Friday, December 11, 2009
Day 15 - Old Red has a New Home!
Note: videos may be added in the morning; internet again not treating us well...
It's a done deal, and boy oh boy are we glad we did it. I know we haven't posted in a while at length - too much going on, no internet access on my laptop and blogging on a Blackberry is no fun. Time to catch up...
We got out of the no man's land between Mexico and Guatemala around noon Wednesday, after a long and frustrating morning. Kind of like sitting on a plane not going anywhere and the pilot is silent. We had one brief moment of anticipation when they asked us to go open the truck so they could check the motor number against the papers. So there we are with the hood up and finally along comes the lady from the customs office and she walks right by our truck - says nothing! We were quite frustated and just a bit annoyed... And worried since we were running out of cash and didn't have enough for a hotel for yet another night. So back to the importer's office where they had nothing to share. Sit, sit, sit and then all of a sudden the importer guy comes up to us and says 'You are free to go now.' Just like that! What a relief, but we didn't really believe until after waiting in line for about an hour to get through that checkpoint. A friend and coworker of mine named Tom actually called us to see if we were out about ten seconds after we left the final checkpoint. So off we were to Guatemala City, knowing that we were going to meet up for dinner with a big group of Americans from our industry who were down here for a tour. So we were on the road and saw a road sign that says we are going to the capital via the city of Escuintla - this was the coastal route and we were doggone tired of being in the heat and sweat, so we backtracked some distance and headed up the mountains to go another way. When you don't really know the local geography mistakes will happen. Started out ok, but after about 45 minutes we wound up going up this mountain (darn near straight up) for over an hour, always in first or second gear. We were dead tired at this time (and still are) and although the scenery was impressive when we weren't shrouded in fog, it was hard to enjoy such a frustrating drive. Took us over eight hours to go about 300 kilometers this route (about 190 miles). We finally caught up with the group right after they were done eating but they stuck around for a while to catch up on our adventure. A really great group of folks (many of them donors already!) who gave us some awesome support. Stayed up too late with some of them and then the next morning off to Jalapa.
On the way to Jalapa we stopped at one of our seed farms for a quick visit. It was great seeing some Guatemalan friends - Christian, Beatriz, Danny and Alvaro. Then back on the highway expecting to get to town about 3, but alas lots of new road construction delayed us so we got there about 5 last night. Stopped at the Esquejes farm where I used to work and all was quiet. But, my good friend Francisco was their waiting for us. Then off to the hotel in Jalapa - a brand new one called Hotel Puente Viejo (old bridge - you could see it from our window) where they put us up in the Presidential Suite. Now Jalapa really hasn't had any hotels in the past that had a room that could rate that title, but this was actually getting close. We were really quite impressed. What got me even more was that the band I mentioned in the last post didn't get this room! Our friends in Jalapa were really taking care of us.
After getting settled in the hotel it was off to get Old Red washed. Francisco took us to the best place in town where we got the one-hour detail, and the darn truck looked pretty spiffy! After that off to my favorite restaurant in town, El Sheick, the only place where you can get draft beer in a hundred mile radius, I swear. I've been there so many times over the years that my picture, along with another friend and coworker Jane, is on their wall. Well of course some of the other guys from the farm showed up and good eats and some rounds of 'cerveza de barril' later it was off the the hotel to catch at least a few hours sleep.
This morning: tired, stressed, nervous, anxious, a little sad, a little happy. Breakfast at 7:30 with Francisco and then off to the hospital for the transfer. During breakfast Francisco showed us article in one of the Guatemalan newspapers about poor sanitary conditions at the hospital in Jalapa. We had an appointment to meet with a gringo named David Sutton who is a missionary and lives in Jalapa. He helps the group we are raising funds for (LAMP - http://www.lampcharity.org/) set up visits to the small towns around Jalapa. So we go the hospital and David is there with a nun from the orphanage named Claudia. She is like second in charge; her superior was 'out of town.' Claudia was a real sweetheart who was very excited about this and turned into quite the chatterbox. We had to park the truck in a secured area of the hospital for the transfer of papers and keys and the lighting wasn't so good, but we have posted a video of it. After the transfer we went into the hospital and met with a Dr. Campos, who is the head guy at the hospital and works very closely with LAMP. Very nice gentleman with a great sense of humor. Walking through the hospital we saw at least forty people waiting to see doctors, waiting for a long time no doubt. This hospital is the only option these people have - we are so blessed in the United States with the medical care we get.
Meeting finished, Mr. Sutton had to depart for another meeting but Claudia and Dr. Campos invited us to visit the orphanage. Claudia doesn't have a drivers license so I drove with her next to me in Old Red. My last time to shift gears in the old beast. We followed Dr. Campos the few miles out of town on some crappy dirt road and finally pulled into the compound. Waiting for us were several nuns strumming their guitars and a choir of uniformed girls ranging in age from about 6 to 16 singing to us as we pulled up. Must have been at least thirty of them. We parked the truck and got out and they sang a couple more songs for us. So Cute! These girls were just adorable and were really pulling at our hearstrings at this point. Dr. Campos tooks some photos of us with the group of girls and then wanted another of them in the bed of the truck with us. So Claudia tells them to get in and that was the sight we will NEVER forget - so many smiling faces laughing and scrambling to get in there. They were obviously so happy to have Old Red; we couldn't have been happier for them. Got to climb in the truck with them for a photo shoot, and then out of truck for a thank you hug from each of the girls. Some would say gracias, some thank you, all were saying it from their hearts. Life is really good some times. And once in a very rare while it absolutely takes your breath away.
We then got a tour of the orphanage. They house about 120 girls at capacity. It was really amazing what they are doing there. Very clean and well organized. They actually have vocational training programs for these kids such as cooking, sewing, cosmetology and computer skills. This means that when they leave the orphanage they have a marketable skill so they have a great chance at improving their lives and helping their communities. We got to see the new second story addition on the main building that was sposored by the LAMP doctors - very impressive.
So Old Red is now in their hands. We spoke with some fine folks from the Jalapa community and were reassured that they would help out if the truck needs service or whatever. One of the best things Claudia told us was that they pay a lot to have their cooking firewood delivered and now they can get it themselves, so Old Red will still be hauling firewood. She also told us that they now have a way to get sick girls in the middle of the night off to see a doctor without having to walk several miles. I think they will make great use of Old Red.
Now we are in a hotel in Guatemala City, tired, exhausted, worn out and ready to go home. We do miss our home, our family and friends, and need to do some laundry. Of course we will be asked if we would do this again, and our answer now is undoubtedly yes; we think it will remain so.
So PLEASE, if you are reading this and haven't yet donated to Latin American Medical Providers, do so now at www.lampcharity.org/donate and let's all try to help those that in some way help us.
p.s. Francisco told us last night that we have a place in heaven and on our way there if we see him hitchhiking could we please pick him up...
We got out of the no man's land between Mexico and Guatemala around noon Wednesday, after a long and frustrating morning. Kind of like sitting on a plane not going anywhere and the pilot is silent. We had one brief moment of anticipation when they asked us to go open the truck so they could check the motor number against the papers. So there we are with the hood up and finally along comes the lady from the customs office and she walks right by our truck - says nothing! We were quite frustated and just a bit annoyed... And worried since we were running out of cash and didn't have enough for a hotel for yet another night. So back to the importer's office where they had nothing to share. Sit, sit, sit and then all of a sudden the importer guy comes up to us and says 'You are free to go now.' Just like that! What a relief, but we didn't really believe until after waiting in line for about an hour to get through that checkpoint. A friend and coworker of mine named Tom actually called us to see if we were out about ten seconds after we left the final checkpoint. So off we were to Guatemala City, knowing that we were going to meet up for dinner with a big group of Americans from our industry who were down here for a tour. So we were on the road and saw a road sign that says we are going to the capital via the city of Escuintla - this was the coastal route and we were doggone tired of being in the heat and sweat, so we backtracked some distance and headed up the mountains to go another way. When you don't really know the local geography mistakes will happen. Started out ok, but after about 45 minutes we wound up going up this mountain (darn near straight up) for over an hour, always in first or second gear. We were dead tired at this time (and still are) and although the scenery was impressive when we weren't shrouded in fog, it was hard to enjoy such a frustrating drive. Took us over eight hours to go about 300 kilometers this route (about 190 miles). We finally caught up with the group right after they were done eating but they stuck around for a while to catch up on our adventure. A really great group of folks (many of them donors already!) who gave us some awesome support. Stayed up too late with some of them and then the next morning off to Jalapa.
On the way to Jalapa we stopped at one of our seed farms for a quick visit. It was great seeing some Guatemalan friends - Christian, Beatriz, Danny and Alvaro. Then back on the highway expecting to get to town about 3, but alas lots of new road construction delayed us so we got there about 5 last night. Stopped at the Esquejes farm where I used to work and all was quiet. But, my good friend Francisco was their waiting for us. Then off to the hotel in Jalapa - a brand new one called Hotel Puente Viejo (old bridge - you could see it from our window) where they put us up in the Presidential Suite. Now Jalapa really hasn't had any hotels in the past that had a room that could rate that title, but this was actually getting close. We were really quite impressed. What got me even more was that the band I mentioned in the last post didn't get this room! Our friends in Jalapa were really taking care of us.
After getting settled in the hotel it was off to get Old Red washed. Francisco took us to the best place in town where we got the one-hour detail, and the darn truck looked pretty spiffy! After that off to my favorite restaurant in town, El Sheick, the only place where you can get draft beer in a hundred mile radius, I swear. I've been there so many times over the years that my picture, along with another friend and coworker Jane, is on their wall. Well of course some of the other guys from the farm showed up and good eats and some rounds of 'cerveza de barril' later it was off the the hotel to catch at least a few hours sleep.
This morning: tired, stressed, nervous, anxious, a little sad, a little happy. Breakfast at 7:30 with Francisco and then off to the hospital for the transfer. During breakfast Francisco showed us article in one of the Guatemalan newspapers about poor sanitary conditions at the hospital in Jalapa. We had an appointment to meet with a gringo named David Sutton who is a missionary and lives in Jalapa. He helps the group we are raising funds for (LAMP - http://www.lampcharity.org/) set up visits to the small towns around Jalapa. So we go the hospital and David is there with a nun from the orphanage named Claudia. She is like second in charge; her superior was 'out of town.' Claudia was a real sweetheart who was very excited about this and turned into quite the chatterbox. We had to park the truck in a secured area of the hospital for the transfer of papers and keys and the lighting wasn't so good, but we have posted a video of it. After the transfer we went into the hospital and met with a Dr. Campos, who is the head guy at the hospital and works very closely with LAMP. Very nice gentleman with a great sense of humor. Walking through the hospital we saw at least forty people waiting to see doctors, waiting for a long time no doubt. This hospital is the only option these people have - we are so blessed in the United States with the medical care we get.
Meeting finished, Mr. Sutton had to depart for another meeting but Claudia and Dr. Campos invited us to visit the orphanage. Claudia doesn't have a drivers license so I drove with her next to me in Old Red. My last time to shift gears in the old beast. We followed Dr. Campos the few miles out of town on some crappy dirt road and finally pulled into the compound. Waiting for us were several nuns strumming their guitars and a choir of uniformed girls ranging in age from about 6 to 16 singing to us as we pulled up. Must have been at least thirty of them. We parked the truck and got out and they sang a couple more songs for us. So Cute! These girls were just adorable and were really pulling at our hearstrings at this point. Dr. Campos tooks some photos of us with the group of girls and then wanted another of them in the bed of the truck with us. So Claudia tells them to get in and that was the sight we will NEVER forget - so many smiling faces laughing and scrambling to get in there. They were obviously so happy to have Old Red; we couldn't have been happier for them. Got to climb in the truck with them for a photo shoot, and then out of truck for a thank you hug from each of the girls. Some would say gracias, some thank you, all were saying it from their hearts. Life is really good some times. And once in a very rare while it absolutely takes your breath away.
We then got a tour of the orphanage. They house about 120 girls at capacity. It was really amazing what they are doing there. Very clean and well organized. They actually have vocational training programs for these kids such as cooking, sewing, cosmetology and computer skills. This means that when they leave the orphanage they have a marketable skill so they have a great chance at improving their lives and helping their communities. We got to see the new second story addition on the main building that was sposored by the LAMP doctors - very impressive.
So Old Red is now in their hands. We spoke with some fine folks from the Jalapa community and were reassured that they would help out if the truck needs service or whatever. One of the best things Claudia told us was that they pay a lot to have their cooking firewood delivered and now they can get it themselves, so Old Red will still be hauling firewood. She also told us that they now have a way to get sick girls in the middle of the night off to see a doctor without having to walk several miles. I think they will make great use of Old Red.
Now we are in a hotel in Guatemala City, tired, exhausted, worn out and ready to go home. We do miss our home, our family and friends, and need to do some laundry. Of course we will be asked if we would do this again, and our answer now is undoubtedly yes; we think it will remain so.
So PLEASE, if you are reading this and haven't yet donated to Latin American Medical Providers, do so now at www.lampcharity.org/donate and let's all try to help those that in some way help us.
p.s. Francisco told us last night that we have a place in heaven and on our way there if we see him hitchhiking could we please pick him up...
Que le vaya bien.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Day 14 - We made it to Jalapa!
WE MADE IT! Old Red done us good! Right now we are experiencing even more technical difficulties but are also experiencing life! Will update tomorrow when back in the capital with real Internet access and time. All I really need to add right now is Old Red is doing great, we are fine, Jalapa has great people, and we are sharing our hotel with a VERY popular Mexican band named El Tigres del Norte and we want to get some sleep before the concert is over. More explanation and recap tomorrow. And pics if we can get my computer to work...
Oh, more than 4200 miles in total so far. Tomorrow morning we hand over the keys, so will have commentary on that of course.
Oh, more than 4200 miles in total so far. Tomorrow morning we hand over the keys, so will have commentary on that of course.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Day 12 and counting...
Yesterday, after another great breakfast (thank goodness) we headed off to Tapachula Mexico which is about half an hour from the Guatemalan border. Had a perfectly good drive with Old Red still running without a hitch (still haven´t had to add any oil). We went on a side trip to visit the waterfalls at El Chiflon, which were absolutely fantastic. I´m sorry but more technical difficulties are preventing us from posting pics or video, but hopefully we can do this tomorrow from Guatemala City, which is that day´s destination.
So yesterday all was going well until... We had to drive a steep and winding road over the continental divide and were talking about how we should just make it in the daylight when we rounded a corner and all traffic was at a dead stop. Rats - probably a wreck or construction to slow us down a bit. After sitting their for a while we found out there actually was a Zapatista protest blocking the road about a kilometer up from us. No way anybody could pass. First it was talk of a 30-60 minute delay, then 3 hours, then noon the next day! We knew there was a town close by so went looking for a hotel. I don´t know how this town rates to get on the map, but it was definitely a one horse town that was also missing both ears and its tail. Found the only hotel and we were NOT going to stay there. So off we went to the local gas station mulling over our options, such as driving about 7 hours around the mountains to get to Tapachula. While topping off the gas, we were chatting with the attendant about our situation. He says there is a road (dirt with no signs) around the protest and since by now it was quite dark we said thanks but no. Well, he had a buddy hanging around who said he would be our guide for 100 pesos. I gladly accepted, knowing that I would have to be on my guard to spot a potentially dangerous situation. Off we went up a narrow windy paved road, and much to our comfort soon found ourselves in a convoy of others who knew this back way. Then a hard right to a nasty narrow dirt road for many miles. Dust so bad I mostly couldn´t see the road ahead and actually had to use my wipers to clear the windshield! Still, we were in the convoy and felt reasonably safe. It was a really slow drive, but all of a sudden it got even slower; traffic came to a halt. One by one the cars in the convoy crept over this bridge with all these guys hanging around- Zapatistas! So our turn came. Turns out all they wanted was extortion to the tune of 50 pesos for us and another 50 for our guide. I think they use this money for the matching T-shirts they were wearing. We paid, they lifted the cable blocking the bridge, they were friendly and we were relieved to see no weapons. Still a bit unnerving (especially to my mom when she reads this) but a hell of a story...
Went over this really BIG mountain very slowly in the dark and made it into Tapachula about 4 hours later than we expected, which was kind of ok because it was not a town you want to spend much time in...
So this morning another snafu. Got up early after not much sleep to get to the border to transfer title to the truck. Drove the half hour to the border and all these locals came running after us. Turns out you have to cancel the papers we got upon entry to Mexico and guess what - can't do that at the border! So this one guy climbs in the back of Old Red and off we go to Tapachula again and then some - had to cross town and get out of the city on the far side to find a checkpoint where they did the paperwork. Then back to the border where we passed through the Mexican checkpoint no problem and wound up kind of in a no man's land between border checkpoints. And here we still sit, after being here all day. Apparently this sort of title transfer takes some time - LOTS of time. We managed to show up at the busiest time for this sort of thing so now we are paying the price. Instead of staying on beautiful Lake Atitlan tonight in Panajachel, we are now staying at the border. Hopefully we can get on the road early tomorrow but right now who knows...
If you are following this blog or are a first time visitor - don't forget that it's not too late to donate to the wonderful group of doctors that we are travelling to Guatemala in support of and get a tax deduction for 2009! Just click on this link: www.lampcharity.org/donate - it's realy easy. And thanks for everyone's support.
Hopefully pics and video tomorrow...
So yesterday all was going well until... We had to drive a steep and winding road over the continental divide and were talking about how we should just make it in the daylight when we rounded a corner and all traffic was at a dead stop. Rats - probably a wreck or construction to slow us down a bit. After sitting their for a while we found out there actually was a Zapatista protest blocking the road about a kilometer up from us. No way anybody could pass. First it was talk of a 30-60 minute delay, then 3 hours, then noon the next day! We knew there was a town close by so went looking for a hotel. I don´t know how this town rates to get on the map, but it was definitely a one horse town that was also missing both ears and its tail. Found the only hotel and we were NOT going to stay there. So off we went to the local gas station mulling over our options, such as driving about 7 hours around the mountains to get to Tapachula. While topping off the gas, we were chatting with the attendant about our situation. He says there is a road (dirt with no signs) around the protest and since by now it was quite dark we said thanks but no. Well, he had a buddy hanging around who said he would be our guide for 100 pesos. I gladly accepted, knowing that I would have to be on my guard to spot a potentially dangerous situation. Off we went up a narrow windy paved road, and much to our comfort soon found ourselves in a convoy of others who knew this back way. Then a hard right to a nasty narrow dirt road for many miles. Dust so bad I mostly couldn´t see the road ahead and actually had to use my wipers to clear the windshield! Still, we were in the convoy and felt reasonably safe. It was a really slow drive, but all of a sudden it got even slower; traffic came to a halt. One by one the cars in the convoy crept over this bridge with all these guys hanging around- Zapatistas! So our turn came. Turns out all they wanted was extortion to the tune of 50 pesos for us and another 50 for our guide. I think they use this money for the matching T-shirts they were wearing. We paid, they lifted the cable blocking the bridge, they were friendly and we were relieved to see no weapons. Still a bit unnerving (especially to my mom when she reads this) but a hell of a story...
Went over this really BIG mountain very slowly in the dark and made it into Tapachula about 4 hours later than we expected, which was kind of ok because it was not a town you want to spend much time in...
So this morning another snafu. Got up early after not much sleep to get to the border to transfer title to the truck. Drove the half hour to the border and all these locals came running after us. Turns out you have to cancel the papers we got upon entry to Mexico and guess what - can't do that at the border! So this one guy climbs in the back of Old Red and off we go to Tapachula again and then some - had to cross town and get out of the city on the far side to find a checkpoint where they did the paperwork. Then back to the border where we passed through the Mexican checkpoint no problem and wound up kind of in a no man's land between border checkpoints. And here we still sit, after being here all day. Apparently this sort of title transfer takes some time - LOTS of time. We managed to show up at the busiest time for this sort of thing so now we are paying the price. Instead of staying on beautiful Lake Atitlan tonight in Panajachel, we are now staying at the border. Hopefully we can get on the road early tomorrow but right now who knows...
If you are following this blog or are a first time visitor - don't forget that it's not too late to donate to the wonderful group of doctors that we are travelling to Guatemala in support of and get a tax deduction for 2009! Just click on this link: www.lampcharity.org/donate - it's realy easy. And thanks for everyone's support.
Hopefully pics and video tomorrow...
Monday, December 7, 2009
Day (and night) #11
Due to circumstances WAY out of our control we will not be posting tonight. Will explain tomorrow. All is well but we need some sleep and we gotta get up early to cross the border and transfer title of Old Red.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Days 10 plus what we didn`t do on day 9
OK, so here we are in an Internet cafe in San Cristobal de las Casas, and every 5 to 10 seconds this damn antivirus window is popping up so I have Ruth on my right with the mouse closing this stupid window that keeps popping up! Talk about frustrating! I guess better than a Blackberry...
So yesterday we drove from Veracruz to San Cristobal in yet again another grey, drizzly day. So not much of a good photo day, but we did get a couple. There must have been some religious holiday or cause that we are unaware of since there were a lot of people jogging along the side of the road carrying torches, all of whom were either preceded by or followed by some vehicle with a bunch of signs on it that we figure explained what they were up to but in Spanish at 60 MPH forget about reading them. The most curious aspect of this endeavor were the groups of 3 to 5 bicycle riders with with plastic statues of the Virgin Mary strapped to their backs; see the photo. If anyone out there can explain this please do!
Nothing more to say about yesterday since it was basically just another long day behind the wheel on sometimes often times poor but almost always TOLL roads. We coughed up over $50 US in tolls to go just over 300 miles. Do the math... We did get some rather tantalizing glimpses of what appeared to be some awesome mountains and would have taken a photo but the fog or a 175 foot long truck or something would get in our way. And then we would have to pass the truck on a blind turn in the fog... Going 80...
Just kidding. Old Red can`t go 80.
So we wound up in San Cristobal de las Casas in the Mexican state of Chiapas, land of the Zapatista uprising. Luckily most is quiet here except for one small protest we saw. Something about those that have not yet supported LAMP or some such thing. Go figure...
On to real happenings... We pushed like heck to get to San Cristobal so we could actually have a day off to stretch our legs and perhaps do some sightseeing. Well, we certainly picked the right day since we finally had some mostly clear skies and warm temps! Started the morning with a hike up an extinct volcano named Huitepec, which is indigenous speak for extinct volcano of steep inclines for Gringo hikers. We did make it to the end of the trail and actually it was quite beautiful and peaceful and felt really good after the fact. Not much wildlife but there was a quail lying in wait for us that thumpered off just when were right next to it! Made me jump for sure - Ruth was like ehhh...
Then a short drive through an indigenous Mayan community named Chamula. No photos allowed here and we certainly respect that. We reached the summit of the hills and caught some great mountain views and pics. The indigenous people had these small shrines that looked like mini churches here and there and all were in pristine shape and all had big displays of lit candles inside that you could only catch a glimpse of from the road. Our understanding is `from the road' is as close as you should get...
Finally, after the grueling mountain hike (especially after sitting on our arses in a truck for a week) it was time for a trek through town to procure some refreshments. I was lucky or smart - I just had beer on my mind. Poor Ruth was in search of a Margarita only to be found in Mexico. Well, she tried a couple and in our opinion you would`nt find one like these back home. She switched to beer...
Almost last thing to mention is that if you ever are in San Cristobal Chiapas eat dinner at Hotel Tierra y Cielo and order the Mole Coleto. It was absolute heaven on my tongue...
We are getting kind of wound up because tomorrow is our last entire day in Mexico and the following morning it is off to the border to transfer title of Old Red. Time is running out... Not only for me and my 19 years of driving this motorized amigo, but also for you to help our cause in bringing the medical treatments to the much less fortunate than us, the kind folks of Jalapa Guatemala. I will keep saying thanks again and again to those who have already given and I look forward to saying THANKS to those that are going to give. I will make it easy: www.lampcharity.org/donate and you can make your tax-deductible donation online.
Tomorrow off to Tapachula Chiapas, right next door to our beloved Guatemala...
ps, typed on a Spanish keyboard so please to forgive mistakes
Saludos!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Day 9 - no internet access
We will post in the morning cuz the doggone trackwheel on my blackberry is as usual operative in selective directions only. We will find an internet cafe. But all is well and we have now driven 3573 miles.
Friday, December 4, 2009
8 Days Later...
After spending a very welcome quiet and restful night in Xalapa Mexico, I got to spend my morning on a conference call (yes I still have a job) while Ruth did some sightseeng in the old part of town. Apparently she had a lot more fun that I did. Good thing about this was that we had a very short day in Old Red (still chugging along), only about an hour and a half behind the windshield. Wound up in Veracruz which is a port city and at first appearance looked pretty dead. Dropped off laundry a few blocks away which reinforced what we thought of the town.
Our hotel is right on the main plaza and being Friday night and all we soon discovered that there is some life here after all. Towards nightfall the vendors and restaurants started setting up in earnest and before you know the place was getting pretty lively. Turns out there was some sort of traditional dance exhibition going on this evening which was absolutely jaw-dropping. See the video for a minor taste of what we experienced. The sound of the tapping shoes was thundering - the video can't capture that. The men so handsome and the girls so pretty, and a powerful and abnormally cool tropical wind a-blowing to keep their sweat down; what a sight, always in memory.
We also were inundated by street vendors seeng as how it must be low season for Gringos down here, but it sure keeps things lively. And of course we were hit up by the cutest 8 year-old girl who was quite the charmer - got some pesos out of me after I learned her accounting abilities. This girl could count and charm and knew when to say no - I think she has a future in the banking industry.
We got gas and the guy washed our windshield. Made a big difference...
Tomorrow we pick up our laundry and head off to San Cristobal de las Casas, which is a long way away so it's good we have a clean windshield. This historical city is in the mountains of Chiapas and looks like a good place to hang out so we are going to really push it and actually stay in a hotel for two nights in a row. Seems only right after doing laundry!
The donations keep coming in, thanks to those who have shared their wallets with those who so need it. You are the ones that keep us inpired and motivated - this has not been easy or exactly fun! Tonight was actually the first time we got to experience something that tourists go to do, and boy was it welcome! So please help keep us motivated, and keep yourself happy be going to www.lampcharity.org/donate and make your contribution now if you haven't so generaously already done so.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Day 7 - Finally Made it to Jalapa!
Well, on the Mexico map it's Jalapa, but on all the road signs here it is more accurately spelled Xalapa (pronounced the same as Jalapa). So now it's our second day in Mexico, and our opinion of the roads here changed dramatically today. Drove just over 300 miles and it took over 10 hours! Trucks, potholes, road construction, trucks (really long ones hauling two 40 foot trailers each), truck accidents, speed bumps, trucks going r-e-a-l-l-l-y slow over speed bumps, well you get the message. So you can understand why we needed to stop for a beer break after 6 hours on the road (not to mention the view was great).
The scenery was quite beautiful and would have been even better if the weather was not lousy (cloudy, drizzly). It looks a lot like the highland parts of Guatemala, very green and forested with trees like Ceibas.
I forgot to mention that last night we were in Tampico. That was not an exciting city to spend the night but when you get to your destination after 7 each night you don't have time to get exceited. Tonight we got into Xalapa about 8 pm, and GPS Ginnie kind of by accident actually got us to drive by our hotel, which is in the center of Xalapa. Problem is this city is old, has very narrow streets, no parking and LOTS of traffic. Went by the hotel the first time after barely noticing it, and nowhere to park. Can't exactly go around the block here since it is very up and down and mostly (non-posted) one way streets. So we spent two more go-arounds the center of the city before we finally found a place to stash Old Red and check in to the hotel. What's another 45 minutes of sitting in absolute bumper to bumper traffic after 10 hours on really bumpy roads? I am beat...
The city here (at least what we can see in the drizzly night) looks very interesting and historic. Tomorrow we'll get some pics and post them.
Oh, and we only got pulled over once for a papers check...
Looking for an easy Christmas gift for someone hard to buy for? Donate to www.lampcharity.org/donate in lieu of buying something that probably will be regifted and you will make yourself and your recipient feel good, and you just may help save a life in Guatemala.
Tomorrow off to Vera Cruz...
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Dia 6 - En Mexico!
Well, almost in Mexico... We kind of screwed up this morning. Asked the gal at the hotel what time we should croos the border; she said EARLY. So there we were going over the Rio Grande at 6:30 this morning - very light traffic, paid the toll to cross, hit the Mexiacan side and no one asked us to to stop so on we went, pleased as punch. Much to our chagrin, about an hour later we go stopped at a customs inspection station on the road to Tampico and the gentlemen their asked for our papers. What papers, we asked of him. Like, for your vehicle and your person. Of course we had none so he says you gotta go back to the bridge, which means back to the border. Turns us around and back we go to the border, only to have to pay the bridge toll again and reenter the US only to get inspected by the agents because we told the we had some pears we had picked up at the hotel for breakfast. Then back to the bridge only to pay the toll yet again and then taking about an hour and change to get our papers in order. Next time a little more investigation instead of jujst asking somebody...
So back on the road around 10 am in earnest. Very flat and agricultural in the beginning but the scenery changed to something I am more familiar with. Good thing was the roads were in great condition and faster than we expected. Out rip today was somewhat over 300 miles and the Internet said it would take about 9 hours! Well, we made it after our morning delay in about 6 hours - apparently speed limits here are merely suggestions, and noone seems to take the hint. Oh, and you need to learn how to drive on their roads quickly or you won't survive - luckily they build their roads basically three lanes wide so as to accomodate the constant passing that goes on.
We hit a long stretch that is just like an area near Jalapa - about 30 miles away named Jutiapa. Semi-arid in the dry season but quite nice this time of year. We also saw an area that hosted a number of palm trees, and one valley that had so many I swear it was a palm forest. Quite incredible and something we have never seen before.
The weather was fantastic today with long clear vistas this afternoon and a beautiful full moon this morning. Not a bad way to spend a day until... Twice we got pulled over by the cops at check points to have our papers checked. Mostly they want to make sure the vehicle isn't stolen. like we're gonna steal a 19 year old truck and drive it to Mexico... Ruth got a great video of one of these cops saying she was taking his picture because he was so 'guapo' (handsome). I am going to try and post it tonight but the internet connection is pretty slow here...
Pictures are of the last time Old Red was in the US this morning while warming up and some of the great wide open landscape of this part of Mexico...
Tomorrow off to... well we'll let you know then. Meantime, if you haven't donated yet please go to www.lampcharity.org/donate and make whatever donation you can for the folks in Jalapa. And for those of you that have donated, THANKS and spread the word to those that need to! Also, we are greatly encouraged having you log on as a follower, we want to have it as full as possible even for those who peek in.
Saludos, Don and Ruth
p.s. and isn't the Internet cool?!?!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Day 5 - An even longer one
So we finally made it to the the Brownsville Texas/Matamoros Mexico border after a 600 mile drive. Total so far 2,374 miles and Old Red is chugging along without a hitch. Checked the oil again today and again none gone! Long, yucky day with rain the whole time (see photo). Tomorrow the real adventure starts as we head into Mexico. First day we go to Tampico on the gulf coast. Got about a 300 mile drive but the internet says it will take about 9 hours. Another sore butt day...
Donations are rolling in and we hope they increase a lot more! If you haven't donated yet, please take a few minutes and go to lampcharity.org/donate and do so now. It's quick and easy. If you already have, hurray for you and for LAMP and especially the people of Guatemala! Remember, all donations are tax deductible.
I know the pictures as of late have been rather meager, but I promise they will get better and we will have more of them.
Thanks for following our blog and please pass the word along...
Monday, November 30, 2009
Day 4 - A long one
First, thanks for checking my blog. Second, if you haven't been to my blog yet check out the first post as it explains what we are doing here for a terrific charity.
No pictures today since there was nothing to take a picture of! Just a long day in the high desert of New Mexico and north Texas. More than 400 miles recorded without a hitch. We wound up in Fort Stockton TX which is in the middle of nowhere, and tomorrow it is a 600+ mile drive to Brownsville TX, on the Mexican border. Got our Mexican insurance all lined up and also arranged a meeting on the Mexico/Guatemala border to transfer title to the truck when we enter Guatemala. Right now it is sleeting outside and we may get some snow overnight. Kind of tired of the cold (14F in Taos this morning) so hitting the border will be a pleasant change.
Hope all of you are well and your holiday planning is going smoothly. Please take the time now to go to www.lampcharity.org/donate and make your donation to this worthy group if you haven't already done so, and again thanks to those of you who have.
Best to all...
No pictures today since there was nothing to take a picture of! Just a long day in the high desert of New Mexico and north Texas. More than 400 miles recorded without a hitch. We wound up in Fort Stockton TX which is in the middle of nowhere, and tomorrow it is a 600+ mile drive to Brownsville TX, on the Mexican border. Got our Mexican insurance all lined up and also arranged a meeting on the Mexico/Guatemala border to transfer title to the truck when we enter Guatemala. Right now it is sleeting outside and we may get some snow overnight. Kind of tired of the cold (14F in Taos this morning) so hitting the border will be a pleasant change.
Hope all of you are well and your holiday planning is going smoothly. Please take the time now to go to www.lampcharity.org/donate and make your donation to this worthy group if you haven't already done so, and again thanks to those of you who have.
Best to all...
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Third Day
I sure hope everyone had a great Thanskiving Holiday. Let's not forget what giving thanks is all about...
As for our journey on the third day: Wow! Checked the oil first thing this morning and not a drop gone! We may just make it! Got to Taos New Mexico today (another 400 +/- miles) going over the Continental Divide (almost 8,000 feet) via Monument Valley - some awesome sights plus a bit more snow than yesterday. Dropped off the hutch that we were lugging along safe and sound at my buddy Bob's house (it looks awesome!). Next two days will be brutal - going all the way to Brownsville Texas in just two days (about 1100 miles).
I want to thank ALL of you who have donated already most sincerely for your generous contributions. This means so much to the people of Jalapa, who honestly need the money more than we do. I spoke with one of the founders of LAMP this evening and apparently they suffered a severe drought in Jalapa this year so they need your donations even more desperately than before. Please spread the word to your friends and coworkers about this needy cause! Think about making a donation in a friend's or family member's name instead of sweating over what to give them for Christmas. It will make both you and your loved one feel that much better! Here's how to donate: www.lampcharity.org/donate
From COLD but pretty Taos, Don and Ruth, sore butts and all
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Day 2
429 miles today: Las Vegas to Kayenta, AZ, which is in the heart of the Navajo nation. Lots of scenery of the desert southwest, and a bit of weather as well - got some snow near the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Tomorrow we head to Taos with another snowstorm forecast, and of course we have no chains. But it's flat out here, right? Old Red chugging along nicely, still cruising at 75 when the sign says it's ok...
Friday, November 27, 2009
First day done! Started with 359,506 miles on the odometer, and went 485 miles today. Old Red ran like a champ... First stop was the mailbox to send out property tax bill, second stop was fifty feet later to snag out an oak branch we picked up at the mailbox. Got kinda lost and wound up in Las Vegas. Our journey took us on a dirt road this morning - my choice and I believe quite appropriate considering Old Red's history. We also wound up with some extra baggage - we're hauling a hutch that was made in Mexico to my buddy Bob's house in Taos. That's a couple of days away and snow is in the forecast. Tomorrow off to ??? We'll let you know then.
Cheers for now...
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Only a couple of days to go now before we leave. I want to say THANK YOU to all of you who have so generously donated so far. The response has been tremendous! I thought I was nuts for doing this but we work in such a fantastic industry I just knew you all would support this crazy effort. Just to let you know, I will miss Old Red tremendously. I NEED a truck so will have to buy one when we get back. Two weekends ago I hauled my last load of firewood, and just yesterday hauled a tractor in the back of Old Red for a couple hundred miles. Darn thing just keeps chugging along.
Couple of things to mention: first, Goldsmith Seeds isn't the only flower seed company that has a farm in Jalapa. Pan American Seed has a farm at the other end of town where they produce seed and cuttings. Second, Rick Brown of Riverview Farms actually posted my story on his website! Check it out at
http://floridafriendlyplants.com/Blog/post/2009/11/24/Support-Health-Care-in-Guatemala.aspx
What a generous group you all are. I'll check back in Friday after the fist day on the road (Aromas CA to Henderson NV).
Couple of things to mention: first, Goldsmith Seeds isn't the only flower seed company that has a farm in Jalapa. Pan American Seed has a farm at the other end of town where they produce seed and cuttings. Second, Rick Brown of Riverview Farms actually posted my story on his website! Check it out at
http://floridafriendlyplants.com/Blog/post/2009/11/24/Support-Health-Care-in-Guatemala.aspx
What a generous group you all are. I'll check back in Friday after the fist day on the road (Aromas CA to Henderson NV).
Monday, November 16, 2009
Well, it's only a week and a half before we leave. I had a chance to load Old Red up with firewood over the weekend - the last of hundreds over the years...
I've got a couple of questions for anyone interested. First, any suggestions on places of interest or which route we should take? We're going to have to take a more southern route to avoid snow chances I would imagine. I do plan on entering Mexico at Brownsville, so if anyone has driven through Mexico along the Gulf Coast any helpful hints would be most appreciated. Second, any suggestions on what I should do to Old Red to prepare for the journey? Darn thing runs just fine so I am leaning towards just an oil change. Seems to me that if I did something like change the transmission oil I might jinx the thing...
Don
I've got a couple of questions for anyone interested. First, any suggestions on places of interest or which route we should take? We're going to have to take a more southern route to avoid snow chances I would imagine. I do plan on entering Mexico at Brownsville, so if anyone has driven through Mexico along the Gulf Coast any helpful hints would be most appreciated. Second, any suggestions on what I should do to Old Red to prepare for the journey? Darn thing runs just fine so I am leaning towards just an oil change. Seems to me that if I did something like change the transmission oil I might jinx the thing...
Don
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Dear Fellow Flower Lover,
It’s finally time for me to get rid of Old Red, my ancient Toyota pickup. Many of you know of Old Red, having given me a hard time at Pack Trials over the years, asking ‘When are you going to dump that piece of junk (I am paraphrasing here)?’ I’ve had Old Red for over 19 years now, having bought it the week before I started working for Goldsmith Seeds. The darn thing now has over 357,000 miles and has only let me down once, just a couple of months ago while camping in Northern California. Wound up replacing the fuel pump in a campground. I’ve only changed the clutch once, and have never had to monkey around with the engine or transmission. The rascal doesn’t hardly even burn oil! So over the years I have become perhaps a little too attached to this truck. ..
Not too far in the past, I thought I would just drive this thing until it either blew up or got wrecked (no worries about it getting stolen). However, one restless night a couple of months ago, I had an inspiration: why not get more out of Old Red than the junk yard would give me, like using Old Red to help raise funds for a needy charity! But what charity, and how could I use it to raise funds? With my personal history I decided to find a needy organization that helps Guatemala. Our industry really benefits from the fantastic work in seed and cutting production that is performed in Central America, so why not try to give something back to them? So I Googled “charities Jalapa Guatemala” (Jalapa is the town where we used to do geranium cutting production and still produce seeds) and lo and behold, I found a group named Latin American Medical Providers (LAMP). This is a group of wonderful volunteer doctors that makes an annual pilgrimage to Jalapa to provide free medical and dental care to the residents of the town and surrounding villages. After speaking with the founders, I decided to actually drive Old Red from Gilroy to Jalapa in order to raise funds for this charity. And no I am not going to drive it back; there is an orphanage in town that I am going to donate Old Red to.
My wife (yes, my wife Ruth is going as well) and I are leaving on this odyssey the day after Thanksgiving, and expect to arrive in Jalapa around the 11th of December. We’ll be doing a blog along the way (insert link here) so you can keep track of our progress and perhaps have a chance to wish us all the best if Old Red breaks down or whatever.
Please join me in helping: I am asking you (and anyone you can convince) to help fund the LAMP doctors so they can keep helping the needy residents of Jalapa. I think it is the least we, as an industry, can do for the folks in Central America since they do so much that benefits us. I think if my wife and I can drive the more than 3500 miles to Jalapa then you can pony up a few bucks in order to support these selfless doctors. I suggest a donation of 2 cents per mile, or $70.00, but of course you can donate whatever you like. And, all donations are tax deductible. Please go to their website at www.lampcharity.org/donate and make your donation now. And please spend some time checking out their site so you can see all the wonderful things they do. There’s a very inspirational video there that may just inspire you to donate even more!
Thanks from the bottom of my heart in advance for your generous donation. I have personally travelled to Guatemala over 60 times and have found that the Guatemaltecos are some of the kindest, hardest working and most generous people I know, and I can proudly say that many of them are some of my best friends. I also know that without them and other Central Americans, we would not as an industry have the quantity or quality of flower seeds and cuttings that are available to us now, so it wouldn’t hurt to give back a little to such wonderful people.
-Don Snow
It’s finally time for me to get rid of Old Red, my ancient Toyota pickup. Many of you know of Old Red, having given me a hard time at Pack Trials over the years, asking ‘When are you going to dump that piece of junk (I am paraphrasing here)?’ I’ve had Old Red for over 19 years now, having bought it the week before I started working for Goldsmith Seeds. The darn thing now has over 357,000 miles and has only let me down once, just a couple of months ago while camping in Northern California. Wound up replacing the fuel pump in a campground. I’ve only changed the clutch once, and have never had to monkey around with the engine or transmission. The rascal doesn’t hardly even burn oil! So over the years I have become perhaps a little too attached to this truck. ..
Not too far in the past, I thought I would just drive this thing until it either blew up or got wrecked (no worries about it getting stolen). However, one restless night a couple of months ago, I had an inspiration: why not get more out of Old Red than the junk yard would give me, like using Old Red to help raise funds for a needy charity! But what charity, and how could I use it to raise funds? With my personal history I decided to find a needy organization that helps Guatemala. Our industry really benefits from the fantastic work in seed and cutting production that is performed in Central America, so why not try to give something back to them? So I Googled “charities Jalapa Guatemala” (Jalapa is the town where we used to do geranium cutting production and still produce seeds) and lo and behold, I found a group named Latin American Medical Providers (LAMP). This is a group of wonderful volunteer doctors that makes an annual pilgrimage to Jalapa to provide free medical and dental care to the residents of the town and surrounding villages. After speaking with the founders, I decided to actually drive Old Red from Gilroy to Jalapa in order to raise funds for this charity. And no I am not going to drive it back; there is an orphanage in town that I am going to donate Old Red to.
My wife (yes, my wife Ruth is going as well) and I are leaving on this odyssey the day after Thanksgiving, and expect to arrive in Jalapa around the 11th of December. We’ll be doing a blog along the way (insert link here) so you can keep track of our progress and perhaps have a chance to wish us all the best if Old Red breaks down or whatever.
Please join me in helping: I am asking you (and anyone you can convince) to help fund the LAMP doctors so they can keep helping the needy residents of Jalapa. I think it is the least we, as an industry, can do for the folks in Central America since they do so much that benefits us. I think if my wife and I can drive the more than 3500 miles to Jalapa then you can pony up a few bucks in order to support these selfless doctors. I suggest a donation of 2 cents per mile, or $70.00, but of course you can donate whatever you like. And, all donations are tax deductible. Please go to their website at www.lampcharity.org/donate and make your donation now. And please spend some time checking out their site so you can see all the wonderful things they do. There’s a very inspirational video there that may just inspire you to donate even more!
Thanks from the bottom of my heart in advance for your generous donation. I have personally travelled to Guatemala over 60 times and have found that the Guatemaltecos are some of the kindest, hardest working and most generous people I know, and I can proudly say that many of them are some of my best friends. I also know that without them and other Central Americans, we would not as an industry have the quantity or quality of flower seeds and cuttings that are available to us now, so it wouldn’t hurt to give back a little to such wonderful people.
-Don Snow
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