Leaving Lolita TX. , 260 mi from border, might Skip Tamaulipas and Vera Cruz, getting hit by a car has lowered my risk tolerance. Anyone in PDC into sailing? Charter captain out of port Isabel tells me he was planning a sail to yucatan sometime this year.

Made it to Refugio, 172 mi to Harligen where the bike will get tuned up and light installed. Took a motel to recover from a cold and exhaustion. Sailing venture out of port Isabel has potential, captain says the boat needs 2 months of work, I'll go meet him after Harligen.

Got a late start in order to get max value out of the hotel stay, left at 11 and rode until just after sundown reaching the junction of CR 624 and 666 4 miles south of San Patricio. Asked the local EMS if I could camp out on their property and was met with looks of shock and confusion, lady said something about insurance not allowing it and that no I couldn't camp there. I asked if they had any suggestions and was told there's a county park 12 miles south, mind you it's clearly dark and I've ridden all day.

Just before the ems station there is a big church complex so I have set up behind it and am praying for no disturbances. While I was making dinner, I saw a dog with one of those lampshade collars wander by and it proceeded to set of a barking contest with the neighbors dogs for about 20 mins which gave me quite a worry about being discovered. Anyway things have quieted down and all I hear now is crickets and the occasional car.

Think it's safe for me to take some NyQuil and knock off, it would really suck to have to relocate after that. Been very nice riding at times despite the occasional f
Headwind the natural landscape in this area is really nice. Here's a few pictures leaving Galveston

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

Leaving the barrier islands heading towards Freeport on the bridge that crosses the intercostal

[IMG][/IMG]

Came across this sow 2 mi south of San Pacinto, my freegan buddy "buckskin" Kyle from bicycle house would have probably had a hard time just settling for a photo as he is pretty devoted to harvesting prime road kill. Didn't see any flies, must have died within the last 3 hours.

[IMG][/IMG]

My camp from last night 4 miles south of San Pacinto behind a church complex


[IMG][/IMG]

Rode the devils highway most of the morning, good to put down some miles while it's cool and not windy.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

Not sure what this guy was up to but was curious

[IMG][/IMG]

At the Mickey dees in kingsville home of the mighty "brahmas", going through a town with more than 5k population is like being in the big city to me at this point. Thinking about going for another century so I can get into Harligen early and expedite the repair process. O and one of the cooks at Micky Dees was getting taken out by a sheriff on warrants when I arrived, his name? Henry

Got a light tailwind good shoulder and am holding 15 mph with ease, gonna try and break my own personal best of 115 mi , it's a straight shot down Highway 77 aka the texas tropical highway, 75 mph posted limit

Made it 115 miles to just outside of Harligen before accepting a ride from Richard who has hosted many cycle tourists entering and exiting mexico. He is very gracious and looks like I can stay with him for a few days while I get my plan sorted, to hear about all the people he has put up and that they have had no bad deals while cycling along the Gulf of Mexico is refeshing and makes me think maybe just to go for .

[IMG][/IMG]

To matamoros and beyond!

Here are some photos from the last couple days.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

Rode for a bit with this gentleman leaving Lake Jackson.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

This next series was from the big 100+ mile day from Silsbee to Galveston.

[IMG][/IMG]


[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

A very tiny water treatment plant

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

Crossing the intercoastal

[IMG][/IMG]

Bolivar Peninsula

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

Good thing about bicycling is you can always get great parking.

[IMG][/IMG]

From yesterdays big ride into Harligen, Highway 77 "Texas Tropical Highway" which I rode for close to 90 miles, it had a full lane sized shoulder bisected by a rumble strip which makes traveling with vehicles going 65 mph + much more bearable.

[IMG][/IMG]

Rest stop

[IMG][/IMG]

Towards the end of the day in Raymondsville 25 miles north of Harligen.

[IMG][/IMG]

Feeling pretty good overall, took the stitches out of my elbow this morning and am about to head over to Bicycle World and have my bike worked on although it really doesn't need much in my opinion. Looking to start stage 3 of this trip by Saturday or Sunday depending on when the last of my mail comes in.

You alive??

Sent from my SCH-I545 using 2+2 Forums

Yes chacharu, alive and well thanks for asking. To update, after staying 4 nights with Richard in Harligen I decided to make moves towards Brownsville and the Mexico border which was a fairly uneventful 25 mile ride. Got one good photo of a fine looking pony, feel bad for the ones that are tethered but it looks like they were using it as a mower evidenced by the little circular swathes of nibbled plant matter on either side of where I passed it.

[IMG][/IMG]

Got to Brownsville on Saturday the 18th in the evening and was faced with the temptation of spending a weekend night in the notorious La Zona Roja, even changed a few hundred dollars to pesos in anticipation of the debauchery. Rode around downtown Brownsville for a bit looking for a meal and thinking things over when finally I came to the conclusion that entering Mexico with thoughts of pool halls, mujeres, and cervezas was really not the right mindset.

So I got a cheap $40 hotel room at the very historic looking Hotel Cameron and text messaged Captain John in Port Isabel about meeting to discuss the sailing voyage he had hoped to take to Isla Mujeres MX sometime this year. Sunday I rode from Brownsville to Port Isabel (24 mi) in an agonizing headwind but it was pretty and there were throngs of sport fisherman out working the tidal inlets leading into town.

Met up with John and his friend Wes for lunch at the very touristy Pirates Landing where we discussed sailing, and got to know each other. John invited me to stay the night on his boat for the night which is docked right next to his home in a private community on Long Island next to Port Isabel. Since then we have more or less agreed that during my time here I will work on fixing up the boat in exchange for passage to the Yucatan sometime in the next 2-3 months.

Here is the boat (my temporary home) currently named Calliope but that might change according to John.

[IMG][/IMG]

John working on the electrical panel.

[IMG][/IMG]

Boat needs the external teak sanded and treated with Cetol (similar to varnish), and full paint. Standing rigging needs to be inspected and possibly replaced, think other than that the boat sails and could probably make it to Yucatan as is.

John is a psychologist by trade and still works 4 days a week so that limits the amount of time he can commit towards working with me on the Calliope, while he is gone I have been sanding teak and cleaning. Him and his wife Margot live in a private community that very much reminds me of "Del Boca Vista" from Seinfeld, lot's of senior citizens, just about everyone has a golf cart used to get around the community, private par 3 golf course, community center, tennis courts, etc. They even have a board where drama will ensue from time to time with loads of old folks getting feisty over a variety of matters.

Last drinking binge was in Galveston 10/10 and that little episode resulted in a wicked cold and depression both of which are finally clearing. Hope that smashed any illusions of me being able to enjoy a few drinks every week or so, drinking makes me feel like rubbish and I do stupid things like smoke cigarettes.

Eating well, sleeping well and fixing to play some basketball with the locals tonight so things are good. The chance to sail this last leg is a HUGE opportunity I have to pursue, there will be other chances to ride through Mexico in the coming years and with any luck my mind and the criminal elements will be more tranquil. Oh and John's last boat sank 18 miles offshore while charting a family of Guatemalans and they had to be rescued so the element of danger remains! And the farthest he has ever sailed is to Galveston which is less than 300 miles away where as the trip to Yucatan will be more than twice that and across open water in the Gulf of Mexico

Great enjoyment from your thread. Recognized places in Richmond and Fredericksburg. I have a new even greater respect for the overburdened bikers I see on Rt. One
You might be interested in reading The Third Policeman by Flann Obrien. The bicycle is perhaps the main character. O'Brien (O'nolan) was a contemporary of Joyce and of equal talent sadly dispersed by alcoholism.
15 miles is all I cam manage...admire your courage.

Thanks Mulezen, I will look into getting a copy of "The Third Policeman", tearing through Joshua Slocum's "Sailing Around The World Alone" which is really inspiring.


I see Oilville is not far from Goochland both of which were west of my route into Richmond but not far. Here are some more photos from that area which I don't believe got posted.

After seeing the mascot for this team I got quite confused wondering why anyone would have a rat represent them, only to find out later it was actually a flying squirrel.

[IMG][/IMG]

William Byrd park was popping because it was either 4th of July or very close to, the ride across 161 and the James river was harrowing and exhilarating. Felt kind of silly as there was a pedestrian walkway I could have used but I probably would have had to go slow to ride it.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

Kind of wish I had spent more time in Richmond, next time!

I think the bridge is what the locals call "the nickel bridge" after what the toll once was. Friends in the 70's would, in their custom bikes, tear past the toll booth and in the downslope try to beat the traffic to the other side.

Basketball with the locals went okay, nobody dunked on me even made a few jump shots. The court is a nice one indeed, should be able to play 3x per week while I'm here.

[IMG][/IMG]

B.A Baracus appears to be a resident of Port Isabel
[IMG][/IMG]

Texas continues to amaze with it's unique and quirky ways, campaigning done Texas style.

[IMG][/IMG]

Got a lot of sanding done today, just got back from a night ride where I came across these two fisherman decked out in waders carrying spears, and floodlights on a flounder round up.

[IMG][/IMG]

Well these are the things which moves ahead in this way so that all can stay well. Thinking of being better at these things surely have an impact especially for the people who are passionately or professionally in it.

The situation in Tamaulipas State has been and continues to be a humanitarian crisis of the first order. Perhaps the movement towards decriminalization/legalization of Marijuana and increased domestic supply here in USA has lead the cartels to commit more kidnappings for ransom.

A physician who had been tweeting anonymously about the violence and criminal activity of cartels in Reynosa has been kidnapped and executed but not before the executioners used her own twitter handle to post photos before and after the act.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/article...er-murder.html

Was only a few miles from El Control Mexico on my ride from Harligen to Brownsville.

http://news.yahoo.com/bodies-found-m...221947244.html

To think the people of Mexico have been living under these conditions for close to 8 years is staggering.

Working on the boat and sailing in a couple of months sounds like a sweet adventure!!! Sounds like settling down for sometime is welcoming for you... I know that after much movement, I welcome with open arms some down time and a bit of stability.

GL with the boat and the hoops friend!!!

been away for a bit so just caught up on the posts from this month, as always great read/pics. Sounds like its probably a good idea to take the boat if you can I'm sure either way it will be exciting. Had no clue that the border city/state down there in mexico was so bad but i guess that makes sense since the cartel blacks out all info lol. gl

Great read so far. Subscribing.

Hello!
[IMG][/IMG]
It's been a while and circumstances have prompted me to post a few pictures and update you all on my journey.

From my first sail on Miss Calliope, Captain John brought along two of his friends from the Port Isabel Yacht Club the woman has been a commercial pilot/captain for most of her adult life in many different parts of the US and Canada.

Not many people could pull off this shirt....

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

These Bottlenose dolphins followed us for about 20 minutes, it was amazing.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

These pictures were taken around 11/6, and since then a lot has happened. Up until 11/15 my last drink had been in Galveston TX after a 100+mi day, predictably after doing that kind of mileage I was on a plateau endorphins flowing in a new town, riding by all the bars seeing people having fun, it was so enticing. The next day's hangover and subsequent ride had me swearing off alcohol for the umpteenth time, and for close to 50 days not a drop passed my lips.
There were weekly LSD journeys of course and lot's of online pokering, but no real substantial work was being done to treat my mental health issues. Flash back to August when me and Neely from Bicycle house went to fetch the cruiser bikes and ship them back to Tallahassee, one of the things I packed up in a bike box was my A.A big book. I carried that with me all the way from Tallahassee to Port Isabel and never opened it once, nor did I attend any meetings.
So there I was sitting on a sailboat feeling lonely, depressed, anxious, scared of the future, ashamed of my past. As they say, "poor me, poor me, pour me another!". Somehow despite all my history with alcohol, missed opportunities, broken relationships, poor health, I found myself at a bar on a Saturday night getting hammered knowing full well what direction that would head in. Big difference being I didn't have anywhere to ride to the next day, and very little in the way of obligations. We worked on the boat around John's medical practice schedule which was about 3-4 days a week.
Going into that Saturday night binge I actually was thinking "Ok, you've taken a nice break have some beers, cut loose and then back to the water wagon for a few weeks/months". The next two days were awful even though I really didn't consume that much alcohol my body and mind were in full revolt but the obsession had never been lifted and once the craving kicks in stopping can be quite the conundrum.
My solution to this problem was to head back for Thanksgiving and possible reconciliation with my estranged wife and a visit with the family. I had a return ticket to Texas and fully planned on coming back to my trip, A.A and ultimately Mexico.
That did not happen, what DID happen was I made a promise that I couldn't keep to my mother and wife. Neither one of them would let me stay with them considering they just wanted me to go to a rehab, so my solution was to spend a few days in Atlantic City playing poker. I promised them if I were to take that first drink the trip would be over and my ass would find a rehab.
I played about 24 hours straight at Borgata, booked a nice win then jumped in a noon tournament. Sober. But one thing led to another, my emotions, fatigue and tremendous obsession with alcohol inevitably got the best of me. On a tournament break I made a b-line for the race book where I purchased a tumbler of Jameson and draft beer. Poured the Jameson into that beer and went on 4 day tear of alcohol soaked degeneracy.
Taj Mahal 15-30-45 Stud Hi-lo/O8 game with the best dealer in the whole joint.

[IMG][IMG][/IMG][/IMG]

1-2 NL with some wild ass Persian dudes, guy with the fur collar actually managed to get drunker than me and more obnoxious which was kind of a relief.

[IMG][/IMG]

Being on a binge in A.C during the winter months is depressing enough, but since I like to take things to the extreme I holed up in the infamous Fox Hill Manor across from the Tropicana a place I had vowed never to return to. It made the place I was staying at in Jacksonville look posh, things got so bad instead of taking the Jitney or a cab to good games at Borgata I would just roll out of bed and stumble over to Tropicana to play with 4 or 5 old man coffees at 11am or 12 and start the day over getting completely wasted.

Thanks to a close friend in Philadelphia I was able to spare myself any more self destruction and proceeded directly to a treatment facility in Lancaster PA called Retreat. Thanks to health insurance it was like a 30 day vacation all for only $1800 out of pocket, and something I probably needed despite my pride. While in rehab I got word from the wife that she wants a divorce, reinjured my surgically repaired ACL playing sports, and generally hated went through a wide range of emotions.
I got reeducated on all things recovery, made some friends, crafted a chess set and board, and racked up 30 days of clean time.

Chess set is made out of modeling clay, paint is acrylic. Board/Box is cardboard painted with acrylic.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

So I was in amish country for Christmas & New Years at a rehab when I could have been cycling or sailing in the tropics

It was worth it, Mexico will always be there. If and when I get another opportunity to cycle it then this alcoholic will be more stable and secure in his recovery, otherwise it's just too big a risk and too much for my family and remaining friends to take.

On Jan 3rd I got discharged from Retreat and have been staying in a halfway house located in Germantown PA. Germantown is awesome, founded in 1681 it has some very well preserved architecture, fascinating historical sights and riding a bicycle on Germantown Ave is about as dangerous as anything I've encountered!

There are cobblestones on either side of the street, old steel trolley tracks embedded in both lanes, and parked cars on either side. Add in some aggressive city drivers and the result is me looking for alternative ways to get around without riding it!

Here are a few pics from the area.

One of these guys didn't like me taking his picture, I politely told him that it was for a photography class.

[IMG][IMG][/IMG][/IMG]

Urban roadkill

[IMG][/IMG]

The Schuylkill River trail (west).

[IMG][/IMG]

Neighborhood Bike Works in University City, it's a community bike shop located in the basement of a church. Looking to get involved volunteering there.

[IMG][/IMG]

The recovery house is a good place for me, I'm accountable to my housemates for staying sober, have regular company, and can go through a trying experience with people doing the same thing. I'm at around 9 weeks of continuous sobriety which is the longest stretch of my adult life, this is huge. When I set out on this trip alcoholism had rendered me unemployable, dissolved my marriage, and left me in a very fragile emotional and mental state. I didn't reach my geographical goal but thats ok, I had an amazing experience and am in a better place now in part because of it.

It was a pleasure sharing it with you and fully intend to do another cycle trip at some point in the future, but for the next few months-year I will focus on staying sober.

One thing to close out, there was guy who came to stay here about 2 weeks into my stay who had been addicted to heroin and had recently left a treatment center. It seems he could not stay off heroin despite being here as a result of their policy he was asked to leave for 48 hours minimum to clear out his system. Unfortunately for this person it was all too much for him and he ended his own life by getting in front of a SEPTA train at the Broad and Tasker Station yesterday. Today his sister and mother came to pick up the rest of his belongings. Addiction has brought me to a mindset of entertaining thoughts of suicide, I don't ever want to go back to that place, now I'm willing to do the work, take advice, and put my health first because life is great and there are lot's of fun places to go and things to do yet many of which won't be possible for me as a drunk

[IMG][/IMG]

Good luck OP! Enjoyed this thread & truly hope you're able to stay clean via AA, counseling, & whatever other therapies & means you employ.

If however that doesn't work, check out ibogaine treatments. Mexico was your original destination; if you were to choose to go the ibogaine route you'd likely end up there anyway!

Epic post and thx for sharing man! I hear you on the alcohol, it definitely had some devastating effects on me at the end, just before I quit last year. I still see myself doing a few trips of mushrooms and ayahuaska down the line, but mainly for the journey, not the habit (and also, I must admit, to step away from a monotone sober life, if only momentarily...).

Very interesting theread, best of luck Hank, take care of yourself

Good luck on your new journey, Hank.

Hank
I hadn't checked the thread for months. Sorry to hear of your relapse but am impressed with your determination. If you're through my neck of the woods I'd be pleased to buy you dinner.
Joe