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.

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.

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...

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?!?!

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...

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...

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