Compass 650

So apparently this blog is updated once a month.  Is a once-a-month blog even a blog at all?  I'd answer that with a solid NO, but whatever.... It's not that the journey thus far hasn't provide material or inspiration to write, it's just that simply put, I haven't been motivated to stop and take the time necessary to get it all down on paper.  Day to day activities fill my time with all the usual suspects (moto prep, surf, beer, food, reading, friends, surf, beer, sleep).  And while it all seems pretty standard it's precisely that which I'm enjoying thoroughly, focusing on.  The normalcy of my life on the moto is what I'm trying to take in, unfortunately when I get to "taking it in" I very rarely allow time for writing it down.  It's ok, it's alright, calma, the story as it runs moment to moment is stained on my memory and these anecdotes aren't going anywhere anytime soon.  In fact as I went to sleep the other night I calmed my ...

Sometimes you need something to kick start you a little, to put things into motion that you really didn't realize were stopped in the first place.  I'm still at a loss for what it is that keeps the gears turning or why they stop.  In fact I don't even really understand what it means for me to be personally fluid vs static just yet.  At this point I'm only feeling those moments where I recognize change and the flashes of brilliance that demarcate one to the other.  Fuck man I'm at loss of which is better to be honest.  Sometimes it really feels good for the gears to stop for a minute, a while, hell indefinitely.  It feels comfortable and relaxing, I like that.  But then there's that moment that you had no idea was even necessary that wakes you up and gets the machine moving again, and that's an indescribable feeling.  These wake-up moments get me excited if only for the fact that they inherently catch me by surprise and breath a new life into my be...

Ooookay so I ate too much.  It was good, it was too damn good and I ate to much.  Any of you that have known me long enough know that I'm prone to eating to the point of moaning in discomfort all the while being wholly satisfied with a job well done.  Problem is, I really, really had every intention of grazing slowly and giving myself time to digest everything, to put something (anything) down on paper.  Instead it's been somewhere over a month since my last post and little to no writing has occurred in that span, I've just been gorging myself on all that is living the life of ripping bikes all over central Mexico.  All times consuming, no time digesting.  But GD am I satisfied.  So that's it, my final race here in MX was last Saturday and a rip it was.  Great times with great people and a slightly different spin as this was a 5 stage Enduro race (I've done only DH races to this point).  As per usual we ended up indulging in more than a...

Another week in the books and another catalog of badassery that's hard to put into words or photos.  I am certain they will find their way into the anecdotes and camp fire stories in the years to come by way of half drunk related tall tales full of the typical embellishments and comical recollections.  I'm not sure if this blog has a point beyond preserving the broad outline of those memories and providing my friends and family with proof that I'm still kicking.  So I sit and try to recall everything the past 7 days brought to being and I can only laugh to myself and smile in a very real way knowing that it's simply impossible to accurately relay it all.  I mean to some degree that's the point right?  I'm here doing this shit instead of reading it on purpose.  This isn't an accident.  F, or maybe I'm just a terrible writer.  I'd say a pretty important step in writing is being able to put pen to paper. Right now I suck at that.  Niiiiice So...

Yeah I kinda saw this one coming from a mile away.  The walking heap of shit that I am right now warranted renting a cabin in the mountains for a couple of days to recover from the race weekend in Morelia and made for some much needed down time.  It's raining its ass off, cold, and I have a stocked supply of coffee and beer.  Time to catch up on some writing...... The past couple of weeks bouncing around Mexico will affectionately be remembered by me as the first two real weeks of stretching the legs out on Rita (my KLR 650).  There really is nothing like the feeling of the road when it first finds itself beneath your feet (wheels), sadly we accidentally become used to roaming and those first few moments of uncertainty and excitement fade without notice.  It starts to replace itself with confidence and efficiency, it morphs into letting your guard down a little more and more.  It allows for a deeper and more true experience where ever the day may...

A good friend of mine reminded me the other day of the pitfalls of seeking.  It gave me pause for what exactly the proper approach to all of this may be, if there's an approach at all.  Seeking, expecting, accidentally creating, all of these are wrought with the danger of somehow missing what's right in front of you.  Observe.  Positioning isn't as important as the object itself, let's not worry with how we see something.  Let's start with seeing it in the first place.  Observe.  Badass Jim, well timed, let's see where this takes us.  Get it, see.....   Vamos! PS- This is definitely not your mom's Mexico.  Holy Shit.

A few quick photos from a remarkably cold and rainy first few days in the mountains of north-central Mexico.  What incredibly rich, dynamic surroundings this country has to offer just over the border from Texas.  From the oppressive heat of the Texas plains to this in a matter of hours, literally no words for how misunderstood the geography of this country is in the USA(including my own).  Stoked to be in San Luis de La Paz after a few days of pretty heavy miles.  Home base for the next couple of months.  Gracias Juan y Juancho!  Let's do this!

Yeah Gasoline.  This fire has been lit for longer than I can remember and has provided me with a vague sense of direction and purpose without ever really identifying itself.  Just keep the fire going Will.  Well I did that, the fire is still there and without a doubt has had more than enough fuel over the years to stay lit, it's just, well, it's time to toss some 89 octane on it (not 103, I'm not an idiot, sheesh).  Not sure what analogy would be more appropriate but we all have that one drunk camping friend that while no ones looking finds a can of gas no one even knew existed and makes a run at the fire with it.  No sense in stopping him, it'll only make matters worse (believe it or not he actually knows what he's doing).  Just watch with a detached satisfaction as the blaze in front of you turns into something you didn't even know you wanted to see.  It was a good fire before, a damn good fire.  But man look at that!  It actually looks ...