I'm Alive

Just Do It!

Be Alive!

Colours

The autumn colours are just absolutely stunning at the moment - that is one thing we don't get in Zimbabwe is the distinct change of seasons.

Chester Marathon

Had a fantastic weekend up in Chester at the Chester Marathon. I didn't run but Jeff came over from Nashville to run with his friend Vince whom he met and ran with in Malawi, and Neil, who I hadn't met before flew in from Malawi to run as well. Great to see Jeff again and he had a great run with Vince who completed his first marathon - many more to go Vince and think about the Windermere Marathon in May 2013!!!!

Some photos on my Facebook page and herewith a short Video of the event.

 

Running and Music

I thought it was a bit optimistic to intend to run a marathon on two months training. I am not as young as I used to be......(perhaps younger!!!). I remember training for a ultra marathon when I was at Cape Town University - the Two Oceans Marathon, a really beautiful run - on two months training, and managed a sub 4 hours for the 56km! But that was a long time ago!

Last week after just increasing my mileage slightly, I must have just compromised my immunity and went down with a flu virus....or something....aching all over, joints, muscles, eyeballs. Nothing like the body to tell you enough is enough...so I will honour that. Took the rest of the week off but am back this week on the trails, gently running 45 mins every second day and with three weeks to go for the marathon I will give it a miss - there are plenty more marathons....if at all! But I will go up and watch the race - Jeff is still coming over from Nashville to run with his friend Vince, so I will go and give my support and it will be good to see him again and catch up his news.

But I have to say, it has been really fantastic to get back into running - there is actually nothing quite like it. I started out as a runner, then went onto triathlons, and then this big bike trip, but running is something special. I started to feel again that inner connection when running which I have not felt with any other activity......apart from meditating...... that inner peace and calmness, that freedom and happiness, that feeling of being centred. I remember a couple of sayings from my youth:

"When you run, you're free; no boss bothers you!" and

"To run is to live; everything else is just waiting!"

****

I have found it difficult settling into a four walled room to sleep with all the noise around, after the three months on the road with the bike. This is a bit strange as I was always complaining about the traffic noise on the road!! Needless to say, I have pitched my tent in the forest and have been sleeping there for the past three weeks - beautiful and quiet.....and close to nature which I love. Waking up to the sound of the birds and going to sleep with the night sounds and sometimes the patter of rain on the tent top - just beautiful. I would prefer to be in my Tipi with an open fire, but that is still in storage in Zimbabwe.......soon. I had an amazing experience after the flu - was pretty much in bed for three days and on the morning of the third day emerged from the tent at 6.00am to an absolutely stunning day, and felt I was emerging from a cocoon, transformed and re-born. It was a lovely feeling.

Good news from Zimbabwe - the house is now rented out again and the dogs looked after which is a huge relief. I am still thinking of putting the house on the market and buying some land in Europe, but will wait until the New Year which will come soon enough. Will hopefully go back to Zim in December for Christmas and spend time in the mountains with the dogs, and then make a decision from there - will see what the Universe has in store for the transition of our planet around that time. "The meek will inherit the Earth".......and become custodians of it!

The Spa where I work has a little cocktail lounge - yes, strange a Spa having a cocktail lounge.....but anyway it is so. After the inspiration of Joe West at Nashville Airport, I have been playing the guitar and singing twice a week in the Lounge. They are all songs that I grew up with - ballads of the 60's - 80's - but going well and thoroughly enjoying it...and hopefully the people are too, but there have been some favourable comments. Fortunately, most of the patrons at the Spa are of my vintage and so can relate to the music.......mind you they don't make music these days like they used to in that era. That was real music - Bob Dylan, Jim Croce, Eagles, Donovan, Simon and Garfunkel, Neil Diamond, Credence Clearwater Revival, Cosby Stills Nash and Young, Neil Young aaahhhhhh! Music.
Have played a couple of my own songs too and wasn't booed, which was encouraging!!

So keeping the legs turning and the voice box turning over!!!!  

Reflections

I have been meaning to write this blog for days, but it is only materializing now.... I don’t know where time is going........remembering of course that we are in a period of ‘time without time!”

I am back in the UK now and the flights all went well albeit a bit expensive with excess baggage fees for the bike and taxi fares from the airport, but all good. I am back working at Grayshott Spa in Surrey, and I have to say that is good to be working again. It is wonderful to be able to say that and I suppose it is a testament to my chosen profession, namely Massage Therapy and Acupuncture. There are so many people out there just doing a job that they don’t particularly resonate with because they have to earn an income. I am just reading a book at the moment by Caroline Myss exploring the concept of finding one’s Life Purpose or Soul Contract for this Lifetime and the importance of finding our individual purpose.

It was a great departure from Nashville airport with live music courtesy of Joe West doing some busking and made me want to pick up my guitar and do the same - perhaps in the future. Talking of Soul Purpose, I had a chat to him and he was a Department Store Manager and had a heart attack, so made a pact with himself to only do what he loved to do from then on, which was music...and preaching!

Thanks Joe for the inspiration.......and the great music!

Family

It was fantastic to see family again in Chicago - my sister and her husband, and my niece. (As mentioned earlier, unfortunately my nephew was on a training seminar in Connecticut so we missed seeing each other, which was a great pity). Now at 50, what really struck me was how important family is, and the need to stay in contact. Over the past years, I have been a little distant from them and the reconnection was very moving and powerful. Thanks, Sarah, Emma and Geoff - love you lots, and hope to see you all again soon.

The Trip

Some reflections on the bike trip. The first words that come to mind are “truly amazing!”  And if you ever get a chance to do something like that, do not hesitate. Go for it! But retrospect is a funny thing and time tends to soften the memories of the hard times. And hard times there were...but then the word ‘hard‘ is just a perception! It wasn’t hard - it was “truly amazing!”

Yes it was way short of my initial plan, but that is fine and I am OK with that! In spite of the situation back in Zim with the tenants pulling out of the contract, and the resultant shortage of funds, I had been thinking for a while on the road that I had had enough......for now! 

And to be able to call it a day and be at peace with that was a huge step for me - especially with something physical. Normally, I push through when it comes to physical challenges, as part of me has always felt that it is a sign of ‘weakness’ to quit. The ‘ego’ can’t quit. 

While I do believe that pushing through and completing physical challenges (and any other challenges!) provides the opportunity for tremendous personal growth, resilience and strength of character, there are times when it is equally appropriate to be able to say, “No, this is not for me, or no, this is no longer for me!” I think wisdom is the key to know when to stay and when to move on or change! Why stay with something that has run its course and no longer provides one with joy - be it a planned trip, a job, a relationship!! As Ramtha says, ‘once boredom sets in, it is time to move on.’ 

But this trip wasn’t about pushing through to the end no matter what. I have done the army training, the marathons and ultra marathons, the triathlons and the Ironman and I took up bike touring to get away from the competitiveness of the above, but still enjoy physical exercise. I took it up as a hobby. But there were times on this trip mainly through environmental factors, where I was pushed as hard as in any of the above....if not more so....and I still saw parts of me that I had never seen before, and grew in many new ways, for which I am truly grateful.

I guess though I still tend to push myself quite hard (again especially with something physical!), but again, as already stated in another blog, there were times when geographically or environmentally one had to push through and continue going. Perhaps the next cycling adventure will be with a group of friends!!

So what now?

Well, get a bit of cash behind me to start with. My dear friends Sharon and Mario in Zimbabwe have been absolutely wonderful in looking after the property when the tenant moved out, and we think we have another tenant interested in taking on the lease from September 1st. And they are prepared to look after the dogs which is fantastic. Nothing signed and sealed yet but will see what happens over the next week.

I will stay on here at Grayshott for a while and think I will slowly move into Private Practice. I don’t have any desire to go back to Zimbabwe, and may decide to sell up and move to Europe. Will be going down to Central Portugal in a few weeks time to have a look at some property there, and get a feel of the place.

Exercise wise, I think I have talked myself into running a marathon in October. Silly idiot!! Jeff, who I was staying with and running with in Nashville, is coming over to the UK to run a Marathon in Chester with another friend of his who he ran with in Malawi, so I have twisted my own arm to maybe run with them. It is a long time since I have done any distance running, so I hope the body will hold together - the mind should be strong enough after the cycle trip! So I am out trail running on the common three mornings a week and absolutely loving it, so will slowly increase the mileage weekly, and hopefully have enough miles in the legs for the marathon on October 7th. Am still out on the bike every other day for a couple of hours and in the gym 4 or 5 times a week, so keeping moving.

Feeling great in Mind, Body and Spirit!

FOR MOTHER EARTH

..on Fire and Water..

"May we open our eyes, our ears and our Hearts to hear your calling and act!"
I Love You!

   

Full Circle

It was a long way back by bus from Chetumal to the USA, but I got a good 2 1/2 hour ride from Belize back into Mexico before sitting on the bus for an age. No problems at the border between Belize and Mexico, and then basically three days on the bus to Matamoros. I decided to take the Mexican bus line “Tornado” from Matamoros through to Nashville, as there was no extra charge for the bike and equipment. When I googled Greyhound from Brownsville (USA side of the border), they charge for extra bags and the bike, which they said had to be boxed. This would have meant finding a bike shop in Brownsville and stripping the bike down to get it on the Greyhound and being charged for it. With Tornado, the bike simply went on its side in the hold. Anyway safe and sound to Nashville and then a short bike ride back to Jeff and Kara. A far cry from 2 years and 50 000km but it was still a moving experience cycling back into the driveway, and I met Kara finishing her run. It was really good to see them both again. 

Trail running with Jeff early the following morning - it was really good to ‘move’ again after four days on the bus and the ankles were quite swollen again with oedema, but the run soon sorted that out, and then basically put my feet up for the day. A 3.00am start on another bus (this time Greyhound, but without the bike) up to Chicago to see my sister for the weekend.

Really good to touch base with family again - it has been 5 years since I have seen them and it was a very special weekend. My niece was 7 when I last saw her and what a change to see her at 12. Unfortunately my nephew, who is now 22 was on a training seminar in Connecticut, so I missed him which was very sad, but c’est la vie.

Another 10 hours back to Nashville and a fantastic trail run again this morning at 5.15 with 95% humidity. Went off to the bike shop to get a bike box, so today has been stripping and packing the bike and equipment for the flight back to the UK tomorrow. So much traveling - will be happy to get back to Grayshott Spa and have feet on terra firma for a few months.

Still no new tenants for the house in Zimbabwe, so fingers crossed that Sharon and Mario will find someone soon. I am really worried about the dogs, but trust that all will be fine with them for a few months to get some cash together before heading back in November. Would love to go back now but just do not have the cash at present. Again, c’est la vie.

So it seems that the circles are closing on themselves - Nashville, UK then Zimbabwe - and then perhaps a new journey begins in Mozambique. We shall see.  

The Sun Sets

It is funny how life pans out. When you have a plan, sometimes Spirit guides you in another direction....or maybe Spirit sees what you truly need and where you truly need to be in spite of where you think you should be or think you want to be, and consequently orchestrates things to direct your path.

The Sun has set on the cycle trip and it is effectively over. I have not received any rental from my tenant for the month of July and in spite of the lease agreement requiring 3 months notice for termination of lease, he has given just 12 days notice and is out at the end of the month without having found a replacement tenant. I was always on a tight budget, but this has now tipped the scales and it is impossible for me to continue financially.

I have rented out my house twice and twice have had the contract breached. The first time the tenants did not pay for 2 months and I returned to a dying dog! She survived! At least this time the dogs are in good shape, but again the tenant has breached the financial agreement. Interesting! Perhaps time to sell! It is such a pity that some people do not have the integrity to honor a lease agreement. I can understand people going through a hard time, but if you don’t have the cash borrow it from a friend, not from me!!!!

I will be starting the long bus ride back through Mexico to the States tomorrow, and then the Greyhound to Nashville from Brownsville. Fortunately, my return ticket to the UK has not yet expired so I will be able to avail of that without any extra expenditure - August 8th.

I am so grateful to Grayshott Spa again in Surrey, UK who have offered me work if I should need it, which I may avail of if I do not need to go back to Zimbabwe immediately. I have also been offered a teaching position in Mozambique, again should I need it, either from September or January next year. Thank you.

My dear friends Sharon and Mario are helping out on the ground in Harare trying to find new tenants asap to look after the house and most importantly the dogs. I am so grateful to you both and I am sorry that this has transpired - I know you are both so busy with work and home, and your own canine family. My heart felt thanks to you both. Sharon’s sister, Moira, who has the amazing skill of being able to ‘talk‘ to animals will have a chat to Lucy and Tango to see how they are feeling and what they would prefer. Hopefully they will be able to hold out for a few months with or without tenants, to enable me to get a few months work behind me in the UK to get some cash flow together, before heading out to Africa again, where I will most probably take up the teaching job in Mozambique.....and be able to have the dogs with me.

Unfortunately, air fares to Zimbabwe from the UK at the moment are horrendously priced due to the Olympics - everything leaving the UK is so expensive while the Games are on and just after, so hopefully I can wait until the end of August or better still the end of November and have some cash in my pocket when I land on the ground in Harare!

As to the house...well, will see what pans out - I will rent if possible for the immediate future and may consider selling if I don’t take up residence in Zim again for a while.

So as the Sun sets beautifully and one door closes with some truly amazing experiences and memories, another door(s) opens with the knowledge that the Sun will rise again as magnificent as it always is, to sustain and nourish the planet and work in tandem with Mother Earth to give all Her inhabitants LIFE and LOVE.

“With your mind’s eye, look in front of you and see the Sun.

See it shining and smiling on You.

Feel the warmth on your face and skin, and feel that warmth deep within.

And know that the Sun is always there....

In the darkness of night....and in the darkness of your life, the Sun is always there

Shining and smiling on you.

And if you keep your face always to the Sun, the shadows will fall behind.”

“Great Spirit

Father Sky and Mother Earth

Grand-Father Sun and Grand-Mother Moon

Plant and Animal Spirits, my Brothers and Sisters

Ancestral Spirits of the places I have visited

Hummingbird, Spirit of the North

THANK YOU.”

HO!     

Time

The Mayan Elders say we are presently "In the Time of No Time."

There will be "Extremes of Fire and Water on Mother Earth!"

"A LA KESH

   IN LA KEN"

No Time, One Heart. 

San Ignacio

Not far from the border with Guatamala is the Belizean town of San Ignacio with a population of about 17 000 people. It is separated from Santa Elena by the Macal River. You can get to pretty much any part of the town on foot and it has a good vibe though again very touristy. Much of the businesses are either accommodation or restaurants of pretty much any description, from Chinese to Belizean to American. But the people are again very friendly and there is so much to do and see in the surrounding area - caving, tubing, high wiring, exploring Mayan ruins, horse riding, walks into the rain forest -you name it.

Cahal Pech, one Mayan archeological site is right on the border of the town within easy walking distance. There are 34 buildings spread over 6 acres and excavations are still in progress. 

It must truly have been a wonderful place to live up on the highest point in the area, overlooking the rain forest, with its abundance of wildlife.

Belize

San Cristobal

Hail in the mountains - San Cristobal 

It was another sleepless night on the bus from San Cristobal, which was a lovely little town in the mountains but very touristy. On the Saturday afternoon it could have been any small town on the European Continent with people of all nationalities sitting at cafes on the street drinking coffee and chatting. The budget tourists looking scruffy and sometimes bewildered, and some of the local people also looking equally bewildered!

I was dropped off at Escarcega at 3 in the morning, a town about 260km from Belize from which I had decided to cycle the last leg.

Tried to catch another few hours sleep at a petrol station before dawn, and then headed off towards Belize, quite anxious to get there. The first day was fine with 100km under my belt, trying to juggle the last of my Mexican Pesos ($) so as not to have to exchange any more US$ or use an ATM, which I have to add were now few and far between. But the juggling did not go too well and was running out of water and food.......and after another 100km on day 2, the wheels finally fell off on day three with 60 km to go to Belize. I was completely dehydrated and on the last of my food. I had also picked up quite severe tendonitis in the right knee, so it was out with the Ibuprofin!

In spite of everything had to laugh - I guess Batman has left Gotham City - "The Dark Knight Rises".......somewhere else!!

I stopped at a resort and had a delicious bacon salad sandwich, but again the carbo reserves had dwindled too low and this did not sustain me for long. I found some water, but again it was too late to rehydrate, and with only 16 km to go to the border, I was ‘man down!‘ I could not go another km on the bike - I was just wasted! I had a sleep in a bus shelter for an hour and then the last of my pasta and tuna, and this gave me enough fuel to get to the border and through to Belize.

Another 11km to the nearest town in Belize and all I could dream about was a litre of coke and a large Pizza. But alas, the wheels fell off again with 5 km to go and I literally could not move. It is quite an unusual feeling actually - literally having no energy to move - all I could do was lie down by the side of road. A police pick up truck stopped and kindly took me into Corozal and to Sea Breezes Hotel, a Hotel I had seen in The Lonely Planet, and........sorry we’re full!! Actually he wasn’t full, he had just had a really busy week and decided to close for the weekend, but on seeing the state of me, he gave me a room (US$20 a night).

So it was a cold shower, a liter of coke and a large Pizza, and the following morning 2 Full English Breakfasts back to back for US$13, which didn’t even touch sides and a large Beef Chop Suey for lunch....and I haven’t stopped eating and drinking for three days..........and am starting to feel a little more human again.

But it is great to be in Belize, where English is the official language, and Corozal is so multi cultural - Hispanic, Blacks, Chinese, English, Americans. Will be here for three days or so and then bus to Belize City and then inland to Belmopan and San Ignacio.

So thank you Mexico - thank to the beautiful friendly people, to the scenery, to the history, to the mountains, to the lessons - you didn't want to let go of me, but it was time to move on. Thank you.

       

Six Days

I had spent 6 days in the Mountains...and with their kindness, they had stripped me bare. They had seen into every part of me, into every cell, into every pore, and looked, without judgement, into my very Soul. They had taken my body and my mind, cut me wide open and exposed my very core.

In their wisdom, they had taken everything from me that I thought mattered - all my attachments, all my material possessions, and made me realize that they didn’t matter at all....that they had never mattered. They made me realize that nothing really mattered. They made me realize that even my own journey didn’t matter. 

They had exposed to me my very Soul, my Spirit - The Source. They could not take that away from me because I shared my Soul with the Mountains; they were from the same Source. The Mountains and I were now one.

The Rivers and Rain had washed me clean, the Sun had melted my anger and my judgement - I was one with them now too. They had all purged my Spirit, and I felt re-born, with softness, gentleness and Love.

In the timelessness of their own growth, they showed me that there was no time - that there was only the moment. The past and the future were insignificant - there was only the now.

The Mountain People had smiled and given me their Love, They knew. They too had been purged and cleansed by the same Mountains and Rivers, by the same Rain and Sun....and they had found their peace on the land.

As I came down from the Mountains with tears of gratitude and love streaming down my cheeks, I too had found my peace. And I now knew too.

I realized that I had nothing left to finish, or indeed nothing left to start - I just had to Be.

I was the Source, the Source was I - the Source was the Mountains, the Rivers, the Rain, the Sun, the Earth, the People.  

I was it All - All was I. 

Oaxaca

It was a slow, deliberate exit from Tepoztlan - one, because mountains always hold me and secondly because it was a such a rejuvenating stay at La Puerta with Ea - the owner. He is such a wise man with so much love......but it was time to move on. I was feeling centred, balanced and strong again 

It is amazing how each segment of this journey takes on its own energy - first it was the excitement of the whole journey itself, and the start with the Natchez Trace. Then it was a trip to a destination - Austin, Texas with the incentive of getting the wheels sorted (which so far are holding out fine, thanks). Then it was a new energy to cycle through Texas to the border with Mexico and the excitement of that and the bus journey to Vera Cruz. The dynamic of cycling through Mexico to another destination, namely La Puerta took on a whole new challenge - the challenge of the Mexican mountains...and they nearly won (but of course it is not about winning or losing, just being on the journey!)

A whole new energy began after La Puerta - now there was no specific destination ‘to get to‘ - it was all about the moment, the minute, the hour, the day, the night, the cycle in itself. And it was very much day by day because it was mountain pass after mountain pass after mountain pass - fortunately I could get up them this time on the bike, but there is still no respite...they go on and on, but the views were spectacular and the photos included are very much about the scenery.

The first night was spent camping next to a lovely river so water no problem - I always take drinking water with me, but it is nice not to have use the drinking water for washing either myself or the pots. I had run out of fuel for the stove and could not find any replacement anywhere, so was using the fire stove and what a pleasure it is in an emergency...but it makes all the pots filthy - I had used the old trick of making a paste with some washing powder to put on the outside of the pots, and this really helps with the cleaning but they do require lots of water to clean. 

In the evening I was sitting on a rock with my feet in the stream when I felt a nibbling on my feet - looking down there were lots of little fish nibbling at the dead skin on my feet - natural fish therapy!!!!

But again - great camp sight but sooo noisy - it was at the bottom of a pass so all the large trucks using their engine breaks all night long...no sleep!

Night two was spent a little further away from the main road again near a river bed, but dry this time so no nibbling fish! I asked a farmer if I could put up my tent for the night and no problem there so it was a little quieter and got a good night’s sleep.

Day three was onward and upward and upward and upward. By mid afternoon, had run out of bread (am using bread to fill up on and pile on the carbos - it is light and straps onto the back of the panniers so doesn’t get squashed!!!). There was a little town called Petlalcingo on the map, but was just off the main road - I would not normally have detoured off the main drag but it was literally right there and looked so pretty from the main road, and literally seemed to suck me in. Well what an amazing little town with a feeling of such a warm welcome, with smiling and happy faces and lots of greetings.

The bread shop man spoke perfect English - he had worked in the States for many years. I had done over 4 hours on the bike, so it was time for a break for the night, so asked him if there some sort of camp site - he said no but an Argentinian guy had camped in the town park the night before. Well it was a Sunday so no Mayor to ask, but some guy in the town square said I could put my tent up anywhere. But it was all go in the little town on a Sunday with a market of local produce and then in the evening a local soccer game, church going and more festivities. I was befriended by a guy selling coconuts who couldn’t speak a word of English and my Spanish is still pretty non existent so we made great conversation. But I can tell you what - coconut juice straight from the coco never tasted so good - neither has coconut!!! Man, that was beautiful. 

Went down to wash in the stream, and then Mr. Coco was having dinner with his buddy and wife who owned a restaurant, named after their twin daughters - “Gemelas -Twins”. So they offered me a meal, and then a bed for the night, breakfast the next morning and wouldn’t take a $. I got my guitalele out and played at their restaurant in the evening - not that anybody could either hear me or understand what the dickens I was singing about...but anyway! What really special people - full of kindness, generosity and love - such open, warm, genuine and friendly people. 

My heart went out to them and that beautiful town. Mr. Coco must have had a sense of humor because he said the rest of the road to Oaxaca was flat...Ha, Ha, Ha Mr. Coco - the joke was on me!!!!

Goodness me, what mountains. 

Sweat from two days in the mountains!

A welcome sign!!

Met two Dutch people on Motor Bikes in San Domingo Yanhuitan (I think), Branko and Ingrid Pokorny, so it was good to speak some English. They are going all the way down to Southern Argentina and back again. Have a great trip guys. They are on Facebook if you want to check them out.

Finally on day 7 after leaving La Puerta made it into Oaxaca - apparently where they sell hallucinogenic mushrooms - well I didn’t need to take any - those mountains were real enough.

Still loads of mountains to go, but after this last week will give them a miss and opt for a bus through to the Yucatan Peninsular and then onto Belize - the mountains took their toll - got a bit of a groin strain, am really tired and need a few days rest, so might as well rest on the move. 

I got a little bit of a tummy bug in the mountains so lost a little weight (as if I can afford to!!), so need to refuel the body as well. 

Still noise, noise, noise day and night!

La Puerta Tipi Retreat

After four days at La Puerta Retreat Centre with some Yoga, Tai Chi, meditation, rest, sleep and lots of food, I am starting to feel a little bit more balanced and the ankles are back to normal. There has been a mixture of rain and sunshine which has been great - good not be out cycling in the rain but rather snuggled up in my sleeping bag in a dry tipi. I have lived in a tipi in Malawi for a few months and it is good to be back in one - their energy is great - very comforting. 

It is also much cooler here in the mountains so that makes a very welcome change, and am again starting to feel a little more grounded with bare feet walking on the Earth, hot showers, and some good food - pancakes and maple syrup. 

Made me think about setting up something similar in the Chimanimani Mountains in Zimbabwe - perfect location, perfect climate....but then the powers that be will just come and take it away from you! Such a pity! Anyway....... 

Reality Check - Taking Stock

OK - some blib-blab now.

It all sounds very wonderful and glorified taking off on a bike to cycle around the Americas and nearly everyone I spoke to about the trip before I went, all said, “how amazing, great, I would love to do something like that.” I have been thinking much about the journey so far and the following are some points of view. 

It has been hugely rewarding, and has certainly lived up to its expectations of being a Spirit Journey. Sometimes the rewards are only seen in retrospect, rather than in the moment when you are sweating blood after three hours going uphill at 7 km/hr, but it has not been all as glamorous as it sounds. Herewith some pointers on the maybe not so glamorous side for those thinking of a long bike trip!!! But it is this very not so glamorous side that grows, moulds and deepens the Spirit and the personality, and nurtures strength and resilience of mind, body and Spirit. It teaches us how strong we really are and how strong we can be...and I guess it teaches us humility. And I have found...it is starting to grow and develop a softness and a tenderness through the hardness. But remember, "The Spirit can never break!"

And no matter what journey you are on, also remember that every step, every thought, every creative idea, every revolution of the wheel, is getting you to where you want to go, however slow it may be.

I would welcome some comments from people who have done cycle tours:

It is bloody hard work! There are times when you have to really dig deep, either when there is nowhere suitable to stop for the night and you have to push on because of the terrain or climate. I know that there are times when I have pushed myself very hard and done some huge mileages when I needn’t have (and this is going to change!!!), but again at times there is no alternative. “Well what did you expect, I hear you say, you are going on a bike trip for goodness sake!” I hear you! But I couldn't resist this photo that I took in the States.

"All it takes, is all you got!" 

Food 

One has to be very careful with regard to planning one’s route re food and the cost thereof. It is advisable to always carry some emergency rations ie. rice, quinoa, energy bars, cereal, some tins of tuna, in case one cannot make it to a planned shopping center/refueling station, or one is held up with bad weather etc. Vast amounts of calories are being consumed on the bike and these need to be replaced daily otherwise one is going to run out of steam. I am eating loads, it is quite monotonous food, but I have realized that I have not been eating enough as I have been very hungry during these last four days and I can tell you sometimes all I can dream of is having a breakfast of cereal, fruit and yoghurt, bacon, eggs sausage, pancakes laced in syrup, hash browns, coffee!!!! And I would if I could if it was there and if I could afford it. 

Cash

Which leads on to the cash situation - I am terrible at budgeting - I never know how much things are going to cost, how much money I am going to need etc. They say that when you are packing your pannier bags, put everything out on the bed then throw half of it away and only pack the rest. Well here is a tip with regard to finances - have a generous estimate of what you will require and then double it, and don’t go until you have it. There is no greater stress then being short of cash when traveling in a foreign country (and that also means enough cash for a flight home if necessary),  I have a feeling I am going to come unstuck here - my budget is way too thin and adding quite a lot of added stress to the journey and I don’t think I will be able to sustain the trip financially in the long term. Central and South America may be OK, but back into the States and Canada, if I ever get there, may be an issue. The new wheeIs hit my budget hard. It is also great to have cash to do some sight seeing and activities (scuba diving, horse back riding etc) in places as well. I may consider breaking the trip to go back to the UK and earn some extra cash in a few months. Make sure also that you have cleared with your bank which countries you will be going to and that you will using your credit/debit card in these countries - again there is nothing more frustrating than going to an ATM and your transaction not being processed. This has happened to me on the last three occasions here in Mexico when I have tried to withdraw money and on every occasion I have been denied. If this does happen try ATM’s at as many different banks as you can - on my 4th try at a different bank I was finally able to draw some cash. Always also carry some extra US$ with you, (and not all in one place) and try to use them only in emergencies so you always have a reserve. 

Water

Water is really heavy to carry, but always better to have than not to have. You will soon figure out if water is readily available or not - here in Mexico it is plentiful, but you have to buy drinking water. If it is readily available and you don’t want to carry too much during the day, do make sure that you are fully stocked up towards the end of the day in case where you stop for the night does not have any. Also be aware that you may be ‘stranded’ due to bad weather so again, although heavy to carry, maybe always good to have a surplus. And in hot climates, drink early and often. Sometimes on the bike when it is slightly cooler and if there is breeze, you may not be aware how much fluid you are actually loosing, and at the end of the day when you need water for cooking, you may be very thirsty and dehydrated and not have enough. And remember also, that if you have spent a long day on the bike and even if you have been hydrating throughout the day, the body may loose more than it can replace, so continue drinking once you have stopped as well.

Washing

If you are like me and hate going to bed with the days sweat engrained in your pores, you may have a problem!!!!!! (Sissy!!!) Washing needs water. I try and reserve at least one water bottle simply to be able to wipe down with a damp cloth at the end of the day. Cycling through Puebla in the rain with all the traffic, I got absolutely filthy - fortunately that night I found a cheap motel with a hot shower. “What do you expect, I hear you say, you are going a bike trip, for goodness sake!!” I hear you!

I remember reading one blog of a cycle trip where they said the longest they went without washing was 12 days! Well, at least I have managed to wipe down at least once a day!!! 

However, having said the above, and don’t be shocked, apart from the Motels and B & B’s/Retreat Centers, I haven’t used either soap or deodorant, and have not smelled at all. In fact, I remember noticing when I was Austin sitting on the computer for a couple of hours, really noticing my body odor, but as said out on the bike, nothing! Fresh air and exercise, huh!   

Noise 

I have done loads of cycling in the past and obviously there has always been the traffic consideration. But spending 4 to 7 hours on the road every day, day after day, the noise problem has really hit home. And it is very noisy both on and off the road. Unless one is completely off grid and cycling on mountain bike trails, there is a constant stream of traffic going past on the bike. When there is no shoulder on the road the traffic is often very close to the bike and when there are road works, sometimes there is a back up of traffic behind the bike as there is nowhere for the vehicles to pass. If it is peace and quiet you are looking for, either pick your route off road, or stick with mountain biking nearer to home!! Even at night I have found that there is no peace and quiet - many of the big trucks travel at night and most of the camping sites (in the States at any rate) are right off the main drag, so again there is constant noise from the traffic. And if you are pitching a tent for the night in the bush, chances are that it will be fairly close to the road as well, so again constant noise. The big towns and cities are also at times very difficult to negotiate and the larger the town/city the longer it takes to get through/around. I have to say that I have found the traffic and noise aspect very stressful indeed. 

“Well what did you expect, I hear you say...you are going on bike trip for goodness sake!!” I hear you. 

Generally though in the US and Mexico, the drivers have been very considerate - a couple of ‘wallies’ but generally good. I think here in Mexico they are so shocked to see what they are seeing that they generally slow down to get a good look......and when they see a gringo covered in white Zinc sunblock, I am sure they have a real fit of laughter.  

I remember the delight of the peace and quiet taking up mountain biking back in Zimbabwe after years of triathlon training out on the roads with the traffic.

So there you have it - some not so pleasant sides to a trip like this. 

But it is onward tomorrow towards Belize; towards Oaxaca (pronounced Wu Hucka), and then San Cristobal at over 8000ft!!! - hopefully be there in about a month....Belize that is...but maybe only San Cristobal!!! Mexico is huge with huge mountains.