2006 jan. - feb. - march

2006-07-18T00:37:00.000-07:00

January 2006
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USA MEXICO

Hip hip hurray - the 2006 is here !

What's so special on it - I don’t know yet, but one is for sure - I..D.O..I.T..M.Y..W.A.Y..!

In the fist January days we pack our gear and are off from this eco hotel place.

After some great days in Merida we are driving north.

Vera Cruz is our last port city before we wind up to the mountains.

Snow covered Volcanoes I can see from far, soon the air get thinner and better. As soon as we reach Mexico city once more the good air is gone.

With emission & dirt, the crowd we know, we stay only one night.

A visit at the famous basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe we dot miss this time.

Over the rocky road we drive one more up to our fiends in the cactus forest to say hello.

With Theresa the Austrian (we met her here 2 month ago) we were in e-mail contact the last days and are going to meet.

In the same hostel were we stay, we meet Alex from San Francisco. He is very spontaneous and decide to join us.

From San Miguel de Allende on we are traveling in a group of 4.

I love to travel with them, but still - I am a solo traveler and set a limit to get to Las Vegas. I

In this 2 weeks we see a lot.

Fantastic days in this so different beautiful Real de Catorce.

This old mining town has his own flair. To get there we drive 24 km on cobble stone and reach a tunnel. For 2 dollars we get a ticket which allows us to drive in a convoy thru.

It is a one way regulation, except for donkeys, mules, horses and all 2-leged's As soon as we leave this tunnel we are right in the town.

Awesome. It is inviting for hiking and exploring.

The tracks around are good and ghost towns are great to visit.

On our way north we visit other traveler highlights.

Creel which we knew already and Nuevo Casas Grandes.

The impressive dirt wall labyrinth let us stun over this prehistoric 'houses'.

In Mata Ortiz we discover a new world of pottery. In this tiny isolated town get the fines pottery art produced I have ever seen. The mixture to produce this high quality art, there should be 6 different 'ingredients' needed.

With Maria (our guide) we are walking thru town, have a look at the expeditions and by a little souvenir!

Time to move on guys - plains and nice scenery before we get once more to the border.

All 4 of us get the 'green light' to enter the states.

Back to the USA!

I never thought that I am coming back that quick!

The castle of Montezuma and the western town Tombstone where the Cowboys get berried with their boots on, is worth a stop.

Flagstaff says ' good by' to us with a snow storm when we turn off to the legendary route 66.

Crazy little towns brighten the drive before we reach late afternoon Laughlin.

A few month ago I read the story of an Argentinean who traveled from 1985 - 95 on his Honda Goldwing around the world.

His motorcycle & story is in one of the casinos exhibition halls.

After a bit of asking around we see her - the black princess - is like the bit sister of my motorcycle Fusae, or is it a vehicle of a crazy one?

The same evening we reach Las Vegas.

Theresa & Alex find a accommodation at the Strip (main road of Las Vegas). The pink Motel behind a wedding chapel is not one of the fancy one, but it is cheap and close to everything.

Shelley & Bob welcome us 2 and are great as ever. The next evening we go and lose some Dollars with Theresa & Alex in the Casino while playing different games. We wonder around - from 'Venice' to 'Margarethaville'.

Thanks to you guys - it was nice to have you with us, but it is time to say good by.

Saturday is the last (and only one) prof. car wash for Jimmy and I drive to the first dealer to see how much they will offer. The best one will get it.

At Monday the 30th of January I pick up Fusae!

Many times I have to listen how happy I would make some people if I travel with a real bike, but paying wants no one for it. I catch myself with this idea of changing and even have a look at the internet and magazines, but Fusae is Fusae. I start to redo her and draw the map on the luggage box again.

Henriette alias LUNA on tour I can cal myself from February 2006 on !

This bad feeling in my tummy is almost gone and I could yell it to the world; I..D.O..I.T..M.Y..W.A.Y..!

To travel on a motorcycle is like flying!
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2006-07-17T00:36:00.000-07:00

February 2006

Viva la MEXICO!

Hasta luego Shane!

Adiós Jimmy!

More than 12000 miles (18000) km we did with our Jimmy before I sold him at the 5th of Feb. 2006.

It is not the best price I get for him, but gone is gone!

The same is Shane the next day - gone to find work at some fiends place in Colorado.

And I.... that’s easy to guess.

I started the next day with Fusae, Moses and all the other stuff.
The insurance paper I got with DHL just on time so I can start without worrying.

Las Vegas - Flagstaff - Albuquerque -Texas.

After a very cold week at 0' to max. 15 'C, I cross easy the border to Mexico. The motorcycle loves the warmer temperatures as much as I do.

She works better then in the cold.

There she had a new 'idea' to get my attention - Fusae started to spit oil. She almost covered herself with it that it is a real pleasure to search for the problem.

We (the team) enjoy the scenic ride from Vera Cruz to Oaxaca in the mountains.

Real mountains.

The street is so steep that the roads seem to wind endless around them.

Fusae gets here and there a break to cool down and I enjoy the great view.

It smells nice after sweet orange tree flowers - mmmmh!

I reach Oaxaca and at the Hostel I get a good surprise.

Fusae has a special parking.

The big gate get only for the boss which is a BMW rider and me opened - I like it!
That’s 1st class lodging for reasonable price.

At the fist day I want to do some work an my motorcycle and search for a workshop.

At a motorcycle shop where I can do all the maintenance, they are happy to have me there. The mechanic is right away here if a screw doesn’t open the easy way.

All the time there is someone which is asking me something or takes a picture. The mechanic Ricardo is a member of the local motorcycle club called 'legionarios’.
He invites me for a Sunday ride for breakfast in the mountains.

The whole week is something going on.

With the ‘presidente’ Marco I visit the ruins of Monte Alban, hang around the whole night and join the meeting.

The highlight is to spend the weekend at the beach of Oaxaca.

10 people, 9 bikes and me as a passenger.

The speed at the big bikes is nothing for Fusae.

The Harleys, BMW's and Hondas are to fast.

We camp for 3 days right at one of the quiet beaches of Huatulco.

We enjoy the good food, the Tequila & Mescal, good swimming and snorkeling and the relaxed atmosphere of the group.

Sunday morning we are riding over 1000curves or more back to Oaxaca.

The nasty speed bump which are used in whole Mexico are a pain in the neck and long time ago I stopped to count them.

Back in 'my' hostel I pack all my stuff and get ready for Guatemala.

From Oaxaca I ride more or less straight to the border.

The first part of the journey is relaxed, pretty and beautiful, the curves are just right in their angle and I make good miles. At the skinny land section before I reach Chiapas the situation changes. It is known for a lot of wind, but really that much..?....
I drive almost in the middle of the road, but the wind keeps pushing me to the right.

I slow down and down, lean against the strong wind, but nothing helps - the next gust squeezes me off the road.

2 feet down the dirt and gravel. I have to wait a while - the wind is to strong to lift the motorcycle up and continue my fight.

With the last day in February I cross the border to Guatemala.
First the paperwork, try to make all this sales man and helpers stop to bother me and get some money changed - ready for the 7 country tour in central America, but that my fiend is a different story.

The best greetings form Guatemala from a happy Henriette alias LUNA.
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2006-07-16T00:36:00.000-07:00

March 2006

CENTRAL AMERICA
Guatemala, Belize,
Honduras & El Salvador

Often the thin & light to heavy & thick air is so full and rich of intensive smell that it is hard to find the outgoing spot for the mixture of smell.
It can take me some time to find out what is 'dancing' in my nose.
The 'pictures' in my head & eyes change as the smell does - it is enormous - so much information.

Ok, one after the other.

At the 1st of march 2006 I reach Guatemala.

Some days I spend at and around the lake Atitlan.

The markets are great with it's colors and varieties.
The people are very friendly, mostly a bit shy in the beginning, but soon they realize that I am not a tourist - I'm a traveler.

Sometimes I help to prepare their goods to sale or lift up some heavy bags to balance on someone’s head.

The kiddies are anyway happy with the camera - no words needed!

They are having fun smiling in to tha camera and check them self out at the screen.

Since some weeks I have a digital camera and love this toy.

The old classic 35mm camera gave up and so I became modern.

To get to natural beauty spots like the pretty bath tub of Semuc-Champey is not easy.

That’s the maximum for Fusae.
The road looks more like a dry river and the heat.....but we make it.

In this month I have in total 1 flat tire (1st one after 25000km), one broken throttle cable and 2 times an engine stop - which I excuse with the heat - otherwise they would be for ever a miracle!

Of course I visit more sights this month.
The Maya Ruins of Tical are worth seeing.
There I saw my first Toucan in nature!

The ride to the border of Belize is dusty and rough, but absolutely worth it.

The usual 1 1/2 hours later I continue my riding.
The nice thing is, I leave the border with some smiling people behind me.

They like my bike, my story and the way I am.
At the police check point I am happy to continue my travels without a fine or have to return to the border to by a national insurance - that made me smile!
(I am really a stubborn woman, but why not - it was worth it)

The roads are in good conditions and compare to the neighbor countries super clean.
The garifunas (‘afroamericarebianos’), the great wooden colonial houses and the ocean do the rest to let me smile the whole day.
I love it!
Also my luggage size makes me happy. I was able to prune down a bit!

At the end of the road in Punta Gorda I negotiate with the boatman and Fusae is on board!

One more day in Guatemala before I cross o Honduras.

At the border I get shocked - what, 50 USD just to get the paper done to bring Fusae in to the country?!
But what’s the matter - I want to go - so I pay and the 'standard' 1 1/2 hours later I ride in a happy mood thru nice smelling pineapple plantations.

At the port city La Ceiba I stay in the Grand Hotel Ceiba.
They have hot showers, AC and TV -what a luxurious accommodation.
But the main reason for my stay is their guarded parking.
I want to make sure that Fusae is save.
I am going to leave her here for one week - it is holiday time form traveling.

I take the ferry to the bay island Roatan where I meet Sean.
He is American and we met at lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
We share a bungalow and enjoy each others company.

He is like a familiar soul - we enjoy walks at the beach, checking the bars,

going for lunch, swimming in the crystal clear water, l

augh till the wrinkles stay, get drunk at the balcony,

snorkel over underwater gorges and gardens, make fun about other people,

going for breakfast, bet for massages,

walk in the warm Caribbean rain 11 km, have a jet with locals and travelers or simply relax an enjoy it to BE!

After this very nice time at Roatan it doesn’t bother me to much that I have on the way to El Salvador almost no or terrible roads.

More then once I nearly get hit by a soccer ball, almost crashed with a huge bird and find evenings a scorpion in my bed!?! See, I am relaxed! ;o)

When I clean evenings my skin from all the dirt, the water turns muddy gray - I better don’t want to know how my lungs look like.
The busses leave a black cloud behind them and everyone is trying to overtake me - just to be a head....and just to let you know, there are a lot of busses in this countries!

That’s also a part of traveling - I couldn’t get closer to a country - I feel it as close as it can get!

The total chaotic with road side stalls plastered center of San Salvador I explore by foot or bus.
It is easier and saver I think.
Fusae stays in the same hotel room as I, to make sure nobody touches her on the 'wrong' spots.

She gets as well an other check to make sure we get many more miles without problems.

First I cross without any problems the border to Nicaragua where I say good by to Honduras and my funny 'border committee'!

A new country is like a new chapter of my travels.
All this countries are different, the mentality of the people, their culture and the county it self.

Many times I get asked for how long and where I am going to travel.....
...that’s a easy question....T.I.L.L...I'M....H.O.M.E..!!

What's going on till then, is as always to read on this pages!

Keep in touch Henriette alias LUNA

2006-07-15T15:39:00.000-07:00

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