G’day, eh. Welcome to my blog. I’m the author of the Corps of Discovery series (not the ghost author), so if you enjoy speculative fiction, you’ve come to the right place. Never having blogged, this should be interesting. I don’t post much, or often, but I’ll occasionally throw something out there, so stay tuned.
Cute photo below. I think it reflects the second book, Trekker.
I managed to make it out of Escondido and into Mexico, passing through the Tecate Border. Fairly fast (just needed to get a visa – which I thought I already when I got my Temporary Import Permit for the Himi). Nobody even looked at the Himi. Oh, well.
Of course, Verizon stopped working once I got to the border. It took me a while to figure out how to get it back – restart the phone (thanks, Wife, for that tip). Once I got things up and running, I started heading south.
I ran into a group of Mexican ADV riders at a gas station. One of them had ridden to Ushuaia (my destination) on a little 90cc Honda. Man, that takes some cojones! It’ll make it, but forget about carrying anything.
Spent the night in San Filepe, which turns out to be quite the party town on Saturday. At 5:00 AM, I gave up trying to sleep, packed up, and headed south.
Here’s a tip for traveling in Baja – check Google Maps for gas station locations. I left San Felipe with a full tank of gas, expecting to fuel up at where a gas station would logically be located – the intersection of two major highways. Nope. No gas. Nothing in site. As I rode, I spied a sign indicating the next gas was 140 kilometers away. I looked down at my fuel gage and realized I had about 80 km of fuel left. Another 750 ml in my stove fuel can would give me, maybe, 10-20 km. That was short, by about 40km. Oops.
Luckily, I found a guy selling fuel on the side of the road and got enough to make it to the gas station. Fueled up, had a tamale and a burrito (neither were like anything I had had before – not bad, just different), then was on my way (this time with fuel in my tank, stove fuel can, and a collapsible bladder).
When I pulled into a small town with a five-word name (Villa Aberto Andres Alvarado Amburo), I turned the bike off to drink some water. Went to start it – no joy. Thought it was vapor lock, which required putting the bike in shade to allow it to cool off – something difficult to do when the temperature in the shade is over 101F. Finally got it started and went to a cheap motel nearby (hey, it had a good shower and AC).
Next morning, took me a while to get it started. Made my way to San Ignacio, where I intended to weather out Hurricane Polo, which is bearing down on the Baja Peninsula, arriving today.
I accidentally stalled the bike (hit the stupid kill switch as I was turning) and couldn’t get it started. Had it towed to a mechanic’s shop (with me riding – no fun).
As far as I can determine, it’s one of three things: a fuse (not likely), relay switches (likely) or a fuel pump (also, likely). If it’s a fuse, no sweat – just change it out. If it’s the relay switches, cleaning them may work. Otherwise, we’ll need new ones (not sure if we can get any, but they’r Bosch, which is everywhere). If it’s the fuel pump, I’m screwed. I would have to order it from …drumroll…. Hitchcock Motorcycles in the UK. Another 3-5 day wait (likely 7). Either way, I’m here for the next three nights staying at a little hotel called “Rice and Beans” (really, that’s it’s name. Not Arroz y Frijoles, but the actual English version). It has AC, great shower, a restaurant, bar, and a pool. Right now I’m in the restaurant sucking down a Model0% Negra (alcohol free Modelo Negra).
Oh, well. I could be working…
I finally figured out the video editing software (VSDC Video Editor) and got my first video put together. It goes live on YouTube at midnight (9/26/26) at https://youtu.be/g50PigTykYQ.
One helluva learning curve. First I had to figure out how to properly use the camera. Unfortunately, I didn’t learn fast enough, because I wound up not recording something I had really wanted to record – my tour through downtown Enumclaw.
For the most part, the trip down to California from Enumclaw wasn’t (IMNSHO) videoworthy. It wasn’t until I got into the Sierra Nevada that the scenery and roads became worthy of video recording. Unfortunately, Yosemite was smoked in, so I didn’t bother taking video there. Bad visuals, bad lighting, and bad visibility.
The video editing software was also another big learning curve. It doesn’t help that my computer is an Asus Mini-Transformer without a lot of power. Editing was a challenge when the video wouldn’t run smoothly. I’m used to video editing on my PC at home using Davince Resolve, so using VSDC Video Editor (a free program that actually works on my laptop) was something different.
I eventually got the video edited, but then took me forever to figure out how to transform it into a MP4 formatted video for uploaded. But, now that I’ve figured out both the editing and exporting, things should move smoother now.
I’m still stuck in Escondido, CA, but the parts have arrived in town and are on a delivery vehicle as I type this. I hope to be out of here and into Mexico today, but if the part doesn’t arrive soon, I won’t be leaving until tomorrow morning.
Well, here I am, 9 days into the Great Pan-American Adventure, and I’m stranded in Escondido, CA.
On the way south, the Himi started making a chunking/clunking sound. Discretion being the better part of valor, I elected to hold off crossing into Mexico until after I had it looked at. I thought it was possibly the chain. WRONG! It turns out it was a little thing in the rear tire called the rubber cush drive (rubber cushion drive). It’s something that absorbs the shock from the engine being transmitted into the drive chain and sockets. If it goes bad, bad things happen. It went bad.
And wouldn’t you know it, there was a single rubber cushion ANYWHERE in the US. Not even at the distributors. So, fortunately, Hitchcock Motorcycles in the UK had some in stock, so the parts guy ordered them yesterday. Today it’s at Heathrow Airport, in London, about to board a flight. It should arrive here by Close of Business on Friday. If that’s the case, then the shop can install them Saturday morning and I’ll be in Mexio by late afternoon.
Of course, this has disrupted my schedule a bit. So far the Baja Ferry people have responded, as has the AirBnB host (both want updates, ASAP, as you can imagine), but nothing from the SCUBA people yet.
To update you on the ride, I made it from Enumclaw to Corvallis in one, long day, crossing the Mighty Columbia River at Astoria (you can barely make out the bridge in the photo below).
Then from Corvallis to Eugene for new tires, and then Elk Praire Campground in northern California’s Redwoods National and State Parks.
Day three got me to Lassen Volcanic National Park – truly beautiful, but cold and damp (I had arrived just after a major hail/thunderstorm).
The next day I intended to ride to Yosemite taking California Highway 89. It was going to be a long drive and I was worried about arriving in the dark, so when Google Maps said “I’ve got a faster route for you,” I said “sure.” Big mistake. Huge. GM put me into the Central Valley (not where I wanted to be) running through the towns of Roseburg and Folsom. I think I hit 100 traffic signals, of which 96 were red. I’m not exaggerating. By the time I got through the towns, my front brake was so hot from constantly stopping it felt like it was going to lock up! No bueno. Plus, it was hot. Nothing like riding in 90+ temps in full motorcycle gear (helmet, armored jacket and pants, and boots). Ugh.
Anyhow, pulled into Yosemite at dusk, and found my tent site was one of the furthest from the parking lot. Oh, joy. Lugging 85 pound of gear in two panniers, a duffle bag, two over-pannier bags, a tank bag, sleeping pad, and chair is not fun. Especially when it’s getting dark (and I still had to set up camp).
Finally, I got set up, ate some dehydrated crap that I’ve had lying around for at least 13 years (How do I know? because it was beef stew – I stopped eating red meat in 2013), then discoverd that a can of chicken had exploded in one of my pannier bags when I dropped the bike on a soft shoulder (had pulled over to do something and the Himi decided it was time for a nap). Spent more time cleaning the waterproof pannier bag and everything in it (all of it covered in canned chicken juice – all this while in bear country).
Anyhow, woke up hoping to get some great photos. Was greeted with smoke from forest fires. No great views. As a matter of fact, hardly any views :-(. So, off to do laundry and get a shower, then I spent the rest of the day riding. Made it to Sequoia National Park, hoping to see the General Sherman tree. Unfortunately, it was a half mile from the parking lot to the tree with 700′ of elevation change. Not something I was about to do in my riding togs, all while the bike and everything on it was unattended. Maybe next year.
Spent a night in a hotel in Visalia, instead of in a campground at Lake Isabella as I had intended. More money gone :-(.
The next day I made it to Greg Sorber’s house. Greg is a Science Fiction writer who is also a member of the Pink Flamingo Universe. He writes mechtech (think transformers in space – his website is www.gregerationx.com, so check it out.
I met his wife, we chatted, had some wine, then went out for Indian food. After dinner we drank more wine and chatted more, and I got to meet their youngest son. Then I slept the sleep of a zombie.
The next morning I got to meet their eldest son, then got on the road to Portrero, my (supposed) final stop in the US before crossing the border. Alas, the chunking sound kicked up again, so instead of crossing into Mexico the following morning, I made my way to Escondido where Quentin (the service manager) informed me that the problem wasn’t just the chain, but the rubber cushions. Thus began a nationwide hunt for the offending parts. It was only after we had exhuasted every avenue that Myles, the parts guy, ordered the parts from Hitchcock Motorcycles in the UK.
So, that’s my story, and I’m sticking with it.
Meanwhile, here I sit in Escondido, typing on my blog, working on Endure, and trying to learn this new video editing software for my Writer on the Road YouTube Channel.
I also had some good coffee while waiting to hear about the Himi.
Adventure (noun): Somebody in deep shit in a faraway land.
The Great Pan-American Adventure (GP-AA) starts tomorrow. I’m pretty much packed, just awaiting one last item from Amazon (a ball mount – pulling the GPS mount turned out to be too much of a hassle, so I’m just going to mount it out of the way behind the MotorTablet).
The plan is to leave Enumclaw (after the obligatory donut shop stop) around 7:30 AM. Going to be a long ride to Corvallis, as I’m taking the scenic route across the Columbia River at Astoria.
Be sure to follow the journey on YouTube at Writer on the Road (you know the drill; like and subscribe), and on Facebook on my author homepage.
While I’m traveling, I’ll be motovlogging (motorcycle video blogging) and writing. The main writing focus will be on Endure, the story about Janice Goodland, followed by Reset, the second book in The Hayek Chronicles series.
After leaving Corvallis, I’ll be at the Willamette Valley Motoplex at 9:00 AM to get new tires, then back to the Oregon coast to Elk Prairie Campground.
Once again, if you’d like to connect while I’m on the road, don’t hesitate. Reach out through this site or post something on my Facebook page. Please do NOT message me through Facebook Messenger. I do not, nor will I ever, have the Facebook Messenger app.
Hard to believe I’ll be starting the Great Pan-American Adventure in three short days. Still a few things to be done, such as finalize the packing, remove my Garmin GPS mount and replace it with my MotoTablet (I won’t be needing the Garmin’s GPS track ability for this trip, unlike the Trans-America Trail, where it was essential).
Had the Himi go through a pre-trip safety inspection at the Royal Enfield dealer in Lacey, WA – Northwest Royal Enfield (also known as Northwest Harley Davidson). Inspection found that the tires needed changing, but otherwise, good to go. I like that they did the job quickly (despite me being almost 40 minutes late due to a variety of factors) and didn’t try to upsell me anything. Added bonus – they washed the bike! Good folk.
Of course, due to the unique size of the tires, they didn’t have any (nor did the RE dealer in Seattle). Fortunately, a RE dealer in Eugene, OR has some, so I’ll be stopping there on Wednesday to get the new tires installed. If you’re around and want to connect for coffee, let me know.
While the Himi was being worked on, I met with author/novelist (and my personal mentor as a newly frocked Certified Fraud Examiner) Ken Wilson and we had brunch at this nice little restaurant called Pat’s Cafe in Lacey. Another place I recommend. It’s an all breakfast place (open until 2 PM). If you’re into thrillers, Ken has a couple out (one based on one of his own investigations).
I started the serious packing for the Great Pan-American Adventure (GPA). Actually, I started the whole about a year ago when I determined I was going to make this trip. As with any trip, I begin with a spreadsheet (yes, I’m a geek in that way – too many years using spreadsheets for financial investigations to give them up).
Looking at my list, I have a LOT of stuff! According to my spreadsheet, it adds up to a total of 330 items (not including the stuff in my trauma kit). A lot of it is really little (or nitnoi as I like to say – the Thai word for little) stuff, like credit cards, motorcycle registration, etc. The amazing thing is, I’m able to fit it all in two panniers (saddlebags), a 40 liter duffle bag, two crash-bar bags, a tank bag, and a small backpack.
As I’ll be moto-camping a lot (my preferred method of lodging while Adventure Riding), I’ve got all the accoutrements for camping, which basically doubles the amount of weight I carry (total equipment weight is around 60 pounds).
One of the hardest things in planning (which also adds to the equipment list, and therefore the additional weight) for this trip is that I have to take into consideration a multitude of climates, from temperate to tropical to alpine. I’ll be camping from sea level (Baja California) up to 12,000 feet (Peru, Chile, and Argentina) and from the Equator (0 degrees latitude) to Ushuaia, Argentina (54 degrees South). That means I need various sleep systems. I’ve got two sleeping bags, one rated for zero degrees Fahrenheit (which I use during the summer here in Washington State), and the other rated for 50 degrees. I also carry two sleeping pads; one inflatable and one a smaller foam accordion style (I discovered on my Great American Adventure (GAA) back in 2022 that inflatable pads have a tendency to deflate at the most inopportune times, like, while sleeping in Montana).
My tent is a nice two-person tent. I used a one-person tent on the GAA, but discovered I couldn’t bring all my gear into the tent for securing it. I wasn’t to happy about that, so I upgraded to a two-person tent for the GPA. My trial run with it to the TouraTech Rally in June proved that it works for me. Added weight, but well worth it.
Clothing is also varied. My motorcycle gear (All The Gear All The Time) comes in at another 20 pounds (helmet, jacket, pants, boots, gloves). My jacket and pants also come with detachable insulated and rain layers.
I’ve got mostly Merino wool uppers (t-shirts, Polo shirt, hoodie) along with a quick-dry jersey and fishing shirt (for wearing under my riding jacket), a couple of pairs of quick-dry pants, a pair of riding shorts, a pair of quick-dry cargo shorts (for walking around in the tropics), and a swimsuit. I debated the swimsuit, but decided to bring it because I’ll be traveling the length of the Baja Peninsula and taking SCUBA lessons in La Paz. I also have a Tilley hat.
Cold weather attire includes a silk base layer, an additional long-sleeve Merino wool upper, wool fingerless gloves, a puffy jacket, and a Merino wool balaclava (helps under the helmet when cold).
Socks and underwear – well, let’s just say I don’t plan on doing laundry every day as I did on the GAA or when I walked the Camino de Santiago.
I’ll save the rest of the equipment list for a later post. I’ll also be posting about this on my forthcoming YouTube channel, Writer on the Road (to be linked soon).
Now, it’s time to walk the puppers (2.5 miles in a forest on our little mountain) then spend some time logging and salmon fishing (in the rain – ah, the joys of living in the PNW).
If you’ve never heard of the Pan-American Highway, that’s understandable. Most people have never heard of it. Unfortunately, I did when I was younger, and it’s never left my imagination.
So, what is the Pan-American Highway, or PAH? It’s the route between the Arctic Ocean (in Alaska) to the Beagle Channel (in Argentina), with a slight break between Panama and Colombia (the Darian Gap). You can see the official route from the map taken from MapNations.com (credit to them). Overall, it’s about 19,000 miles.
I start my trip from the Greater Enumclaw Metropolitan Area in mid-September and head south to the small town of Ushuaia, Argentina. I’ll be riding my 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan (the one I rode on the Trans-America Trail in 2022) and camping/hosteling/moteling along the way. I’ll also have a chance to connect with fellow Pink Flamingo Universe author Greg Sorber in Riverside, CA.
How long will the ride be? Unsure. I won’t be taking the “official” route, which in the overlanding community, is really more of a suggestion. My route will take me down the Oregon Coast, inland to the Sierra Nevada, then south through Baja California (where I’ll take SCUBA lessons). From there, I’ll check out a couple of Aztec and Mayan Heritage sites, then shoot straight to Panama City, Panama, where I’ll load the bike on a plane and fly to Bogotá, Colombia. From there, it’s a long journey along the western slope of the Andes, with stops along the way.
Planning for an epic journey of this magnitude requires a bit of planning (and financing). Most people only think of the equipment they need (my list is over 300 items!), but you also have to think of health concerns (travel insurance, vaccinations, prophylactic medicines, etc.), border crossings, and what you can or cannot bring into a country.
Over the next several days I’ll be outlining these things, along with videotaping and posting on my YouTube channel – Writer on the Road. I’ll try to post on the road – blog and video (but not sure just how that’ll go) Be sure to follow.
If you read Rescue and decided you’d like to own your own flitter, you can now buy one on Temu. The only problem is that it only carries one person and doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that the Maeda’s flitter has.
250 years ago, a group of men sat down, and with concurrence from their respective Continental Congress legislators (except New York), issued a Declaration of Independence from the British Empire. Battles ensued, people died, fortunes were lost. All of this happened so that they, and future generations, could live free of capricious rule of monarchs.
As a dependent of a US government employee stationed overseas for most of my growing-up years, one of the things I cherished was celebrating Independence Day at the US Embassy (Liberia, Laos, and Thailand).
I had hoped to experience the bicentennial in all it’s glory, but alas, that was not meant to be. As a 14-year-old, I didn’t have a driver’s license or access to a car, and for some reason, my parents left me home to mow the lawn while they went out to celebrate (Seriously? WTH?). I thought about that yesterday as I looked at my damp lawn and thought to myself, This needs mowing. I thought I would wait a day, and hopefully it would dry. But then I realized, the following day would be Independence Day, our country’s 250th Birthday. No way in hell would I spend it mowing. So, yesterday, I spent time slipping and sliding around my wet, sloped lawn, mowing.
Today, I’ll spend it celebrating. Enumclaw has a parade at noon. I’ll be going. Later, we’ll be hosting some dear friends (one of who owns a bookstore in Sumner, WA – visit it and spend money!) for a salmon bake. Then, I’ll likely head back into town and drive around, watching the illegal (again, WTH) fireworks being shot off all over the place (Enumclaw is near the Muckleshoot Reservation – guess what they sell during holidays traditionally celebrated with fireworks?).
I might even spend some time working on Reset. Actually, I likely will. If nothing else, a main theme of my books is liberty in the Heinlein and H. Beam Piper tradition (guess which two authors had a huge impact on my political perspective).
Like George Carlin, I don’t say I’m “proud” to be an American, because that implies I did something to earn it. I didn’t. I won the lottery of life when I was born an American. I am grateful to be an American. I am happy to be an American, and I unabashedly love my country (but hate the politicians – something I guess I learned from Samuel Clemens).
I hope you have a safe and enjoyable Independence Day.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!
Just thought I’d share this screenshot of Rescue as a best seller. This is a first for me, and I have to admit, I’m quite thrilled. Thanks to all of you.
