaving
and how things might be different between us when he came back. But, as I was walking
and recalling that fear I realized; Things will be a little different, and that
is perfectly okay. I am not afraid of the change any more. Why? Because change
is a part of growth and I want to continually grow and evolve. As an
individual, as a partner, as a friend, and even as a sister and daughter. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We are different people then we were
seven months ago.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We have experienced life and even
death. We have faced our own individual challenges and overcome them individually
and as partners. We have grown. We are two individuals in a partnership,
choosing to share and spend our life together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Coming from an abusive relationship, I was very codependent at one point
in my life. To not only know, but really understand what being an individual in
a true partnership means gives me confidence in myself like never before. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KMEvDpo1wHB4n_lV5GiHx1x3CSVsvaeNtcAc8SvjL1sr_ra5CMQk1Felp7RkQDMtVXroRnuX-vUlPWXdf-Kwgnj6S-5JRJSNctgeCOxPka1C6GInvNmSWcvFyVZ-MMkd_f6yagyb_1k/s1600/Cat+andZack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KMEvDpo1wHB4n_lV5GiHx1x3CSVsvaeNtcAc8SvjL1sr_ra5CMQk1Felp7RkQDMtVXroRnuX-vUlPWXdf-Kwgnj6S-5JRJSNctgeCOxPka1C6GInvNmSWcvFyVZ-MMkd_f6yagyb_1k/s640/Cat+andZack.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
As I was looping back around to the house, a sense of calm and happiness come
over me. It suddenly hit me, this is what my recovery looks like. I had taken
the time to go on a walk alone, just because I wanted to. I did not suppress
any of my emotions and I let myself feel. More importantly, I did not feel bad
for how I felt or try to explain away any of the feelings. I looked at the
past with perspective, acknowledged current fears, and looked to the future
with anticipation and excitement. I am becoming more comfortable with myself
each and every day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfYDd61yPdZ4xnspyxbmGQ6FR60NJb8cvcyHaDuvYcSzb-9H2H5qAJ_MpnAaOxnix9zfzYl_Y-w1aWaYWjYujmtvKvKpoVqFiApq8XkuKqcEqU69PyECIKg3EZ4PRVc8t3aAPsXe62PQ/s1600/Cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfYDd61yPdZ4xnspyxbmGQ6FR60NJb8cvcyHaDuvYcSzb-9H2H5qAJ_MpnAaOxnix9zfzYl_Y-w1aWaYWjYujmtvKvKpoVqFiApq8XkuKqcEqU69PyECIKg3EZ4PRVc8t3aAPsXe62PQ/s640/Cat.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">With each day that passes, I take a
confident step forward and start a new chapter in my healing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">By<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> Catherine Perkins</span> </span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Holmes Rd, North Pole, AK 99705, USA64.8045588 -147.412807339.282524299999992 171.2785987 90 -106.1042133tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-32605673070286080382017-04-15T20:20:00.000-07:002017-04-15T20:21:27.174-07:00But I want it now<div class="MsoNormal">
“Making room for second dinners?” Was Vera’s quip from her
place among the pile of blankets and cats upon the love seat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You know, roasted vegetables and ice cream.’ I responded<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It would seem like a simple enough exchange from two friends
cooking together after some shopping, except that we hadn’t left the house all
day. It had been a lazy Saturday morning in Sacramento and by dinner we had
decided why leave the house at all.
Pizza was ordered. Veggies were chopped and roasted. But we just didn’t have everything we needed.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZDG1qnt2WNBg7pgamiVw6vh37UYjtxKVVGH27dFCOxePu4YH0FmRzMaH48ltbkljYn2nzrT5ZFgY_yWj2W6MUHshhBe3eXYXGNkfJ4z4mP-WF1IteYINrXcg5S9GnIP9Z4uuk3roqFCd/s1600/20170415_193636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZDG1qnt2WNBg7pgamiVw6vh37UYjtxKVVGH27dFCOxePu4YH0FmRzMaH48ltbkljYn2nzrT5ZFgY_yWj2W6MUHshhBe3eXYXGNkfJ4z4mP-WF1IteYINrXcg5S9GnIP9Z4uuk3roqFCd/s640/20170415_193636.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What to do if your out sick and still want fresh fruit and some ice cream....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just a few weeks ago I was in Central America and in just a
few weeks I will be back in central Alaska.
While a few thousand miles either way doesn’t seem like much, it is
literally worlds apart. Yet here in northern California I didn’t have to go
anywhere. Within the last few months I was in places that I would spend an entire
day looking for just a pad lock and a security cable, and not find either that
fit my needs. Now I was in a place where a few clicks resulted in not just a
pizza delivery, but also in groceries arriving within an hour.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The height of laziness has been achieved. From my place among
a pile of quilts in a reclining chair I had managed both dinner and regular
supplies to be whisked to our door with the slightest whim and quickest of
selections on <a href="https://primenow.amazon.com/" target="_blank">Amazon Prime Now</a>.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIQdmqDQBcyl88tvwKcjvGYil0bBlNBefvxd5Ccr9myA0cm5r707T_iCB5vzMTxnG1m69eeBbOQp7BuHj7yNFzJdyTvP_SvMI-Di1ePJWruKmK6Z8cbanWEt5UTHyz127BwccSyBcVsXI/s1600/Screenshot_20170415-193808.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIQdmqDQBcyl88tvwKcjvGYil0bBlNBefvxd5Ccr9myA0cm5r707T_iCB5vzMTxnG1m69eeBbOQp7BuHj7yNFzJdyTvP_SvMI-Di1ePJWruKmK6Z8cbanWEt5UTHyz127BwccSyBcVsXI/s640/Screenshot_20170415-193808.png" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, if you ordered pizza, why not ice cream?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So is it a bad thing?
Probably not. But I can assure
you that if I had the ability to be this lazy all the time, not just when I am <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isTLd2tFP7w" target="_blank">down with a sickness</a>, it could quickly result in both a depletion of my bank account and in increase
in my circumference.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">By Zack Sherman</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0Sacramento, CA, USA38.5815719 -121.4943996000000138.1842559 -122.13984660000001 38.978887900000004 -120.8489526tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-21710493762708583542017-01-02T22:11:00.002-08:002017-01-02T22:11:55.515-08:00With a heavy heart we say good by to our director of moral<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is with a heavy heart that I say good bye to my best
friend, and my director of moral support. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Woden was an amazing dog who came into my life and
brightened every day of it. He believed with all his heart that he was a person
too and just couldn’t figure out why he didn’t get all the same privileges that
rest of the people got. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MNFDI4jo67TjwQCV_T7QqKQLQGKByKsEPvXths_PfrM4DIihDx82wlSI2bZImIieaFcMWoQPGU7nEkY2bRAkrppXI0oeX2JLqrC7-MmeyyT0PKb_nYB4cv0W7T4gX-Grlxj7KjiPC5Gx/s1600/IMG_9993.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MNFDI4jo67TjwQCV_T7QqKQLQGKByKsEPvXths_PfrM4DIihDx82wlSI2bZImIieaFcMWoQPGU7nEkY2bRAkrppXI0oeX2JLqrC7-MmeyyT0PKb_nYB4cv0W7T4gX-Grlxj7KjiPC5Gx/s640/IMG_9993.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
He entered this world on February 9<sup>th</sup> of 2012 and
came home to live me with me in Alaska on April 14<sup>th</sup> of 2012. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-phEgh8xWBuuMNIyg_wpqfIR-y5n2f97p-FoDKA40bMXjd6XfW9l-7PRhvpV32REajg2k_9YiQ8Uh9b__UfxuKrtFJG3-M6lMGr5P1qB5TMhGtJItub48rja9ps5ypliGSh86bOCS9VwU/s1600/465086_3725563063616_1116725286_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-phEgh8xWBuuMNIyg_wpqfIR-y5n2f97p-FoDKA40bMXjd6XfW9l-7PRhvpV32REajg2k_9YiQ8Uh9b__UfxuKrtFJG3-M6lMGr5P1qB5TMhGtJItub48rja9ps5ypliGSh86bOCS9VwU/s640/465086_3725563063616_1116725286_o.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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o:title=""/>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
His first day in Alaska was spent with me on the gun range
where he seemed drawn to the smell of all the instructors, despite a lot of
very eager police recruits wanting to see him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XehK0vLq_-F-kmk1AzW4n6wIMHHAXKj-HJiq7k_VqAC0oXm28n9s9LdWhOnkxBxfegWAEw-lyav2tFveKphMBvQ7XiedjcFqUMZFhi6sbS1o689ZctPG0sJFScsj2J34IXHgO9-fs8xG/s1600/1546427_10202847552375825_467015242_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XehK0vLq_-F-kmk1AzW4n6wIMHHAXKj-HJiq7k_VqAC0oXm28n9s9LdWhOnkxBxfegWAEw-lyav2tFveKphMBvQ7XiedjcFqUMZFhi6sbS1o689ZctPG0sJFScsj2J34IXHgO9-fs8xG/s640/1546427_10202847552375825_467015242_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
He started out as the only dog of the house but came to
share the space with his begrudging mentor Mop, the old man of the house who
made sure to show Woden who was boss. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuJwE-2-YG84ArC7-8IgBemeZ1YU5s6VyCK7iRs0pM3NGF36u9pGpxjlRJFfOFG4QEJLQs4u6SWzC70HfliVxPXFzYNE4bUVcC30Z-JtpxdaUeEv7l2Am6YCHGFzanFC7SH7Cop1TLAYJ/s1600/15870748_10211393914111644_2005893858_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAuJwE-2-YG84ArC7-8IgBemeZ1YU5s6VyCK7iRs0pM3NGF36u9pGpxjlRJFfOFG4QEJLQs4u6SWzC70HfliVxPXFzYNE4bUVcC30Z-JtpxdaUeEv7l2Am6YCHGFzanFC7SH7Cop1TLAYJ/s640/15870748_10211393914111644_2005893858_n.jpg" width="352" /></a></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
Woden ended up at his peak weighing the same 185 pounds as
his father, Zack Sherman, and was always willing to play and wrestle. Like his dad, he had a knack for jujitsu and
was great at avoiding take downs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-A80RXWLPgbIX9Y88xCEpiW-s68SqbGp745XVkGngIFcBjZuQ2rjGmjO9jc_a9xb3VSQvWivyOvx1lYxwlbSW11y-jwTQbQxXsiVfIHYsQZOOvonDgEeGpP33D0ecuhf5W2fbY73H_IHT/s1600/15857901_10211393914071643_1014623260_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-A80RXWLPgbIX9Y88xCEpiW-s68SqbGp745XVkGngIFcBjZuQ2rjGmjO9jc_a9xb3VSQvWivyOvx1lYxwlbSW11y-jwTQbQxXsiVfIHYsQZOOvonDgEeGpP33D0ecuhf5W2fbY73H_IHT/s640/15857901_10211393914071643_1014623260_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
He spent the last year of his life learning to cope with not
getting to sleep on the bed because his mom, Catherine Perkins, took over what
was his spot but he never seemed to hold that against her instead loving the
times when he would get dog sitters or one parent was away so he could sleep on
the bed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He passed today, the 2<sup>nd</sup> of January, suddenly and
without pain cuddling on the couch with his head in his mom’s lap as he loved
to do. His parents are coping with his passing as best they can but glad to
know he had many friends and will live on in our hearts for eternity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Woden Sherman-Perkins February 9th 2012-January 2<sup>nd</sup>
2017. Woden leaves behind his biological
father Diesel and his biological mother Rynka as well as her adoptive parents
Zack and Catherine. He also leaves behind 14 brothers and sisters who he was
never able to play with after moving to Alaska but I am sure he looks forward
to seeing again in Valhalla.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
As of this time the family is not planning public services
for Woden.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-1792186561745498952016-12-19T23:33:00.000-08:002018-08-10T02:26:53.729-07:00Parting ways<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">12/19/16 Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala to Flores, Guatemala <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">182.2 kilometers ridden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Aaron, Ed, and I awoke near 8:30 am. It had been an on-and-off
night of sleep for me as the AC was pointing straight at me so the guys had it
rather high to get them cooled off. I was cold enough to have to get up in the
night to layer. I checked my laundry first thing but even with the heat it had
not dried overnight on the line outside the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We went for breakfast just a few doors up the road from the hotel.
It was a small place but we were able to get Wi-Fi so it was an easy win. It
was a basic breakfast of eggs scrambled with ham (the menu had said bacon),
some fried beans and a side of tortillas. We all worked on our phones to get
caught up on admin we couldn't do without Wi-Fi. These sorts of meals with all
of us looking at our phones were starting to happen more after a week of
travelling together.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_C2ZIvzMrxnq9AjDPXQkW-Act56Lc7skHt4roojYAbVVL6Lh9CZmtBN-ehbAq2glLciM3YcWg-hXAyRedwTCHWaZGBTdtnlI5knvRp2vy7MwYJno-h18so2gx4Tsq4Z40UOPMMr2BCizy/s1600/20161219_101156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_C2ZIvzMrxnq9AjDPXQkW-Act56Lc7skHt4roojYAbVVL6Lh9CZmtBN-ehbAq2glLciM3YcWg-hXAyRedwTCHWaZGBTdtnlI5knvRp2vy7MwYJno-h18so2gx4Tsq4Z40UOPMMr2BCizy/s640/20161219_101156.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Following breakfast we all headed back to the room to pack. All of
my clothes were still not dry and I had to begin rotating them down into the
sunniest spot and rolling those that were mostly dry. It made me the last to
get things packed and loaded up on my bike. There was some money changing hands
between us to get everyone caught up after the costs of the border crossings
and to cover the room. They didn't take credit cards so I had to play banker
since I was the only one who had managed to get a decent amount of cash out
since entering Guatemala <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We all moved our bikes out of the gated courtyard and rode out
front to the restaurant we had eaten breakfast at. Since it was time to plan
each of our ways around the country Wi-Fi was again the deciding factor. Ed and
Aaron decided they needed to go to town for local sim cards for their phones.
Since my phone was supposedly covered I opted to stay in place and wait for
them. I used the time to get some on-line stuff caught up as well as to upload
a video from my last day in Belize. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The guys were able to get their sim cards but didn’t want to burn
their newly acquired data and so we chose to eat lunch in the same place so we
could keep using the Wi-Fi. They both had burgers which were tiny and looked
terrible, while I had a roast chicken with onions taco. Mine was pretty good
right up until I found the bone in the middle of a bite and managed to do some
damage to my tongue and gums. Besides a little pain, it was good on all other
counts though. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We had each individually chosen Flores as our next stop but left
out at our own pace. Aaron was out first, then Ed and finally me. I passed Ed and
Ninty on the road, but never caught up to Aaron. Despite many more
conversations on-line, this would likely be our last time to see each other due
to diverging plans. I was also uncomfortable traveling with others after so
long on my own and was really ready to get back to solo travel. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TzKYOJ-gB9fb4DQGy_QvJAFp_IAhS4AVwGHiW7YxteLbJgUYD6_XzhN7rk1tifX96MDuabvLxlhJkPNlEveVMrEWBFkieOdeiGlAF44X6V9MrtmaBZeIvF7Veq5VPcI-FPKJnVt_3XtG/s1600/Gmata+tree+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="1600" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TzKYOJ-gB9fb4DQGy_QvJAFp_IAhS4AVwGHiW7YxteLbJgUYD6_XzhN7rk1tifX96MDuabvLxlhJkPNlEveVMrEWBFkieOdeiGlAF44X6V9MrtmaBZeIvF7Veq5VPcI-FPKJnVt_3XtG/s640/Gmata+tree+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Along the way I stopped to take photos of a beautiful tree along
the road and managed to have the bike a little too upright on the stand and the
wind blew it over on its side and off the embankment. I unhooked the bags
that hadn't just dumped their contents on the ground and tried to stand it up.
While it had been pretty simple to stand it up when it was on flat ground, with
it laid on its side with the bike on the embankment I just couldn't quite
manage it. Just as was getting it spun around a van of guys jumped out to help
and we got it up easily. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkZd55uKypq0LwptuOzEY3geMnY6_S_LXtf-g-jo9zz8W7CKyhU_hBZ7dtLB6MNpxLf3WxEZvN8PpSOeQFYv-u8oJcjhFjsL5ZEtqBOTI92TIYiweXWE4EoK4pN8onkn06Mg-HgsTOdjz/s1600/nap+time.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkZd55uKypq0LwptuOzEY3geMnY6_S_LXtf-g-jo9zz8W7CKyhU_hBZ7dtLB6MNpxLf3WxEZvN8PpSOeQFYv-u8oJcjhFjsL5ZEtqBOTI92TIYiweXWE4EoK4pN8onkn06Mg-HgsTOdjz/s640/nap+time.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lazy bike.... just naps wherever it likes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">As I was getting the bike loaded again, Ed arrived and asked what
was up. I explained the situation and he just smiled and agreed that it
happens. I told him I was good and he set off. I got the photos I had stopped
for and headed on down the road. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The ride to Flores was simple enough, though I caught some rain.
The road here was okay asphalt with far fewer topas than Mexico. The route was
initially curvy and lined with spectacular views but turned into more of a
thoroughfare as I got closer to Flores. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I got into town and did a quick lap just to see the small island
at the end of the isthmus. It was a nice enough place, but it looked expensive.
Since it was still early in the day I left and opted to take Aaron's idea and
just ride the loop around the outside of the large lake. As I made my loop the
rain came on hard and drenched me pretty solidly. I kept riding and found some
of the slick-topped hard-packed mud and almost went down at speed when the back
end did a shimmy several feet to each side and threatened to make the day
rough. I was able to ride it out and a bit after dark I finished the 90 or so
kilometer loop wet, but without incident.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I went to the Burger King in hopes of using Wi-Fi to find a cheap
place to stay. I wasn’t interested in eating their and the lack of available
internet meant I had no reason to stay. I fell back on using the Garmin to find
the nearest hostel, which was listed as the Green Monkey on the island of
Flores. I set out but didn't find it where the GPS said it would be. I looked
around but found no signs to indicate where to go. The next closest hostel was
around the corner so I went there. It turns out that it was actually a hotel,
but the price for a single private room was 100 Guatemalan and she said told me
it was a hot shower so I figured it was worth it. I got the bike unloaded
before changing and heading to find food. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrnj5WnGL55XNnVrtCmgfroMNOp5XcB00Gu8q7aEP8dvzYgW5QDJXudUMRagJZqDIByu_qY6Q-eDyP7N9C2WXEo0IDwm12kxD5zTCm0ZtYeMUJjATbUMcogELvMphL2LW_X26RmiuUxie/s1600/20161219_203823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrnj5WnGL55XNnVrtCmgfroMNOp5XcB00Gu8q7aEP8dvzYgW5QDJXudUMRagJZqDIByu_qY6Q-eDyP7N9C2WXEo0IDwm12kxD5zTCm0ZtYeMUJjATbUMcogELvMphL2LW_X26RmiuUxie/s640/20161219_203823.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I met a few Swedish women while I was looking for a place to eat
and they told me that a spot around the corner was good and cheap. I had
complimented one of them, Emilie, on her sleeve of tattoos and so after the
brief introduction I was invited to dine with them. We all got the same chicken
burritos with salad instead of fries. The meal was great and both seemed really
nice. Following dinner I walked them back to their hostel, the Green Monkey,
which was right where the GPS had shown it but not labeled at all. I went back
to my room to spend the time talking on-line and trying to catch up journals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-39916214102571107162016-12-18T16:14:00.000-08:002017-10-12T16:15:41.041-07:00It sure has been great Belize, but it's time to go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIz1ZbG24KkfGjEgzOqwExgHzdjxh1MX0I0ykGDEy8Lqnw5hJkMyhIUzJhiHmEOG7bwe_Tr1lxKKg2MJEOhh4bXUPwaz0mXXMED7_089Vh3n9D85j4UxbDZjFJu-BhT51Yqj-QGlUoY-5/s1600/20161218_135014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIz1ZbG24KkfGjEgzOqwExgHzdjxh1MX0I0ykGDEy8Lqnw5hJkMyhIUzJhiHmEOG7bwe_Tr1lxKKg2MJEOhh4bXUPwaz0mXXMED7_089Vh3n9D85j4UxbDZjFJu-BhT51Yqj-QGlUoY-5/s640/20161218_135014.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">12/18/16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">San Ignacio, Belize to
Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">19.6 kilometers ridden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I started out slowly
getting ready before taking a final shower in the small bathroom by my room.
The ability to get the water temperature to something other than arctic blast
or surface of the sun seems to be getting worse each day. We went out for
breakfast at a place called pops. It was the most western place I had been too
in weeks. It had vinyl diner booths in a deep red color that would be at home in any greasy spoon in the US. I ate a bacon and cheese omelet with pancakes but paid more for it
than I would have at a less </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">Americanized</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> place.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We went back to our
hotel and Aaron, Ed, and I sat around exchanging digital files of our photos
and videos so we each had copies of everyone’s media from Belize. It took a
long time so as each of us finished we set off separately to be ready to leave.
I was the last one out at past 12:30 but when I got up to Ed's hostel he and
Aaron were both still there. We talked a bit about the day and all set off on
our own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I grabbed fuel and hit
the road for the ruins at </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">Xunantunich</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> and made a slow run there at
about 90 kph. Despite leaving last, I was the first one to the hand crank ferry that crossed the river to the site of the ruins. The little barge was just leaving as I arrived so I got to watch the whole process of the two men cranking it across the river and back. Aaron arrived
before it had made the return trip and we boarded together and got cranked
across to the other side.</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzCPMQr97rKiD14J5zLgazZdj8Ug9WYHdmFFUEFmzgIbhXNBV1aDJFRzg0s9wrDNw5WtadLkknE-UnG7prV_HAEKb1pos4YipYvtqFtjfKjYYFbjHb13-KY54aP6F9P2cB8I3NwtTYzgg/s1600/20161218_132742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzCPMQr97rKiD14J5zLgazZdj8Ug9WYHdmFFUEFmzgIbhXNBV1aDJFRzg0s9wrDNw5WtadLkknE-UnG7prV_HAEKb1pos4YipYvtqFtjfKjYYFbjHb13-KY54aP6F9P2cB8I3NwtTYzgg/s640/20161218_132742.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So how many horse power is two dudes with a crank?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It was a blazing hot day and I decided I needed some sugars to make it though the exploration, so after Aaron and I got our bikes and gear secured under covers, with locks, and cabled together I grabbed a coke from the little store on site.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The ruins themselves were spectacular and we were
able to climb to the top of the tallest and most intact section of the site.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtGwuTEXkMTkQOTW38DoTHKUnSqo-tT_DqPzaxE7ZVm6bu0RVYP13gPgcS_mKVLj00w0Q8hrOzlwnikmWjv1xjX2tnyj1bmT6mWmCo-JsGWTE1RsyiKP8KiUyc94PjyRue86e4WDLc-31/s1600/20161218_135024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtGwuTEXkMTkQOTW38DoTHKUnSqo-tT_DqPzaxE7ZVm6bu0RVYP13gPgcS_mKVLj00w0Q8hrOzlwnikmWjv1xjX2tnyj1bmT6mWmCo-JsGWTE1RsyiKP8KiUyc94PjyRue86e4WDLc-31/s640/20161218_135024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The site really was amazing and not very crowded at all.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eu1R7XHW9wXaENY_RXR2VtquccXNRX8c6lfCujd-4cqUyBM_vfg_bxwK8LOvot9shA65MH7ieefwNNrk1QzpAmG8REq3tUkuO0TXjzyTSKUtV9mhv1KgF7nwxQBTj0HAvdtFTOCyL8pa/s1600/20161218_141517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eu1R7XHW9wXaENY_RXR2VtquccXNRX8c6lfCujd-4cqUyBM_vfg_bxwK8LOvot9shA65MH7ieefwNNrk1QzpAmG8REq3tUkuO0TXjzyTSKUtV9mhv1KgF7nwxQBTj0HAvdtFTOCyL8pa/s640/20161218_141517.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back to where I took the last photo, but this time from the top of the ruins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL10nel-iSOjCHSF_hExHstrT5ivBvJRPwwPMXQSLQpfZ8dSaYB_Qwv9srTj7sH5lMIZaV_Ps5fLEC9eWei27lvbuBPqCW9peU-AwbXmLVBn3es94BY-TP1yb6u-JcDRBJCOPhIJnec0me/s1600/20161218_141551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL10nel-iSOjCHSF_hExHstrT5ivBvJRPwwPMXQSLQpfZ8dSaYB_Qwv9srTj7sH5lMIZaV_Ps5fLEC9eWei27lvbuBPqCW9peU-AwbXmLVBn3es94BY-TP1yb6u-JcDRBJCOPhIJnec0me/s640/20161218_141551.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a couple of former soldiers on over watch with a few current ones. Armies are armies and soldiers are soldiers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I took many
photos and as I reached the top to join Aaron we saw Ed approaching the tower.
I shot some photos and video from the top of the tower before we all descended
to check out the rest of the site and head for the bikes. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIfsR1Zd0Nz2b6pvMfanQ1XBtxv2DAE2wx6EoVTS6UnGWU1YFoOBG35sAoZDqpxk31YSvCs80RmlpXAmNI1Yo_uWb91Yp16QhWyMst1TmVUNjEkt4PCxqEe_Rtf01J2FB0Q5fTOyx8GeR/s1600/20161218_143249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIfsR1Zd0Nz2b6pvMfanQ1XBtxv2DAE2wx6EoVTS6UnGWU1YFoOBG35sAoZDqpxk31YSvCs80RmlpXAmNI1Yo_uWb91Yp16QhWyMst1TmVUNjEkt4PCxqEe_Rtf01J2FB0Q5fTOyx8GeR/s640/20161218_143249.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found this little guy on the climb down.</td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWLRirBfJDyX_04JX5VXS9dRKC4xTNohPEsJgib6Se09sRji_id1yq5nNlHLxE-eJ6c1wqMUMQExjB9kRkJEqQL1thdRP9hyphenhyphenl4NFglsGT78Vo9poru7QCVxVedihymuFWoFN_TrZMwsQF/s1600/20161218_143923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWLRirBfJDyX_04JX5VXS9dRKC4xTNohPEsJgib6Se09sRji_id1yq5nNlHLxE-eJ6c1wqMUMQExjB9kRkJEqQL1thdRP9hyphenhyphenl4NFglsGT78Vo9poru7QCVxVedihymuFWoFN_TrZMwsQF/s640/20161218_143923.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The intrepid explorers from England....</td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtRZJMkrlkHk63qyOQlBbwicFjzRwCwGqrzHKGr00ycIU49S19fnPkw5dLWYfQYY2gjsrG5GG6DV09aGo5cNglGl0JTs1xEREj-0F4kW2AXtIuuKGBBdu_e1vZgDeX-qSdWP-YsYQudh4/s1600/20161218_144003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtRZJMkrlkHk63qyOQlBbwicFjzRwCwGqrzHKGr00ycIU49S19fnPkw5dLWYfQYY2gjsrG5GG6DV09aGo5cNglGl0JTs1xEREj-0F4kW2AXtIuuKGBBdu_e1vZgDeX-qSdWP-YsYQudh4/s640/20161218_144003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaron is clearly a rules follower.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We rode from there to
the boarder together and made our way through the exit process. It was a 40
Belize dollar ($20 US) exit fee to get out and then some struggle to find where
to get our vehicle papers cancelled. Crossing into Guatemala without much
issue. The Guatemalan side of the boarder was a good bit more complicated. We
got the bike fumigation taken care of, but you could only pay in Guatemalan or
US so I covered everyone’s fumigation since I had US dollars. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Then the fun started. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The boarder helpers were
everywhere and even when we said we were good and didn't need help, one latched
on anyway. It took a few hours to get ourselves checked in, the bikes assessed
and entry papers done so we could pay our import fee of 160 Guatemalan Quetzals.
The bank would not take cards or US so we had to use the money changers. During
the process Aaron had to go for a copy of his drivers license so he had to get
the fixer to take him. I had left my GoPro on and shooting a time lapse so I
was nervously watching the bike like a hawk. When it was all said and done I
still refused to pay the helper as I had told him I wouldn't from the outset.
Aaron and Ed each paid and we set off. We made a mostly clean get away, though
Aaron did manage to drop his bike trying to leave the parking area in front of the aduana. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We rode into town and
got a triple room with AC at the first hotel up the road. It was $250
Guatemalan but with each of us there it was just a hair over $10 US each. Once
settled we went to the ATM, where mistakes were rife but I got out 2000
Guatemalan to hopefully get me through. Aaron and Ed were both not as lucky and
got either much less or no money at all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We walked through town
where a festival was happening and took in some of the sites as we looked for a
place to eat. After a loop we settled on a fried chicken place and tucked in
for a meal. After dinner we walked a few more of the shops and stalls where
Aaron and Ed bought some fireworks that they proceeded to light off in a park
where some young kids were doing the same. It was nice to watch the kids playing
with abandon and not being nannied to death by helicopter parents. A last set
of larger fireworks were set off on a street corner where one rocketed away
across the street, up a lamp post, and nearly hit a motorcyclist stopped
talking on his phone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The guys opted to go
back and buy more fireworks and wander while I chose to go back to the
room and hand wash my clothes using the wash powder I had bought while out. It took
me a long bit to wash my clothes in alternating buckets of water in the large
concrete basin by head lamp, but it felt good to be doing some work. The guys
came back while I was still working and Aaron scared the hell out of me. They
stood about while I finished and I went about hanging my clothes up on the line
to dry. I spent the rest of the night writing and reviewing footage while Aaron
journaled and Ed played games on his laptop. It was to be our last night staying as a group but it sure had been a hell of a week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-77311386967298664642016-12-17T16:28:00.000-08:002017-10-10T23:23:39.263-07:00Expat TIG welders, Giant caves, and other adventures in Belize <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8bBWOpsgUQtMp5ueRfJf5LG6AJ4lY0wQOPgmD3s4YKes7_tZXB4m-Bgm5dL8TsthOVjadtt8fngU83emcimpAofmMroVq3xz8GMcN1AbT8pKJ2FLs7R9n4RsA5VvYPEWlfhVZecJOwMG/s1600/Cave+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8bBWOpsgUQtMp5ueRfJf5LG6AJ4lY0wQOPgmD3s4YKes7_tZXB4m-Bgm5dL8TsthOVjadtt8fngU83emcimpAofmMroVq3xz8GMcN1AbT8pKJ2FLs7R9n4RsA5VvYPEWlfhVZecJOwMG/s640/Cave+view.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A muddy CB in front of the Rio Frio Cave complex</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">12/17/16 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">San Ignacio, Bel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">108.5 kilometers ridden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">Morning started off with a trip up the street for the</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> cheap breakfast Christine had told me
about, it was a breakfast burrito and a large lime juice for the equivalent of about $2.50 US. The burrito was basic but tasty and the lime juice was a refreshing start to the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">After the beating the rough road gave the little C90, I went on a walkabout with Ed and Aaron to go get
the exhaust on Ninty fixed. It took most of the morning but we ended up getting some clues and finding a
Canadian welder who had emigrated to Belize. He did a great job TIG welding the exhaust and it came out looking better than new. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRamnbEUpfQRF6YzWfv_CWsMI-PJOSAtrBsGoy6vfNM-zd2neH1YfrEBZKTk5aWqBqHNePgf_Y8OK8Pq0K-VJsXART8hyphenhyphent3Xa5o5ot4sk-MocCsfdswLvA8H3-DdTHhvM65C1iYxl4mq4i/s1600/20161217_133358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRamnbEUpfQRF6YzWfv_CWsMI-PJOSAtrBsGoy6vfNM-zd2neH1YfrEBZKTk5aWqBqHNePgf_Y8OK8Pq0K-VJsXART8hyphenhyphent3Xa5o5ot4sk-MocCsfdswLvA8H3-DdTHhvM65C1iYxl4mq4i/s640/20161217_133358.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ed March giving a we wink while he gets the tip welded. Just the tip, just for a minute.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">We managed to get a little twisted up on the route before walking across the low wooden bridge that had carried us into town. Along the way we wandered through a market with
lots of hand crafts and cheap Chinese products. I could tell I was in a more tourist oriented town than most I had stayed in so far. I wasn't interested in anything
there and was glad when we all walked back for food. Ed and Aaron went for Chinese and I wandered
down for Rice and Beans with stew chicken. I was really starting to feel the difference between riding and exploring alone or with just one person you really click with. Arron and Ed are both amazing guys but it was totally different to be thinking about balancing what I wanted to be doing with what they wanted to be doing. While we were all independent travelers and capable of acting on our own, there is still a subconscious pressure to balance everyone's wants even in the most casual of traveling companions. I was finding myself being short with people and easy to frustration because of this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vVyZw6h7pRNm5_T8hgo4Vx4sBtGq84V6g2ZpZxxE05A_VhWyiGu9HMGCiju4eF6Sh7y_nCuLhQUu0hC1OkX-Bs6y1V0BYZoUs2e5M4I-blU57lDv9eKszIPYbH-501Udp72EcK2KvuRB/s1600/20161217_144436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vVyZw6h7pRNm5_T8hgo4Vx4sBtGq84V6g2ZpZxxE05A_VhWyiGu9HMGCiju4eF6Sh7y_nCuLhQUu0hC1OkX-Bs6y1V0BYZoUs2e5M4I-blU57lDv9eKszIPYbH-501Udp72EcK2KvuRB/s640/20161217_144436.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some Belize rice and beans. Good, but still not as good as that first roadside shack.</td></tr>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">When I got back to the hotel Ed was already geared up and ready to head back out to check out a set of waterfalls near where we were yesterday. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I threw on my kit on as quickly as I could and
loaded up the bike. Ed and I set off and covered the miles to the Rio Frio Cave
at a good clip. The roads were mostly dry and hard packed, with Ed leading
the pace was quick but not mental. We made it to the cave and rode the bikes
down concrete the stairs to the beach. Ed and I both set about getting photos and videos we wanted while exploring the area individually. I enjoyed seeing the
cave but only got a few decent shots due to the time of day and available light. I would have loved to swim in the cave but we just didn't have the time today.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CUtLR85k0KD8BgBfJ3jG2ZoUaIlXObY0nTiZsyUXMLu1YuLN-HV7Nlhk4Eg3a6_vVj-l54ZWiwwP_z8ul6kjDx3dEQpWjYvDcKGGCJ4Q5g7DwaobQfNsDlsevshmwW8VRi5uK44ijcb6/s1600/Cave+pools.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CUtLR85k0KD8BgBfJ3jG2ZoUaIlXObY0nTiZsyUXMLu1YuLN-HV7Nlhk4Eg3a6_vVj-l54ZWiwwP_z8ul6kjDx3dEQpWjYvDcKGGCJ4Q5g7DwaobQfNsDlsevshmwW8VRi5uK44ijcb6/s640/Cave+pools.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I would have loved to have enough time for a swim but it just wasn't there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7bWxd0rXuIeZZX0ifXdlCM4AYaLtl9N8aupRJ6UlSJEyi9PMjyg3FEf-K4kW-m7NjOOitjRd-qDL-a53f4Cm5FPyiQOcGu-tZ6MR5zFiuIsLWX5RvGTAyot-o_5ULq9mw6vsy2Q7iXNe/s1600/Inside+the+cave.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7bWxd0rXuIeZZX0ifXdlCM4AYaLtl9N8aupRJ6UlSJEyi9PMjyg3FEf-K4kW-m7NjOOitjRd-qDL-a53f4Cm5FPyiQOcGu-tZ6MR5zFiuIsLWX5RvGTAyot-o_5ULq9mw6vsy2Q7iXNe/s640/Inside+the+cave.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rio Frio is a beautiful cave complex full of many small waterfalls.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">We cleared out from the cave but had to turn back because Ed
wasn't sure if he had left his hard drive on the beach. I took out first and ripped a quick
pace for the purpose of filming without someone out front. The hard drive
wasn't there and so we turned back and rode back to town in the dark. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHtpon9K4j-oObATiIgIQVK_iURczkhF1gV2EAc4EQA9Wp_Q8zywFgeNIgIN-BBj9Fski2dGt1OW2vvKAx7IXnW4PbkF6wlAE3uMcIsJcyds5D68_6IsLQogCpXnea_6Zacc1zQ_6-Wgb/s1600/Beauty+of+the+forest+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaHtpon9K4j-oObATiIgIQVK_iURczkhF1gV2EAc4EQA9Wp_Q8zywFgeNIgIN-BBj9Fski2dGt1OW2vvKAx7IXnW4PbkF6wlAE3uMcIsJcyds5D68_6IsLQogCpXnea_6Zacc1zQ_6-Wgb/s640/Beauty+of+the+forest+.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I never get enough of beautiful and interesting trees </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The group all went back to the first curry place
and had dinner with Aaron, Christine, and four of Christine's friends. Food was
okay and I had the lamb curry that Ed and Aaron were raving about. They were right, it was quite good. We all chose to be gluttons again and we each had a piece of lemon pie for dessert. We walked down and
ended up splitting into our small group of four to go for beers. I was in
enough pain that I felt myself getting even shorter than after the market and excused myself to go back to
the hotel and get to sleep and hope the pain in my neck and shoulders would go down before morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0San Ignacio, Belize17.1522786 -89.08002269999997217.0915876 -89.160703699999971 17.212969599999997 -88.999341699999974tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-43871534910619006212016-12-16T15:33:00.000-08:002017-10-05T16:01:24.895-07:00Waterfall skinny dipping and other slick adventures<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Q0zULyOS54c8kjPyQDAyVfbiZpEVXU1FGkbkSgJy2qn3cYK59af8UcKnoZcK73rBiU4qvq_onj5MhhBDCTSrBqxQC5YsxCA94v8GlhTO8s0XwCBMyDx8ReKIfclGr_VouYJIOX9Yxvni/s1600/Edited+for+posting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Q0zULyOS54c8kjPyQDAyVfbiZpEVXU1FGkbkSgJy2qn3cYK59af8UcKnoZcK73rBiU4qvq_onj5MhhBDCTSrBqxQC5YsxCA94v8GlhTO8s0XwCBMyDx8ReKIfclGr_VouYJIOX9Yxvni/s640/Edited+for+posting.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">12/16/16 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">San Ignacio, Belize. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">106.6 kilometers ridden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Woke up and got in a quick bit of relaxing before
it was time to start getting ready to ride. Ed, Aaron, and I would be heading
out to Big Rock Falls and 1000 Foot Falls on the bikes. I got most of the prep
done and found out that Aaron had already eaten breakfast so I walked around to
the bar and restaurant combo we had been drinking at the night before. I got an
omelet with bacon, cheese and veggies and a side of "toast bread".
The toast bread was more like fry bread and was very good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">I went back to the hotel and Ed had arrived. We
finished prepping the bikes but Ed and Aaron then want to go for a few things
so we ended up at a smoothie shop where the guys grabbed wraps and I had a
smoothie. Service took the usual forever I have come to expect in Belize but
the smoothie was good. We went and geared up before setting off from the hotel
Tropicool. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The ride out was spectacular and full of both
twisty canyon type passes on good pavement and lots and lots of gnarly two
track and logging roads. We stopped for a bit so I could set up some ride-byes
on the DSLR on Tripod. It took a bunch of time but I really hope it ends up
being usable for later. The majority of the remaining ride out to Big Rock
Falls was spent in the rain and on some incredibly slick mud. Ed was riding
with his feet out like out riggers more often than not. I had a great time
playing aggressively on the bike as I did camera work with the gopro and helmet
cam. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">We made it to Big Rock Falls and I took my bike
down the small trail to where there were a number of horses tied up. I parked
the bike and took some photos while waiting on Ed and Aaron.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_r24LBjF8Xu6ctir9K_4kw2AuEe0V664sqxmqRY8FGn-WpuvjXt1COhAoZO6ctKIYKP3ZSuVMr1Etg1zgsXP2d46X1lauRwEaEtqzKuFQZycnSzVXvjoVhaaOE1qmDhgiSA_ZOO_PnxMN/s1600/Horses+for+courses.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_r24LBjF8Xu6ctir9K_4kw2AuEe0V664sqxmqRY8FGn-WpuvjXt1COhAoZO6ctKIYKP3ZSuVMr1Etg1zgsXP2d46X1lauRwEaEtqzKuFQZycnSzVXvjoVhaaOE1qmDhgiSA_ZOO_PnxMN/s640/Horses+for+courses.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decided to get a little artsy with my editing on this one</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">We hiked down the canyon to the river, passing
the hikers who had come in on the horses as they came up, and finding the rock
pools to be totally devoid of any people. A few moments after arriving Ed set
the tone by stripping down naked and taking photos by the falls. Aaron was the
first into the lower rock pools to swim with me splitting the difference as the
second to get naked and the second into the water for swimming. We swam in the
lower pools for a while before deciding to work our way up to the upper pools
and eventually the falls themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxzmU_oBNk4X-wkth7JGyDeKYXPPZB9olhftPPsYP15VwUPh8psIW7CKeyuLv8koJcTy5419-d94VvipurZMGNDHcXW0WmGy2cC6ap26nIvshUbyEcbktQoUM_0vq-_7o0JPgGyZ1yp6I/s1600/GOPR0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxzmU_oBNk4X-wkth7JGyDeKYXPPZB9olhftPPsYP15VwUPh8psIW7CKeyuLv8koJcTy5419-d94VvipurZMGNDHcXW0WmGy2cC6ap26nIvshUbyEcbktQoUM_0vq-_7o0JPgGyZ1yp6I/s640/GOPR0246.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">I shot a ton of gopro footage climbing on,
jumping off of, and just generally the falls themselves. After what was likely
an hour or so we called it and headed back to our stuff where Aaron had posted
up sunbathing. Just as I was headed back I saw Aaron motion to me because other
people had just arrived. I squatted down and pulled my towel to wrap myself in.
It was a bit of a chuckle to walk by the two guys and two girls as they went up
to the falls and I went back to my clothes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">We made the hike up the steep canyon wall
assisted by the placed rocks and wooden steps just barely more than a foot wide
and likely only 9 inches or so deep. The steps were weathered and studded with
crushed metal bottle caps nailed in place for traction. We each got our bikes
loaded and made for 1000 Foot Falls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxtliuyUrUs_tbNe-iPUvDOSZ_eV_F9_fOB3aA-eko6m4fauHcNFh1a3ucrVr4EGVLjgZK_1vDFM3WMrbozeo8MPZaMhHbeBOAjlOkEj3lXm1DdlFbofEDRAhh3_3ErLlCPEo6nE4X3AB/s1600/1000+foot+falls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxtliuyUrUs_tbNe-iPUvDOSZ_eV_F9_fOB3aA-eko6m4fauHcNFh1a3ucrVr4EGVLjgZK_1vDFM3WMrbozeo8MPZaMhHbeBOAjlOkEj3lXm1DdlFbofEDRAhh3_3ErLlCPEo6nE4X3AB/s320/1000+foot+falls.JPG" width="213" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The ride was good fun and I got to push myself
and the bike a good bit by setting up camera shots with the fender mounted
GoPro and my helmet camera. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">1000 Foot Falls was not nearly as impressive as I
hoped for and was actually a 1600 foot set of falls blocked by lots of trees.
We tried to get the most out of the trip though and all took photos and chatted
a bit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoigYazIApgnR2wBhAqXmm4DUmDtsxMtSsdyxlJu8hmVfhz4j_-2HtiCoUBwARCVbgVXhPu2tkN4qMqCACN_o4MQNVhDCNpNv0QDSiibNb2JzXLgLgRuM6EMD7hwud5ImBq3MgkvYMJlL7/s1600/Aaron+and+Ed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoigYazIApgnR2wBhAqXmm4DUmDtsxMtSsdyxlJu8hmVfhz4j_-2HtiCoUBwARCVbgVXhPu2tkN4qMqCACN_o4MQNVhDCNpNv0QDSiibNb2JzXLgLgRuM6EMD7hwud5ImBq3MgkvYMJlL7/s400/Aaron+and+Ed.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The ride back put us into darkness and with Ed's exhaust
having sheared off at the cylinder we were trying to take it easy and keep the
bumps to a minimum. I had a bit of a close call as I made a right hand turn
through the really good section of blacktop and an oncoming truck was taking
his bit out of not just the middle, but most of my lane too. It gave me a bit
of a scare. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">We got back and decided to go for dinner at a
different curry spot. It was the same place I had taken breakfast as well as
our watering hole the night before. I chose poorly and had the tandoori chicken
which was dry and basically shit. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fi9U2U0h3l4VEzP1uizb6bYId5xF6JMeIybLCHOqrCZRx8m1sczFYYIDa4_q-z3WOZ3lpA1kM_cqNDIbY5qUBh8RAwUS74SjtxGfJahDEHWUiREZU2Jki9W_WF0_BuexcrUmPDKatGlt/s1600/20161216_193810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fi9U2U0h3l4VEzP1uizb6bYId5xF6JMeIybLCHOqrCZRx8m1sczFYYIDa4_q-z3WOZ3lpA1kM_cqNDIbY5qUBh8RAwUS74SjtxGfJahDEHWUiREZU2Jki9W_WF0_BuexcrUmPDKatGlt/s640/20161216_193810.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The presentation was nice at least</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">After dinner we joined by a few of Christine's
friends. I had actually spent a large portion of the night talking with Cat. When everyone got up to leave I opted to stay behind
a bit and finish talking to Cat. When I finished talking to Cat and went to
find everyone I had no luck. I went into all the shit clubs and bars in the
area but just couldn't find them. I went back to the hotel and just used the Wi-Fi
for a bit and messaged them to say I was calling it a night. I stayed up to do
a bit of writing and called it a night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0San Ignacio, Belize17.1522786 -89.08002269999997217.0915876 -89.160703699999971 17.212969599999997 -88.999341699999974tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-82668523607341511782016-12-15T00:00:00.000-08:002017-06-17T13:00:58.525-07:00Moving inland<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPY_bkX-w4VVWRB_xdXeHHs2ZYfp7bOdpo8cQaVEATbpGvYfC6_yGilIil069SXZuaDvPReqEKtuHgSN9PO7S87HEDMKh_hN01C9VRy0h9eAs5MCfHu_GKZy1OcXzu3ds_99FibbUmhM8b/s1600/20161215_091109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPY_bkX-w4VVWRB_xdXeHHs2ZYfp7bOdpo8cQaVEATbpGvYfC6_yGilIil069SXZuaDvPReqEKtuHgSN9PO7S87HEDMKh_hN01C9VRy0h9eAs5MCfHu_GKZy1OcXzu3ds_99FibbUmhM8b/s640/20161215_091109.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">12/15/16 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Placencia, Belize to San Ignacio, Belize<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">198.3 kilometers ridden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Last night was incredibly hot so we opened up the
doors to the bunk house. It brought us a nice breeze but with it came the
mosquitoes. The whole night was spent tossing and turning. Either being too hot
from having the sheet over my whole body and head to stop the bug bites, to
shedding it and being eaten alive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">I got up and moving around 8 and made my way to
the bathroom to put my contacts in and get ready. The original plan had been to
get moving early in the day and make it to San Ignacio by mid-day. But early is such a vague term....<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFx33tmW6xvxTzByXDyChrxScrFsKeDABhfreuCC3nkohcHSDRaz5ptheKHiFl5dEkUP7HmGQma9m9M1DXHSyLLyndH_Q06YyGVS-Lhcc7Ei2cTysjhJomH_ey6qNUgmUAUNZI2qK7LMM/s1600/20161215_103207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFx33tmW6xvxTzByXDyChrxScrFsKeDABhfreuCC3nkohcHSDRaz5ptheKHiFl5dEkUP7HmGQma9m9M1DXHSyLLyndH_Q06YyGVS-Lhcc7Ei2cTysjhJomH_ey6qNUgmUAUNZI2qK7LMM/s640/20161215_103207.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The small boat that took us back and forth across the river to the bunkhouse. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">I dressed went for water at the bar by the
pool. Despite the early hour, a women with glasses, long brown hair and looking to be in her early to
mid-twenties was there with a large amount of baggage. She was talking to the
bar keep as I slid up and began to drink water and use the Wi-Fi to catch up.
When Aaron got up and moving we talked a bit about what to do for breakfast.
With the heat already sweltering we choose to walk down to the pier for breakfast
rather than to get right on the road. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNihqDaHw7KahkB6URkeGfR74P-0dZEZ6WWX5hJqZs1arfCO1IiW35VmM9LbVIgn_F6IZTb-Q2-CjZcqPOwF3QFL7oNbvn_VF18JoRtHCu9IeCkyk1OgracIXRQqfSWKf46mKEYgOOS4h/s1600/20161215_100553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNihqDaHw7KahkB6URkeGfR74P-0dZEZ6WWX5hJqZs1arfCO1IiW35VmM9LbVIgn_F6IZTb-Q2-CjZcqPOwF3QFL7oNbvn_VF18JoRtHCu9IeCkyk1OgracIXRQqfSWKf46mKEYgOOS4h/s640/20161215_100553.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view from breakfast. Isn't this where Vin Diesel is supposed to come roaring up the road?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">It turned out that the young woman who had just
arrived was supposed to have been in the bunk
house last night. She seemed nice and we all decided to go to eat together. We
went to a place called the Shack and I ended up having a delightful smoothie
with mango and a few other things as well as a lamb burger. The conversation
was good and the music played was mostly American pop, which made us joke about
the fast and the furious due to the song being played and the scene of the
Caribbean in front of us. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TwGZLpcQvYPN9huWfyx7hq8XvThyhrG8WWZfHpi9HqNzmBkOZoRafcltCvsl9eNJjuu-c6cy9r-KLrw1s15kO-8aSPOdFNw9kJNMQCdkunmubbFxhL22q9pvvOb3XXWo9Gy0Mwqdir4Y/s1600/20161215_092146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TwGZLpcQvYPN9huWfyx7hq8XvThyhrG8WWZfHpi9HqNzmBkOZoRafcltCvsl9eNJjuu-c6cy9r-KLrw1s15kO-8aSPOdFNw9kJNMQCdkunmubbFxhL22q9pvvOb3XXWo9Gy0Mwqdir4Y/s640/20161215_092146.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">We went back to pack and get ready. All told it was
nearly noon before we set off from Placencia. The road was good and twisty,
running from shoreline through the hilly expanses of rain forest and forcing us
to cut speed and pace, slowing due to the blind curves and intermittent rain. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfy7jAaJ1LRlHA4nJxbxNfECKecq1zxZm1Ta79PWBAz6BNKxvhlO6m8Y5a9xgMpr7C91v1w82y6VLaMuyukPmTuMHcrRPJRg-BlgqmhOwjFhZ1d4Lo0LrRFUAXtnfgAdDZKKe12P4pask/s1600/20161215_124120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfy7jAaJ1LRlHA4nJxbxNfECKecq1zxZm1Ta79PWBAz6BNKxvhlO6m8Y5a9xgMpr7C91v1w82y6VLaMuyukPmTuMHcrRPJRg-BlgqmhOwjFhZ1d4Lo0LrRFUAXtnfgAdDZKKe12P4pask/s640/20161215_124120.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Christmas approaching fast I couldn't help but stop and grab this photo on the way out of town.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">We stopped for lunch as we began to outpace the
rain and rode right into it. The timing meant that we ended up at a small café on
the side of the road. It was an eclectic stone building with a heavy wooden
door. The exterior made me think of the rounded stone battlements of a medieval
castle. Lunch was a pretty boring affair with a grilled ham and cheese and a
smoothie but it allowed us to miss the rain. While I don’t mind riding in the rain, Aaron
however does so it was good timing.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgId3hqzRavo826u-uvBQERIF4sdsaSY-FYr4bwiDg6K0DD1WfKzv9xMbrDL11-ikrmIe19NtXJX1aC-CqgOyiEWk16ddYO3ORSJ_7x3PYFaHX6zMr2JyoP0ud5y81Ec9N-3VTVOUDSqp/s1600/S10C0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgId3hqzRavo826u-uvBQERIF4sdsaSY-FYr4bwiDg6K0DD1WfKzv9xMbrDL11-ikrmIe19NtXJX1aC-CqgOyiEWk16ddYO3ORSJ_7x3PYFaHX6zMr2JyoP0ud5y81Ec9N-3VTVOUDSqp/s640/S10C0018.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Riding up through the mountains and seeing the
changing flora as I pushed inland I stopped to take photos of a huge tree that
appeared ripped straight from the mind of Tolkien. I spent a long time shooting
from many angles and locations while Aaron pushed on up the road. I find trees
to still snap me out of my road trance with a reminder of the beauty that
surrounds us if we take the time to look at it. The views were so stunning that
I caught Aaron only a few miles up the road where he had stopped to take his
own photos.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqZ7ZUzWoWLcumae_apHF_woHy_PTFeHK0dLmIOw8fUj3cC7HYhCeVLtJNIRgmV2jnkfB76qWy6DptKd_vLoxF7ES7JKNCPV-ZTRxixDvE03EDJPCpIn6jaKlxDCY1mQuUZDZ7m476Quk/s1600/Tolkien+tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="1600" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqZ7ZUzWoWLcumae_apHF_woHy_PTFeHK0dLmIOw8fUj3cC7HYhCeVLtJNIRgmV2jnkfB76qWy6DptKd_vLoxF7ES7JKNCPV-ZTRxixDvE03EDJPCpIn6jaKlxDCY1mQuUZDZ7m476Quk/s640/Tolkien+tree.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Entering San Ignacio we headed for the hotel
Christine was staying in. It took a bit to find it and the city was busy enough
that I stayed with the bikes as Aaron went to find it. The heat was stifling
and I was glad to see Aaron walk back to me. He had found the place but they only
had one single room and a more expensive double. We had wanted to each have our
own room for a day or two just to have some privacy. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOSCf_SENAbU62vIw6WUUn6jt6IVAUsLM7Qz2m0pwEhGSrTaASgiqLmDMMD9jMcqU3QxXgsR8zRLbmTnMXUGb9Z8flJIG6F1kzn9fp67AGwk_umHl_hAZYvN1Bue5m1Nhmtf85hyphenhyphenztgB2/s1600/Aaron+on+bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOSCf_SENAbU62vIw6WUUn6jt6IVAUsLM7Qz2m0pwEhGSrTaASgiqLmDMMD9jMcqU3QxXgsR8zRLbmTnMXUGb9Z8flJIG6F1kzn9fp67AGwk_umHl_hAZYvN1Bue5m1Nhmtf85hyphenhyphenztgB2/s640/Aaron+on+bridge.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">We opted to go look at the place next door but the
staff were push and it felt more like a crack house than a hotel. We were not
impressed. We also went up to the Hostel Ed was staying in, but it was nearly
the same cost as the hotel and packed with hippie travelers. In the few minutes
we were there I think I was running a high risk of a contact high. The plus
side was of course that most of the occupants were attractive women in their
20s. Ed appeared to be in heaven. We had both wanted some privacy so we went
back to the hotel Christine was staying at. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g291971-d642381-Reviews-Tropicool_Hotel-San_Ignacio_Cayo.html" target="_blank">Topicool Inn</a> was nice and had great secure
parking well off the road. The best part was that the owner ended up just
giving me the double room for the $30 Belize a night as long as I only used one
of the beds. We got settled and showered before heading to join Ed at his
hostel so we could walk down to a small restaurant for curry.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifIpQULM97Iqoi762gvIMmH8_iurFHJXN-5pMFhyphenhyphenGZZWO0g_5RBvU110KuEOPcaCnyLn30DuGea4iotZWQVYuIfTvoWrck4SG0UQ2AGoiYZlnUkl38oKWsM1UaXZL654BvxlwjAfUcBRE/s1600/20161215_192051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifIpQULM97Iqoi762gvIMmH8_iurFHJXN-5pMFhyphenhyphenGZZWO0g_5RBvU110KuEOPcaCnyLn30DuGea4iotZWQVYuIfTvoWrck4SG0UQ2AGoiYZlnUkl38oKWsM1UaXZL654BvxlwjAfUcBRE/s640/20161215_192051.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lamb Curry. If you asked Ed he would say it was worth the whole trip to Belize, he might have been a bit delirious.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The crowded sidewalks of the backpacker’s part of
town held multicolored signs for the many hotels, hostels, and what appeared to
be as many separate tour companies as there were people in the city. The restaurant
was a about midway between our hotel and Ed’s hostel, a whole two blocks from
either. It was busy but not yet packed and a look around the tables saw a
collection of foods from a simple burrito, albeit on the size of my head,
through wonderfully aromatic curries. As the three of us walked in we got asked
to join two women from Ed's hostel. There wasn't room at their table so they joined
us instead as we got seated near the door. I ended up with the lamb curry,
which was amazing, and a blended ice tea with fresh lime juice. We all ended up
having Pina Colada cheesecake to go with it before moving to a bar right by the
hotel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">The bar extended the happy hour specials for us
and we proceeded to all drink a bit too much. I had a mojito and many drinks fashioned
with the local rum and various fruit juices. The conversation was varied and
fun but it was clear how different our worlds were. The two women were drinking
and partying their way through Belize on a drunken holiday while Aaron, Ed, and
I were each motorcyclists on extended tours ranging from a few months to
several years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Following the fun we all walked back to their
hostel Ed and the women were staying in up the hill. On the way to the hotel, Aaron
and I ran into Christine who had come out looking for us. She wanted to have a
drink so we all sat down in the bar Aaron and I had just vacated. I was already
pretty close to drunk so I chose to abstain from the drink. Once my alcohol
addled brain caught up, I knew I was the third wheel and so excused myself to
go back to the hotel and call it a night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-72385042089645268202016-12-14T07:57:00.000-08:002017-05-31T00:21:56.555-07:00The Cape Cod of Belize<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">12/14/16 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">Punta Gorda, Bel. to Placencia, Bel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">198.8 kilometers ridden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">We started the day by eating breakfast from what
we had in our bags so we could get moving faster. We loaded the bikes quickly
but it still seemed to take a long time to get moving. The day was sticky-hot
and it wasn't even noon yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpKoIn_fQksBCFBANKKDzuhY2EAd-9f4DcTh5ielEpHf5f9-UO0kRUCki_4u6Sd3Hr7s8Q1OKvH2yNSZj6LjYbbKQpKx_YXIS2bD-x5ZFE2QAM3zjisjy2rPNjvb-fyqa30vLazgTRKbG/s1600/20161214_105024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpKoIn_fQksBCFBANKKDzuhY2EAd-9f4DcTh5ielEpHf5f9-UO0kRUCki_4u6Sd3Hr7s8Q1OKvH2yNSZj6LjYbbKQpKx_YXIS2bD-x5ZFE2QAM3zjisjy2rPNjvb-fyqa30vLazgTRKbG/s640/20161214_105024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">As we rode out of Punta Gorda we stopped several
times for pho</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">tos at signs and on piers. Aaron had some prior history with his
father's military service at Cattle Landing so we stopped there as well to take
photos. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Tg1sBdhbR9Gx62G1bV7ziZDtW2LWJtsxOGHMV22A8vfeyALzxBbBPG9s2MaK3hAmicv5BATVCSQUoQjzQ1EfR9MbcoPDr6W4VftOJ-R9NJW5tSznacAo1hutNu2myQa44JU7MD6gDmHN/s1600/20161214_105611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Tg1sBdhbR9Gx62G1bV7ziZDtW2LWJtsxOGHMV22A8vfeyALzxBbBPG9s2MaK3hAmicv5BATVCSQUoQjzQ1EfR9MbcoPDr6W4VftOJ-R9NJW5tSznacAo1hutNu2myQa44JU7MD6gDmHN/s640/20161214_105611.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Leaving </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">town</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> we stopped and filled up with fuel and each had a cold
drink and some ice cream. It was funny to have the staff at the gas station
hear Aaron had ridden from England and not say anything but here I came from
Alaska and get very excited. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We headed out to the Farm Inn for Ed's soap dish
he had gotten from Alaska. The ride was worth the whole trip south. The roads twisted among rolling hills and beside rivers lacing the rain forest. The pavement was smooth and near immaculate save for the topes and speed humps in and around each of the small villages along the route. The owner, Kevin?, was a really nice South African
fellow who offered us coffee and tea while we sat and chatted with him. We
stayed a bit </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">petting</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> the four dogs, the cat, and talking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The roads leaving were a
pretty good run of asphalt so we made good time, despite some interruptions for rain, </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">to Placencia. The town was on
what would be a small island save for the isthmus reaching out to it from the
mainland which created a long narrow lagoon between the two pieces of land. It was a
small but bustling little tourist place bordered by large estates and I </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">immediately</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> thought of it as the
Cape Cod of Belize. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We rode the length of town before beginning to ask around
and search for housing. We did a full loop of the main town that took long
enough that we were both agitated. One local tried to "help us" far
too eagerly to the </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">point</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> that it made us both angry and wary of where he wanted
us to go. We ended up going back to the Sail Fish Inn </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">where</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> we had to leave
bikes on one side of the small river and get shuttled across by the small power
boat they used to go back and forth with guests. Though the sign said $20 US,
that didn't include the taxes so once we were already across and tired we </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">just</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> said fuck it and signed in anyway. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We dropped our kit in the bunk house and
Aaron took a dip in the pool to cool off from the ride. We both got changed out
and chose to go into town for dinner. We ended up at a place called The Galley where we were served by a very pretty and friendly local young woman. We both
thought she was young, but when asked she said she was 20. I am still not sure
I believe her but she was still sweet. The food was pretty good. I had conch
and Aaron had amazing hand made chicken </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">strips</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> in an incredible fresh made </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">pineapple</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> sweet and sour sauce. My conch wasn't great but the mango smoothie I
had it with was perfect on the hot night. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">After dinner we walked a bit and went to the pier where
we chatted with an American who was fishing from the dock with a fly rod and
wet flies. The view was spectacular and we got to see some enormous silver scaled fish
nearly three feet long swimming near the docks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We went for a beer at a bar
down the concrete "boardwalk" and I grabbed a few chicken wings that
were spectacular. We watched as an enormous silver-moon shone over the
Caribbean. The clouds passing by would block the light, then slowly expose it's
majesty to cast a spreading silver pool across the water the water slowly crept to the shore. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiks3a1rYwod1D_MufjAHqhiVEHQVztbwiBnutRlJHx3ugVHhOmahms06gytGKOOKNuSszUM5sm3jys2nMauaXFeP0CQ2wzXlZGS6y7dqiJ-_NR4MB8W8oQ0f5QJwhqNHll-dVYPM5d_A/s1600/20161214_204452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiks3a1rYwod1D_MufjAHqhiVEHQVztbwiBnutRlJHx3ugVHhOmahms06gytGKOOKNuSszUM5sm3jys2nMauaXFeP0CQ2wzXlZGS6y7dqiJ-_NR4MB8W8oQ0f5QJwhqNHll-dVYPM5d_A/s640/20161214_204452.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">All night we were approached and offered weed by
many random people. It was funny to see it all happen over and over again.
Following the bar we walked a bit more and sat at the pier talking and viewing
the sea stretch to the dark horizon. After walking back to the bunk house I
took my first hot shower in a week and called it a night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-37945217661492415842016-12-13T07:31:00.000-08:002017-05-30T19:53:14.101-07:00From touristville to slumsville in a short days ride<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
12/13/16<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Hopkins, Belize to Punta Gordo,
Belize<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
154.6 Kilometers ridden.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The plan was simple. We would get
up early and make a ride for Punta Gordo where we could spend the day looking
at the southern portions of Belize and take some photos of the sea. Aaron and I had decided to ride together as
Ed had already come from the south and would be doing his own thing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Like all plans, it went to hell
right away.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
When it was time to get up the
sound of rain pounding the small cabins roof was overwhelming. The dusty wooden
shutters could do nothing to stop the water from reaching the sill and even
dripping into the room. With a choice between an on time, but soaked, departure
or sleeping in, sleep won.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
A cold shower, while a little
better than a wet ride, is not the ideal way to start my waking day. A
delicious hot breakfast would have been a perfect pick up to break from the
dreary grey day, but stale from the package lemon cream cookies and a few
peanuts was all I could manage to round up for meal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
After a few hours of waiting on the
rain, Christine and I took a walk to store for fruit and monster. I made my
selection and went to the counter. The oriental woman running the counter rang
me up for the monster, $5. I balked and asked what happened overnight. She
stared at me like I was nuts until I explained I had bought one here yesterday
for two Belize dollars. When I asked why
the price change she just laughed and said it was five dollars. While the conversion meant it was only $2.50
US it was the sudden change of price that turned me off. I left the monster
there and we walked to another shop where I grabbed my caffeine fix.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Another attempt to use my credit
card resulted in another denial of the charge. As I was planning to use the
card for the bulk of possible transactions to preserve my meager supply of US
dollars, and avoid the foreign transaction fees that come from using my debit
card, this was a problem.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
I broke the great bit of
conversation with Ed, Aaron, Christine, and a few German adventure bikers that
had arrived to call, at no small expense, Bank of America to try and sort out
my card. Just a few moments into the call the rain finally let up and Ed took
his cue and exited stage left. Due to our plans to ride together Aaron holds
off of departing to let me finish my call, and uses the time to keep chatting
up Christine in what appeared to be his own little Nirvana. In a little over an hour on the phone I have
spoken with five separate people including a supervisor who started out by
threatening to hand up on me and ending with heartfelt apologies for Bank of
America putting me in such a bind due to their own mistakes. While he couldn’t
replicate the work done while I was in Texas to turn the card back on he was
able to express ship a card to me at an address I felt was secure. Because I was talking with a friend about
flying into Costa Rica to ride with me over Christmas I risked it and though I
would be there. On the suggestion of the supervisor we shipped the card to a
Four Seasons resort thinking they might hold it for me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
As I finished my call Aaron and I
geared up to roll out. It was now mid-afternoon and our plan to be off the roads
early was evaporating into the already muggy air. As we zipped up jackets the
sunny patch suddenly shifted back to a torrential down pour and we again chose
to wait it out for a bit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
With another wait of unknown length
I opted to run out to the food stand out front and order a grilled chicken
salad so I had some real food before leaving. While I waited for my food I got
my laptop back out of my top bag and prepared to get some writing done. Just seconds after my salad arrives and I
start to write the rain clears. I stuffed my face as I shut everything down and
loaded up the bike.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tDATrc8OS2PXWz6tORQx2yy9uq0yFVoQ5xqGYfPV3U6vUH9fVRi1ta2HmW78m6Md5tosANmh7moAWNaU96nJJY0V0qFEqJIpfeqSSOkIIGnDqyOrhA2tB0SSjtdmSXmbcat7LK5eJ3VM/s1600/S10C0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tDATrc8OS2PXWz6tORQx2yy9uq0yFVoQ5xqGYfPV3U6vUH9fVRi1ta2HmW78m6Md5tosANmh7moAWNaU96nJJY0V0qFEqJIpfeqSSOkIIGnDqyOrhA2tB0SSjtdmSXmbcat7LK5eJ3VM/s640/S10C0003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The road to Punta Gordo was along
well repaired blacktop and was slightly winding as it followed the coast line. The
mountains loomed to our west as we worked our way through the rain forests, sections of evergreen trees, and
beaches that intermingled beside both sides of the road.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Once in town, we made a loop
through to try and find the cheap place Ed told us about. We did a few loops
before a local guy on DRZ400E tries to help us. Both Aaron and I got an uneasy
feeling about the guy who kept trying to lead us to a hotel he know about. Despite
multiple assurances that we were fine he followed us for two stops before we
could convince him we would not be following him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
After a few loops we found that we
had passed the cheap place on our way in but made it back easily enough. The proprietor
wasn’t on site but one of the residents agreed to give him a call. It took
almost 20 minutes before the owner arrived to show us the rooms. I stayed with
the bikes and trusted Aaron to decide on the best deal for the room. He got us
a decent rate to share a triple room and we secured the two bike together with
cables and got them covered and partially hidden behind a concrete planter with
a small tree in it. After we carried our gear upstairs to the room Aaron couldn’t
find the key to his motorcycle and a small panic ensues as we try and find it.
Aaron was able to find the Key sitting on the concrete we had hid the bikes
behind and we both get a good little laugh out of the experience.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzN5ix8Vbx5I7GQhS9QtJ77_pgMpOheBtb4vsgjF4undySZvJNdWna3LZtJXq4DC9oGZbBMYL6cnRTGqmhi2p8TNitNylc8jE-gDyeMtIiCMioXWC8YgUWfUh8kQoYcGve5fgri0a6v6L/s1600/20161213_174422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzN5ix8Vbx5I7GQhS9QtJ77_pgMpOheBtb4vsgjF4undySZvJNdWna3LZtJXq4DC9oGZbBMYL6cnRTGqmhi2p8TNitNylc8jE-gDyeMtIiCMioXWC8YgUWfUh8kQoYcGve5fgri0a6v6L/s640/20161213_174422.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The night was warm and humid and we
were both hungry so we set off to get some money from an ATM we had passed
while looking for the hostel. The vestibule of the bank was not only clean, but
air conditioned. We both talked about just pitching tents here for the night,
but only half joking as we were pouring sweat from just the short walk. With
cash secured we walked the streets of the small city looking for food. We were
offered the chance to purchase weed and cocaine no less than three times before
deciding on a small diner that ended up serving a fine meal.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWF9HiaStQ1AoVgC7maq6jkBf74wZfaPmP-C59KF9qe3n2emb5828WW0EiM_MiDhyAyRtXGYnJsGek1RCXjXJBxGm6bhHhinR6v7fOEzE0P5KrlFAxWJ27ccZlfbhbjYLkhPbsf3Rgwy1/s1600/Punta+Gorda+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1600" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWF9HiaStQ1AoVgC7maq6jkBf74wZfaPmP-C59KF9qe3n2emb5828WW0EiM_MiDhyAyRtXGYnJsGek1RCXjXJBxGm6bhHhinR6v7fOEzE0P5KrlFAxWJ27ccZlfbhbjYLkhPbsf3Rgwy1/s640/Punta+Gorda+view.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our porch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
After we walked back I got a
surprise call from AT&T to tell me I was over $135 over my data I had just
purchased. It turns out that what I thought was two gigabytes of data was
actually 200 megabytes. That wouldn’t
have been an issue except that I had been so frustrated with the faltering
internet at the hostel that I had attempted to download a 990 megabyte mad pack
for my GPS over the cellular network.
There wasn’t anything I could do but eat the cost and learn my lesson.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Despite the bed creaking loudly if
I so much as thought of moving, I was able to focus on writing for a bit before
passing out on the lumpy threadbare mattress. It was hot, humid, and hard to
sleep but I was loving every moment of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-17974052233125066852016-12-12T21:53:00.000-08:002017-05-12T22:23:54.114-07:00Hanging out at the Dodo<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
12/12/16<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Hopkins, Belize – The Funky Dodo
backpackers’ hostel.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Zero kilometers ridden.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
While Aaron and I had both planned
to move on today, a rest in this little hippie oasis that was The Funky Dodo
seemed to be the answer we both needed.
Ed must have thought so too as he moved from his hostel up the road to
join us at the Dodo.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
It had been nice to sleep in a bit
and I was looking forward to a shower. As I joined the land of the living I
asked Christine how the showers were. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
“Great, nice and warm” was her
response.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
She had apparently gotten the first
batch of water from the sun warmed tank.
I got the freezing cold water being dropped from the shower head as it
was pumped from the well. It wasn’t my first cold shower of the trip by any
means but it left me lots to rib Christine about as we walked up the street to
get a breakfast of liquid yogurt from the shop.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Once Ed got all checked in it was
time for a walk to the beach at the center of town. We took some photos before wandering around
to find a place in Hopkins to grab some food. After a mile or two of wandering
we found the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/Geckos-Restaurant-1582718538677721/about/" target="_blank">Gecko</a>. Aaron, Ed, and I
enjoyed a lunch of local food outside at one of the tables and talked about how
strange it had been to cross from Mexico into Belize.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlNNehny7_Z1usb0gxSUI3D_eJM0Le6MO66xcq2AtLIX0d5ezbMLDYKh9myvjn3vJ-b45drts-rhkqPujaj-AdvQiIHXj7X159_bZXMdI6sSpG1GMQ8JvaI43X2FBa-W9278eRr5kNQVL/s1600/20161212_124224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVlNNehny7_Z1usb0gxSUI3D_eJM0Le6MO66xcq2AtLIX0d5ezbMLDYKh9myvjn3vJ-b45drts-rhkqPujaj-AdvQiIHXj7X159_bZXMdI6sSpG1GMQ8JvaI43X2FBa-W9278eRr5kNQVL/s640/20161212_124224.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> A delightful sea food burger from local catch and .... gecko balls. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
It was a great lazy afternoon
talking routes and having what amounted to being the young man’s <a href="http://www.adventureriderradio.com/arr-raw/" target="_blank">AdventureRider Radio Raw</a> as we talked about what we had been doing for travel. I became
a bit of the butt of most jokes when they found I had been carrying
roller skates the whole trip, but they both responded with some admiration when
I explained how many amazing folks I had met and stayed with along the way due
to derby.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-BIsz9d2_aMkoxmFB9eUz3EvDkenk4aUEhbS1-lB4SQYFLTE1-f4xsmXNNJACnQog6ipakH_tNxDa-OUa2V8wH8getvbjTZh0u61ZbQD6DaVfOrbwzDYKKSTJwnfnIqjDuB_cd80G_R_/s1600/20161212_115302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-BIsz9d2_aMkoxmFB9eUz3EvDkenk4aUEhbS1-lB4SQYFLTE1-f4xsmXNNJACnQog6ipakH_tNxDa-OUa2V8wH8getvbjTZh0u61ZbQD6DaVfOrbwzDYKKSTJwnfnIqjDuB_cd80G_R_/s640/20161212_115302.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
All the talk led to discussion of
bikes and eventually to talk of Ninty, Ed’s fabled ride. One thing led to
another and both Arron and I ended up taking her for a buzz around the street
and just had to capture some photos and video of the occasion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
After looking for somewhere else in
town for dinner Aaron, Christine, Ed, and I tromped off to the Gecko for round
two. Dinner was a great sea food flat bread and was a perfect prelude to a night hanging
out in hammocks talking. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMBGqBoX7wh3SXh7I0R3LxywlHY6LONw7jYQMN4FID55fAFrG4scKt21mFNTXKCMTlaW5_3ZGxcZGKONFSELuk_KxqpwNRErqnlatacNZxdpFZPpliBRSUf_3uxuAfr74xrHBZASCxgJj/s1600/20161212_230330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMBGqBoX7wh3SXh7I0R3LxywlHY6LONw7jYQMN4FID55fAFrG4scKt21mFNTXKCMTlaW5_3ZGxcZGKONFSELuk_KxqpwNRErqnlatacNZxdpFZPpliBRSUf_3uxuAfr74xrHBZASCxgJj/s640/20161212_230330.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A young man's Adventure Rider Radio Raw</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
After everyone else went to bed I
spent the night writing and conducting data transfer till past 1 am.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-45988224673742278312016-12-11T18:39:00.000-08:002017-04-26T18:54:41.950-07:00The Good, The Bad, and the Ninty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigz3jOQddyjnzL4ZX13EkjK1fKPeQOYqCWOaK9o2JSXu8kvwvPncvgmRxjokOn7_ut3tjl6wRXLveyDvGy6eQ43sIPozs3w4y7DHlUU7wNas-RhyphenhyphenkKDhvQwmiqUVYAQmRKiCiNUK5XaNWz/s1600/20161211_142614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigz3jOQddyjnzL4ZX13EkjK1fKPeQOYqCWOaK9o2JSXu8kvwvPncvgmRxjokOn7_ut3tjl6wRXLveyDvGy6eQ43sIPozs3w4y7DHlUU7wNas-RhyphenhyphenkKDhvQwmiqUVYAQmRKiCiNUK5XaNWz/s640/20161211_142614.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
12/11/16<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chetumal, Mexico to Hopkins, Belize<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
274.9 Kilometers ridden.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I slept in too late again this morning and then fucked about
getting stuff done in the morning. I
managed to take my meds without eating anything and it seemed to turn my
stomach now that I have begun taking the mild anti-biotics I was prescribed as
anti-malarial tablets. I didn’t really
get checked out of the hotel until about noon and then once I had the bike
loaded I only went a few hundred meters up the road to stop at an Oxxo for a
yogurt, a zero calorie Mexican energy drink, and a ham and cheese croissant out
of the deli case. Not gourmet but enough
to calm my stomach within about 20 minutes of finishing and getting on the
road.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The ride to the boarder with Belize was simple enough,
though I found I hadn’t managed to add the Central American maps to my GPS yet
so I was left with my phone as my only navigational aid.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MhKx_yl6SwiGIl806mxIhSs36Bp7usQQwGF55Z8sbP0ldD-CVFcBrbXSXog2-aWmmNKEEXkAwVLR-ss71C0sv2JLn3wirdg1gl4NvsvENe8LMhzbLsColkrLZoFpqDpdqnLe1ps4bT4Z/s1600/S10C0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MhKx_yl6SwiGIl806mxIhSs36Bp7usQQwGF55Z8sbP0ldD-CVFcBrbXSXog2-aWmmNKEEXkAwVLR-ss71C0sv2JLn3wirdg1gl4NvsvENe8LMhzbLsColkrLZoFpqDpdqnLe1ps4bT4Z/s640/S10C0045.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loading the maps makes a GPS more useful..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The boarder itself wasn’t too bad as I tried to pull into
the first building and was told I was in the wrong place and waived forward. I
went to the small building where they tried to charge me the exit cost of my
Visa even though it had already been paid as part of my ticket with
Champs. I told the woman as much and she
just argued that I had to pay it anyway.
I just turned the bike off and stayed there working out how to show it
to her on the phone and she just kept insisting. Thankfully 7 or 8 cars backed up behind me
and started to get impatient with a horn honk or two and she got frustrated
with her gambit and just stamped me out and sent me on my way. I got some help
from an immigration official as to where to go to get my import tax returned on
the motorcycle. The return itself was
pretty simple and really wasn’t any trouble at all,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After getting all my exit paperwork in order I followed the
road into Belize. There I was stopped by
a man in a neon green vest and told to pull aside. I had been warned about people trying to
“help” you cross the border that were a sham so I figured he was one and asked
some questions. He seemed non-plused but
told me where to go. I followed his
instructions and was shocked to be greeted in English at every place along the
way. It was a smooth enough process but
then I had to pay a $15 Belize fee to the guy in the vest. I felt pretty ripped off, but all the people
in the chain of entry I spoke with after said it was legitimate and
normal. I purchased the necessary
insurance for the bike for seven days and got to moving down the road.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got routed a funny way through some rural dirt roads and
got to kick the speed up a bit and really had a good time of it. The people
were all very nice. The roads weren’t terrible, but had enough character to be
fun. I was just happy to be in Belize, a country I had never really planned on
being in to begin with.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5A5YUHjJuaaMjCmJojuyd30_rgcPHawVWjCI7gmQv2J9r1J0ZwxjKS9c5XYFyQBqvvUtGTsBDewRUKJpYq0DKbTGBaSinPvcgSOUw0TRzRPP9Pz-KRu_u47TcAsThg3YbjWJ0Bhlj9PBW/s1600/20161211_142523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5A5YUHjJuaaMjCmJojuyd30_rgcPHawVWjCI7gmQv2J9r1J0ZwxjKS9c5XYFyQBqvvUtGTsBDewRUKJpYq0DKbTGBaSinPvcgSOUw0TRzRPP9Pz-KRu_u47TcAsThg3YbjWJ0Bhlj9PBW/s640/20161211_142523.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I stopped for food at the right time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a few hours on the road I decided to stop for some
food as I saw yet another weather front moving across the sky towards me. I
spun around and went into a roadside stand where I ordered the pork rib plate
with rice and beans and potato salad.
The food was excellent and I grabbed a coke to go with it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVNBssJDNKvuqAQYUZbNIKdNL0fTCxteH8Icd0Af64j9a9bKkuIYWaprIFDkbuBZDc-TWZet_m6GYlsmxhWAKpooNCLmMMRGepvBMNv8oGPH3UsKaBchTNSvV1Zj77c9ompuRXhbUa-Yt/s1600/20161211_142854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVNBssJDNKvuqAQYUZbNIKdNL0fTCxteH8Icd0Af64j9a9bKkuIYWaprIFDkbuBZDc-TWZet_m6GYlsmxhWAKpooNCLmMMRGepvBMNv8oGPH3UsKaBchTNSvV1Zj77c9ompuRXhbUa-Yt/s640/20161211_142854.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first meal in Belize wasn't just indicative of the local cuisine, it was the best meal I had in the country.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While I was eating I was answering questions
from a bunch of local guys who had arrived and checked out the bike and were
asking about the cameras. About that
time I heard the approaching sound of a bigger thumper than the usual 125s and
250s I had become accustomed to and began to look about. I saw a guy on a midsized dual sport with soft
luggage and decent riding gear go by. They
weren’t one of the local riders based just on the kit. I lost sight of them for
a moment and had to wonder if they were going to turn around or if I would just
have to hope to catch up to them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was relieved to see the rider coming back and turning off
his bike to walk in. I got up to great him and we started to chat as he sat
down. His name was <a href="https://www.facebook.com/aaronmitchell83" target="_blank">Aaron Mitchell</a> and
he too was headed for Ushuaia as an end point but was planning to stop about
halfway to Hopkins, my planned stop for the day, and stay at a cheap camp. We
chatted a bit about our trips and where we had been before we deciding to push
on together till the camp site.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He was on an early 2000s DRZ400S so he said he would be
going a bit slower and it was okay to leave him. I opted instead to reign in my right wrist
and follow his pace. We floated between
85 and 90 kph for the ride and it was really a spectacular view all around. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we got to where he thought the campsite was we stopped
to check maps and times and realized that we were only about an hour and 15
minutes from the hostel in Hopkins and still had an hour and a half of daylight
at a minimum. Rather than pay $10 for a
campsite he chose to push on to the Hostel with me since the price was so
close.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We took the Coastal Highway, a term that was a more than a
bit deceiving. It was neither on the coast, nor a highway. It was more of a muddy two lane road crowned
over jagged rocks about the size and general shapes of one and two liter soda
bottles. Sections were nice smooth
hard-packed clay but they were just moments of freedom from the muck and
rocks. I was in heaven! While the road
was only 70 or 80 kilometers, it was the best and most fun off-road I had done
so far on the trip. I would race ahead at speeds of 70 or 80 kph and get the
bike sliding and really moving along then slow when I lost sight of Aaron who
wasn’t as comfortable as I am on dirt. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/plLmklOeSHg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/plLmklOeSHg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The ride left me smiling from ear to ear, even when scaring
myself a bit. As I passed a pickup that was throwing large rocks back at me
from its wheels, I found myself going a bit too fast as I approached a bridge with
slopped abutments. The resultant short flight of the CB proved that even fully
loaded the bike is capable of short distance low altitude flight.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The road went back to paved way too fast for my liking as I
had just been getting into the groove of looking far ahead and letting my body
respond rather than forcing it. I could tell Aaron was ready for the tarmac
when we got there but since we still had a bit to go before we hit the hostel
we headed out. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Initially I turned us the wrong way for the hostel, but we
only went a few hundred meters before I figured out my error and we got turned
around and headed for Hopkins. The rest of the ride in was paved until just as
we arrived and rode some potholed dirt street to the front of the place.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://the%20funky%20dodo%20backpackers%20hostel%2C%20belize/" target="_blank">The Funky Dodo Backpackers Hostel</a> was a collection of
buildings enclosed in a fence looking like what I imagine a hippy would do if
left with too much time at some of the camps occupied by soldiers in Iraq. Many
of the walls were painted in multi-color murals of dodos.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aaron and I checked into the double room so that we could
lock our gear up easier and not have to worry about being in a 14 person dorm.
It was a small room in one half of a cabin. The small room consisted of bunk
beds mounted to the back wall, a few shelves behind the door, and just enough
room for Aaron and I to set down our gear on either side of the room and leave
space to walk down the middle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I finished changing and looked out the front door it was
clear Aaron was chatting up the woman in the hammock right outside our
cabin. The hammocks were part of the
hostel’s courtyard that was made up of five separate hammocks over a large sandy
area that looked to be raked at least once a day by the not so Zen patterned
markings throughout. Aaron was seated on the concrete that made the border of
the courtyard closest to our cabin and as I exited she asked him if we all
wanted to go for a drink. While I hadn’t been drinking much as of late I felt
like a beer or two at the “Tree Top Bar”, really just the open air second story
of the hostels office building, to relax after meeting a new friend and riding
some fun off-road.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bar was simple but comfortable and we opted for the bucket
of beer special for $20 Belize dollars, or about $10 US. It was six of the local Belkin beers. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/christine.cameron.739" target="_blank">Christine</a>, the woman Aaron had been chatting
up, was nowhere to be seen, but with ho on an injured foot we initially put
that down to slower speeds. Aaron and I both opened a beer and just started to
chat about riding, our trips, and nothing in particular. After about half a beer and likely close to
15 minutes Aaron got up to go look for Christen and I went to the bar to ask
for some cut lime to try and help the bitter beer out a bit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a bit Aaron came back with Christine in tow and she
joined me on the couch while Aaron resumed his seat in the stool. We all started to chat and talk about our
respective histories. It was the usual
banter I have started to expect on this trip right up until Aaron talked about
being a soldier in the British Army. We
talked for a bit about military service and came to find we had many things in
common. He had started out as an
Infantryman and had spent deployed time in Iraq back in the day. It was a bromance at first deployment
story. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One bucket of beer turned to two as the hours ticked by and
then I finally spoke up about needing to eat something. Christine was fine but Aaron decided to join
me at the small food trailer that was parked in front of the hostel. We both put in our orders and were standing
around waiting for our food when a rider pulled up on a small red and white
motorcycle. I began to look a little closer to see the list of countries on the
bikes wind deflector and it was just starting to settle on whose bike it was
when Arron spoke.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Ed?” was all Aaron
had to postulate before it clicked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My brain mashed it
all together and realized it was in fact <a href="https://www.facebook.com/c90adventures/" target="_blank">Ed March</a> who was pulling up to the
same small food stand in a little fishing village in Belize.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aaron seemed all but in shock and I was just doing the
mental math that three separate adventure riders would all come together here
at the same time, and then the exponentially smaller chance that one of them
would be Ed March with Ninty!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8laNPe7xdFTwC88uEZ-11HyAjoUPaXqxhGA9VlwIIx58Kzuvt4IoV4prEmIlLsVEcJc9JBQpcLYIrPF3ThaLrrqZmK9zKl7i1QiCFYVNnwR-qA10lC4GR9HvgyWzQbknVkSnqll8JW_n/s1600/20161212_114400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8laNPe7xdFTwC88uEZ-11HyAjoUPaXqxhGA9VlwIIx58Kzuvt4IoV4prEmIlLsVEcJc9JBQpcLYIrPF3ThaLrrqZmK9zKl7i1QiCFYVNnwR-qA10lC4GR9HvgyWzQbknVkSnqll8JW_n/s640/20161212_114400.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The answer to people who think they need a $20,000 motorcycle to travel the world</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was a bit of banter happening as Ed ordered food and
we exchanged pleasantries. He had come
down from a hostel about a mile up the road looking for a chicken sandwich. The
women in the trailer told him he would have to pick something else since she
just ran out of chicken. Of course it
was my sandwich that had taken the last of the chicken. It would be the start
of a few days of Ed ordering almost the same thing I did everywhere we ate.
What can I say, he has good taste. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once food arrived we went upstairs to the bar and rejoined
Christine with Ed in tow. The four of us
sat around talking, laughing, and making the two buckets of beer become four until
the bar closed at about 1 am. It was
amazing the conversations that spanned the table to the coalescing of ideas and
thought between two Brits, a Canadian, and I.
Three of us motorcycle travelers and the fourth a wandering soul who
fancied a chat. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-81576856971202742542016-12-10T11:58:00.000-08:002017-04-26T12:05:51.794-07:00That's it, I'm blowing this popsicle stand<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKa8LHdZTsh6nGre3E44_oxa8xafKxhSgQJtB8XNYuE8KOC-cUTFpQbc6VAS6QXd9j51ZYRLH2m8zl4p4w_tV4fgu5e02MAjf0-hK4XVscGvLGduYNIgaLq4ISPv-XCl8A94O0c9rvOLNa/s1600/20161209_081210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKa8LHdZTsh6nGre3E44_oxa8xafKxhSgQJtB8XNYuE8KOC-cUTFpQbc6VAS6QXd9j51ZYRLH2m8zl4p4w_tV4fgu5e02MAjf0-hK4XVscGvLGduYNIgaLq4ISPv-XCl8A94O0c9rvOLNa/s640/20161209_081210.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple days in Cancun...ya I'd sleep too</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
12/8/16<br />
<br />
Cancun, Mex.<br />
<br />
10.3 kilometers ridden.<br />
<br />
There isn't anything quite like five hours of sleep after a night of adrenaline fueled night riding. Not from some fun track but cause someone decided to hit your parked motorcycle...<br />
<br />
I got woken up because I was a bit late for getting ready to make practice. It was a disorienting wake up where the world seemed to be nothing by streaks of bright light blurring my vision and drunk like stagger to answer the knocks on the door of the room I was staying in. <br />
<br />
I got gear prepared and packed in just a few moments once I was able to jab contacts into my sleep-crusted eyes and find focus outside the few clear inches in front of my face. While I prepared and got out to the corner with my host to grab a cab, the events of the last 24 hours still felt surreal. The only thing to remind the nightmare was real was the sight of my damaged bike in the middle of the living room as I went by.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5arez9PsPlKUyiXbKT13IP6XWiSYAUjZLbbECLsX2OT7TxNtrcKAzC26ZuSqYv_ywsyGRiiVLya09QpLfYopzFEp9hAY7n8ZWVgRpv-Ro6Z-k5nxZGOpMJkU37ywsOja82JrmLLvkVLiY/s1600/20161208_115933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5arez9PsPlKUyiXbKT13IP6XWiSYAUjZLbbECLsX2OT7TxNtrcKAzC26ZuSqYv_ywsyGRiiVLya09QpLfYopzFEp9hAY7n8ZWVgRpv-Ro6Z-k5nxZGOpMJkU37ywsOja82JrmLLvkVLiY/s640/20161208_115933.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The cab ride to the practice venue was simple enough and I got to see a little more of Cancun as we zipped by. Practice was held in a city park under a large sunshade covering a cluster of basketball courts being used by many varied groups of people. While we had gotten there essentially on time, others weren't and myself and a few of the skaters opted to wait around a bit to see if others showed. Only one more came in the almost thirty minutes that we waited so we got started at close to 10 am. The warm temps and high humidity meant I was sweating long before we even began our warm up but thankfully the shade and movement breeze once we got on skates was able to keep me from being overly hot. Practice went well and all the skaters seemed to enjoy what we were doing and appeared to be learning lots.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighcsQ8AVTiwXRKjwQY8C2bUfKX1NWfTLoyCM8sWAHhTbRAQWNAgr93eHxOSH8MxcVvGJppPdqifJPLQuYDSmGCHuNGDj16Kczj8XJ_neFCnctzLgdPRIdwceUK8NUQ5j1Mp4eJYSdsVtV/s1600/20161208_103036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighcsQ8AVTiwXRKjwQY8C2bUfKX1NWfTLoyCM8sWAHhTbRAQWNAgr93eHxOSH8MxcVvGJppPdqifJPLQuYDSmGCHuNGDj16Kczj8XJ_neFCnctzLgdPRIdwceUK8NUQ5j1Mp4eJYSdsVtV/s640/20161208_103036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Following practice we got a ride back to the apartment in one of the skaters bright yellow VW bugs. It was a blast and really made me feel like I was truly in Mexico as we buzzed in and out of traffic in the little yellow beast.<br />
<br />
It was time for me to get the inevitable out of the way and go see what the insurance companies shop said about the bike. <br />
<br />
It was only a few kilometers to the shop but that didn't make me feel any better about the place when I arrived. It looked like a chop shop for motorcycles with half deconstructed bikes strewn about the small space beside the street that would have been the lawn. The young guys in the shop working on the bikes were working in near darkness with lit cigarettes hanging from their mouths and one even had a claw hammer in his hands as he walked back to a bike I could only see the rear wheel off and began banging on something. The guy in charge did nothing to assuage my fears when he immediately began talking down to me like I was an idiot and explaining "how the Mexican repair system worked". Handing over my keys to him so he could do an assessment ride was terrifying. When he came back it was the same story of talking down to me and telling me what they would be doing to the bike. I finally had to put an end to it and began to tell him what was wrong and what parts he would need to use to properly repair the bike. That finally stopped the condescending attitude but didn't do anything to make the process smoother. Final verdict was that it would be a week for him to get a response from the insurance company, another week to wait for parts, and week to complete the repairs. I got photos of the completed insurance form that he said he would need to keep and rode back to the apartment.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTcVqp0ml_XVO1WDeUNJ3UTl9w1ubo5rGy20Obbnd0kmixi0O4YcNVDzOgN3UECVPU9pzzJaIqtb6vH73ufYR7v0FuLaxyKOTPVVAt_NqOwpT98zDoKDh1b7x2rowBnRTlO6qxVuWvSM2/s1600/20161209_141833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTcVqp0ml_XVO1WDeUNJ3UTl9w1ubo5rGy20Obbnd0kmixi0O4YcNVDzOgN3UECVPU9pzzJaIqtb6vH73ufYR7v0FuLaxyKOTPVVAt_NqOwpT98zDoKDh1b7x2rowBnRTlO6qxVuWvSM2/s640/20161209_141833.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I spent the rest of the day just getting by with a food run, calls to the insurance company, and generally fretting. It all went well enough but I was a bundle of nerves about waiting almost three weeks for the bike to be ship shape and my fight with the insurance company was already beginning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnol3wuplT4CAzmJO2WVNL6PanCy4JPG79uwnMSgH-lY73ZQuip6q_nix-7SIwJyts1xPacpKZcHJWCFpms8mUI835alqPXqv5Xm3vycbK59-YLtru27i7d_RrVejOW57k3UN_QvsWnVa/s1600/20161209_103852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnol3wuplT4CAzmJO2WVNL6PanCy4JPG79uwnMSgH-lY73ZQuip6q_nix-7SIwJyts1xPacpKZcHJWCFpms8mUI835alqPXqv5Xm3vycbK59-YLtru27i7d_RrVejOW57k3UN_QvsWnVa/s640/20161209_103852.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The next few days were spent leading practices and generally just trying to deal with the insurance company. Now that I had the document of what was wrong from the crash, I went ahead and repaired as much of it as I could. I straightened the forks, bent the rack back into place, and fixed the hand controls and bark busters. It took me less than an hour to do what the shop said would take three weeks for them to accomplish, and no claw hammers were involved. While I will need to replace the steering head bearings to fully repair the bike, it is more than enough to be ready to move on.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchONp0RkiiJg7L7hEBRo7xYMP4zxIEIvFV7VyiN3uj4CFdHXUkwxjBGD67g_dpezWepUxBwQ5OpaCQp3RDvb_BP7CZsAj9CikqTYJYP4OZVcsBQed9lmxcepjw5P-nvX35e6MHry9M4gA/s1600/20161208_203451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchONp0RkiiJg7L7hEBRo7xYMP4zxIEIvFV7VyiN3uj4CFdHXUkwxjBGD67g_dpezWepUxBwQ5OpaCQp3RDvb_BP7CZsAj9CikqTYJYP4OZVcsBQed9lmxcepjw5P-nvX35e6MHry9M4gA/s640/20161208_203451.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
12/10/16<br />
<br />
Cancun, Mex to Chetumal, Mex<br />
<br />
392.6 kilometers ridden.<br />
<br />
Woke up and prepared the bike to leave. I am tired of waiting on the insurance and won't let waiting for a pay out to hold up the trip for me. I got out of town around noon and just made the road slog south to the town closest to the boarder. The ride was pretty as it went along the coast and was a nice two lane affair.<br />
<br />
My stomach seemed to have turned from my last night in Cancun's dinner. I tried to hold out between towns but at one point simply couldn't hold it in. There had been no cars either way for the prior thirty minutes so I opted to wing it and just use the thick bushes off the side of the road. When I got there it looked to be poison ivy spread among the thick bushes so I just squat down with my ass to the bushes. As soon as I got settled a parade of cars coming south behind me came by driving slow, honking horns, and waving at me squat beside the road. Travel is all about timing.... <br />
<br />
I got to Chetumal and checked into the Casa Blanca hotel. While unloading I had a nice chat with a guy who had driven most of south America. He had some good advice for me about roads to take and places to stop. I got all settled into the room and then walked a few blocks to the Ocean where I had a decent contemporary meal of chicken cordon blue while watching the waves crash upon the beech. I even splurged with a dessert.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YxjMKWHU1jTGnolesKmOmyTcyCKpiEfwdf-forCeC-HjpTCRD3m3p5kJ5rZbU0C7HBq33mYCML2mZR3Z-bjmxMK9RLbZFzqegKaGOoGEOtIKY9dxf-VM480_qxCH2QaFYVZ7HXtZQ32-/s1600/20161210_203312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YxjMKWHU1jTGnolesKmOmyTcyCKpiEfwdf-forCeC-HjpTCRD3m3p5kJ5rZbU0C7HBq33mYCML2mZR3Z-bjmxMK9RLbZFzqegKaGOoGEOtIKY9dxf-VM480_qxCH2QaFYVZ7HXtZQ32-/s640/20161210_203312.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjC4fykHSEegmr9W4bj-CxdqysCXvA9GDD-9oTY3MvQ3DHp7CCILh8W8JI9tOI1ick9amSNAXRhWYwypUHrANDwpwmcqep9Kr07WS0Czu19UGGsJqeGGR0Hk4OXAkMMC0HYs4MNEDRS4-/s1600/20161210_211037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjC4fykHSEegmr9W4bj-CxdqysCXvA9GDD-9oTY3MvQ3DHp7CCILh8W8JI9tOI1ick9amSNAXRhWYwypUHrANDwpwmcqep9Kr07WS0Czu19UGGsJqeGGR0Hk4OXAkMMC0HYs4MNEDRS4-/s640/20161210_211037.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
I walked back to the hotel and worked on file transfers and video uploads till way too late. While there was no big fanfare it would be my last night in Mexico, tomorrow I would enter Belize and begin the Central American portion of my odyssey.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-69408690580893209302016-12-07T23:51:00.000-08:002017-04-18T15:31:10.160-07:00The big hit<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2OFRxt_4_Z8McNLIXxz-0nKw6_NVUiekhYKAZdNr_8bnEv1ANpjF5FVvhcPtzUMTIzFLq4OrJuxUYVQIWka_Za2npemfrdi_zZLfWnhEjvBvpRTKgMm7TTSZRr-Lah7bjCOHFCQEe0si/s1600/20161207_164509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2OFRxt_4_Z8McNLIXxz-0nKw6_NVUiekhYKAZdNr_8bnEv1ANpjF5FVvhcPtzUMTIzFLq4OrJuxUYVQIWka_Za2npemfrdi_zZLfWnhEjvBvpRTKgMm7TTSZRr-Lah7bjCOHFCQEe0si/s640/20161207_164509.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well shit...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;">12/7/16
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;">Ciudad
Del Carmen, Mex to Cancun, Mex <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">701 kilometers ridden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">I slept in too late for the hotels breakfast so I
showered and chose to eat the other burger for breakfast as I packed. I talked
a little with both Cat and Montserrat while I made my final preparations to
leave. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">My usual routine of loading the bike caused me to
be pouring sweat despite having just left the hotels AC. The sun was painfully
bright as it reflected off of every shiny surface on the bike back at me from the Concrete. In the short few moments it took me to be loaded and ready I was already drenched and nearly blinding myself with sweat pushed from my hair as I donned my helmet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">The ride through town was stop and go due to the traffic control layout. In the
heat it made me acutely aware of how little water I had been drinking and how
poor my diet has been over the last few weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">Being that it was already passed noon, I wanted
to make up time as best I could so I ran quick and only stopped for fuel and
water until right around four o'clock when I pulled into an Oxxo for a monster,
a noodle bowl, and a Greek yogurt as a late lunch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">While I was watching the bike sit alone in the
parking area in front of the building, a white Chevy pick-up began to back up
towards my bike. My bike was literally the only vehicle in the parking area and
surrounded by open spaces. I slammed down my drink just as the truck slammed
into my bike knocking it off the side stand and down on to its side across the
metal parking barrier. I got out the door spewing a stream of obscenities in my
wake to see the truck start to pull forward like it might leave. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtotRtlrXJM0Z0aCaRRcu8iGQPZmETE2FthwYrAHs4uw6SmX25LfytVLa8RkiLrUSXakBCi76AwMc4pSV0OaHIIM-EWLC1uPny_fbGlYSWbNTH9muSURUNjDvQfp5jCmuI2Efi5KVPva0F/s1600/20161207_165914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtotRtlrXJM0Z0aCaRRcu8iGQPZmETE2FthwYrAHs4uw6SmX25LfytVLa8RkiLrUSXakBCi76AwMc4pSV0OaHIIM-EWLC1uPny_fbGlYSWbNTH9muSURUNjDvQfp5jCmuI2Efi5KVPva0F/s640/20161207_165914.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The view from where I had been eating. The man on the phone is the one who hit my baby.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">I ran up to the driver’s side window and slapped
it hard with the palm of my hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">The driver was an older man, likely in his mid-fifties,
and he immediately began to speak to me in an apologetic tone even though I
didn't understand what he was saying. He put his hands up palms out and then
shut off the truck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">I was glad to have the presence of mind to take a
photo before I lifted the bike so I could prove for insurance what happened. I
then picked up the bike with a little help from the guy who hit me. I began to assess
the damage to the bike. I was still angry and was trying my best not to yell at
the guy. I wasn't so successful that I didn't speak to him in a direct and
angry manner but at least I didn't raise my voice or become aggressive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">In total it looked like a foot peg bolt was bent.
The forks were twisted. The front cowl/windshield frame was bent. Two well nuts
were destroyed. The middle cowl on the right side and the associated graphics
were damaged. Lastly the right hand Rally-Raid luggage rack was pushed in about
an inch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPusCaca5DgdkXlpf-xshxs_4KhISg3GSL3DQQweVSnFj-DQXryiN0DTm8DVKhsZfq9DSSov5CA9UI83561sG9WiPljaVfqln1gztz8U3MLpHdJplf5FBSUyQS8Vj1z9NLUZAdUoN862fZ/s1600/20161207_173710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPusCaca5DgdkXlpf-xshxs_4KhISg3GSL3DQQweVSnFj-DQXryiN0DTm8DVKhsZfq9DSSov5CA9UI83561sG9WiPljaVfqln1gztz8U3MLpHdJplf5FBSUyQS8Vj1z9NLUZAdUoN862fZ/s400/20161207_173710.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFiRGIosFTpaMCNXEfqFrqbB5klA_h3slcuglad724ZldeAtj5SE-7EDV-UvThpkpgqFHKjqcBHe8zJEYXCmUK1Wp0tBiKv_HSoAwwYXIhjY5VVla-zKeNx9s-RsMv53W8qby86Pzzi3p/s1600/20161207_173850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFiRGIosFTpaMCNXEfqFrqbB5klA_h3slcuglad724ZldeAtj5SE-7EDV-UvThpkpgqFHKjqcBHe8zJEYXCmUK1Wp0tBiKv_HSoAwwYXIhjY5VVla-zKeNx9s-RsMv53W8qby86Pzzi3p/s400/20161207_173850.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">Once it was clear that insurance was coming and
that I would be riding the bike out that night, I began to fix what I could
after taking photos of the damaged components. I was able to get the windshield
remounted after bending the bracket back with my pliers and with the use of a
washer made from cutting a section of plastic coke bottle top and reaming a
center hole to fit the bolt for the lower right windshield bolt. I was able to
rotate the bent foot peg bolt to the best position I could and then tighten it
up enough to hold it together for the ride to Cancun. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">While we waited I offered the man who had hit my
bike to buy him something to drink. He looked sheepish and said no thank you. I
choose to bridge the gap anyway and bought us each an orange-lemonade that is
popular in Mexico and a package of cookies. I came out of the shop and handed
him his drink and cookies. With the simple gesture he seemed to relax. I apologized
for being so angry and told him it was okay and that we all make mistakes.
While he had very little English and my Spanish is terrible, we were able to
talk a little while we waited.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">The insurance inspector arrived at a little past
7 pm. Once there he began to go through the documents from both of us and to
ask questions about what happened. He looked over the bike and my photos and
took many notes. In the hour he was there he got all he needed and we worked
out that it was best for me to go to Cancun rather than to Merida where the
insurance shop was. I had housing in Cancun that would save me the cost of
several days’ hotels. He gave me paperwork for the companies preferred shop in
Cancun</span> and we agreed that if I felt the bike was unsafe to ride I would
stop and call him for a tow-truck to take the bike. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">With matters as resolved as they could be for the
moment, I geared up and rode for Cancun. My GPS was telling me it would be an
almost 4 hour ride and with the adrenaline of the bike being hit having burned
off so much energy I was a little worried. Once rolling though, those fears
were replaced by a hit of nerves as the fact that the clearly twisted forks
were giving the bike a very twitchy steering feel as well as a nasty vibration
through the bars and both foot pegs. I only stopped for fuel twice along the
route, once to fill up and once for just a little splash just outside of Cancun
to make sure I got to the house ok. I didn't want the bike full of fuel if I
had to leave it with the shop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">I took the bike to where the GPS was saying but
it didn't make any sense. Since Jessica had sent me the google location rather
than an address I didn't have much to go on. The only number google was showing
was 42 (Brian Adams would have been happy) and so I went to the house on the
block with that number. I rang the bell a few times and waited. Since I had
never met Jessica I had no idea who I was looking for. A women I would guess in
her mid to late 40s came out and looked confused. I asked for Jessica and she
went back inside. A lot of laughter came from the house and out came a girl
likely around 16-19 who looked utterly perplexed. I tentatively asked if she
was Jessica and she said yes but looked no less confused. I than asked her by
Jessica's full name and she exhaled and said no before rushing back in the
house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;">I began to load up on the bike and consult the
GPS information when a whole group of people spilled out of the house and into
the gated courtyard on the other side of the locked metal fence. It seemed to
be the end of some sort of party and people coming out began to ask me what I
was looking for. In Spanglish we were able to communicate and they offered me Wi-Fi
to get a hold of Jessica. I handed over my phone so they could connect it and
we chatted a bit about derby and my trip. They seemed impressed once they
realized I had ridden from Alaska. They helped me to contact Jessica who was in
an apartment building on the end of the block. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
"<a href="http://expeditionrecovery.blogspot.com/2016/12/making-derby-sausage-in-spanish.html" target="_blank">It will be another San Lois Pottasi</a>." Jessica said as she showed me into her home.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It was her way of
explaining that my motorcycle would be staying in her living room for security.
Mercifully she was on the first floor and there was enough room on the foot
path to maneuver the CB into the house, only needing to remove the bags to get
it through the door by picking up the back end and shifting it. The bike parked
easy enough, though it took up about half of the usable space in the room.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk2mrMAKJwQwQq4aeibuXQor-P7GdYb26vUKtKqBtnyXDu0pI8CM-wZZY5OUei5kFLiMyD7n6pFfzhtaxkvIxDvSy6-AE9za1CWOmgJncV_dwD9KA4gKtmViLiuemv4Z1FVRHx47IV2_X/s1600/20161208_115933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk2mrMAKJwQwQq4aeibuXQor-P7GdYb26vUKtKqBtnyXDu0pI8CM-wZZY5OUei5kFLiMyD7n6pFfzhtaxkvIxDvSy6-AE9za1CWOmgJncV_dwD9KA4gKtmViLiuemv4Z1FVRHx47IV2_X/s640/20161208_115933.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;">Jessica explained that she had to be to work in
just a few hours and would be going to sleep. She showed me to her room at the
back of the apartment and told me it would be mine for the stay. As I unloaded
she told me that I would be teaching a practice at 8:30 in the morning, an
early start after such a long day and it already being past midnight. I made
quick preparations for bed and took up Jessica's offer of Bluetooth tethering
to her phone for data so I could update folks that I was alright. I called it a
night and closed my eyes feeling the heat and humidity taking their toll as I
sweated profusely laying uncovered atop the sheets.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-2054158182965178572016-12-06T21:00:00.000-08:002017-04-17T22:41:40.189-07:00So tools under the seat might not be the best place<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCv8fNTdi2CmyFr-rNS5rsFlnwl9jkPkhN4b9DEPoTMwjIU9n_2aBZhLLcd6AW8gtiOzvvOFDGDXTCdlmjn-ULoIqNDMm6rm_gBWBjOYyswlxPwLoauSlKHOeBOHZVCK5aBv59uWnAMAU5/s1600/20161206_163811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCv8fNTdi2CmyFr-rNS5rsFlnwl9jkPkhN4b9DEPoTMwjIU9n_2aBZhLLcd6AW8gtiOzvvOFDGDXTCdlmjn-ULoIqNDMm6rm_gBWBjOYyswlxPwLoauSlKHOeBOHZVCK5aBv59uWnAMAU5/s640/20161206_163811.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ya, kind of a pain to get to...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">12/6/16
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Veracruz,
Mex to Ciudad Del Carmen, Mex<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">668.6
kilometers ridden. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sleep
was good but fitful as one of the women in the sleeping room kept on her phone
for most of the night, seeming not to sleep or to care about the rest of us in
the room. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I
should have gotten up and got on the road quickly but instead was slow to get
moving. I talked with Montserrat for a little bit and got caught up on my
on-line work from my bunk. I dressed slowly and got all of my things packed
before walking down for the included breakfast. It was an unglamorous affair of
poorly cooked eggs with thin slices of hot dog mixed in, fried beans, and a
slice of white toast with butter. I wolfed it down quickly while answering
questions about the trip. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The
loading of the bike went simply enough, except that I forgot to fix the
windshield mounting before I had already fully loaded the bike, thus blocking
the tools I needed from access as they were below the seat. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I
got google maps programmed and talked to Cat for a moment before leaving the Wi-Fi
and heading out. I rode about 50 kilometers to a Pemex to see if I could borrow
the metric hex wrench I needed. The attendant excitedly said he did and led me
over by the office. He was excited to see my Alaska license plate and talked
with me about fishing and about hunting in our broken Spanglish. The hex keys
he brought were imperial and none were close enough to make work. It meant
pulling all my bags from the bike to access my tools under the seat. The repair
was quick and then I got the bike reloaded. The attendant was excited to get an
"Alaska money dollar", and though it was way more money than the lack
of actual help he gave, I happily handed him a US dollar. He was disappointed
and asked me for an "Alaska dollar" instead. I explained to him that
we use US dollars and he seemed slightly defeated, but not so much so that when
his mate asked to see the dollar he refused to hand it over. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I
rode on with a stop at an Oxxo for Yakult, a liquid yogurt, and some caffeine.
I rode on without issue until I noticed I had failed to align one of the windshield’s
well nuts with its mounting tab and was thus riding with only three of the four
mount points actually secured to the bike. I wagered it would be fine till I
stopped somewhere to borrow tools so I didn't have to disassemble the bike
again. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Lunch
was a mediocre hamburger at a Pemex with a Mexican energy drink and some
cookies I probably didn't need. While there, one of the trucks of adolescents
who had been running beside the road with torches was parked next to the bike.
They all swarmed the bike after I went in and I had to go back out to grab my
GoPro from the fender and my tank bag when I realized they were looking to me
to see if I was watching and screening my view of the front of the bike with a
unified wall of boys. After I retrieved the easy to steal bits they continued
to swarm the bike and I had to spend my time watching them like a hawk or risk
losing some of my gear to sticky fingers. Once they left I was able to relax a
bit and eat and start my days writing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdB2AFwMK9SbQzLkbKg2eujR39sNwSq-iaS21HSA1K36docH0KHVL3F-zN82PIAwNpKrVhCH4HaInwx3_qXvRGYWArHcb4BebBu8kIZzeAuws8G-kVLx-mgZEyKh81t6F_OR41hQ91-gvv/s1600/20161206_163830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdB2AFwMK9SbQzLkbKg2eujR39sNwSq-iaS21HSA1K36docH0KHVL3F-zN82PIAwNpKrVhCH4HaInwx3_qXvRGYWArHcb4BebBu8kIZzeAuws8G-kVLx-mgZEyKh81t6F_OR41hQ91-gvv/s640/20161206_163830.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I
rode till nearly 4:30 when the phone mount had manage to loosen enough to be
moved by the wind, and upon slowing it would fall back forward and was now
fouling my steering against the windshield bracket preventing me from turning the
bars to the right. Add this to the loose windshield and I knew that I had to
stop or risk more trouble. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf__QQDLl-okJuaS0aXKGdc6Vhj-nBwIrQqYovxy8gaZfyyAyif11Ukpd8VJbzQ1_QTxnpVwh7YgkeKeWi8Ud1I3Qy3IkX1h1lbXk5zJ-JWdlO9tiqDw-6r4soo-Pm-InkzjcJNQ8iwMa9/s1600/20161206_164316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf__QQDLl-okJuaS0aXKGdc6Vhj-nBwIrQqYovxy8gaZfyyAyif11Ukpd8VJbzQ1_QTxnpVwh7YgkeKeWi8Ud1I3Qy3IkX1h1lbXk5zJ-JWdlO9tiqDw-6r4soo-Pm-InkzjcJNQ8iwMa9/s640/20161206_164316.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In
front of an Oxxo I drank a Monster and stripped the bags from the bike again to
get to my tools. I got the mount off, on in a new position I realized wouldn't
work, off again and finally back on in a good place. I attempted to use some red rescue tape to build up the bars to keep the mount from spinning. It worked for all of about 15 seconds. Apparently not a good use of rescue tape. With the tools exposed I
also used some electrical tape to build back up the well nut enough to tighten
down the last mount point on the windshield. In all I was stopped for a full
hour. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Part
of the delay was due to being distracted by Wilbur, one of the urchins who
worked the slow down area for the truck inspection point. He carried an arm
load of USB cords for phones and other accessories and smelled</span> heavily
of beer. He tripped my internal alarm for a second time that day. He was just a
little to attentive to when and where I was looking and where all my gear was.
I had to slow down my work under his repeated returns to question me and
eyeball my GoPro and the pile of gear and bags behind the bike. He finally
scampered off after a third visit attempt with friends when a few Mexican
soldiers arrives at the Oxxo for sodas and were interested in the bike. The
uniformed presence and my vigilance finally paid off as I got the last of my
gear put back on the bike and had a snack out of my bag. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It
was now pushing 5:30 and the sun was getting low behind me as I set off. A few
hours later I was riding after dark for a second time in as many days. I knew
all the advice I had been given said this was a terrible plan. I checked one
hotel but was not real impressed with the parking security and the 320 peso
cost. Plus I saw that I was still more than 900 kilometers from Cancun. I used
the GPS to see that there were hotels just 50 kilometers up the road and since
it was 7:30 I figured it wouldn't be an issue. Riding on I began passing hotels
and auto motels and decided I was still fresh enough to push on the 100
kilometers it said was the next batch of hotels. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The
gamble was certainly that, as the crazy drivers seemed to be growing in numbers
by the minute. In just about 140 kilometers I had two really near misses. I had
one semi make a pass in a blind corner coming straight at me in my lane. I was
lucky to have enough shoulder on the road and sufficient grip in the tires to
adjust course is and avoid an abrupt end to my journey. Just a little later I
had a truck cross through a gap in the median to make a U turn without much
safety room. It wouldn't have been a big deal except that he and I both saw the
teenager wearing all black clothes and riding against the flow of traffic on
the right shoulder at right about the same time. We both mashed the breaks and
he narrowly avoided the kid while I was just able to swerve to the left to
avoid his truck in the roadway. I was glad to have been looking ahead and
anticipating or I would not have been able to slow and swerve in time. If I had
been in a car there would have been an accident. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6It8vbO4Fn8CTJ_iAqXkOTBHvaRAtZwffuMMQL9eyobdW-fuS77_hDDulmNn26T6EwKVnFSIoWHU4RBOr6aSYUAYytYMH3Qw9tanA1VRzFDpIqqCZXBlo4LKM3ZakBjcm1geknq10qzf/s1600/14711987_1081335338582859_818751131759935488_n%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6It8vbO4Fn8CTJ_iAqXkOTBHvaRAtZwffuMMQL9eyobdW-fuS77_hDDulmNn26T6EwKVnFSIoWHU4RBOr6aSYUAYytYMH3Qw9tanA1VRzFDpIqqCZXBlo4LKM3ZakBjcm1geknq10qzf/s640/14711987_1081335338582859_818751131759935488_n%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Part
of the days fun also included reaffirming my choice to wear full motocross
boots for the ride. While moving passed a line of stopped trucks by use of the
dirt shoulder, I had a three or four inch diameter stone get thrown free by the
front wheel and hit just above my ankle on my left leg. I let loose a torrent
of foul language in my helmet and fought to keep the bike up in the loose dirt
and rock shoulder with my left leg throbbing and ripped backward off the foot
peg. It hurt like hell, but could have broken my lower leg if they had been in hiking
boots rather than the heavily armored <a href="http://expeditionrecovery.blogspot.com/p/the-riding-gear.html" target="_blank">Sidi motocross boots</a> I have been riding
in for almost ten years. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Close
calls aside, it was a smooth and beautiful trip, even at night. I made it to
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciudad_del_Carmen" target="_blank">Ciudad Del Carmen</a> and then spent the next 45 minutes going to all the large
hotels with Secure parking to check prices. At my last of five stops the price
was still higher than my first stop had offered me and I told the clerk that
and began to gear up. She smiled, held up one finger and began to write down a
number on a slip of paper. It was 590 pesos and beat their closest competitor
by 160 pesos. I smiled, nodded back, and handed over my credit card. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AgsiWrIC7zK2rA26nCFO_ToIpM9Vj21q1Z1d3aa6xFnJ6eTTkhtcThiKBKpZiNcZiYXCWXUeqQy8b5A6i1JY0WHoPP8GCY_yH51lDQ-nhGqUl8WZDBeYBJFcYJ0tNBAU90v1ZQF1Hlfq/s1600/20161206_224259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AgsiWrIC7zK2rA26nCFO_ToIpM9Vj21q1Z1d3aa6xFnJ6eTTkhtcThiKBKpZiNcZiYXCWXUeqQy8b5A6i1JY0WHoPP8GCY_yH51lDQ-nhGqUl8WZDBeYBJFcYJ0tNBAU90v1ZQF1Hlfq/s640/20161206_224259.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My
room was on the fifth floor so I unloaded all my bags from the bike and left it
in the drop off area to run my bags up. I saw my dirt and sweat streaked face in
the elevator mirror and thought it deserved a photo so I snapped a few with my
phone. The room was small but well laid out and I dropped my bags and took off
my riding jacket and armor before heading back down to park and secure the
bike. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Once
I was settled into the room I realized I needed to eat. I had seen a few
restaurants nearby and chose to not even change out of my riding pants or boots
before walking down.</span> The nearest one was another of the same Portuguese
buffets that Montserrat and I had eaten at in Leon. I went in and asked the
cost for one. At 320 pesos I had to say no, plus without company what fun would
such a place be. I walked down to the next spot, which was, of all things, an
Irish-pub chain restaurant blaring Metallica over the speakers for all to hear.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I
spanglished my way into knowing I could sit anywhere and ordered a water as I
looked over the menu. When the waiter came back I asked about the burger
special of the day and he told me that it was the printed price, but that the
regular burgers were "double". I figured I was hungry enough for a
double cheeseburger from a chain joint so I said sure and also ordered 8 wings
since they were on sale. The food arrived bagged to go and off I went. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmVRkFSKJh4lPh32MSOkYLS3yQ0kwud7NRedK43G3PtGb8aHTlZy_MSrE6McZKCAqmSCu47YWm86E584Qv_z5AKTT2gXeEHAaCyTI711gQfLg38KbHx4k0VGduFn3PnUVo6UYbzDiXzGJ/s1600/20161207_001906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmVRkFSKJh4lPh32MSOkYLS3yQ0kwud7NRedK43G3PtGb8aHTlZy_MSrE6McZKCAqmSCu47YWm86E584Qv_z5AKTT2gXeEHAaCyTI711gQfLg38KbHx4k0VGduFn3PnUVo6UYbzDiXzGJ/s640/20161207_001906.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And there were two of them!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Back
at the hotel I unpacked the food and realized the error of my communication. I
hadn't gotten a double cheeseburger, I had gotten two of the largest burgers I
had ever seen! On the bright side the wings were almost inedible, so I didn't.
Plus the whole meal was only $160 pesos including tip, or about $7.75 US at the
current rate. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I
ate and talked on-line while I worked on getting a video edited and uploaded to
YouTube. Sleep was slow in coming as I was fairly over caffeinated but when it did
I crashed hard.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-78664891218669311052016-12-05T21:37:00.000-08:002017-04-16T00:26:21.789-07:00Pushing on<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">12/5/16 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Mexico City, Mexico to Veracruz, Mexico <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">454.9 kilometers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">I woke up a little after nine in the morning to get ready
and packed up. While getting geared up Eleanor brought Keira in to see me and I
spent about ten minutes loving on the dog before I could bring myself to finish
putting my boots on. I miss Woden so much and Kiera is such a sweet dane.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">As I finished packing Eleanor told me breakfast
was ready, a pleasant surprise as I was expecting to do an <a href="http://www.oxxo.com/" target="_blank">Oxxo</a> breakfast. AKA oatmeal or anything worth eating I could find at the convenience store. I
carried my bags downstairs and past where the whole family was sitting at the
dinner table, including Eleanor's grandmother who had been sick and in bed
since I had arrived. I walked past them trailed by Keira to go outside and load
the bike so that I would be ready to hit the road and work to make up some time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Breakfast was eggs with ham and some fried beans.
The family was making sandwiches of it but I opted to just eat them by
themselves with a cup of tea. It was my desire to try and stay fit more than a
taste choice the led me to skip the breads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Departing was made into a bit of a family affair
as everyone came out to the courtyard to see me off. There were lots of photos
and good byes. I felt a little odd as I
had only been there for a day and a half and they were treating me like I had
been there for weeks. It was touching
and really enamored me to the whole family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">The ride out of town was simple enough with the
help of my GPS and Google Maps as a second routing option. The traffic on this
side of town was much simpler to navigate than it had been coming into town.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvRvMVtQsZtcsy2LRGeqZaKBLiE8yvBSP9n31g0hVopY1OaI5Rqq_Knh78WHoM-hwxhtPNXwUzosCSGtqdm1K3ce-KRJOIVhCHiauj_em93WFfvM0mo3SFRzsVvxm07jXc1PuXD3nK3Jg/s1600/S10C0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvRvMVtQsZtcsy2LRGeqZaKBLiE8yvBSP9n31g0hVopY1OaI5Rqq_Knh78WHoM-hwxhtPNXwUzosCSGtqdm1K3ce-KRJOIVhCHiauj_em93WFfvM0mo3SFRzsVvxm07jXc1PuXD3nK3Jg/s640/S10C0017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">I rode out on the toll roads for the first 140
kilometers or so before saying fuck it and getting off onto the secondary
roads. It gave me my first taste of real off-road since my <a href="http://expeditionrecovery.blogspot.com/2016/09/north-to-future-north-to-deadhorse.html" target="_blank">Deadhorse run</a>. It
was only a few miles of the real rough stuff, and only because I missed a turn,
but it got my blood pumping for the next chance get the bike dirty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwPKTYBoI8W3kFQr-LrPz3vS4bvMr1Pfz_RNLKOud6tnZRmmtzeScYXENq-s4m7mCFdquHp4Pd1kVaHFFYiWyz5Mol3boO4GMDYzpeduftkTz9PcgcOVYQihq8R5KDzNYlD7Vurs5pA_2/s1600/S10C0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwPKTYBoI8W3kFQr-LrPz3vS4bvMr1Pfz_RNLKOud6tnZRmmtzeScYXENq-s4m7mCFdquHp4Pd1kVaHFFYiWyz5Mol3boO4GMDYzpeduftkTz9PcgcOVYQihq8R5KDzNYlD7Vurs5pA_2/s640/S10C0020.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">The secondary roads were certainly slower than
the toll roads but I consider that a small price to pay to break the monotony
of super slab. The ever present threat
of topes, speed bumps that are often completely unmarked and rarely ever the
same profile, also limited the speed of travel to little more than short
darting sprints in some areas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">I was still forced onto some toll roads but at
least they were through a twisty section of mountains that would have been a
blast to ride if it weren't socked in with fog. It still made for a smooth
section to catch my breath a bit from the rough sections of broken road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Late in the day, and back on secondary roads, I
hit a topes at a mild clip. It was enough of a jarring hit to dislodge the left
side of the windshield from the mounts and leave it hanging by one set of
brackets, to include the GPS that was mounted to it! Thankfully as I reigned in
the bike and pulled off the road I ended up right in front of a roadside taco
stand. It made stopping to fix it a pleasurable experience as I also had six
tacos and a Mexican coke for just 65 pesos ($3.50 US). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfiKglEx8Ri0cYAwwhQ1TFk_Um-gcN5mzSS0q3OCozvvhEECByIBQNk86oO0Bnij_06rH9BhiScwTcIni_4Z1Y0F-MurB4kGa0aB9oTj8AmPpMRj7-oomWyvpRkDekSaX8DTpZ303KigF/s1600/S10C0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfiKglEx8Ri0cYAwwhQ1TFk_Um-gcN5mzSS0q3OCozvvhEECByIBQNk86oO0Bnij_06rH9BhiScwTcIni_4Z1Y0F-MurB4kGa0aB9oTj8AmPpMRj7-oomWyvpRkDekSaX8DTpZ303KigF/s640/S10C0025.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">By the time I finished it dark and I knew I
needed to get off the road fast for safety. I looked through the GPS lodging
choices and decided on a city express since the rates were good at the one I
stayed in the night I crossed the border. With just a little finagling I was
able to make my way there to find the rooms were almost 1000 pesos a night. I
searched the area and the best hotel price I could find was 650 a night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">I tried to use the GPS to find a hostel but where
it took me didn't seem to be anything. I gave up and went to a nearby McDonalds
to snag some Wi-Fi and look for a place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">I ended up finding the <a href="http://www.oysterhostelveracruz.bookdreams.co/" target="_blank">Oyster Hostel</a> for about
200 pesos, or roughly $10 US, for the night. I plugged it into google maps and
took off. Google maps kept saying it was on the right so I kept driving loops
looking for it and ended up roving the same block five times due to the one-way
layout before finding it two blocks up and on the left from where my phone kept
saying it was.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">The place wasn't well marked and initially no one
would answer the door. I would have just gone somewhere else but I had already
paid for the room on-line. Thankfully someone came to the door and let me in.
They weren't staff but left the door open for me to bring my gear in from the
bike. I piled it in the common area before going out and parking the bike on
the sidewalk in front of the hostel, covering it, and arming the alarmed
disk-lock. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">It took some time for a member of the staff to
arrive, but he was very nice and got me checked in just fine. It turns out the
price I paid on-line was more than the standard rate but only by 25 pesos and
the equivalent extra taxes. Overall it was still cheaper than anywhere I had
paid to stay since starting the trip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">The room was three sets of bunk beds in a room
with some small lockers, a bathroom, and a shower. I was alone when I got in
but shortly several Spanish speaking women and a young Danish man I had met
downstairs all came back in for the night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;">I showered and climbed into bed to write journals
and get some digital work caught up before slipping away to sleep in my first
night ever in a hostel.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-13307781557702670672016-12-04T15:12:00.000-08:002017-04-15T23:48:03.650-07:00It's just a little hill<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">12/4/16
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Mexico
City <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Zero
kilometers ridden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Was
awake around 7 am for some unknown reason. Had trouble falling back asleep till
almost 8 but then got another full two hours. Once I did get up I showered
before Eleanor took my laundry for me and started it in the wash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Once
out of the shower, she asked if I wanted to walk with her to get bread for the
family breakfast. We walked a few short blocks to a bakery and selected some
pastries before walking back. Eleanor's dog, Amy, accompanied us off leash and
was wonderfully well behaved. When we arrived back it was time for breakfast
and we ate with her family. Breakfast was eggs con chorizo, beans, rice and the
pastries we had selected. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">After
breakfast we were going to go to the tallest hill in Mexico City where there is
a half completed pyramid at the top. I asked that we wait till the laundry was
able to be flipped and so we waited a few extra moments and then hung up my
clothes to dry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Kiera,
the family's 11 month old female Great Dane, was going to join us as well as their
other dog Amy. Eleanor had thought I didn't actually mean it when I responded
yes to the question of bringing Keira along. I convinced her I did and got to
hold her on a short section of leather hitching leash for the trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">The
"nearby hill" turned out to be </span><span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerro_de_la_Estrella" target="_blank">Cerro de la Estrella</a>,</span><span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #4b4f56; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>a full four mile hike from the house to the
top. We ended up having to stop and take a break so Eleanor could rest a bit.
We did so at a combined children's playground and outdoor gym. While she rested
and watered the dogs I did a set of each exercise station. Once Eleanor was
ready we continued the climb.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">A
few hundred yards up the road we stopped at the first overlook, where I shot
some photos of the city to make a panoramic from. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhno3AyUsexDZQjO1HeHwyZYKJBy0cpy9gXjKGufnmhLn6heoFkFSwV9y5HBX7RNKsBGJlOUbLiPxU8PmD87EtLnXf756LKDsn7fdjWxexYUe-8eeUUes5GFV1dp-2t-w3XiPt2oD8PMR3L/s1600/City+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhno3AyUsexDZQjO1HeHwyZYKJBy0cpy9gXjKGufnmhLn6heoFkFSwV9y5HBX7RNKsBGJlOUbLiPxU8PmD87EtLnXf756LKDsn7fdjWxexYUe-8eeUUes5GFV1dp-2t-w3XiPt2oD8PMR3L/s640/City+view.JPG" width="426" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Continuing
to the top was a good uphill hike, but the view from the partial pyramid at the
top was well worth it. We probably spent an hour up there so I could take
photos and I loved every minute of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83M6eCamtE1FyY4Jr_jlDFEGDc8DQvg-jAkik17MxUZri20qhd0i3JpcNkFpxqpcSFh_ka_udmN1yjKFh73GPk7mTGmxIKIohoawFm1PNjWQGgQ9T9BULbD3jg1UXdjejQj7oZge-3Wm9/s1600/Over+looking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83M6eCamtE1FyY4Jr_jlDFEGDc8DQvg-jAkik17MxUZri20qhd0i3JpcNkFpxqpcSFh_ka_udmN1yjKFh73GPk7mTGmxIKIohoawFm1PNjWQGgQ9T9BULbD3jg1UXdjejQj7oZge-3Wm9/s640/Over+looking.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">We
walked back down but took a slightly different route that brought us through
the larger metropolitan area of the section of city that Eleanor lives in. In
total the walk was about 8 miles, almost none of it flat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">We
got the dogs returned to the house where we were told that we would be eating
soon. I folded and stored my clothes before being asked to come down for
dinner. The chicken soup was great and as I finished, Eleanor asked if I wanted
to go explore down town. I of course said yes and we dressed to leave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbZg21DbOZX7nDjK6lh2Sk0abkqCjK6J22AbqINz9SFhd3ppEACK6E1nexgcumQmiJKoTOdJjxiaDgPxJ5w767tWQvcRh9kjCpxjGybvQkMVa6kl8oicVwuQoXjYbF709cM7_MH0Tu0iR/s1600/20161204_180236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbZg21DbOZX7nDjK6lh2Sk0abkqCjK6J22AbqINz9SFhd3ppEACK6E1nexgcumQmiJKoTOdJjxiaDgPxJ5w767tWQvcRh9kjCpxjGybvQkMVa6kl8oicVwuQoXjYbF709cM7_MH0Tu0iR/s640/20161204_180236.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">We
grabbed a bus from the end of her block down to the subway station where we
headed for down town. Eleanor slept for a good portion of the ride and I wrote
in my journal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueM7Qgivo50QGAvC_flYTIjSPmqtgj1pp75UxEK5L8xbHpVSBmSHju5BHxFREgAYrjz-EVOECDZ0cGHC9ogOrMy_UzyN07BKDGi-vvQDpHFWE-0DQG7wHAQTcMLQIl2eXwlWAQBt18vHz/s1600/20161204_182430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueM7Qgivo50QGAvC_flYTIjSPmqtgj1pp75UxEK5L8xbHpVSBmSHju5BHxFREgAYrjz-EVOECDZ0cGHC9ogOrMy_UzyN07BKDGi-vvQDpHFWE-0DQG7wHAQTcMLQIl2eXwlWAQBt18vHz/s640/20161204_182430.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Down
town was a flurry of activity as it was the day of the tree lighting in the
town center where there was a sledding hill on synthetic snow and free ice
skating. We wandered town a bit and I took lots of photos as we went. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">As
we were starting to turn back Eleanor spotted some native dancers getting ready
to perform and we went and grabbed seats on the curb nearby. I shot more than
twenty minutes of video during the performance and ended up giving all the
coins I had to the performers during two separate circulations of the crowd for
money. It was incredible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">After
the dancers we made our way back to the subway station on a different path. We
had intended to stop at a churro shop but it was still so busy that we bypassed
it and just got on the train instead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">The
Subway was very full and we were forced to stand for most of the trip. I tried
to explain again how to use the subway for leg training and had to show Eleanor
a few times with corrections before she was in good form and practicing. In just
a few stops both of our legs were burning with the effort but we had a good
time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">At
our stop we went and grabbed a taxi to a restaurant she wanted me to try. There
I had two oil fried quesadillas, one chicken and cheese and another mushroom
with cheese. Eleanor had a chicken and vegetable soup in a red broth that was
very good and she had me finish it so she could have a cheese quesadilla
herself. The food was good and we laughed about my poor Spanish and her pretty
good English with a few interesting word choices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">We
walked back to her home and along the way we stopped at a small store so I
could grab my daily Yakult and buy a horribly stale and terrible churro I
really only got to tease Boo. It was so bad that we each only took one bite and
I saved the rest for Keira at Eleanor's suggestion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Once
back at the house I went out to the back right away to feed the churro to Keira
in bits as we worked on tricks. She is such a sweet dog and reminds me so much
of Wodén. We took some pictures with the dog standing up before I retired to
the room to get caught up on internet tasks and journal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I
ended up watching an episode of Vikings before doing proof checking for
Montserrat and calling it a night.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-7083599389848113142016-12-03T13:06:00.000-08:002017-04-15T23:48:36.090-07:00The Big City<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">12/3/16 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Mexico City. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">46.9 kilometers ridden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I woke up at around 10 am again and was surprised to find that the
video I had set to upload when I went to sleep was still in process more than
eight hours later.<span class="apple-converted-space"> Despite my best
efforts keeping up with some of my class requirements is beginning to show some
degree of challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I showered and then talked to Cat while I conducted personal
hygiene, dressed, and packed. The internet didn't allow for a good connection
and we were disconnected several times during our chat. She wanted to apologize
for her needy nature over the last two weeks that culminated in the six
back-to-back calls last night. She was remorseful about the way she had been
acting and we talked about it and why it had happened. We didn't fully resolve
it but I think we turned the corner towards a better situation for both of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I ate a breakfast of granola and an energy bar from my camel back
washed down with the two bottles of water provided by the hotel. It wasn't much
but for some reason it was very filling. I got all the details on the practice
venue from Dannie Darko so I could go and coach practice today and plugged them
into google maps while on the hotel Wi-Fi. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Loaded up, I checked out of the hotel and headed out. The google
maps didn't account for divided traffic lanes and I ended up going on a strange
run about. I was able to use the displayed map and some dead-reckoning to get
back on course, even though it was a long detour through a few neighborhoods
and a secluded park in a small valley. The city is huge, and the traffic ways
are incredibly complex and confusing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I made it to the venue and secured the bike and bags as best I
could before going where I guessed practice was and sitting down to write for a
bit while the court was in use for a soccer game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Practice was set from 3-6 pm but as the start time for practice
passed a new game of soccer between two different teams was beginning and there
wasn't a derby person in site. Checking the other court that was torn apart for
repairs didn't turn up anyone. I decided that I would wait till 3:30 and if no
one had arrived I would load the bike and leave for Cancun to get as far as I
could with the day if coaching wasn't going to be a reality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I spent the first 15 minutes programing the Garmin to take me to
Cancun while avoiding toll roads. I figured I would make today as cheap as
possible if I would be hoteling it again tonight. At just about 3:20 three
skaters arrived including Dannie. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">With skaters there we found out we were in the damaged court as
the other was reserved for soccer. We borrowed brooms and swept the half of the
court not yet demolished as best we could. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It was 4 o'clock before skaters were actually ready to skate and
so I had to cut my lesson plan short. We still got a lot done though and
everyone seemed really supportive and motivated. We worked many good drills and
everyone was tired by the end. As we finished out I gave my last <a href="http://yolobearings.com/" target="_blank">Yolo</a> sticker
out to Dannie Darko who had set up the training. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Before I could gear down I was asked if I would be interviewed for
a documentary about roller derby in Mexico. While it was a bit odd to be
interviewed for a derby documentary instead of doing the interviewing, I still
had a good time. They seemed happy with the interview and we ended up talking
cameras and gear as well as exchanging contact information and chatting about
my project on Alaska Derby as well the expedition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">After practice there was a bit of confusion on transportation and
the fact that I had my motorcycle with me. It initially sounded like five of us
would be going for some food and then I would be going back to where I would be
staying that night.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> It turned
out that wasn't the actual case as after following Dannie's car for what was
likely 20-30 minutes we stopped and everyone got out to say good bye except for
one skater, the one I would be staying with, who told me where to park the
bike. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We were at a contemporary restaurant owned by some of her friends.
It turned out to be a wonderful meal where I had a chicken con molé. The molé
was tangy with just a hint of sweet and clearly fruit based. The chicken was
perfect and the vegetables were incredibly well prepared with just the right amount
of crispness left in them. The flavor was bold from each piece and yet they all
complimented and balanced the dish. The juicy chicken breast with the tart mole
balanced by expertly roasted vegetables that tasted of a hint of bacon while
not having any present in the dish. It was so good that I had to have a beer
with it even though my plan was to stick to water. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">During dinner Eleanor introduced herself. I was afraid that she
had already done so at the practice and I had forgotten so I hadn't wanted to
ask. We had great conversation talking about life, travel, healing, and
philosophy. It was very fortunate for me that Eleanor is a teacher at the
University, where she specializes in the anthropology of food of indigenous
peoples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Eleanor's parents arrived to pick her up and to lead me to the
house. It was about a 30 minute ride from the restaurant to Eleanor's home. While
her parents had driven her, she actually lives with her grandmother in a quiet
and clean neighborhood. I was shown where to park the bike, and after unloading,
shown to Eleanor's room where I would be staying the night. She had chosen to
stay on the couch to give me the privacy of her room. It was a generous offer
and I was grateful for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eleanor wanted to show me the food of her neighborhood so we
walked from the house down the street to two different taco stands, each making
different kinds with very different flavors. After that we walked a few blocks
to have a type of sandwich made from a bread coated in a slightly spicy red
sauce before being fried as a top and bottom halves. A filling of potatoes with
small pieces of meat was fried on the same grill. It was all assembled with
cheese and some lettuce. It was very good and the burn of the spices was subtle
and not overwhelming which was a nice change from most of the "spicy"
food I had been eating in Mexico. We walked back and had dessert of lemon cake
and rice pudding both from the same street vendor. They were both great and a
nice finish to the night. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">From Cat:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As soon as that sixth call to Zack didn’t go through, and even
more so after we hung up for the night, I felt absolutely horrible for how I had
acted. I was ashamed, embarrassed, and very regretful. I spent a very long time alone with my own
thoughts examining how and why I was acting the way I had been for the past few
weeks. This was not like me. I knew I was being immature, but even worse, I was
not being a good partner. I was not trusting us or our partnership. And that
hurt more than anything. It hurt me that I was giving him even the slightest
doubt that I didn’t trust us, because I very much did. He was giving me all the reassurance and love
I was wanting and needing. As I took the time to really examine why I was needing
so much reassurance I became very aware of my own lack of self-confidence and how I had been projecting that onto him. And that wasn’t fair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The next morning, as soon as we got a chance, I quickly
apologized for how I had been acting. I knew I couldn’t undo what I did, but I
could acknowledge it and make a plan to work on it. We talked about what I was
feeling and why I was reacting the way I was. Once again, I found myself very
thankful for my partner and the open and honest relationship that we have
created. While it was a hard talk to have, I also felt very comfortable being so
vulnerable with him. Conversations like these are never easy, but when you are
in a partnership, and you are listening to actually hear and understand
(instead of listening to simply respond) it makes a huge difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am not proud of my actions, but I think this was a very
important conversation and a turning point for us, and especially me. There is
a difference between knowing something and actually understanding it. This was
a beginning of truly understanding. Not only was I really beginning to
comprehend just how much Zack really does love and care for me, no matter what,
but also beginning to understanding how very important it is for me to truly
love and care for myself too. No, I was not looking to him or our partnership
for my own self-worth, but there was a small part of me that was still
comparing our relationship to his and Montserrat’s. And the lack of confidence in myself and fear
that she was better in some way, was leading to me needing that reassurance in
us instead of understanding and loving myself and the partnership we have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-79257684635474776602016-12-02T12:56:00.000-08:002017-04-15T23:49:28.886-07:00From big to bigger<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">12/2/16 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">León, Mexico to Sante Fe district Mexico City, Mexico <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">408 kilometers ridden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Even though she had quit, Montserrat had to go back to work to
finish a project before they would pay her the wages she was owed. It made for
a surreal half asleep parting when she came in to the guestroom to say goodbye.
It was a sad parting as I knew I was not coming back in a few days, and that
she likely would not be joining me for any part of my trip. For her, it was a
return to thinking she would never see me again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I tried to sleep a bit more after she left but wasn't very
successful in getting more than a few short dozes over the next two hours of
lying in bed. I got up and checked my phone at near 10 o'clock and ended up
video chatting with Cat a bit. I was testy with her, mostly I think due to
excess emotions from my parting with Montserrat. The internet was spotty at
best and we couldn't really talk about too much. I awoke and showered for the
last time in the house in León before beginning to pack. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Montserrat's parents invited me to take a break from packing and
join them for a breakfast of grilled ham and cheese on both bread and
tortillas. It was a pleasant but somber breakfast. It was clear that her
parents were emotional about my departure as well. They even asked where I
would be on Christmas in hopes that I could join them and the family, including
Montserrat, at their home in Mexico City.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXPpZO2hCTi838_RX9Rnm5czHIUyPKI3GoMSvGw3tHa0j8rnvsmZrC9XARWXvi_m55h5yQRXSuHzfRwHqzIjs-Re-AcMLN_K4OMs0WdudYQAtqmxO4ayuGO0WUqp4Z89VHxdPQfF7vOqn/s1600/20161202_120459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXPpZO2hCTi838_RX9Rnm5czHIUyPKI3GoMSvGw3tHa0j8rnvsmZrC9XARWXvi_m55h5yQRXSuHzfRwHqzIjs-Re-AcMLN_K4OMs0WdudYQAtqmxO4ayuGO0WUqp4Z89VHxdPQfF7vOqn/s640/20161202_120459.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I prepared and loaded the bike in the courtyard before asking to
take a photo with Montserrat's parents. We all took photos and I spent a few
minutes booking my hotel for the night. I ended up booking the cheapest one in
Sante Fe district that looked nice. I programmed the phone and headed
out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I took toll roads again to save time and made my way into
Queretaro where I was planning to go back and buy the wallet I had seen when
out with Alex. I searched in my GPS to try and find a land mark I could
navigate from but only managed to ride all over hell and back. I couldn’t even
locate the aqueduct that would be a point of reference. After more than an hour
I gave up and pointed the bike for Mexico City. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The ride to the city was simple enough, if you discount it took me
too long and I was forced to ride in crazy traffic after dark to get to my
hotel. Lane splitting here was a scary affair with narrow streets and the need
to enter and exit many different highway sections to and from surface streets
to follow the directions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It took a little doing to find the place I had booked and it
turned out that the great deal hadn't included taxes so it was actually an 850
peso room for the night. Seeing the lower priced option on the board I asked
what the difference was. It turns out the lower price was for the five hour
stay. Once checked in and able to see the room it was clear I was in a high-end
love hotel, likely used by rich men cheating on their wives. The room was huge
and adorned for couples from head to toe. The giant walk in steam shower, king
size bed set on a concrete pedestal, and porn on the TV confirmed my
suspicions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I made two trips to unload and secure the bike before retiring to
the room. I even ended up ordering some really mediocre room service food just
so I could stay in and try to decompress a bit on my own. My plans however were
not supported by needs of my company to get some admin taken care of so Joe
could cover my plowing clients, and Cat having a need to talk to me. The poor
internet, and my computer being so crammed full of files slowing it down, made
both tasks hard and I became short when Cat kept trying to reconnect the video
messenger six consecutive times while I was attempting to correct the issues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I ended up staying up way to late and getting very little done in
the process. Despite my best efforts and intentions, my planned night alone to
decompress ended up being anything but relaxing or helpful in processing my
emotions.<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">From Cat:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As Zack was once again preparing to leave Leon, there was a
rush of emotions welling up inside me. I could tell he was having a hard time
leaving Montserrat for a second time. Based on our conversations and
interactions that day and the few prior, I knew there a lot emotion sitting
underneath the surface for him. This must
have been difficult on the both of them and I was worried I might be making it
worse by needing to talk with him so much. I must admit though, selfishly, I was also
feeling a little bit relieved. While I was slowly becoming more okay with the
idea of Zack and Montserrat, I definitely was not at the point of comfort yet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Over past couple weeks, I was noticing myself floating
between being okay with everything and, at the drop of a hat, going back into
those old habits of wondering if something that changed. And that fear of “what
if” overwhelmed me at times. To reassure myself, I was needing to talk and
check in with Zack much more often than usual. I was letting the fear control
me and it ended up completely taking over the evening he left Leon. I was
getting home from a derby event and we were trying to chat in the midst of him
working on business stuff for his company as well as him trying to unwind from
the long and emotional day. The internet was spotty as usual and our call had
dropped. Instead of being patient and logical however, I tried calling him back
multiple times in row. Looking back, I can only imagine how frustrating that must
have been given everything else he was dealing with at the time. Once we
finally connected, Zack was upset with me for how I had acted, and rightly so.
We chatted for a little bit, but soon decided to call it an evening so he could
get done what he needed to and get some
much needed sleep.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-51575840729088165402016-11-26T13:21:00.000-08:002017-04-15T23:50:08.534-07:00One more yo-yo<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11/24/16 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">León, Mex to Queretaro, Mex <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">194.1 kilometers ridden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew today would arrive but had clearly been holding back and
pretending. I could feel myself not completing work so that I might have to
stay longer but it was past time to go since everyday was getting harder and
harder to think about leaving León.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I awoke when Montserrat got up for work and had a somber farewell
as she prepared to leave. I was able to keep it together but only just. I slept
for another two hours before waking myself to shower and pack the bike. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">While I folded laundry and prepped my bags I talked to the
leadership of my home league. I had been letting my concerns fester for long
enough that they had grown out of proportion. The result was that I had managed
to get very butt hurt about a deserved comment from a league member and chose
to respond in a very snarky way. When that was brought up as being an
inappropriate response I only made things worse by editing it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The reality is that I was in the wrong and having a bit of a hissy
fit for no real reason. It made no sense and was not how I should have handled
it. The end result was a productive conversation and my realization of how
childish I had been. I apologized privately to the person I had been short
with/about but took a written tongue lashing from them in the group dialogue.
It wasn't undeserved but stopped any further productive discussions. I finished
my talks and shut everything down to load it on the bike. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Montserrat's parents were arriving in town and made it to the
house while I was half way through loading. They were incredibly nice and asked
me to stay for lunch. My limited Spanish and their limited English made
communication a bit slow but we still had really a really nice conversation.
They asked me if I would come back to León on Sunday to help celebrate
Montserrat's birthday and I agreed to make the return trip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The ride to Queretaro was nice and rather relaxing though even
with the lowered pegs my knees and hips hurt over time. I alternated back and
forth between silence with time to think and listening to my audio book. I
didn't make any photo stops as it was mostly just bland highway. I arrived a
bit past five to Alex's home and got the bike unpacked and secured. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We opted for some food before practice and went to a nice empanada
place near his house. I had two and a salad and talked about the area. After
food we went and picked up Tita and headed for practice. The drive was nice and
I enjoyed the views of the city at night. Practice was great and the whole
group was a blast to work with. It was a full three hours and we used every
minute of it. After practice we went for Tacos with most of the team at a local
place that was very good. After dinner Alex and I went through photos and video
of the trip and talked till almost 3 am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It felt good to be back on the road and coaching again, but was
still hard to leave Montserrat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I spent the day of the 25<sup>th</sup> exploring the city with
Alex and taking tons of photos. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0BA916XqdjufunuVxJMy1YdTz6Al8dYlC1cw5uaNWjYVBBjSMpxO_y9eytwAeO_UQ8NOkhmqMTnWF1WMYTo_hN3R9BacZDf73jp9RBZDF6vTUVdkvbfAcF9ZKbGdddMZNjiVtHElmg3f/s1600/20161124_122615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0BA916XqdjufunuVxJMy1YdTz6Al8dYlC1cw5uaNWjYVBBjSMpxO_y9eytwAeO_UQ8NOkhmqMTnWF1WMYTo_hN3R9BacZDf73jp9RBZDF6vTUVdkvbfAcF9ZKbGdddMZNjiVtHElmg3f/s640/20161124_122615.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We
enjoyed the local foods and walked the historic town center. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4hUsY-DJ-2ii0XMN41DaMbXS1KB83CW4lD_gOYU2mNmw7KNIKDjuJUZ4IN-J9rQ_Il-AmMuJgERWx9eOvM6ZFsERtsHsidNMW3yEFrJgIkJuhs31GjWnFICnIqcXAO0O96Xe9Rhkatrq/s1600/20161124_123617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4hUsY-DJ-2ii0XMN41DaMbXS1KB83CW4lD_gOYU2mNmw7KNIKDjuJUZ4IN-J9rQ_Il-AmMuJgERWx9eOvM6ZFsERtsHsidNMW3yEFrJgIkJuhs31GjWnFICnIqcXAO0O96Xe9Rhkatrq/s640/20161124_123617.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I had been looking
for a good wallet that would survive my rather harsh working environment and we
found one at a small shoe shop. The
price was said to be $180 pesos but I thought there might be more so we moved
on. There really were not any that were of the quality from the shoe store so
we went back and the clerk then told us it would be $190 pesos. Alex was angry for me before I could even
realize I had been gringo priced. We
left and Alex told me I could easily find another wallet like it in Leon when I
went back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was able to see the historic aqueduct that served the city, and
even spotted a fun Café bike build parked at an overlook.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We finished out by going to what I would best call Portland in
Mexico. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivM5Afp4eNbYq2glmk1C3m0bTeT8mSNHry1lukj9Fc5CRWCOyBIV3HQa10qNuLugaSIFLUkCi_OdyiBkMfQcL0rpjjFz0TUeFVsefNqOdclHOoFHRe780O1MgvcMXRXFjpKN-GveUxJFqA/s1600/20161124_175647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivM5Afp4eNbYq2glmk1C3m0bTeT8mSNHry1lukj9Fc5CRWCOyBIV3HQa10qNuLugaSIFLUkCi_OdyiBkMfQcL0rpjjFz0TUeFVsefNqOdclHOoFHRe780O1MgvcMXRXFjpKN-GveUxJFqA/s640/20161124_175647.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was an open-air bar with
permanently parked food trucks surrounding it in the enclosed court yard. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUJ3K9RiN49mzzObxfZpgIXZTvFbM0nYs2mxqKpXGZu2p7WzdHbuc-6x3SOzyz8EjjjZP2c0hQ3o4jRjzQIYxk-5LZNWE2Po_DUT-rBDnOqtAR-sG5INHtC1uvi95dMJ_LxRpEDxt3Ktu/s1600/20161124_165354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUJ3K9RiN49mzzObxfZpgIXZTvFbM0nYs2mxqKpXGZu2p7WzdHbuc-6x3SOzyz8EjjjZP2c0hQ3o4jRjzQIYxk-5LZNWE2Po_DUT-rBDnOqtAR-sG5INHtC1uvi95dMJ_LxRpEDxt3Ktu/s640/20161124_165354.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Each truck had different types of food and
the bar had some good local beers on tap. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3uel4ijuQllVA3HxZqhPL2BgiyuGnC8-dHFLR4ytoTahScrBJfNtdovWQbt2TT841Pxbc2_-Ml90GA9CDdwW61B5ocTjvqEwxMBLqHSlp03l0psZRUl07fkZhfAnskpMQnyy-ejIpZcS/s1600/20161124_165702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3uel4ijuQllVA3HxZqhPL2BgiyuGnC8-dHFLR4ytoTahScrBJfNtdovWQbt2TT841Pxbc2_-Ml90GA9CDdwW61B5ocTjvqEwxMBLqHSlp03l0psZRUl07fkZhfAnskpMQnyy-ejIpZcS/s640/20161124_165702.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not a bad way to spend thanks giving abroad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LurMOBYny8QPS-jPiIjJH4jTN1qA26o8lGEu3nG5xZb0X6w_Q0sJvCRbJPNpmhO7PhkUkxcORJs20LnlrPxjYZSv_boucVIRY0IWVVIJM0ZAYDr2xyY5aPSvMfJxy6bzVAiWGqXElDtV/s1600/20161124_172832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LurMOBYny8QPS-jPiIjJH4jTN1qA26o8lGEu3nG5xZb0X6w_Q0sJvCRbJPNpmhO7PhkUkxcORJs20LnlrPxjYZSv_boucVIRY0IWVVIJM0ZAYDr2xyY5aPSvMfJxy6bzVAiWGqXElDtV/s640/20161124_172832.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And they had the best fish taco I have ever eaten!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkAj6h9cOg3kxHWYdWabHrZvB_hiw7vpJqf6e4JqQ5evPSdrMYr5WBz9D8H0Jg2wn_30lmSfBXjB4VpXNY_xnpImmvfhjecgjdlGozxSdnwh8UVaQV70YM2EAgoXmgMMCHpAOGWFIHMsJ/s1600/20161124_172959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkAj6h9cOg3kxHWYdWabHrZvB_hiw7vpJqf6e4JqQ5evPSdrMYr5WBz9D8H0Jg2wn_30lmSfBXjB4VpXNY_xnpImmvfhjecgjdlGozxSdnwh8UVaQV70YM2EAgoXmgMMCHpAOGWFIHMsJ/s640/20161124_172959.jpg" width="360" /></span></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The afternoon was so tiring from the sun and walking the streets
that I fell asleep as soon as we got back.
I was so out that when Alex came to get me for practice I was non
responsive to his knock or him coming in to the room to check on me so they let
me sleep. That made for a second missed
follow-on practice due to needing to sleep.
Even without turkey the thanksgiving nap is required.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11/26/16 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Queretaro, Mex to León, Mex <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">197.7 kilometers ridden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Early start to pack around 7:35 am, I opted not to shower and just
get packed up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Loaded the bike while talking with Alex about bikes. Grabbed
breakfast from the Oxxo, my liquid yogurt, a white monster, and some instant
oatmeal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The ride itself was pretty simple. Though I had intended to take
non-toll roads, I didn't get that loaded into google maps properly so it left
me going down the main toll roads. It took me about two and a half hours to
make it back to León. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was somewhat surprised when I stopped myself right in front of
Montserrat's house even when google maps was saying to keep going. I guess I
have spent enough time here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Montserrat's mother and father were both home and let me in
without issue. I spent most of the day doing computer work and even chatting
with Montserrat on-line. She thought I was in Mexico City and there was no way
I was going to ruin the surprise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">At a little after 6 pm Montserrat's Mother and I took an Uber to
where Montserrat worked. The plan for the night had been that the two of them
would go for pedicures so the arrival was expected. The guard said he would get
her and I crouched beneath the concrete half wall below the guard shack window
and waited for her mother to draw Montserrat out. When she arrived and began
talking I stood up and moved into her peripheral vision. She turned and looked
right through me. Her face was contorted in confusion as she did the mental
gymnastics to account for me being there. It took a full two or three seconds
before she accepted what she saw and embraced me in a hug. She choked out a few
sobs amidst laughter as she buried her face in my neck and shoulder, hugging me
tightly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After a moment of the half-crying half-laughing she finally said
something. "How are you here? Why are you here?" she asked without
pausing between sentences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"For your birthday, of course." Was my beaming
response. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wordlessly she hugged me again and then turned to look in
disbelief at her mother. They conversed for a few moments in Spanish too fast
for me to follow before walking towards the gated parking area. After unlocking
the gate Montserrat handed me her keys and asked if I could pull the car out
while she went back inside and finished her work. I was elated to see her again
and didn't even bother to adjust the seat back for my height before moving the
car to the street. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Montserrat's mother and I waited in the car across the street. It
was a slightly awkward time as I was excited to see Montserrat. Plus the
limited shared language between Montserrat's mother and I made for a very
choppy conversation. After what seemed an eternity, people began to leave the
building and Montserrat came out. Her mother and I were introduced to a handful
of her co-workers before one climbed in that was on the way home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Montserrat and I spent the rest of the evening talking and
catching up. Even though I had only been gone for two days, she had spent that
time telling herself she would never see me again. I could understand her
desire to protect herself, but it hurt to hear she thought that was the case.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The next several days were spent enjoying my evenings with
Montserrat and my days working on the bike and school work. As her Birthday came we went and I helped her
to fit and select her first motorcycle helmet so that we could go for
rides. While at the time there were not
bigger plans in the works, the helmet would turn out to be a huge factor in the
trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We also spent an evening searching the leather district of Leon,
which is the shoe capital of Mexico, and spent many hours looking through
streets of vendors. I never found anything even close to the wallet I had seen
in Queretaro but we both tried on many motorcycle styled jackets. It was a fun night just to wander the town
with Montserrat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">From Cat:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="m_9157157755965448944m_-6086772851028637510gmail-3oh-">The days and weeks that Zack spent in Leon was definitely a growing experience for me. I could tell that his and Montserrat’s relationship was growing stronger each day and while I was happy for him, I was also admittedly still quite hesitant. My brain was still very much trying to wrap my head around being capable of polyamory. How can you care very much for two people at the same time and even in the same way? How can he care for me <i>and</i></span> Montserrat and not let it affect how he feels for either of us?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I first heard of Zack going back to meet Montserrat and surprise her for her birthday, I was admittedly jealous. I was missing him and yes, I knew he missed me too, but I could tell he was upset and sad leaving Montserrat. Yet again, my brain was trying to compare. If he missed her, does that mean he misses me less? If he is excited and elated to see her again, does it mean he isn’t as excited to see me? What if he wasn’t as excited to see me? What if he wants to stay there more then he wants to come back home?</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">These were the questions floating around in my head. How was I going to deal with them? If I let them just sit there, I knew they were going to fester. And that certainly wasn’t healthy. So I began to process the questions, break them down one by one, and really get to the root of what I was thinking. Were these questions weren’t always logical? No. Were some of them were just pure emotion? Yes. And you know what? That’s okay. I once again began the slow, but necessary process of accepting what I was feeling and not diminishing it. It was important for me to recognize that no matter what I was feeling, that feeling was valid. And once I began to accept that, I was able to begin breaking down why I was feeling that way.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was the night Zack surprised Montserrat and showed up at her work that I had my first moment of complete understanding. She had tagged him in a post on Facebook and was clearly very excited and happy. I quickly began feeling envious. To help myself understand, I began to put myself in her shoes. And immediately, my view began to change. I remembered all the birthdays I had that no one to surprise me and all the birthdays no one who went out of their way to me feel special. I remembered all the lunch dates that Zack surprised me with, the random flowers he brought to my office, and all the times I felt like I was most special person in his life. And I felt happy. Happy that Montserrat now had someone in her life who cared enough to do this. Happy she had someone who made who made her feel wanted and appreciated. I spent so many years feeling unwanted, unappreciated, and not cared for that I truly understand the joy and happiness that comes when someone makes you feel special.<span style="background: none 0% 0% repeat scroll yellow;"></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I began to relate to Montserrat on a personal level.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was in that moment that I understood. I understood her happiness, her shock, her pure joy and her elation. And I was happy for her. I was actually happy for her and for Zack. I was happy for the time they were sharing together. And I was beginning to understand polyamory a little bit more. I still had questions, I still had fears. My emotions were still taking over at times. And yes, I still needed a whole lot of reassurance. But I was also healing and more importantly growing. I was stepping outside my preconceived notions, stepping outside society’s definitions of what a relationship has to look like. And I was realizing that maybe it was okay. Maybe all these worries and fears, even if some weren’t logical, didn’t mean that this was wrong, maybe just different. And there is nothing wrong with different.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-33801331097492080522016-11-20T12:48:00.000-08:002017-04-15T23:51:22.725-07:00All Mexico Roller Derby Championships <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mexican Nationals<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">11/18/16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Leon, Mex to Juarez, Mex<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Zero Miles ridden<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As I begin this I am seated on a VivaAerobus flight from
Guadalajara to Juarez Mexico. To say
that the spacing is a bit tight would be an understatement. I feel like this is the only time having
T-Rex arms might be of some help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGh8TSaevqkupKBbgffb8Z7L2rH6MHwerbwlufwDjVwiSwyqczDXQYduRkonf8Wv3iA26htkZ5DB17XxjRlpQhfwreC1z1Oi6nZWyD53LfmvjxI_zoBQdpPg4dSntaAiqlNPLSD80Tm6uK/s1600/20161118_142944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGh8TSaevqkupKBbgffb8Z7L2rH6MHwerbwlufwDjVwiSwyqczDXQYduRkonf8Wv3iA26htkZ5DB17XxjRlpQhfwreC1z1Oi6nZWyD53LfmvjxI_zoBQdpPg4dSntaAiqlNPLSD80Tm6uK/s640/20161118_142944.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Overall the day has been good, despite small seat spacing.
We had to rush out of the house this morning as Montserrat was not ready to go
as fast as she had planned. It meant a bit of a rush to make the two and a half
hour drive to Guadalajara to catch our flight.
The drive was smooth enough but we were too late to get to the house
where we had planned to store the car.
Instead we were forced to pay 75 pesos a day to store the car at a pay
lot outside the airport and then grab a shuttle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The airport was packed with familiar faces from San Luis
Potasi and from Guadalajara. It was a
smooth check in process for us but several skaters from Bastardos and Los
Furiosas (San Luis Potasi) were not allowed to bring their skates in their
carry-ons and it was already too late to go and check them so they missed the
flight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I tried to use the flight for writing but my lack of sleep caught up fast and I was out like a light for the majority of the ride.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Once in town we were picked up and taken to grab some food before going to the venue for part one of the tryouts for Team Mexico Women's Roller Derby. Montserrat was set to skate so I took the time to do a full clean on my bearings. Without normal maintenance supplies I was reduced to fully dissembling the bearings all the way down to separated components and cleaning them with a rag.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuuFGYKXlk22L7gbzYSSVEttYNJ5RC5FTvdySuvdvVvb8Gne5HA0N6004HFwo3259KEAu4bsGc8J0liUTXfXIxa1dNFW-dknXJlGaiRRVZvwQGgSoMcwfz_ldykcZKffCSNFsSuhKvtCb/s1600/20161119_190954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuuFGYKXlk22L7gbzYSSVEttYNJ5RC5FTvdySuvdvVvb8Gne5HA0N6004HFwo3259KEAu4bsGc8J0liUTXfXIxa1dNFW-dknXJlGaiRRVZvwQGgSoMcwfz_ldykcZKffCSNFsSuhKvtCb/s640/20161119_190954.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not all of the refs fared so well with the schedule</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After tryouts we went to the house we would be staying at. It was a great gesture but turned out to be a bit of a party house. We ended up going for pizza and by the time we got back the marijuana smoke was heavy in the room. I excused myself to the stair well and ate my food their. Our host saw how uncomfortable I was with the situation and offered us the use of her room. Montserrat and I graciously accepted the offer and decided then that we would find something different for the rest of the weekend,</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmKlkFqg_iShxQMALEEMJXeJs0Uyagbvq7_72cIellR8NOv0ZS93e12ssF0SxZzD84pSdLbvbPu7-HQsjE8rUhDaeA4DHnNBNv4ccXEhX-TsWXm9d0DLR6ds8d07BAo9CwiI16nfGzZkt/s1600/20161119_095157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmKlkFqg_iShxQMALEEMJXeJs0Uyagbvq7_72cIellR8NOv0ZS93e12ssF0SxZzD84pSdLbvbPu7-HQsjE8rUhDaeA4DHnNBNv4ccXEhX-TsWXm9d0DLR6ds8d07BAo9CwiI16nfGzZkt/s640/20161119_095157.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The actual tournament was a unique and wonderful experience. I ended up as one of the alternating crew head refs with Sir Veza as my counter part on the crew. I ended up working 11 games over the weekend, including the men's and women's finals. While it was certainly my first time getting a death threat from a coach, I didn't let that damper my view of an otherwise amazing weekend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Montserrat and I had ups and downs over the weekend as she and I were both independently stressed, but we came out of it all still very happy. For a rather new relationship it was a really nice first fly away together.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBjW3Nlbu39urPNvCySEJUsYHkzoW7QDwP4CrbABk1rOFSDb2HwX6cO8xV1Pg9QKNO9tlSXQOiD-pyN8IqHZjq8tYVrYwkpeZe5g8EwPs187J0cQw6-YQQoOQetFUCLp1see04Pku1NbN/s1600/20161118_160635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBjW3Nlbu39urPNvCySEJUsYHkzoW7QDwP4CrbABk1rOFSDb2HwX6cO8xV1Pg9QKNO9tlSXQOiD-pyN8IqHZjq8tYVrYwkpeZe5g8EwPs187J0cQw6-YQQoOQetFUCLp1see04Pku1NbN/s640/20161118_160635.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Cat and I also talked over the weekend but I kept managing to get her messages as I was running out of time between games or as I was working the Mota booth to help out Corina, I felt bad and I know that it can't have been easy to have been just starting make sense of opening our relationship and then to seem as if I was unreachable. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">From Cat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">After making the decision to open our relationship, I spent the next week or so trying to process and make sense of what I was feeling. My brain kept trying to understand what was going on by comparing. I wondered what their interactions were like if they were anything like ours? What happened if he fell in love with her? How did she compare to me? Was she “better” than me? Was there something that she was giving I couldn’t? While I never for a moment doubted Zack’s love for me, I remember also very much wanting the reassurance. I wanted to make sure nothing had changed between us. And I was needing that support bit more than I cared to admit. I really wanted to be that person that just instantly understood everything and was “okay” with it right away. But I kept going back and forth between logical understanding and having my raw emotions take over. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">The bridge between knowing something and your feelings about that thing is often hard to cross, and this was going to take some time.
I felt all of those old fears and insecurities from my past come rushing back again. Before Zack, I had only been in two prior relationships. The first was in my freshman year of high school and it ended very abruptly. We had been very close friends for many years and I really cared for him. Losing that relationship and more importantly, that friendship, without any warning, was very hard for me. For whatever reason, it left such an impression that every relationship after, I have been afraid that something would change. That it would end immediately like that again and that I would be left alone, hurting, in pain, and wondering what I did wrong.
The second relationship was my ex-husband and we were together for 9 years. That is a lot of time and effort put into a relationship, even if it wasn’t the healthiest. When I found out he was cheating on me it also left quite the mark. He intentionally and purposefully hid his inappropriate actions with other woman from me and went to great lengths to do so. He then lied to me and made me feel as if it was my fault when I found out. This once again left me feeling very self-conscious, hurt and with a lot of questions.
My head was reeling and I was trying so hard to keep it all separate. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">Were my feelings about what was happening right now legitimate or was I projecting? I knew that this was a completely different relationship, and more importantly, a partnership. This was being done with complete openness. Yes, it was incredibly hard to hear about at times, but life isn’t always easy is it? No, I wasn’t upset at him and was not holding his feelings against him; how could I? He was completely upfront and honest with me from the very beginning. He wasn’t cheating because there is complete consent and knowledge by all parties. So why was I having such a hard time with this? </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;">
After quite a bit of self-analysis, I realized that one of the things I was having a really tough time with was him not physically being here to reassure me. While I was getting the verbal and emotional reassurance, I really wanted that physical too. I missed Zack. I not only wanted a hug and a kiss, but I also wanted those little moments that we share together that had come to mean so much to me. I wanted to feel that everything was alright and that nothing had changed. And right now, I just couldn’t have it. I was also having to come to terms with the fact that Montserrat was getting that time with him. And that was proving to be tough for me to cope with. But I also knew that this was something I was going to need to work through if this was going to work. At least now that I was aware of it, I could stop it from having power over me and my thoughts. I soon came to realize that while this wasn’t going to be easy and I wasn’t processing it all nearly as quickly as I would have liked, this was just something that I was going to have to work through and, like him, just continue to move forward.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-67910334229253180912016-11-17T18:45:00.000-08:002017-04-15T23:52:09.648-07:00The unraveling of my formerly ‘Normal’ life<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SIbQSB411T167XPxLPcYNwObLABlSibOYTpJmJbvp7HfzC5HrcFolrYdgEdDQbXx-Er8bV8xwSB4jahRSX2G2LPF0RktQn4AIzJ05YXmz0FNujBtEtDWUqTp6lHaEF_Bl0pomNVzMCJS/s1600/20161110_225933_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SIbQSB411T167XPxLPcYNwObLABlSibOYTpJmJbvp7HfzC5HrcFolrYdgEdDQbXx-Er8bV8xwSB4jahRSX2G2LPF0RktQn4AIzJ05YXmz0FNujBtEtDWUqTp6lHaEF_Bl0pomNVzMCJS/s640/20161110_225933_001.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Leon Mexico</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Zero kilometers ridden.</span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Coming back to Leon from Portland left me feeling out of
sorts. The weekend had been incredible, but the passionate kissing had broken
past a barrier I had kept in place for many years. While I was a police officer I felt a need to
retain some amount of a moral high ground and thus had stowed away my prior
instances of living in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyamory" target="_blank">polyamory</a> and being promiscuous. That was naive of me, but it was my reality
nonetheless. While there had been some involvement in open relationships since
me departure from policing, this was my first straying from the very serious
and committed relationship I am in with Cat. In addition, it felt like I had
done wrong by Montserrat as well. Even
though she had been in a relationship when I left, the feelings were clearly
there and I felt like I had committed a large betrayal to Cat and a small one
to Montserrat even though we were not together. One of the first things I did on
returning was to talk to Montserrat about the kissing, the talk with Cat, and
that while I had acted inappropriately Cat and I were going to work on it and
keep working forward. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">With my self-destructive history of pushing people away when
they become important to me, I was worried I might be subconsciously doing that
with Cat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The conversations with Cat continued and were completely
open and honest. I didn’t ask her to
consider polyamory, but she asked me many questions about it and my history
with being in open relationships and multiple partnerships in the past. The conversations frankly scared the hell out
of me. I was having to break down my
thoughts on something that had just been an inherent understanding to me.
Loving more than one person without taking away from another comes naturally to
me, explaining how that works to others certainly doesn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the same time Montserrat and I were still talking and I
was still feeling more and more for her.
Even the reservations I had made into road blocks were falling
away. While I was gone she had quit smoking
because it was her one trait she felt unhappy with herself about. She and her
boyfriend had stopped seeing each other because she was tired of how he was
acting and treating her and said she realized she could do so much better. All of it just made my head spin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I felt myself torn between the person I had tried so long to
be, the normal monogamous person, and the person I was seeming to become again.
I wanted to nothing but to do right by Cat and yet my feelings for Montserrat
were growing exponentially. It felt internally like rift was forming and I had
no idea how to stop the divide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1j1iCDBORgI_AD1AQYAlkzfendxgOWRi7EFmZq315o6T4iVWSJsQAEdS_NkmDzkcNp1Oz2FTdPmt1eFqrAMIptOnHa-sPOWBDcz2tp-fDhHc4t4JJuTCbWkhzqkWolhdOsixnlvcY6YW/s1600/20161130_212447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1j1iCDBORgI_AD1AQYAlkzfendxgOWRi7EFmZq315o6T4iVWSJsQAEdS_NkmDzkcNp1Oz2FTdPmt1eFqrAMIptOnHa-sPOWBDcz2tp-fDhHc4t4JJuTCbWkhzqkWolhdOsixnlvcY6YW/s640/20161130_212447.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">To try and make sense of the days would be useless as they
blended together in a whirlwind of writing blogs, planning the next steps of
the trip, talking many times a day with Cat, and fighting the wave of feelings
welling inside me for Montserrat. I felt
like something was sure to break, and it nearly did. Early in the week I had
fallen asleep lying beside Montserrat after we had watched a movie on the only
TV in the house, in her bedroom. We spent the entire night face to face with
just the tips of our noses touching. I
could feel both of us yearning to kiss and touch each other. By morning we
hadn’t moved at all and the air was electric.
We got up and went about our own tasks but that night had pushed us so
close to the edge that the slightest slip would have been a fall from the
cliff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Something did break though, just not the way I had thought
it would. Cat asked me one morning what an open relationship would look like. I
began to explain how mine in the past had worked and how others I knew made
theirs work. Somewhere in the middle she stopped me to correct her
question. She wanted to know how an open
relationship would look between us. I was flabbergasted. Here I was trying
desperately to hold together the two parts of how I had lived my adult life so
that I could maintain normalcy in the healthiest relationship I had ever been
in and she wanted to know what it would look like if we threw other people’s
definition of normal to the wind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In that question and the conversations that followed I came
to realize something I had known for a long time, normal is just a setting on a
washing machine. Here I was on a solo motorcycle trip across the Americas
because normal life hadn’t really worked for me and I had years of issues to
work through because I had tried to be normal, and I was still worried about
what others would think of my relationship.
It was a proverbial slap to the face. It didn’t matter if others thought
we were “wrong” or “sick”, so long as we were happy with each other, continued
to be totally honest with one another, and were honest with anyone we involved
in our relationship and looked out for their wellbeing and happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">There were several more long conversations before Cat
decided that she wanted to try and work on that level. While she was not polyamorous by nature, she
wanted me to figure out just who I was as I healed. I gave the reigns over to her and made sure
that she knew I would not be upset or bothered if she changed her mind and
wanted me to stop exploring my feelings for Montserrat. That final conversation
was while Montserrat was in the shower.
When she got out and I took her in my arms and kissed her it felt very
much right. She was a bit stunned, but
very happy when I told her Cat had told me it was okay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMuj68pj8c_qn0tdrFMDhn-seOIqdnAlOWVJYXP4LVnptu9bG6ZRe-GufmfSqRqNjg2G4JD2Z4CyIbAL_5d-yEYR5QHk_LzvpjX-2D7IYkITQ_njYgfmIGzH57kCMsS4SNtZ49Bu33kAf/s1600/20161130_212456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMuj68pj8c_qn0tdrFMDhn-seOIqdnAlOWVJYXP4LVnptu9bG6ZRe-GufmfSqRqNjg2G4JD2Z4CyIbAL_5d-yEYR5QHk_LzvpjX-2D7IYkITQ_njYgfmIGzH57kCMsS4SNtZ49Bu33kAf/s640/20161130_212456.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The rest of that week seemed to fly by and then we were off
and driving to visit Morelia for some derby coaching. Montserrat would do her first highway driving
and I would get to coach with her helping me for the first time. It was a really spectacular practice but I
was so tired I overslept practice the next morning and our hosts felt it too
rude to wake us and just let us sleep. While I needed the sleep, I felt bad for not making the mornings events.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I also decided to stay another week in Leon so I could go
and work the Mexican Champs as an official.
It was two weeks of finding parts of me that I had lost, making plans,
and realizing a little more that what others think of my life is far less
important than what I think of my life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">From Cat</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The next several days that followed Champs were by far the
hardest for me since Zack had left. All I wanted was a really big hug and kiss
and to be held and I couldn’t have it.
We were being so open, so raw, and so honest with each other. This level
of communication and trust and intimacy is something I had never experienced
with anyone in my entire life. And it scared the absolute hell out of me. But it also made me realize how incredible,
amazing, and real this partnership was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As hard as it was for me to process everything that was
happening and figure out how I felt, I could also see it was incredibly
difficult for Zack. I could tell that he
was fighting with himself, and I wanted so badly to help. So instead of
focusing on me and how I was feeling about everything, I tried my best to
understand. As many couples do when Zack and I first started getting to know
one other, we talked about our past relationship history. I knew that he had
been a bit promiscuous and even involved in poly situations, and while I didn’t
really understand it, I didn’t really have to. It was never something I had
talked about, thought about, or been exposed to, and besides, it was part of
his past so I didn’t really have to. Well now I did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Zack very patiently answered every single question that I
had and reassured me in every way he could. Never once did he get upset or
frustrated with me, even if I asked the same question multiple times. He made
me feel comfortable enough to speak my feelings openly and honestly, even if
they were selfish or hard to hear. I soon began to realize that this wasn’t
about me or us at all; this was something that he was working through with
himself. And the more we talked, the
more I understood, <i>this is who he is</i>.
This is no different than if he were to share with me that he was gay or bisexual.
I still love him just as much and very much want him to be my partner and continue
building and sharing our lives together. And just as important, he still wanted that
with me. None of that had changed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After our conversations, I often found myself just sitting
alone in silence, trying to process all we had discussed. I logically
understood everything he was sharing with me. I rationally understand how someone
can love multiple people and yet one love does not take it away from the other.
While I am not a mother, I imagine it is the same type of concept, you love all
of each children and your love for one does not take away from the other. But
emotionally, this was a very hard concept for me to relate to. It brings up
fears of being rejected, unwanted, and not good enough. I had no experience to
fall back on, nothing to tell me that this would turn out okay. But I knew this
was something that Zack needed to work through, and there was kind of no other
way for him to process these emotions and figure out who he was except by
moving forward. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After a few very long, difficult and sleepless nights, I
decided that this was as good of time as ever to give this a shot. Please
believe me when I say I did not come to that decision casually. There was a lot
of thought and considerations that I put into the decision. A lot of doubt,
fear and raw emotion. But if Zack was going to explore this attraction with
Montserrat, I figured it was best to do in a safe environment, with complete
consent and knowledge of ALL parties (his, mine, and hers). We decided on
ground rules and had many “what if” conversations. These were the hardest part
of the conversations for me because I had to really break down and analyze how
I felt about my partner being involved with another woman. And while this was incredibly difficult for me
do and think about, I knew it was the only way this could work-- nothing could
be a surprise. We had to talk about it
all. My brain is not necessarily hardwired for polyamory, but I never once
doubted Zack’s love for me or his commitment to our partnership. I also knew two
very important factors in all of this: 1. That if at any point I felt like this
was something I couldn’t handle and it was becoming an overwhelming issue for
me or us, I could let him know and it would stop and 2. This was going to be an
ongoing discussion. We would continue to talk and share how we were feeling and
continue “checking in”. With that in mind, I put my trust in him and in us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Processing through this was a really big step for me
personally, and recognizing that was a huge part of my own healing. I think it
takes a very strong, brave, and confident person to think outside of their
preconceived ideas and notions about love and relationships and boundaries to
see there might be another way of thinking. The unknown is scary and full of fear and
doubt and this entire situation was unknown to me. I wasn’t exactly sure what
all would come of this, but I knew that often times our biggest moments of
growth come when we are most afraid and vulnerable. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-74620033638837474642016-11-15T08:31:00.000-08:002017-04-15T23:53:39.867-07:00Leaving Leon, at least for the weekend<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Leon, Mexico to Portland, Oregon and
back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Zero Miles ridden<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">I spent the days after Moto Fiesta
doing some coaching with the skaters of Leon Roller derby and spending as much
time as I could with Montserrat. Cat and I were talking and while she was apprehensive
of my attraction, she was also understanding of my emotions and our continued
commitment to talking about things as they happened. While we were not in an
open relationship, she was willing to let me continue to spend lots of time
with her despite my growing feelings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">While my plans had been to depart
Leon on Wednesday morning, I was invited to come to Champs and do some writing
for Derby Central as well as work with the amazing folks at Mota skates in
their booth. It was all really spawned by a simple message
from </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Rollomite10/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stephen “Rollomite” Carter</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> asking if I was coming. I didn’t really
have a good reason not to come and wanted to see my friends so I made
arrangements and set out on a course to the </span><a href="https://wftda.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Women's Flat Track Derby Association, WFTDA</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">, World Championships in Portland, OR. This meant that I
would be staying in Leon till my departure and again for a day or two when I
returned.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">The days were spent relaxing and
watching movies with Montserrat and both of us working on our respective
projects. Me for Expedition Recovery and her for her jersey company. The time flew by and was remarkably easy. We talked
and worked side by side like we had known each other for years. Most nights we
went out to eat or for me to coach Leon Roller derby as well as a small group
of skaters who were getting ready to tryout for Team Mexico Women’s Roller
Derby.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">During the week I felt inspired by a fellow veteran and roller derby skater to stop doing things with who I am for what others will think about them. It took her a bit of convincing that it was really what I wanted, but Montserrat did finally help me cut my hair to better represent who I am inside and in my heart.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsqZuhtLSWoi9UVDA0RVABVWZleUhzIIr4ZJcjBHiTjiPCgRVBdQY_8rguEZYclt8IxJVxWHQYsvTIg-4NLWKJih3ldGIYaYBo0HfEswoL5hBi3vYX-4Sjd-vPnw2hf3eaoQCB93f9K61/s1600/20161102_203829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsqZuhtLSWoi9UVDA0RVABVWZleUhzIIr4ZJcjBHiTjiPCgRVBdQY_8rguEZYclt8IxJVxWHQYsvTIg-4NLWKJih3ldGIYaYBo0HfEswoL5hBi3vYX-4Sjd-vPnw2hf3eaoQCB93f9K61/s640/20161102_203829.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">On departure day, an early morning
Uber took me the 45 minutes to the airport and then it was off on my way to
Portland with a few stops along the way. I was fortunate enough to be able to
stay with the same good friends in their home along with a few visiting Alaska
skaters who had made the trip down. Arriving at the airport meant linking up
and all taking the monorail down to the house. It was a great reunion, and this
time no decapitated bunnies to great me….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">The early part of the weekend was
dominated by the rush of tournament weekends. Since I was both
recapping for Derby Central and working the <a href="http://motaskates.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Mota
Skates</span></a> booth, there was lots of set-up to be done and
familiarizing myself with the venue. It was a large venue and Rose City had
done amazing work to make the event into a really professionally run
weekend. The addition of ESPN to the mix was even carried out rather
flawlessly from an outside perspective. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">The derby was
spectacular with Rose City managing to take the top spot over Gotham for a
second year in a row. While I only worked a few recaps, I continue
to enjoy the process and learned a lot from the three editors who I worked with
over the weekend. My recaps can be found here:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/2016%20WFTDA%20D1%20Champs:%20#8 Arch Rival grounds #7 Denver, 177-165" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2016 WFTDA D1 Champs: #8
Arch Rival grounds #7 Denver, 177-165</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.derbycentral.net/2016/11/2016-wftda-d1-champs-5-london-knocks-down-8-arch-rival-197-94/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2016 WFTDA D1 Champs: #5
London knocks down #8 Arch Rival, 197-94</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.derbycentral.net/2016/11/2016-wftda-d1-champs-3-rose-city-endures-against-2-victoria-155-152/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2016 WFTDA D1 Champs: #3 Rose
City endures against #2 Victoria, 155-152</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">While my writing was
limited, I spent a large amount of time working the Mota booth fitting and
selling skates. In addition to </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LuzChaos/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Luz Chaos</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">, and Doug and Julie Glass, I also got to work with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jericaurrkn.martin" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">U’rkn Martin </span></a>for the weekend. She
was a ton of fun and the time seemed to fly by despite the long hours.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">I found I was hard
pressed not to spend a lot of my free time flirting with a beautiful and
amazing women I had met earlier in the trip and tried to not notice her as much
as I could. It was a losing battle but I was feeling very conflicted
with myself over my growing feelings for Montserrat, my continued attraction to
this amazing women, and my love for Cat. Thankfully the weekend was full enough
that I wasn’t left with too much time to dwell on it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">The weekend allowed me
to see some great friends, like Carter who had started the ball rolling on me
showing up, Tony Muse, Erin Go Brawl, Miracle Whips, and my original derby
crush Suzy Hotrod. I also was able to see many of my favorite people
from Alaska who had come down and a few who had moved away. Titan
Young, who had started with the Fairbanks Rollergirls before moving to the
Juneau Rollergirls and then to the Sitka Sound Slayers, agreed to come on board
as the second shop sponsored skater for me at Mota Alaska. It was
great to have her join and she even jumped in at the booth helping when we got
slammed in the mad rush between games. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Van Essa “V-Diva” Sites
was on fire all weekend and I was so glad to get to have a wonderful dinner
with her during the weekend and get to catch up on all the happenings in her
life and her change from Philly to Gotham this season. No inside
baseball, but she is an amazing human being and there is a lot going on there
that the public doesn't see. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Following the championship
game I had dinner at a great little taco place with all the Alaskans.
While we hadn’t planned on meeting up, we all just ended up their anyway. It
was really nice to see so many of Alaska’s amazing derby community, past and
present, come down to champs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">After dinner I chose to
go out to the after party. I only intended to stay for a little bit but one
thing led to another and I ended up playing a bit of bashful party hide and
seek with my crush. What had been a spark over shared interests and turned to a
touch of booth flirting became buying a few drinks, dancing, and ultimately
having a bit of a throwback to my youth in the 90’s with her asking if she
could kiss me. The excitement, attraction, and my lowered
inhibitions all led to me enjoying several moments of passionate kissing inside
the club, and again as she got into her cab to leave. I was just barley
clearheaded enough to decline leaving with her and her friends and instead
closed out the night with an Uber back to the house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">As fast as the decision
to go had been made, the weekend was over. I spent my last morning
calling Cat to tell her what happened. While there was hurt for both of
us, we talked it through and made some choices to continue to be partners and
that the reawakening of my polyamory after years of forcing it down was
something we could and would work though. Her support has been amazing this
whole trip and I can't imagine being on this journey with any other partner.
We talk almost every day and about everything with full honesty. It
is the only way this could work and I am so glad she is willing to work with me
as I find who I am again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">From having never been
to a WFTDA tournament, to having officiated The Big O, reported on D2’s in
Lansing, D1’s in Vancouver, and finally attending both the men’s and women’s
roller derby world championships all in one year was one hell of a
ride. While I thought that would be the end of my season, the trip
had one more surprise in store for me. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">
</span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">
So now that I have had my say, it's time for my wonderful partner Cat's thoughts.</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">
</span>
<br />
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<span class="5yl5"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Zack asked me if I would like to possibly
do a bit of composition writing for the blog. Since a lot of what he is
blogging about right now has to deal with us and our relationship, he thought
it might be a good idea to give a voice to my side of the story and have the
opportunity to share my feelings about some of what he is going through and how
it affects me and our partnership. As soon as I read his suggestion, I thought
it was a fantastic idea. Not only is this something kind of original and really
cool, but it gives others a perspective that they may never otherwise be
exposed to. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="5yl5"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">As Zack did when he started this blog, I
think it is important to give a little background about me, specifically my
relationship history. It will put a lot of what I share into perspective and
plays a very large roll in what I think and how I react and respond to
situations. I got married when I was 20 years old and the marriage lasted for 6
years. While it did not start out this
way, it soon became a very emotionally, mentally, and verbally abusive
relationship. Yelling, manipulation, lying, fear, and control were all too
common in my life. Having someone yell at me for trying to hold his hand,
berate me for asking how his day was and demean me for sharing with him him how
I felt and then tell me that my feelings didn't matter became very normal for
me. He would critique, question and criticize me so often that I soon began second
guessing everything I did. I often
wondered if what I was feeling was “correct”. He used my feelings to his
advantage to get exactly what he wanted without any regard for me. I lost
myself completely in that relationship and worse, I started to believe him. As
if that wasn't bad enough, he also cheated on me and lied about it on numerous
occasions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="5yl5"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">It has been a little over two years since I
have been out of that toxic environment and I have worked very hard to become
the strong, beautiful, independent, amazing woman that I am today. I am still
working on recovering and finding myself, but I make the choice each day learn
from the circumstances and situations in my life and try to find a silver
lining. I think it is also important to note that when Zack left on this trip I
made a promise to myself. I promised myself that I would not sit idly by and wait
for him to come home but I would go on my own journey of healing, processing, and
growth. It certainly hasn't been easy, but it has been completely worth it and
made me stronger for it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="5yl5">From the moment Zack arrived in Leon he had
been very open with me about his feelings for Montserret. Because we talk about
everything he would often share with me compliments that he gave to her or
conversations that they had. I very quickly realized that there was a genuine
connection between the two of them. Even with his growing attraction, every
time Zack shared something with me, he was very quick to follow up with how
much he still loved me, wanted me in his life and was thankful for our
partnership. As he put it, “</span><span class="3oh-">I know it is easy to think
the grass is </span><span class="in">greener</span><span class="3oh-"> on the other
side but my experience has taught me that the grass is greenest where you water
it, love it, and care for it. </span><span class="5yl5">The grass is green and
lush right here</span><span class="3oh-">.”
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="5yl5"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">While the reassurance felt good and did helped
calm a lot of my fears about him leaving me for another, I will admit, I was
hesitant and I was jealous. I also immediately revered back to my old way of
thinking and was becoming doubtful and critical of myself and my feelings.
There was that little familiar voice in back of my head saying, “What if you’re
wrong about yourself? Are you really sure you feel that way?” For so many
years, I was teased and criticized and told that my thoughts and emotions were
“wrong”, maybe this isn’t how I actually feel, maybe it is just how I wanted to
feel. The more I second guessed myself,
the louder that little voice became. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="5yl5"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">The following weekend was Champs and I
remember the weekend quite well actually because it was the first time I had
really begun processing what was happening with Montserret. I spent most of the
weekend trying to distract myself and desperately trying to sort through my emotions.
To make matters a bit harder, Zack then shared with me what had happened at the
after party with his derby crush. While
I was very glad that he was so upfront and honest with me about what happened,
but it also hurt, sad, and confused. I quickly went back to second guessing and
doubting myself and my emotions. Not
only was I trying to sort through how I felt about my partner being attracted
to other women, and now having acted on that attraction, it also brought back all
the memories of pain, hurt, betrayal, and scars of my past. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="5yl5"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">I quickly recognized what was happening and
understood that in order for me to process my feelings about Zack, I had to
also work through my feelings about my prior abuse. Specifically, how it affected me and what I
was feeling. I did not want my emotional baggage from my past relationship to
interfere and affect this one; I care too much to let that happen. I immediately came up with the idea of doing
a personal word collage. I wanted something that represented my progression of
thoughts and feelings over the past year or two and validated and celebrated each
and every emotion I had. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="5yl5"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSkLd6cYDZtcN520mWF7khwIdYB-FJ0mh98LzJKA1q_vBocCdoHDZAt-Rr1qFbUr5cFsVLykdDAbF0AKf2GXzz7s9EtxFxMaJ1ew5mWcgqWWXwuz1onyO1XvYOYllmVNtn6NtVCElefTJ/s1600/17195313_10211979830399185_647801792_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSkLd6cYDZtcN520mWF7khwIdYB-FJ0mh98LzJKA1q_vBocCdoHDZAt-Rr1qFbUr5cFsVLykdDAbF0AKf2GXzz7s9EtxFxMaJ1ew5mWcgqWWXwuz1onyO1XvYOYllmVNtn6NtVCElefTJ/s640/17195313_10211979830399185_647801792_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="5yl5"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">Even before
the last bit of mog podge was dry, I could feel myself letting go of some of
the weight that I had been carrying around with me. I could see where I came
from and I could see where I was going. I went from a place of crippling and
immobilizing fear and hurt and pain to a place of complete openness and trust
and communication. And it was in that instant I knew that no matter what, I
would be okay. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-88504199194950696912016-11-03T14:35:00.000-07:002017-04-15T23:55:12.184-07:00Slowing it all down. The start of the actual trip.<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNRYqYEYDeASGJsQWQtiXclYi4UtQGMzhlswxJYb6rb0sBi0FY6sqzNgXRMH5zjXEKmwguhFXMhnWB6gl7wqoL1aVNdgfhNy99hh0fMeamAGGXIuFqI7S2tYxjCVTf849Wi8JSf1VsDzn/s1600/20161110_225933_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNRYqYEYDeASGJsQWQtiXclYi4UtQGMzhlswxJYb6rb0sBi0FY6sqzNgXRMH5zjXEKmwguhFXMhnWB6gl7wqoL1aVNdgfhNy99hh0fMeamAGGXIuFqI7S2tYxjCVTf849Wi8JSf1VsDzn/s640/20161110_225933_001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">10/27/16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Guadalajara, Mex to Leon, Mex<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">241.2 kilometers ridden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I slept in a bit and spent the morning trying to get some work
done. The spotty internet at the hotel was only moderately better during the
morning. I wasn't able to get much done but I at least got all my photos and
videos onto my computer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I tried to coordinate with both Roller Derby Leon and Porto Viarta
to see where I was headed next. Porto Viarta wasn't ready to practice and Leon
was practicing tonight and had games the next two nights, plus the games were
at <a href="http://motofiestaleon.com.mx/" target="_blank">Moto Fiesta Leon</a> which is the largest motorcycle gathering in Mexico.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> So I opted to head for Leon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Learning from my last few days of scrambling, I got the address
where I was going to be staying, and my host even sent me a photo of the gate
which made it much easier to find.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Enroute I stopped for fuel and was finally able to use my card by
being insistent and the attendant had to take me into an office and use a
different card reader and then it worked. I will be asking about cards first
and being insistent from now on with Pemex.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Just after paying at my last toll booth I stopped for lunch
finally at a convenience store. My default liquid yogurt was a solid choice but
I also had a monster and some tasty Mexican shortbread cookies with a jam
filling. The station itself was packed with bikes all headed to Moto Fiesta and
I sat and chatted for a good bit with "Gato" who was on a nicely done
up Harley and waiting for his friend who had run out of fuel. I enjoyed my
lunch and Monster while Gato drank a beer and we talked bikes. While Gato was
on a Harley, he said he preferred Honda's and Yamaha's, but a lot of the clubs
would only accept Harleys. As he was a three patcher it was clearly important
to him. As we chatted and shared the cookies and some jerky from my bag, he
ended up going for a second beer while I grabbed another yogurt drink. As I
finished and joked with him about his friend taking too long and the beers
adding up a federal police car showed up and his jokes about it being fine
turned to me chiding him that the policia might not think so. We laughed, but
he tossed what was left of his second beer as I geared up to leave. After
saying good byes I headed for Leon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">With the google maps off-line directions working great (My GPS
wouldn't pull up the address) navigation was easy. I finally found a bank and
withdrew some Pesos to help make it through when I couldn't use the card. I
then went to the Auto Parts store in the same complex so I could buy a small
thing of slime to redo my original fix since my rush job on the extreme seal
tape hadn't held like I hoped it would. The clerk took my card but typed the
number in the computer prior to running it. I got pissed and asked why and he
was doing so and our lack of respective languages didn't get me very far. A
manager came up and told me it was just for the system but I am not real happy
about it. I will be watching my credit card real closely till I get back and
swap it so any skimming will be defeated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Rather than do another parking lot repair job, I opted to ride for
the address in my GPS. It was so much simpler to find the place then my last
several days of getting into town and driving around looking for Wi-Fi to
connect with my hosts and find out details. The house was tucked off some side
streets and the photo of the gate she has sent me was a real lifesaver in
getting to the right place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I was just getting into my phone to confirm that I was at the
right place when I heard the clicking of the key into the outer wrought iron gate
to the antechamber set in the wall. I looked up to see a tall and beautiful
woman with beautiful tan skin and jet black hair smiling softly at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">“Bueno, are you Zach-a-ri?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I chuckled a bit at the pronunciation of my full name but
responded that I was. She then took my
hand and kissed beside my cheek in the way I had become used to from the derby
skaters here in Mexico and told me she was Montserrat. She asked me to pull my
“Moto” inside and opened the larger set of swinging metal doors in the wall. It
squeezed in on both of my soft rear panniers to fit between the corner of her
small Nissan sedan and the concrete doorway, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">In the tiled courtyard I parked the bike and asked if I should
take things in or leave them on the bike.
She looked aghast as she told me they should come in. I unloaded the bike but left the GPS locked
in the mount since I felt it was safe inside the locked courtyard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Montserrat showed me into the house and up a narrow set of steps
that doubled back on themselves without a landing and led to the upper floor of
the home. I was shown to a room with a
tall bed in it and many nick knacks decorating the walls and the small table that
was the only other furniture in the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I laid down my helmet, gloves, and riding jacket in the corner
near the desk before returning to the bike for my bags.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">After unpacking into the room, Montserrat came in to talk to me.
She wanted to apologize for the fact that my room was in use as her closet and
so there wasn’t anywhere else to put my things.
I was wasn’t bothered at all and took a moment to ask her about the
beautiful red platform high heel shoes on a display shelf above the bed. It
turns out that she had made them for a contest and that she was a shoe designer
by trade.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSx1-eXkw9e4HU7v7KB-nSg-oCTP-j6VtJIx5bIwGGO8ID2rfiKHYioHQEShZCIHZPcESQ7emcRkbEWC6q2j18yY9m0Y2WJlmpE5Qhzo3eP9mOIQbZfDIM73hGrkdld9ZQO5xGzL1LpAG/s1600/20161027_190242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSx1-eXkw9e4HU7v7KB-nSg-oCTP-j6VtJIx5bIwGGO8ID2rfiKHYioHQEShZCIHZPcESQ7emcRkbEWC6q2j18yY9m0Y2WJlmpE5Qhzo3eP9mOIQbZfDIM73hGrkdld9ZQO5xGzL1LpAG/s640/20161027_190242.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">While she showed me the shoes, her head turned enough for her dark
hair to slide back so that I could see the short trimmed sides above long trails
of hair from just in front of her ears.
Her hair was a spectacular Mohawk to match the array of exquisite
tattoos visible on her tanned arms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">While we talked I saw an industrial sewing machine in the room
across from mine and asked if it was a Juki, the brand of machine I used in my
fabrications shop. It wasn’t but she
excitedly showed me into her sewing room that had a collection of older, but
functional, equipment not unlike my own setup at home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">In her slow but excited English she told me about her Roller Derby
uniform business and showed me several of her pieces that were
around the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I began to be acutely aware that she wasn’t just beautiful, she
was breath taking. It was like looking
at the woman I had dreamed off meeting in my mid 20’s and coming to find she
was real, and shared many of the same passions in life that I did. For the second time this trip I found myself
not just appreciating the beauty of someone other than Cat, but feeling
attracted to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We talked some more about derby, shoes, and sewing before I asked
if I could rest a bit and use the internet. While we talked I found myself
becoming more and more aware of my mind trying to find things wrong with her to
break the spell. Try as I might all I
could come up with was the lingering smell of cigarette ash that hung about the
house. While I hadn’t yet seen her
smoking it made me aware she might be and I clung to that as an attempt to halt
the march of attraction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">She did excuse herself to write down the Wi-Fi information for me
and to get to taking care of something in her room, the master bedroom that
occupied most of the second story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I followed my usual ritual of checking in with Cat, posting that I
was safe where I needed to go, and checking for more messages about coaching
opportunities. With only a short time before leaving for practice, I didn’t get
a whole lot accomplished besides unpacking my computer and cold weather riding
gear from my top bag so that I wouldn’t be carrying so much to derby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The practice group was great and the outdoor space was of very
grippy, but not too rough, concrete. After warm-ups I realized that the crew
would benefit most from some edging work and then working as a team and staying
calm. The time flew by fast and at the end
I was happy to give out <a href="http://yolobearings.com/" target="_blank">Yolo</a> Stickers to everyone and my set of ABEC Yolo
bearings to Montserrat as a thank you for hosting me, since during the practice
I had agreed to stay for two more days to ref the games at Moto Fiesta Leon.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJzehR8mzvpX5P2LpW5tlrlhc6xrh2YKXuXRoC8JApmQLpD85Ht7IT7pEAIXnB1aQY7_EbcVQIKkBTrvgASsCIC8M3C1DNIkJrMApmfdkomN1HKDS8XmWRIMWL1QwFzkomRyEjadqIvXF/s1600/20161027_214807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJzehR8mzvpX5P2LpW5tlrlhc6xrh2YKXuXRoC8JApmQLpD85Ht7IT7pEAIXnB1aQY7_EbcVQIKkBTrvgASsCIC8M3C1DNIkJrMApmfdkomN1HKDS8XmWRIMWL1QwFzkomRyEjadqIvXF/s640/20161027_214807.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Following practice we went downtown to a bar with food that had
the music absolutely blaring. We took a
table near the door and started to look at the menu for food and drinks. Other
members of the team slowly poured in until we had to slide a second table over
to make enough room for everyone. It was
then that my suspicions were confirmed, Montserrat was a smoker. She quickly
saw that the smoke bothered me though and did her best to blow it away from me,
it was a nice gesture that hasn’t always been done her in Mexico.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">With everyone there we ordered food and drinks. I ordered what I thought was a cheeseburger
with mushrooms, but it turned out to be nothing but mushrooms and cheese in a
bun. I just had to laugh and eat what I had, though it wasn’t that bad. I ended up having two beers and sharing some
of the others food. It was becoming
clear that I ate way more than the average Mexican, even when I was trying to
eat smaller portions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Once back at Montserrat’s home I got settled in for bed in the
small side room and realized that there was a small taco stand across the
street playing music and talking loudly into the wee hours of the night. I still slept well on the small bed though
and was glad for the comforts of a private guestroom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Moto Fiesta Leon<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Friday started off early and we went out to the site of the
event. Even during this early portion of
the event the grounds were packed. There
were motorcycles of every type as far as the eye could see. Making it through the tightly packed rows of
bikes was a challenge made worse by us all carrying out bags of derby gear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The track was set up on some alternating panels of concrete with
different textures that worked outward in a sunburst pattern. From my first look I knew the track wasn’t
just small but also not shaped correctly.
I talked with the coach and ended up helping them scale the track
correctly and get it laid down in the proper shape. There was concerns about
some uneven spots from the lights but a bit of tape solved that easily. The rest of the day was spent on site and waiting for San Luis Potasi to arrive. They never made it and we adjusted to a green and red scrimmage between the women of Leon Roller Derby. I was the head ref and found a bit of difficulty in trying to call the game in as much Spanish as I could manage. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Saurday was the first time I had gone into a crowded market like those in Iraq since returning home almost ten years ago. The heat, lack of language comprehension, and the crush of people among the stands selling trinkets and treats for the day of the dead celebration could have been ripped out of my time in Iraq. It raised my anxiety level but I knew that I was with friends and in a safe place. This would be my first stress inoculation of markets on the journey and it would mean that I had diluted the negative stress experiences by a factor of one. It isn't being healed, but it is a start to tipping the balance in my favor. Being accompanied by Montserrat and the friends I had made from San Luis Potasi helped make it a positive first experience.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The second scrimmage went smoothly and the refs were great to work with. I am really happy I stuck around and worked with everyone.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMBH1LCkyTZN8X5B8CoIyIjbPqLjFoPmk5CgyZqMX-dD14yDFzG0Gwzj4sgirYwV1lJATAxNySjvWmWH2Pr1nBRn1zSPFe8xa5Y6TKo86YanJq86hwNqMFYQnMcjhP4vnpeP1qqMODHst/s1600/20161029_192635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMBH1LCkyTZN8X5B8CoIyIjbPqLjFoPmk5CgyZqMX-dD14yDFzG0Gwzj4sgirYwV1lJATAxNySjvWmWH2Pr1nBRn1zSPFe8xa5Y6TKo86YanJq86hwNqMFYQnMcjhP4vnpeP1qqMODHst/s640/20161029_192635.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The
nights after derby were spent drinking and eating with the group on site at Moto Fiesta, but I found myself
spending most every free moment with Montserrat. I was talking with Cat the whole time about
my growing feelings but knowing that I was leaving mid-week meant I didn’t have
to worry since I would soon be gone from Montserrat's intoxicating presence. </span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico21.1250077 -101.6859604999999620.8880182 -102.00868399999996 21.3619972 -101.36323699999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075384876120899559.post-67957394193809971222016-11-01T09:24:00.003-07:002016-11-09T13:58:12.826-08:00Turning around, well at least for the weekend.<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">9/15/16 Lacey, WA to Richmond, BC<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJFelvUiCtJOkP9HykIAmXOMZcCY2qtGvtfBdWI5s2mik-EMKfTBG7Y7AclAObMVZMfzBenC11uHcBgDlBRh8HONk79xXlHhpRZS4DxpYHcsN13mSwwza3pPyCf38gF4eb3Px5iDqnhpZ/s1600/20160917_114953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJFelvUiCtJOkP9HykIAmXOMZcCY2qtGvtfBdWI5s2mik-EMKfTBG7Y7AclAObMVZMfzBenC11uHcBgDlBRh8HONk79xXlHhpRZS4DxpYHcsN13mSwwza3pPyCf38gF4eb3Px5iDqnhpZ/s320/20160917_114953.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sammy the Salmon from Terminal<br />
City takes a lap on one of her skaters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Zero miles ridden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Got up and got all my laundry folded and prepped. I
had my Thai food left overs for breakfast and then got Bex's Harley and my bike into
her garage. Bex's bike had a totally dead battery so I ended up having to
push it to her garage at the front of her complex, I should probably be making
some sort of Harley joke here but I think it speaks for itself…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I did some computer work for the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/expeditionrecovery">Facebook page</a> and the
blog until Shelly, her partner Chris, and Rex arrived for the drive to
Vancouver for the <a href="https://www.wftda.com/tournaments/2016/vancouver">WFTDA playoffs</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">The drive went well and we had a good lunch at a place
off the google maps places locals eat suggestions where the food was pretty
good for a place in the parking lot of a shopping center. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">We got into Vancouver area with no issues and got signed
into the event. It was great to see so many amazing officials and even
better to be asked when I got added to the ref roster. Since I am not certified I couldn’t even
apply but everyone seemed to think it would be normal for me to be added to the
roster which made me feel pretty good. The officials meeting started a little
after we arrived and I sat down by myself for a late dinner at the lounge there
at the Sheraton. Eating out alone has never been a strong suit of mine but I am getting better at it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222;">We came back to the house we were staying at and I get
prepped for bed and turned in after writing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMLy3aJa7KSfR-27qFCUdOVSYPl88c0j4jmhVlMN9WDEGoW1-mQv6fu9Su933LmQ7GIAdplRgCz7zYttCLIPjAmQEplKzMxflZ2aArtmZGMc9sHWUNVLDQs9lPOD3fUycbEYDiRq8tyLA/s1600/20160916_093814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMLy3aJa7KSfR-27qFCUdOVSYPl88c0j4jmhVlMN9WDEGoW1-mQv6fu9Su933LmQ7GIAdplRgCz7zYttCLIPjAmQEplKzMxflZ2aArtmZGMc9sHWUNVLDQs9lPOD3fUycbEYDiRq8tyLA/s320/20160916_093814.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">9/16/16 Vancouver, BC<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">No miles ridden<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Got up and showered
before eating and catching a ride to the <a href="http://richmondoval.ca/">Olympic Oval</a> where the games were
being held for Division 1 Playoffs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I was able to have a
super relaxed day and just watch a bunch of derby as well as get this week’s
blog post up for Expedition Recovery. This was a big change from doing every
other game’s write-up like I did in Lansing for the <a href="https://www.wftda.com/tournaments/2016/lansing/game-recaps">WFTDA D2’s</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mini never made it to
site but Gory from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/YukonRollerGirls/">Yukon Roller Girls</a> did and I got to watch a full game with her, which was
fun because of how new to derby she is. I got to work on explaining strategy
again with someone super interested. I
remember what it was like to be so excited and not yet jaded at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLqpukcTC29MHKIHUw_tlbBMDJ-OZmXr57RoTkaJd0BYaHhuoxUeqp78C0OFuictkpdlnDRibosaAVp4zoIZJGXKvgb0XVawT71PP2RQK7KKFa7AtZzP9P7AqbtRFYmoTWCcSPEIQORAb/s1600/20160918_155550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLqpukcTC29MHKIHUw_tlbBMDJ-OZmXr57RoTkaJd0BYaHhuoxUeqp78C0OFuictkpdlnDRibosaAVp4zoIZJGXKvgb0XVawT71PP2RQK7KKFa7AtZzP9P7AqbtRFYmoTWCcSPEIQORAb/s320/20160918_155550.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Being at a playoff meant
that I was able to catch up with many friends and derby associates that I
normally only get to see a few times a year. I love how much roller derby is a
family that really cares for one another. In the world that most of us from the
USA live in there is rarely a lot of genuine connection, and yet in derby makes
this rarity a regular reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The wonderful and
amazing proprietor of <a href="http://pivotstar.com/">Pivotstar</a>, Lulu, was able to give me a ride back to the
house when I was the last one of our group on site so that no one had to come
back and get me. I am super grateful for the ride and for how amazing Lulu has
been to know and work with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Once at the house I was
able to finish my last recap and call it for the night. Day one of my second
playoffs as a writer is officially in the books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">9/18/16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Vancouver, BC<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Zero miles ridden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The last three days have
been intense and amazing. I put up five new bylines on <a href="http://www.derbycentral.net/">Derby Central</a> and got
the new blog pushed out as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The games I worked as a
writer were a great experience and I think I am getting better at doing recaps.
I am looking forward to hearing some feedback after the weekend from the Derby Central editors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I have gotten to see
many friends and familiar faces as well as make some new ones. As I realize I
am not super comfortable in my roll and can feel myself slipping into old
habits of false bravado and brash humor and jibes at people rather than just
keeping quiet and waiting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Saturday was two more
recaps and some good derby. Mini had arrived and I got to chat with Skimo who
seems like a really nice guy. I got the last recap again and once again didn't
finish till very late. I should have then gone to bed but instead stayed up
almost another hour and a half talking with Rex. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfKPjqhR4d64xVvYWFYAbcRz3vB5Bn_EO_BxfhCq94cxTbfk-DlxDJ007TDkFc1_mGd95k-sW0kPYjpsuigj_Vwn40BzPhR8kklSXrUW9ieY7oCd4B8AuihbUMmWxwF4VTBbAVIHj1Mft/s1600/20160918_092551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfKPjqhR4d64xVvYWFYAbcRz3vB5Bn_EO_BxfhCq94cxTbfk-DlxDJ007TDkFc1_mGd95k-sW0kPYjpsuigj_Vwn40BzPhR8kklSXrUW9ieY7oCd4B8AuihbUMmWxwF4VTBbAVIHj1Mft/s320/20160918_092551.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luz Chaos being her amazing self!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sunday morning was a
rough wake up as I had to work the first game between <a href="http://www.naptownrollergirls.com/">Naptown</a> and <a href="http://azrollerderby.com/tent-city-terrors/">Arizona</a>.
It was a great game and Luz Chaos was amazing in it. I then took care of some
errands and decided to break my rule and go and grab bite to eat alone. I
decided to go to a genuine Chinese restaurant near the venue. It was so
authentic that the menu was in Chinese with some English subtitles that only
told part of the story. The dumplings were good but the chicken I got seemed to
be the extra bits left over from trimming the meat for other dishes.
Rather than be silly and disgusted I just ate in anyway. Was
interesting, not something I would get again, and a very fatty for what it was
but ate it with only a little bluing around the gills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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After eating it was back
to writing and watching derby. This time I got to watch the final game
between <a href="http://www.vrdl.org/">Victoria</a> and <a href="http://angelcityderby.com/">Angel City</a>. It was an intense game with really high
penalty counts for Victoria's jammers. The game was so much closer than
expected that the whole of the section I was in ended up on our feet cheering
for the last few jams. It was an unexpected nail bitter of a game.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Following the last
whistle I hung out with a few friends and watched all the medal shenanigans at
the Olympic bobsled. Made a few introductions between skaters I knew who didn't
know each other and then went to dinner with the officials. I am still
amazed at the level of acceptance I get from officials at tournaments even when
I am working as a writer instead of officiating. As a non-certified official I am amazed at the level of welcome I receive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was another late
night talking with Rex before bed but well worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">9/19/16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Vancouver, BC to
Portland, OR <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">149.7 Miles
Ridden. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">This morning began in
Vancouver where I would pack my bags and leave with Josh, Shelly, Chris, and
Tim to drive back to where the bike was parked in Lacey Washington. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The drive was nice and
we all chatted the whole way and talked derby and larger scale officiating
issues as well as general life stuff. We made a fuel stop where Chris went
to the <a href="http://foxyladycoffee.com/index.html">Foxy Lady coffee</a> stand in the parking lot. When I came out from the gas station the
whole group save me was laughing at the front of the stand. If I would have thought it ok I would have
taken a picture, as backed up to the access door of the stand was a uniform
company truck delivering linens. I didn’t get the joke till the barista came
back to the window in a pair of purple-glitter heart shaped pasties and a g
string bottom. We all jested that it
must be the smallest garment bag delivery on the route…..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I was dropped off back
at Bex's but she was at work and had not left the garage key for me so I was
trapped for a bit. I ended up showering and doing laundry before heading out
late after doing a bit of a scramble for the garage key before the condo office
closed as Bex was unexpectedly stuck late at work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I left Lacey. WA at near
6 pm and rode the few hours into Portland to get my track jacket picked up from Shelly and
Chris and then up to another derby friend’s who had recently moved from
Anchorage to Portland. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">I had to forgo any tasty
dinner and settle for Arby’s since it was on the way and already late. Once at
the house we decided it would be best to pull the bike up into the locking
porch so I got to take the CB up it’s first 9"+ tall step and in to the
space. As I pulled in there was a freshly killed bunny with its face ripped off
and its brains eaten laying in the porch, kind of a surprise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kendra and John showed
me in and I got a tour of their very cool house while enjoying a yummy cider
they gave me. The house had sat vacant
for some time and it was really cool to see all she was doing and hear the
story of the place. I know she will make
it amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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For those interested in reading the recaps I wrote for the playoffs, here you go:</div>
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<a href="http://www.derbycentral.net/2016/09/d1v-10-arizona-holds-down-6-naptown-197-142/">D1V: #10 Arizona holds down #6 Naptown, 197-142</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.derbycentral.net/2016/09/d1v-5-terminal-city-escapes-8-stockholm-207-152/">D1V: #5 Terminal City escapes #8 Stockholm, 207-152</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.derbycentral.net/2016/09/d1v-1-victoria-rings-4-phillys-bell-258-61/">D1V: #1 Victoria rings #4 Philly’s bell, 258-61</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.derbycentral.net/2016/09/d1v-4-philly-breathes-past-5-terminal-city-164-162/">D1V: #4 Philly breathes past #5 Terminal City, 164-162</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.derbycentral.net/2016/09/d1v-3-rat-city-exterminates-6-naptown-285-57/">D1V: #3 Rat City exterminates #6 Naptown, 285-57</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">And for a bit of fun....</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">While I hope that you will all take time to donate to the Soldiers Project through the the link Here, I have had a few people ask me if they can send me something to help along the way. So if you want to send a few bucks along to buy me a beer, a meal, or a hotel just use paypal to the Zachary.S.Sherman@gmail.com account and let me know what you want me to use it for in the notes.
</div>Zack Shermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17455728825625076703noreply@blogger.com0