A Reunion!

Posted on October 8, 2011 by Justin Smith

To state the obvious is unnecessary, but given my absence from this habit of transcribing a life on the road I must indulge. Nathan looks much the same as when we last crossed paths in San Francisco; bearded, with a pony-tail growing longer by the day. Since then he has seen a multitude more miles and more sunshine than I. By no means road-weary, but road worn – like breaking in a good ball glove, or leather bike saddle. Time has seemed to soften the edges of his moods, and his outlook is now always tranquil (even as he mistakenly took a pair of scissors to his front tire).

It should also go without saying, but I must, it is humid. I left a pleasant 55 degree Colorado (on the verge of its first seasonal snowfall) to land in soggy Cancun. My attempts to acclimatize are nothing more than some shopping adventures about town as we prepare for our journey to Cuba, but they seem to be slowly helping. Whether or not I will adjust to, or simply endure this climate, is up for consideration. At some point in this journey we will climb back into the mountains.

Attempting to sort everything out for this trip to Cuba has left little time for exploring. Aside from the range of our wanderings about, I have little impression of Cancun, or Mexico for that matter. The humidity is more challenging than the culture shock; we are all just people going about our lives, whether in Spanish or English, it is not that different. As we hunted out food for dinner at 10 yesterday night, it was a vibrant Friday evening with music and throngs of people dressed to the nines, it was natural and easy with no nervousness or worry.

Tomorrow we depart for Cuba to spend a month cycling around. What we expect is a beautiful island full of friendly people, picturesque cities, and pristine waters to swim. Toss in some enthralling history and it shows why we are so eager to begin this side-trip.

Internet will be spotty at best, expensive for sure. I don’t plan on any extensive time on the website until back in Mexico. So, now that I have so many tuning back in for the adventures, I must warn of another pause in your programming. I am eager to find some fascinating pics, places and stories to share.

Let a new Chapter begin!

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Justin Smith

Luci

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Luci

A new bike will whisk me south over the rough and tumble roads of Latin America. With much agony, I have set Surly Sue aside for her brutish sibling, Luci – short for Lucifer (it’s the orange thing).

And with that, there is nothing left to do but follow the advice of some brave dead soul and walk forward into the unknown. Travel with confidence and bravado into the latin world, and look back only to reflect on who I once was. Thanks for being patient with me as I hit the reset button and regrouped for the remainder of this trip. For a different perspective on the trip, reads Nathans blog.

Close Chapter

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Justin Smith

After messing around, working, and anything else I could do to delay any sort of commitment to the bike, I am once again road bound. Wednesday I am flying south, like the birds, to pick up a trail in Mexico. This rather simple occasion marks a strong turning point in my recent plans; those marked by being simultaneously in, and out, sometimes committed, sometimes not, to my grandiose trip. All that is past, a new chapter is beginning. For all the bravado I threw at the initial trip, the one that only got me from Alaska to LA, it is past, a mark on a bedpost, like a memory of a ski season. I am no more a part of that experience as I am apart of long lost powder days, or lovers (depending on the season).

I have found ways in which to occupy my time. Some fruitful (woodwork and remodels), others a waste (TV, birthdays, sleeping, dreaming, biking).

New bathroom

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Remodeled Bathroom

Retiled the shower

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New shower

Custom bar stools

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Bar stools to complete the kitchen I did this spring.

Made to match existing furniture

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Entertainment Center to match existing furniture.

Summer Plans (and Notions of Resuming Trip)

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Justin Smith

It has been nearly 4 months since I pedaled into LA and began what is now a somewhat long-term hiatus from the trip. A few things have contributed to this. Primarily, the scope of work I have agreed to take on and the multiple different projects I am helping with. Once I stepped aside to try and make a few bucks to help carry me all the way south, it became clear that living stationary is not necessarily cheap. I have found the need to take on as much work as possible if I am to leave with the savings I was anticipating. Couple that with an encroaching summer and my riding into the desert, and I hope it becomes clear why I will be waiting and working until August or September.

Have no fear, because I am dreaming up a pretty fun and eventful summer. Somehow I anticipate finishing the current remodel I am working on in 2 weeks (I estimate at least 3 weeks of work). I will immediately pick up on the next project and build a few cabinets to take up to the pops in Rapid City. Once there, we will build a great big covered wrap around deck on their house. With some additional projects tossed in, and some landscaping to do, I think we will be hard at work through June.

And finally comes July, my vacation month. Somehow I will get from Rapid City to Bozeman for a wonderful wedding of some dear friends on July 9th. Then the next weekend just happens to be the great Grand Targhee Folk Festival (July 15-17) with such acts as: Grace Potter, Sharon Jones, Bonaroma, Little Feat and others. There have been tentative plans in the making as long as I have been dreaming of my trip to meet some close friends somewhere south of the border to ring in our 30th Birthdays. Well, I am not south of the border, and so I screwed up that plan. Our fallback option is now Targhee. We would love to invite any and all to a great weekend listening to great music and basking in the glow of the Tetons (probably consuming some adult beverages as well). It is 3 weeks premature of my birthday, but works all the same.

Next, I am thinking July would be as good a time as any to get back to training for the 15,000 remaining miles left to Patagonia. I may choose to ride from Bozeman to Targhee (if anyone is interested), but I am becoming fairly certain I will ride from Targhee back to Colorado after the weekend of music. If anyone is interested in some bike touring and would like an extended summer vacation then there is your plan. Get yourself to Bozeman with a bike and some camping gear, we will ride to Targhee for some music, and then continue on to Colorado where you can fly back and resume your regularly scheduled life.

So there it is, the updated Roads Unwound Project. I hope to see some of you this summer.