http://www.motoglobetrotter.com --Join me on my motorcycle adventures Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:37:51 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Race Report from CMRA Round 8 at Cresson, TX 1st Place! Finally... The RSVR ran like a dream all weekend. So well in fact that in Friday's practice session I noticed the bike getting a bit squirrely coming out of corners, even more than usual. I don't mind sliding a bit ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/70 "I think the RSVR's gremlins are finally killed. We've been chasing issues with cutting out and backfiring since my first race back in March, and to date we've rebuilt the fuel pump, flushed the coolant system, replaced plugs, coils, thermostat, Power Commander, throttle bodies, injectors, and added a fuel pressure ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/68 In Round 7 of the CMRA Series, Ted Phillips rode the AF1 Racing built RSVR to a 2nd place finish in Heavyweight Twins class. "I made my move for 1st in the second lap. Turn 1 is a very fast left hand sweeper that the leading Triumph was parking it in. ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/66 Race Day: The RSVR had been running flawlessly all throughout Friday and Saturday's practice and I had been gaining second after second, lap after lap. I kept comparing my laptimes with my competitors' and it was obvious that Sunday’s race was my race to lose. When the time came to ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/63 Not too shabby for my second race weekend ever on the AF1 Racing built and tuned RSVR, what a weekend! I spent almost all of the practice sessions on Friday trying to sort out a mystery electrical problem. The bike kept cutting out suddenly and violently under part/full throttle and things ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/60 Back at camp I made myself a quick dinner while the sun crept behind the horizon. The temperature quickly dropped and a chill snuck into the night air. I knew I was going to sleep well. I woke up just before 5am. I was the only conscious one in the park ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/27 In the morning, after a few hours' sleep, I decided to defy common sense and turned westward towards Big Bend. I had slept late for the first time in a long time. I had no obligations, no duties, not a worry in the world other than my slight negligence in ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/26 It seems it's been ages since I've had an entire weekend off from both jobs, and I didn't know what to do with myself. Last Friday, towards late afternoon, I was hanging around the shop when a harebrained scheme popped into my addled brain. Why not undertake a mini-adventure ride ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/25 For those that haven't kept up with my latest adventures, I'm planning on riding a motorcycle around the world within the next 2 years. Crazy you say? Maybe. But I'm doing it anyway and I'm going to bring you along for the ride. This thread will ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/3 For the most part, the entire ride up until Real de Catorce had been going so smoothly, so I presumed that the final 550 miles home would proceed just the same. I would make it less than 200 miles before I encountered the first of a long chain reaction of ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/47 That last night of my journey I rejoined my new traveling companions for dinner. Afterwards we enjoyed some Mexican wine and shared in deep philosophic conversation. Life, our World, the Universe.There is a certain perspective and paradigm that most travelers operate from, and I love to soak up as ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/46 High above Real are the mine ruins, remnants of the Mexican silver boom that was responsible for the original settling of Real. At one time the mine road was carefully paved with hand laid cobblestone, but decades of neglect and exposure to the elements have reduced it to ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/45 My new friends and I decided to hike out to Mount Quemada, the sacred ritual mountain top for the Huicholes. This indigenous tribe is the only group to resist conquering by both the Aztecs and the Spanish, and they still live much the way they have for centuries. Every April ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/44 The road from Zacatecas up to Real de Catorce cuts through the high deserts of the altiplano. My destination, the small colonial mining town popularized in the movie "The Mexican", is cradled 9,000' up in the sparse Sierra Coronados.The turn off of the main highway puts you on a sparsely ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/43 Because of the scarcity of space in Guanajuato, I had to leave my bike parked outside right in front of the hostel for 3 days. I wasn't too worried about it disappearing, but it was still a relief to see the XR waiting patiently on the day I was ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/42 The day before I left for Zacatecas I went to the Museo Momias. On the outskirts of town there is a cemetery that has become quite full over the years. To make room for the newly deceased, old graves are dug up when the survivors can no longer afford the ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/41 Before I left Guadalajara I looked over the bike just in case something else had gone wrong. To my dismay, my $40 chain had already stretched extensively. When it was brand new it was just short of the right length so that I could have the adjusters run all the ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/40 I woke up early to take advantage of the day. It was refreshing to not be in a hurry. After all, this was my vacation, right?I went to the Instituto Cultural de las Canañas at the far end of the plaza. This huge building has something like 53 ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/39  The ride from Vallarta to Guadalajara takes you through the only region in the world where the blue agave used for genuine tequila is legally allowed to grow. Field after field of the spiky bluish gray plant lined the highway, and the horizon. By the time you reach the town of ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/38 I really had no plan as to where I would head or what I would do upon my return to Mazatlàn, and so on a whim I turned south and scooted down to San Blas. I had stayed there last year and remembered it as a congenial town. A few ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/37 The time eventually came for my friends to leave our little paradise and head back to Austin, and for me to continue on to the mainland. Out of habit, I gave the bike a once-over the day before I had to leave and immediately I noticed a nasty kink in ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/36 The house we get to stay in is a vacation home for some well off acquaintances of my married friends. They let my married friends use it for their honeymoon 5 years ago and every year since, my friends get to go back and invite the rest of us. Total ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/34  Over the last five years we've become fairly close to a lot of the locals in the tiny village of Punta Pescadero and its larger neighbor, El Cardanal. So close in fact, that we were invited to one of the niece´s wedding. She was 15, her groom to be, 19. ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/35 After a miserable night of being thrown around the ship's cafeteria in high seas, we finally arrived to the port of La Paz, Baja California Sur. I was jumping out of my skin as I scrambled down to ship's belly to meet my XR. Good News! It ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/33 At the suggestion of the security guard at the tightly sealed Baja Ferry dock, I returned promptly at 8am to purchase a ticket. I was only beat out of first in line by 50 or so very eager Mexicans. After the usual confusion with which line to get ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/32 The No-Tell Motel debacle last night helped put me in better spirits. Today was going to be a good day.The route leaving Torreòn that headed west towards Durango and then Mazatlàn took me straight through the breadth of the Sierra Madres. If this majestic mountain range was anything ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/31 After countless border crossings with the XR I'd say I've got the knack down. Using the Columbia bridge outside of town it's easy to avoid the long lines and hassles of going into Nuevo Laredo. In less than 15 minutes I had my bike permiso and tourist visa ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/30 Well, it's been a year since my trip down to Panama and back and I feel another jaunt into parts south taking a hold of me. Time to head back into Mexico! Departure Day is finally here and I am just now beginning to feel butterflies. I had planned ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/29 After resting and packing up I really had no plan for the day, I didn't even know how far I wanted to go.  It was only 120 miles to the Panamanian border but after waking up at 10am my relatively late start would put me there after noon.  My Lonely ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/57 The Nicaraguan/Costa Rican border was much like the one to the north from Honduras.  I was quickly surrounded by the local youth, all of which wanted to serve as my guide through the border zone, and all wanted to get paid for it.  I knew I could make my way ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/56 I would love nothing more than to go an entire day without getting lost in Central America.  I figured after my impromptu 2 hour tour of Leòn last night that I would have the layout of the town sufficiently memorized.  Not so.  I managed to waste another hour this morning just trying to ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/55 For the first time in recent memories, I heard my watch alarm go off at 6:15am.  This early awakening meant I could actually get the early start that I always intend, and I could make Leòn, Nicaragua by mid-afternoon.  Navigating should be straightforward today.  Just follow the Pan American Highway south to Tegucigalpa, then on ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/54 6:30am rolled around far too quickly.  I could barely see straight as I clumbsily backed the XR out of the hotel's restaurant and into the street, minutes before the morning's first customers.  With that pressing task accomplished I reflected on today's mission: make it as close to the Nicaraguan border as ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/53 Last night's sleep was fitful, perhaps because my tense punished muscles, pushed yet again to the brink of exhaustion, would not allow me to relax.  Regardless, I arose early in anticipation of leaving Guatemala for an inspiring destination, despite my expectation that it would be overly touristy.  I could play ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/52 What do they say about those who fail to learn history? That they are doomed to repeat it? I really have to find out who "they" are because they're making me look like an idiot, And that's something I don't need any help with. Within 15 minutes of leaving Quetzaltenango I ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/50   The ride out of San Christóbal was rather bizarre. Perched high in the mountains of Chiapas, I had to ride down through the clouds to the border. It could have been any road in the world, and it was easy to forget that I was about to leave the relative ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/24 I'm not sure if I will ever get used to cold showers. If nothing else, they definitely wake you up, and there is no need for coffee after being assaulted by liquid ice. I had a fairly short ride ahead of me today, only about 150 miles high ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/23 The bike was running smooth today. I suppose it could have just beaten me senseless over the last few days, but I guess I wouldn't know the difference anyway. I left Puerto Escondido at the leisurely hour of 10am with the hopes of covering some 200 miles to Salina Cruz ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/22   A good night's rest did wonders for me. The only reason I awoke at 11am was to go pay for another night wonderful night at my plush hotel. After which I went right back to bed, all the while enjoying the one movie channel they had in english. After ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/21 The drive into Acapulco was not nearly long enough. What a miserably bloated and cumbersome city. Blowing trash everywhere on the highways and taxis that honk incessantly. The whole scene quickly annoyed me.Not that the incessant trash and pesky traffic were the sole culprits for my derision, ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/20 I left a long black stripe, the remnants of my burnout, as I tore out of Playa Azul. Hopefully others will see my warning and head elsewhere, lest they too find themselves robbed of a riding glove.I think my body is finally hardening up to the beating it takes ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/19 I was excited to get back on the road today. I figured I would continue down the Costalegre and test out my rested body. If I could make the village of Playa Azul, some 250 miles away, I wouldn't feel that bad about wasting the previous day away. ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/18 The best thing about sleeping till afternoon is that you don't have to struggle to fill up your day. The XR had been whining about an oil change so I felt I should take care of that before sundown. After my day's work was done I wouldn't feel ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/17 I left Puerto Vallarta in the hopes of finding somewhere to stay on the Costalegre in Jalisco. The plan, such as it was, was to ride until I was exhausted, then find a hotel. The road south of Vallarta was the standard issue Mexican roller coaster. But ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/16 My night in San Blas left me well rested and refreshed. Amazing what a delicious dinner, a hot shower and a comfy bed will do for the psyche. Perhaps my appalling view of Mazatlan was a little harsh simply because I didn't sleep the night before and was ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/15   I quickly grew tired of Mazatlan. Too many turistas being shuttled back and forth in annoying convertible Beetles to spend their precious American dollars on mass-produced crap. I wonder if those sunburned tourists realize that the person driving is not just a "Jose" or "Paco", but is a ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/14 For the second time on this trip I had to say a sorrowful goodbye to dear friends. Unable to say a word for fear of unleashing a stream of tears I watched the suburban carrying my friends away from our paradise and disappear over the hill. It will ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/13 After a motionless night of sleep in Choix I awoke rarin´ to go at about 5am. I was so close to seeing my friends in Baja! I did a rush job packing the bike, fired it up and hit the highway. I was about 60 miles from ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/11 It was a tortuous night on the ferry. A combination of over-excitement and uncomfortable sleeping arrangements ensured that I would have to fight for consciousness as I made my way south on the Baja peninsula. But after everything that I had been through so far, I wasn't going ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/12 Again, I woke up today way too early and I had no idea what was in store for. It would turn out to be a near disaster and possibly the hardest day of my life. But paradise would not be nearly as enjoyable without going through a ... http://www.motoglobetrotter.com/archives/10