The Last Hill Before Home: 270 kilometers in 3 days...time for a break at the beach

Friday, January 30, 2009

270 kilometers in 3 days...time for a break at the beach

Dominical- Jaro 60 kilometers

Im all about the Casado. Cheap, quick, varity and great energy food. Check out the Imperial! Costa Ricas finest cerveza.

Ceasar got me to the beach. Its been a tough three days but we made it!

Can you see the road through the trees? Its so nice hearing the waves crash onto the beach as your hauling through the jungle. Days like this are the best!

I love these fruit huts. They make for a great break in the day. This day was 36 degrees! Freakin hot man and humid as heck! Chop up another watermelon buddy! Check out the kid in the background. Hes probably 13 and running the shop.

Ok...ok....I know what your thinking. Its a pic of me on the bus. Well I had too!

The day started at 4.45am. I had to catch this bus because the road for 40 kilometers is one of the worst in Costa Rica. It goes along the pacific coast. Apparently the government doesnt want to pave it because they know there will be a huge rush of gringros ready to buy up all the pristine beach land. Anyway...it was an early start. At first, the bus driver told me that I couldnt bring the bike on. F that man! I got up too early to walk away in defeat. After paying the dude off, something like $2, my bike and I were quickly aboard.

The day started off fine but then things fell apart.

It was SO HOT! Something like 36 degrees. It was the longest 60k yet. On top of that I was nearly to the beach when I blew ANOTHER tire. I finally fixed the tire, dripping in sweat and all greasy when my pump broke! AAAAHHHHHH! Frustrated I tried to put everything on the bike. Then I got my finger stuck somewhere and a piece of metal ate threw my skin on my findger. Now blood everywhere! Damn I needed the beach.

Another crazy thing happened as well. So Im making some adjustments to my bike when this silver Jeep rolls by me. The dude driving is waiving and yelling or something. Hey I know those guys. If you follow the postings youll know that it was the guys from the Costa Rica-Panama border and the same dudes from the hostel in Panama City from 3 weeks ago. They turned around and we chatted on the street for a minute or two. Crazy stuff...I know people even on small backroads in Costa Rica. The people in the back of the jeep were like...Who the hell is this dude and how do our friends know this guy!? hilarious! Biker short moment of the day.

Bus stop...

Eventually we made it. Beaten up...bloody...half full tire.

Time for a day off!

Aaron

2 comments:

Susan Cline - susan.cline@gmail.com said...: I hope your finger feels better. Keep it up!; February 1, 2009 at 9:38 AM
coyote said...: hey dude, im glad you´re making it farther north! Sorry that the flats are getting you. Check ur email.

jeff; February 1, 2009 at 10:25 AM

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Plan USA

¨Plan is a global partnership of caring people founded in 1937 to bring hope and help to the world’s poorest children.

Plan began as a child sponsorship organization. Today, we are one of the oldest and largest organizations of our kind—our grassroots, self-help programs assist more than 10 million children and their families in poor communities around the world.

We are proudly private, not for profit, and respectful of local religions and cultures—we have no agenda other than helping kids. Plan USA is one of more than 60 national organizations bearing the renowned Plan logo. ¨

Right about the time that I was identifying non profit organizations to work with I received an email from my cousin Joshua. Josh, a meteorologist for the United States Air Force who is living in Germany and currently stationed in Iraq, mentioned that he was now sponsoring a child through Plan USA. He said that it was a small step but a small step in the right direction. He also mentioned that Plan USA was backed by the Better Business Bureau, a point that we both respect. Through various research of my own I found that Plan USA is a prominent NGO and has a great marks from InterAction and the Charities Review Council. Most importantly I found that Plan USA´s mission of ¨striving to achieve lasting improvement in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries¨ linked exactly to my own mission for this fundraising event. Needless to say, it was a great fit.

The Inspiration

¨You must be the change you want to see in the world¨

- Mahatma Gandhi

I love to travel.

I have been lucky enough to throw on a backpack and visit 5 continents. I have been fortunate enough to see some amazing sights. It´s hard not to be inspired when your standing under the rotunda at the Taj Mahal or approaching the Pyramids of Egypt or wandering through the waterfalls at Iguazu in Argentina. These have all been inspiring times.

I also cherish the fact that I have met people from all over the world and been able to learn and share in the differences in cultures. You can learn so much when you share a spicy vietnamese sandwich with a local in Hoi An, when you take a stroll with a friend in a park in Santiago de Chile or gather with pilgrims over a pitcher of sangria at Santiago de Compostella in Spain. I´ve learned a lot and I´m incredibly grateful for all the opportunities.

With all the ups there´s also the downs. Theres another side you see when travelling. This side isn´t shared as much and it can also be quite difficult to talk about. Many countries, especially in the developing worlds, face many problems. HIV/AIDS, pollution, over population, lack of clean drinking water, dangerous living conditions and of course people living under $1 a day are just a few of the issues to mention.

I have wandered through the ghetto´s of Bangkok, I played stick games with the kids in the slums of Mumbai and seen the horrible living conditions of the street beggars in La Paz. While these encounters were only brief they still had a profound affect on me. Somehow, I draw inspiration from these encounters and connections. In so many situations these people who seemed to have nothing, were still smiling, still playing and still trying with all their means to get by. If only I had that much courage!

It was culture shock and it hurt.

I feel that now is the time to give back.

I encourage you to leave comments on this blog. Every word of positivity will help me along my journey. I encourage you to pass the message forward. Together we can help make a change for the kids that need it most. Finally, I encourage you to donate. There´s an icon on the top right hand corner of this blog that will direct you to a third party site that facilitates the donations. Its totally secure and safe. I appreciate all the love and positivity that I´m already recieving, of course this is not possible without people who want to help make a difference.

I don´t think that I´ll necessarily change the world, after all I´m just a 28 year old guy from San Francisco. But, I do want to give back. I do want to help. I have the opportunity so why not use it to help the children in the world who don´t have the same chances.

Now is the time to ¨be the change¨.

The Goal

In riding my bike from Panama City to San Francisco, I am initiating a grassroots fundraising effort to help raise money to feed starving children in Central and South America. All proceeds will go to PLAN USA. My goal is to raise a minimum of 15,000 dollars. In doing so I also hope to bring the plight and struggle of these children into the concious of the public, as well as their profound sense of life, courage, hope and faith. Their undeniable love for life, and ability to continue to dream.

Donate today http://www.firstgiving.com/lasthillbeforehome

I Believe

When taking on a mission like this it´s important to create a set of ideals, principles or beliefs. The task at hand is by no means going to be easy. These 7 beliefs are truly the fundamentals that will help me along my journey.

I Believe...

- In Plan USA. Plan´s clearly defined mission of ¨striving to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries¨, is possible with the support from us if we are willing to make a difference today.

- In grassroots charitable efforts. Dedicated individual leaders and community outreach groups are fighting the growing problems of poverty.

- In the power of communication and information. Plan´s key programs of ¨growing up healthy, learning, habitat, livelihood and building relationships¨, are possible by making a donation and passing the message forward.

- Riding a bike from Panama City to San Francisco will raise awareness to the fight against poverty.

- In outdoor adventure travel. Riding is one of the positive and healthy activities that plants confidence into any individual.

- In the power of synergy. A group with a common mission driven by creativity and passion can accomplish any set of goals.

- A dream, a bike and a regular guy from San Francisco can help make a change in the lives of children whom need it most.

The Last Hill Before Home

Friday, January 30, 2009

270 kilometers in 3 days...time for a break at the beach

2 comments:

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