World Guatemala Guatemala Guatemala City

Riding for Communities

Guatemala City (2) - Guatemala Sep 22, 2010

September 21, 2010

Two hours. Two hours is the wait time for an MRI. It cost Q.5000 or $625. I am waiting at an Applebee’s. It`s the first time I have been in one and it`s exactly how I pictured it. Nascar crazy. Taladega Nights.

I will come back tomorrow to pick up the disk

I am staying in Zona 10 for USD$35.00/night. It cost Q.40 to get from the hotel to TechiScan.

I would like to get glasses today but it`s pouring rain again

I have to leave Guatemala as soon as possible.

I am just going into Honduras to see the ruins of Copan and that is all and I am going to blow through El Salvador. I would like to visit so regions that were devistated durning the civil war to pay my respects.

I walk at night. Walk, walk, walk. At least for two hours. Every drug dealer in Antigua knows me now. Of course I don`t buy anything. They have stopped asking but still like to chat. I don`t talk for long because I don`t want the cops seeing me with these guys. The next thing I know I am getting shook down cause I was talkin with a hood.

In My Time of Dying – Led Zeppelin

September 22, 2010

Yesterday, I went to migration to get an extention on my vias and Electras. Mine was easy but Electra``s not so. I need another three months. Upon entering Central America they give you three months for all six countries. I have almost spent two months in Guatemala alone. I could have got a visa extention for myself but I wanted to get Electras at the same time so we both have the same exit dates. They don`t do vehical extentions at migration so I was told to got to `x` location. When I arrived they told me to goto `y` location when I arrived I was told to goto ´z` location. Knowing full well that this was going to occure I kept it together. At `z` location I spoke with a man who spoke a little English and explained my situation. He mad a few calls and told me yet another location. I told him thatit was easier for me to just go to Mexico for three days and get both done automatically with the same dates. He kinda agreed.

After that failed venture I went back to my room, picked up a few documents and went over to TechiScan to pick up the disk. Well not only did I get a disk but the charts as well and a report in Spanish!! Afterwards, I went back to the room and dropped everything off had a nap as it was starting to rain. I got up around 3pm and went for a walk.

I found a place that had a battery charger for my litle point and shoot. Then I found an outdoor shop that had a pair of Tevas. The same model as the ones I lost!! The largest size they had was a 42 and I`m a 44. I made them fit! I also bought a Mountain Hardware long sleeve shirt. I have the exact same type in another color and it`s great!! After that I motored over to the bike shop. It`ll be a few days yet.

I like Guatemala City. In Zona 10, where I am staying, it`s like walking around downtown Vancouver with out the lower eastside attached!

I also sent some jewlery home that I bought for Mom in Antigua.

September 23, 2010

I have pin pointed the smell of my helmet. It`s Licuado puke! I washed it before I left Antigua but the smell still remains.

The tattoo looks great. It`s still scabbing a little but the colors a very bright. He did a great job.

I got my laundry done today. I went to Subway and they still give out stamps in Guatemala. I still need a hair cut.

I got an email from the guy who is rebuilding the suspenion and it`s complete. He is recomending a bigger spring on the front end. I have known this for a long time now. I have the pre-load cranked to compensate and that`s not good. I sent him an email to see if he could locte one for me and I havn`t heard back yet.

I bought new glasses and sunglasses today. Both are prescription and cost about $350.00. They tested me as well. I am a little worse than I was a year ago.

mber 24, 2010

It`s been a while but I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. I have see a lot of dead people. India, Peru, funerals but these people were already dead. Today, I saw a life taken. A man was shot in front of the BMW dealership in Zona 10. I actually missed it by a just few minutes. There was a gun fight in a car. Both passanger side and driver side windows were blown out. The driver was not quick enought and he lay dead, with 9mm still in hand on the middle of the road. Shitty scene. But this is life – in Guatemala City. Apperantly the driver and passanger got into an argument and a gunfight insued. The driver missed, was killed and thrown onto the street and the passanger drove away. I don`t know what to say. I should be more shocked than I am but...not.

I never carry my camera due to possible robbery but times they are a changin!

It was really wierd. I spoke to a few people after the shit all just shrugged their shoulders. That is all.

I spoke to the best suspenion guy I have ever met. The was trained in the Carolinas and told me a lot about suspention and set up. I bought a larger spring for the front end. I knew it has ben needed for a long time. I have been trying to compensate by tighting the pre-load. I learned more about suspenion and set up in 30 minutes than I have in 3 years.

He gave me his OHLINS hat. This is now my coolest possesion.

Electra and glasses will be ready tomorrow.

Sweet Emotion - Arrowsmith

September 27, 2010

Juan Carlos Chang. This is the man, if you have Ohlins suspension and are in Guatemala, to have the work done by. He is a great guy, speaks perfect English and has worked at BMW for several years so he knows everyone there. He knows his shit. He was trained in the US for several months and tunes suspension for bikes, race bikes, crs and race cars. His number is 53117617 or he can be found through Bavaria Motors (BMW bike dealer) .Awsome guy.

It rained all day today. Vancouver rain. Just a light steady drizzle but on a bike doing 60 – 80kph, you`ll get wet, no matter the rain gear. I have to leave tomorrow regardless. Either that or shoot myself out of shier boredom. Hell it`s the only thing I havn`t done in the city yet. I can`t go and watch TV anymore. I have to get on the road. I am even considering just going to Antigua to pick up my laptop and heading straight south. Buck the damn via. I deal with that when the time comes.

I slept on and off all day today. What a waste. I got up once for breakfast and now just got back from a walk. This, writing in my journal, is the only thing I have done.

There`s not much to writer about. My umbrella broke this afternoon. It turned inside out. I freaked out. People around me must have thought I lost it. I kinda did. What can I do? It only cost Q.5 so what should I expect?

Yesterday I picked up Electra. The welded the frame. Liza could have done a better job. But it is welded – for now. I need a new bike. I need to go places that Electra can`t take me. When I have to return for surgery I will buy a new one. The doctors told me hat there will be a minimum nine month rehabilitation period for me to regain full use of my right side. During that time I will outfit her with the necessary ingredients to make it withstand the rigors of what I like to do. Explore. To go to places others will not or rairly do.

I was just looking on FB and saw some fellow riders that I met a few weeks ago are now in San Juan del Sur!! What the hell!! I, for one, want to see more than ashpalt. Or am I just wasting my time? I wonder about this a lot. Maybe I should b-line it. I was studing the books and maps the other day and have a prety good idea my route through El Salvador and Hounduras and that is going to take the better part of a month.

September 27, 2010

I left Guatemalan City around 8am and arrived in Antigua about 9am. I picked up the laptop and drove over to CATours for a coffee and to say by to everyone. No one was around just a new girl that was working there. I had a couple of cups and decided not to go to the Mexican border to renew visas. I’ll just deal with it when the time comes.

I drove back to Guatemala City as I had to hook up with highway 9. I got lost and it took me two hours driving thought the city to find my way. No rain. Once I got on the right road it was easy sailing.

I went about 190kms and it was about 3pm so I stopped at an auto-hotel just outside of El Progreso. It cost me Q.200, has private garage, a king size bed, AC, tub, and shower and satellite TV! It’s the best deal I have gotten in a long time. I could have had the room for Q.100 for three hours – if required.

El Progreso is s a really pleasant town. Once I got settled in I went for a drive into town and a walked around. I had three tacos form a vendor on the street for Q.10 but the bastard charged me Q.10 for the water! Oh well. What can I do?

I am going to have to play with the suspension a little to get it just right. I have had a headache for several days now. No seizures though. That’s odd. Actually I haven’t had one for such a long time I can’t remember when it was.

I should be at the Honduras border by 1pm or so. I hope its not raining. I have heard stories of roads washed out but I think they are referring to the other crossing. There are two main crossings into Honduras. The one I am taking and the other, CA1. I find that know one knows shit until a few km’s before show time.

It feels good to be back on the bike.

I had a dream last night that I was back home. I don’t know why but I was building up a F800 for a RTW tour. Maybe it was because earlier in the night I was doing some research on what it would take to build it up, parts wise.

My head feels like its going to split in two.

I am obviously not going to get Lakshmi’s owl nor Shiva’s trident. That’s too bad, Mike is a great artist and super guy. I really wanted to tell him my story. During the nine hours for Vishnu he told me everything about himself. I thought, ‘Now it’s my turn.’ It’s really amazing some of the stories these folks tell. They have typically tattooed everyone from Doctors and politicians to the thugs of thugs. Tattoo artists, if they have been doing it long enough, are very perceptive to the human….I dunno what you call it. I don’t even bother telling my shit anymore. I stopped doing this a few months back. People look at me different after the shit comes out. Plus it’s kinda long story and I would sooner listen. Can’t fuck up if nothing is said. THAT being said, I have lost more than a little respect by a few when they read my journal. Everyone is warned. I really don’t care. Like or not it’s the truth AS I SEE IT.

I hope the Israelis keep with the moratorium on building settlements in the West Bank. If not. Poop. There goes another few years of lost time in resolving the irresolvable – as some would see it. That sure is one huge cluster fuck. Killing and killing - terror and terror. It’s not going to end. Ever. Until it’s all…just…a sheet of glass. Selfish as it may sound I sure hope I get to see it – well more of it – before it all goes down. I wonder if a guy could skate on it. Or skate kiting or is it kite skating? Anyway - that would be cool. Opps, can’t fly kites. SOAB!

That guy running Iran is taking the same pills as Chaves, just in a lighter dose – but obviously being dispensed by the same physician/dealer.

I read that America is setting up a few military bases in Colombia. That’s gonna go down good. I actually heard this over a year ago but am just reminded of it. I wonder if Hugo picks his nose when he is taking a shit and where does he put it? And what the hell do the maids think?