The Last Hill Before Home: Heres the plan....

Friday, March 27, 2009

Heres the plan....

So here is the plan....

Im in Sayulita at the moment. I have 3 days of riding until I hit Mazatlan. Mazatlan is a huge step! Seriously. Its a big mental and physical win for me. My book says that from Tapachula to Mazatlan its 2,200 kilometers.

From Maztlan Ill take a day off. From there I hop on a 17 hour ferry and cross to La PAz in Baja California. One in Baja I hope to ride straight threw. Something like 14 days or less if I can make it. That is probably going to be one of the biggest tests of all. 14 days straight of riding. The most Ive done has been 9 and that was killer. The 9 day ride was from Guatemala City to Puerto Escondido. That was such a long and hard ride and the scenery was bland at times.

Baja is going to be different. Its supposed to be a bikers dream. Thats how my buddy Jeff explained it back in Panama City. From what Ive heard and from what Ive seen its supposed to be beautiful. Im a bit worried because its also a very desolate place. Sometimes there ae gaps that are about 200 kilometers long with only a few pueblitas around. Wish me luck!

From Baja I get to Tijuana. Im a bit worried about TJ because of all the negative news. I hope to get to Rosarita the night before and make the 25 kilometer ride to TJ in the morning and cross the border asap. Some people said I should take a taxi but I honestly think that may be more dangerous.

From Tj my first day off will be in San Diego. I got a few friends there plus Ill need the rest. Then Im off to LA LA Land! We have a party scheduled in Hollywood for the 18th that my buddy Evan is helping to throw. Its a fundraiser for the village in Guatemala. Hopefully that will help with the donations.

Then my great friend Rob meets me in LA to ride back to San Francisco. Rob is taking the first flight to LA from San Jose. Hes going to wear his biker shorts on the plane and assemble his bike in the LAX airport. How hilarious is that! then were off. From LA to SF its usually a 7 day ride. Were going to try to make it in 5. Again...wish us luck.

Some serious momentum is on the horizon. Were at $5,000 right now in donations. Amazing really! But...the goal is $15,000. Were throwing a big party in San Francisco on the 25th. We hope that brings in a couple of bucks. Plus we hope to get some donations that last week as well. Im sooooo nervous and overwhelmed right now. I want to hit the mark so bd. I want to make sure the people in Jalapa get their school. They deserve it...truly....

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

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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, March 27, 2009

Heres the plan....

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