From Admitting To Surgery In Four Easy Screws.

Glorious ocean view private room and the sunset taken from my hospital bed. Hoag Hospital sits on the bluffs in Newport Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean. In the north end of this Southern California playground that has captured the country’s attention through the silly TV program “The O.C.”, the hospital is the tallest structure around. […]

Going For The Border

Some days things can go all wrong. Not that I’d throw the last couple days into the “bad day” bucket, but I might’ve preferred a different outcome. The plan was simple enough. Get an early start, ride with our new Chiapas friends (Hernon, Pancho, Roger and Chata) to Comitán where we’d have breakfast then make […]

Observations On Mexico

I’ve been in Mexico for nearly five weeks. And as my time here winds down I thought I’d jot a few observations. You’d think with so much time in this great country that I’d have a good handle on the culture, language and geography. I’ve passed through cities and villages large and small. Feast my […]

Chiapas Is Where I Want To be

Climbing into the hills outside Tuxtla Guiterrez I sense my long desire to wander the villages of Chiapas coming to realization. Women of all ages dressed in simple single colored garments with basic designs walk along the roadside carrying massive bundles of sticks on their backs. Using a similarly colored cloth the brunt of the […]

La Ventosa & Making Mezcal

I warned him. And I reminded him as we went our separate ways before taking in the Todos Santos events of Dias de las Muertos, but somehow he forgot. Or let’s just say there was a communication breakdown. You see Sacha had some problems with his OxStar (sp?) motorcycle boots. The straps for the buckles […]

Dias de los Muertos

Oaxaca is beginning to feel a bit like home. Sticking around because eager to experience if not participate in the Dias de Los Muertos (Days of the Dead) celebration, I’ve explored every nook and cranny of this colonial city within a few blocks zocolo. The time also has allowed me to catch up on basic […]

Early Oaxaca

While the arts, crafts and festivities surrounding Dias de los Muertos were certainly drawing cards for me to visit this part of Mexico, I was also eager to experience history well before the Spanish colonial period, Anxious to continue my tour of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, I set my sites on one just outside of […]

Let It Rain

The ride to Oaxaca was fantastic. Through desert valleys and massive plants of agave and other cactus species. But by the time we we rode closer to Oaxaca the dark and brooding clouds were familiar. And the chill in the air offered another hint. It was just a matter of time until the sky opened […]

Taxing Times in Taxco

The 130 mile ride to Taxco was uneventful except for the fact we got blasted by quite a bit of rain. But shortly after we climb the mountains of Michoacan state past endless fields of flowers with giant volcanons gracing the horizon. We then up to chilling temperatures as we reached 10,000 feet elevation. As […]

Confederacy of the Night Riding Dunces and More Mexican Hospitality

The ride to San Miguel de Allende took a little over an hour. Anyone visiting Guanajuato must take a spin through this smaller colonial village. Though its reputation perhaps has been tainted by the plethora of ex-pats and Americans who’ve decided to make it home. As such, prices are slightly higher for just about everything. […]