10. Getting ambitious...Ride the world??

I have now convinced my wife Carolina to join me in Seattle, WA for a week vacation after finishing the Trans America, and before heading South.
We will visit friends in Seattle and explore Vancouver and Victoria together.
After that she will join me on the ride to San Francisco, and then fly home.

I will store the bike there for a few months and then continue South towards Albuquerque, NM. where I started my trip around the US.

For those who really get a bad itch about long range motorcycling, a ride around the world might be the cure. There are LOTS OF people with the same problem and you find their reports in motorcycle websites.

Two that caught my eye was the following:

www.2ridetheworld.com
Between 2003 and 2009 Simon and Lisa have ridden all continents on their R100GS and F650GS. And they plan to go on another 4 years!

For those who like to ride the world in an organized fashion, the Discover the Earth Expedition, November 14, 2010 to July 20, 2011 might be the ticket.
248 days and 40,000 miles! check it out at www.edelweissbike.com

A few days ago, at the BMW store in Guatemala , I met Bob and Judy. They were checking out items at the yard sale and looked like they had a long ride behind them. It turned out they were riding their 1200GS from Arizona to Costa Rica. We agreed to keep contact and Bob invited me to visit him in Phoenix and ride up to the Grand Canyon together. It will be a pleasure to do that, after the Trans America ride.
Bob told me about his habit of doing a kindness to strangers. I looked it up in Wikipedia and it says:

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by a person or persons wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual or in some cases an animal. There will generally be no reason other than to make people smile, or be happier. Either spontaneous or planned in advance, random acts of kindness are encouraged by various communities.

I could not agree more. If we would make a habit of doing this at least once a day, ours would be a better world.

JOIN THE RIDE FOR AK TENAMIT.

If you would like to join me for a day or a week or if you would like to organize a local ride or rendez vous somewhere along my route, contact me!!
Want to buy miles or or donate to Ak´Tenamit? See Chapter 5 of the Blog

LIFE IS GREAT, ENJOY THE RIDE!
JEAN VAYSSIER
THE RIDING DUTCHMAN

9. ¨The oasis of my soul¨ by ARA

http://theoasisofmysoul.com/

Today I found a wonderful website/blog by Ara Gureghian, a personal chef who works out of Naples, Fla. That sounds nice already, but the best is yet to come. THIS GUY IS A STAR PHOTOGRAPHER and SUPERB WRITER!!!
Just seeing the pictures makes you want to get on the road and spend time under the stars.
Check out the photo albums he put on his site under the title:Lifelong Journey under the Stars

http://theoasisofmysoul.com/zenphoto/

The caption of this picture is:

The end of another camping day in Valley of the Gods, Utah, amongst the onlooking ships moored for the night.



A very true piece of wisdom from his blog


“The Dream.
Every soul has one. Not every soul dares live it.” ~ Voni ~

So put on those riding boots and RIDE FOR AK TENAMIT.


If you would like to join me for a day or a week or if you would like to organize a local ride or rendez vous somewhere along my route, contact me!!
Want to buy miles or or donate to Ak´Tenamit? See Chapter 5 of the Blog

JEAN VAYSSIER
THE RIDING DUTCHMAN

8. A ride to El Salvador

My friend Peter, his sons and I started at 7am from Guatemala City, taking the highway to the Pacific coast. We took the road to Taxisco, which runs past large cattle ranches and fertile sugarcane fields, a wonderful picture of the wild and beautiful Guatemalan lowlands.

Here is a typical Guatemalan breakfast: eggs, frijoles, cottage cheese, plantains and tomato sauce, accompanied with sour cream, chili and tortillas..and lots of coffee.Yummy!




We reached the Salvadorean border Pedro de Alvarado before 11 am and crossed with little formality. The first 5o miles are in bad shape, lots of potholes, but that changed as soon as we hit the coastal road to La Libertad.
It is one of the nicest roads for motorcycles with lots of curves, hills and valleys, even some tunnels. And gorgeous views of the Pacific ocean to boot. There is no coastal road in Guatemala, because the farms and ranches run right to the beach.
We took off our leather jackets in the tropical heat and continued in riding vests.
At noon we reached the seafood restaurant Don Beto, 10 miles north of la Libertad. After almost 5 hours in the saddle we drank our beers.. standing up!


We met up with our friend Bernd and his wife for a great lunch. The design and setting of Don Beto is stunning, the food great! The oysters are as good as New Orleans and we had Salvadorean conchitas, a type of shellfish which must be eaten alive (just put lemon on them, if they squirm, they are fine, if not, you discard them).









After lunch, we took the road to the capital, San Salvador, and returned via the frontier of Las Chinamas. The road was good and except for some roadkill, sunburn and and one flat tire we experienced nothing special.
6 pm saw us in Guatemala City and we had a last beer with a view of the city. The return trip took 4 hours. Total mileage around 300.

A GREAT DAY!! AND BERND, THANK YOU FOR LUNCH!


The TRANS AMERICA RIDE FOR AK´TENAMIT supported by the Rotary Club Guatemala Sur to raise funds for a school for Qékchi children in the rain forest of eastern Guatemala. http://aktenamit.org/

READ MY BLOG: http://transamericatenamit.blogspot.com/

Want to buy miles or or donate to Ak´Tenamit? See Chapter 5 of the Blog

If you would like to ride with me for a day or a week or if you would like to organize a local ride or rendez-vous somewhere along my route, contact me!

JEAN VAYSSIER
THE RIDING DUTCHMAN

7. Contacting Rotary Clubs

LUXURY RIDE: THE LADY ON THIS BIKE DID NOT ANYTHING BEHIND!!


Today I started to promote the ride in the countries where I have most contacts: Germany (I worked for Bayer Leverkusen), Holland (where I was born) and Belgium (where I went to school), and the countries in Latin America and Asia where I lived at some point in my life.

I am contacting Rotary Clubs, motorcycle Clubs and Associations and websites dedicated to touring and adventure travel. The possibilities on the internet are endless!!

GOOD NEWS, I already received the first donation from a dear friend in Switzerland, details later!

The website ADVENTURE RIDER is a must for guys who like to shuck it all and take off on a long long ride. Check it out: http://www.advrider.com/
If you ever decide to come this way, here are some tips on how to ride in Central America by JEFF MUNN, very sound :
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=141751



IMPORTANT FOR ROTARY CLUBS: The Rotary Club Guatemala Sur will host a visit to Ak´Tenamit for those fellow clubs who will raise the largest amount of money. BE ONE OF THEM!


The TRANS AMERICA RIDE FOR AK´TENAMIT supported by the Rotary Club Guatemala Sur to raise funds for a non-profit community organization in the rain forest of eastern Guatemala. http://aktenamit.org/

If you would like to ride with me for a day or a week or if you would like to organize a local ride or rendez-vous somewhere along my route, contact me!

JEAN VAYSSIER
THE RIDING DUTCHMAN

6. Getting in the mood

I am getting into the mood for the long ride by doing some some medium rides in Central America.
We will ride to Tapachula in southern Mexico to pick up a solo Harley rider on his way to South America and guide him through Guatemala. Maybe I will join him part of the way, since I want to ride to Salvador and Nicaragua anyway. Mexico is a great country for riding. here are some pictures of a ride I took with my son Jean-Marc along the Pacific ocean:









Also, I registered in the BMW Motorcycle Association and hope to meet BMW riders along the way. There are some interesting stories and videos on that site, like the guy who rides to the roof of Africa: http://www.bmwmoa.org/news/racing_stories/bmw_rider_gears_up_for_roof_of_africa


I am also re-reading the famous motorcycle odyssey INVESTMENT BIKER by Jim Rogers, a really interesting book about a two-year ride around the world with his girl friend, including interesting investment tips.

I am looking forward to meeting many fellow riders, BMW, Harley and others and making new friends.

5. How can you donate for Ak´ Tenamit ?

DONATE DONATE DONATE DONATE

Ak´ Tenamit depends on donations to cover its cost of operation. The past level of donations is around $500,000.00 per year to keep 500 children fed, housed, healthy and in school and the facilities in good repair.

Our target is to raise $10.00 for each mile of the ride, which would make a total of around $35,000.00

I you decide to support this ride, you may:

1. Buy miles: Buy one or more miles at $10.00 per mile. There are 3,500 miles to be sold.
2. Sponsor a local event when I am in your area (a ride, a barbecue) for a $200.00 minimum.
3. Become a Student Sponsor at Ak´Tenamit for $30.00 (one month) or $360.00 per year
4. Become a Health Care Partner for $10.00 or $120.00 per year.

All funds should end up in the GUATEMALA TOMORROW FUND

http://guatfund.org/

Mary Ellen Aumack
Executive Director
The Guatemalan Tomorrow Fund, Inc.
P.O. Box 3636
Tequesta, FL 33469
Ph: 561-747-9790
Email: theguatfund@gmail.com
You may contact the fund directly or through your local Rotary Club. This fund will give you a tax-deductible receipt for your donations for Ak' Tenamit in the United States.

To donate, go to http://guatfund.org/ , enter the page DONATE and have them charge your credit card. DON´T FORGET TO TICK THE BOX TRANS AMERICA RIDE.

Or download the form at https://qnm14.securesites.net/akt/donate/index.php this form and fax it to (561) 747-0901.


For more information on specific needs, contact Mary Ellen at Tel. (561) 747-9790,


IMPORTANT FOR ROTARY CLUBS: The Rotary Club Guatemala Sur will host a visit to Ak´Tenamit for those fellow clubs who will raise the largest amount of money. BE ONE OF THEM!


The TRANS AMERICA RIDE FOR AK´TENAMIT is a private initiative supported by the Rotary Club Guatemala Sur to raise funds for a non-profit community organization in the rain forest of eastern Guatemala.

JEAN VAYSSIER
THE RIDING DUTCHMAN

4. DAILY AND TOTAL MILEAGE

CITY DATE MILES Flight to Washington - Manassas May-28 Washington May-29 local ride sat Washington May-30 local ride sun Gaithersburg May-31 service Washington - Pittsburgh Jun-01 225 Pittsburgh Jun-02 local ride Pittsburgh - Cleveland, OH Jun-03 146 Cleveland - Chicago Jun-04 340 Chicago Jun-05 local ride sat Chicago Jun-06 local ride sun Chicago Jun-07 local ride Chicago - Milwaukee Jun-08 93 Milwaukee Jun-09 local ride Milwaukee - La Crosse Jun-10 211 La Crosse - Sioux Falls Jun-11 300 Sioux falls - Rapid city Jun-12 360 cactus flats 44 sat Rapid City - Keystone - Custer Jun-13 100 sun Rushmore Jun-14 local ride Sturgis Jun-15 local ride Custer - Devil´s Tower - Buffalo,WY Jun-16 249 Buffalo - Cody Jun-17 183 sat Cody, Old faithful, Mammoth Jun-18 167 sun Yellowstone Jun-19 local ride Mammoth - Butte Jun-20 168 Butte, Spokane,WA Jun-21 315 Spokane Jun-22 local ride Spokane - Seattle,WA Jun-23 280 Seattle Jun-24 local ride sat Seattle Jun-25 local ride sun Seattle Jun-26 local ride Seattle - Vancouver Jun-27 141 Vancouver Jun-28 local ride Vancouver - Victoria Jun-29 Victoria Jun-30 Vancouver - Seattle Jul-01 141 31 days 3419 mi
The TRANS AMERICA RIDE FOR AK´TENAMIT is a private initiative supported by the Rotary Club Guatemala Sur to raise funds for a non-profit community organization in the rain forest of eastern Guatemala. I will depart on June 1, 2010 from Washington, DC and plan to arrive in Seattle.WA three weeks later. BUY A RIDE: If you would like to ride with me for a day or a week or if you would like to organize a local ride or rendez-vous somewhere along my route, contact me! JEAN VAYSSIER THE RIDING DUTCHMAN

3. Contacting bikers.

So far, I will be a lone biker on a long ride, but I hope many fellow riders will join me for part of the way.

I have contacted the Fellowship of Motorcycling Rotarians, in the hope they will publish the ride on their website. I will also contact the different motorcycle Associations in the USA and Canada.
On the excellent website http://www.motorcycleroads.com/ I found great local trips that I would like to take with riders from the area.

The TRANS AMERICA RIDE FOR AK´TENAMIT is a private initiative supported by the Rotary Club Guatemala Sur to raise funds for a non-profit community organization in the rain forest of eastern Guatemala.
I will depart on June 1, 2010 from Washington, DC and plan to arrive in Seattle.WA three weeks later.
BUY A RIDE: If you would like to ride with me for a day or a week or if you would like to organize a local ride or rendez-vous somewhere along my route, contact me!
BECOME A STUDENT SPONSOR for US$30.00 or HEALTH CARE PARTNER for UD$10.00.
JEAN VAYSSIER
THE RIDING DUTCHMAN

See pictures:
1. lunch-on-the-run
2. Picture taken in Georgia. What do you think this is?? Send me your answer.

2. Planning the Trans America Ride

On February 4, we started planning the trip.
We agreed on a preliminary route, totaling around 3,000 miles from Washington, DC to Seattle, WA.
The objective is to visit many Rotary clubs on the way, especially those who may want to donate funds to Ak´Tenamit.
We will propose the itinerary to the Rotary District Governors of the area, and incorporate their suggestions on which clubs to visit.
We will also contact the Fellowship of Motorcycling Rotarians to set up meetings and rides together.

I will use my BMW K 1200 LT that is stored in Manassas, VA after my ride from Arizona to Florida and up the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here is a picture of a ride with my wife Carolina to White Sands, NM. The dunes are like hot snow!!


To see the preliminary map of the TRANS AMERICA RIDE , follow the URL below.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=111612323674647306337.00047e8dcc6138c7bd948&ll=32.398516,-94.658203&spn=50.349606,79.013672&z=4

The TRANS AMERICA RIDE FOR AK´TENAMIT is a private initiative supported by the Rotary Club Guatemala Sur to raise funds for a non-profit community organization in the rain forest of eastern Guatemala.
I will depart on June 1, 2010 from Washington, DC and plan to arrive in Seattle.WA three weeks later.
BUY A RIDE: If you would like to ride with me for a day or a week or if you would like to organize a local ride or rendez-vous somewhere along my route, contact me!
BECOME A STUDENT SPONSOR for US$30.00 or HEALTH CARE PARTNER for UD$10.00.
JEAN VAYSSIER
THE RIDING DUTCHMAN

1. A visit to Ak´ Tenamit

In January the Rotary Club Guatemala Sur hosted 24 Rotarians from Illinois who came to Guatemala to build a library building, computer tables and bunk beds for Ak´ Tenamit.
My daughter Nicole wanted to volunteer and I decided to go along and help.
We sailed our boat down the Golfete to Rio Dulce, left it at anchor in a cove in the jungle, and took the dinghy up the Tatín river to the project. We met our fellow Rotarians at Ak´ Tenamit and helped them with the work and communication with the local workers.

We all had a great time and enjoyed the exotic setting of the jungle rivers and the friendly indigenous people living there.
Ak´Tenamit is home to 500 students from more than 100 impoverished villages and depends on donations for feeding, clothing and educating the students.

To know more about this wonderful humanitarian project, please follow this URL to their website: http://aktenamit.org/

Rotary Guatemala Sur has always been a strong supporter of Ak´Tenamit, so our Club President Juan Carlos Cheves, Ignacio Valls and I decided to organize a fund raiser consisting in a motorcycle ride across the American continent, from Washington, D.C. to Seattle, WA, visiting Rotary clubs on the way to raise funds and inviting fellow motorcycling Rotarians to join the ride.
The departure is set for June 2010. There is lots of work to do, but we will manage!

Watch this fascinating video on Ak´Tenamit!

Jean Feb 4, 2010