The Last Hill Before Home

The school has been built!

2010-07-29T12:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

It is my absolute pleasure to be sending you this email today.

On Monday, July 26th I received a final report from my contact at Plan USA informing us about the school construction project in Jalapa, Guatemala. The school is complete and the 500 plus children of El Camaron, Guatemala are using their 2 new classrooms to help continue their education. We all should be extremely proud to be a part of something so special. We came together a year ago to raise $15,000 for two new classrooms to help out the children in this small community. Attached is the report from Plan. If you have a moment please take a look at the report. Included are photos and testimonials from the children.

Thank you to everyone who pitched in to help make this a success. Without your support this would not have been possible.

One Love,

Aaron

Plan Guatemala

REPORT ON EL CAMARON PROJECT – GAD GTM0116
Primary School Construction

For SP: Mr. Aaron Zukoski
SC: 333-71408 Medardo Mendez Pérez

July 23, 2010

INTRODUCTION

The Zukoski Grant Project to build two classrooms in the National Education Primary School in El Camarón community was implemented with financial support from Aaron Zukoski, to improve the conditions in which children from this community receive classes. The project originally included the construction of two classrooms; however, support from the municipal government, also made it possible for children in the kindergarten to benefit from the donation, replacing the kindergarten roof, which was in poor condition, and paving the student recreation area with concrete.

PROJECT OBJECTIVE
Provide a suitable physical space for educational activities in El Camarón community by building two primary school classrooms.

BUDGET
PLANNED: $ 15,571 Construction of 2 primary school classrooms

DISBURSED: $15,704 Construction of 2 classrooms
Kindergarten roof, pavement of patio

PROJECT EXECUTION
El Camarón is the largest community in San Luís Jilotepeque, with a population of 3,000 inhabitants; however, the illiteracy rate exceeds 50% in the adult population. There are only two primary schools and one kindergarten in the community. The largest of the schools has 370 students and 11 teachers. This school had three classrooms to attend to six grades, with some of grades having two sections.

The project began with a wonderful visit to the community by Aaron Zukoski in March 2009, when he met with inhabitants, especially children, as seen in the photograph.

During this visit, Aaron offered to promote fund-raising activities in his country for the construction of two classrooms. This was one of the community’s greatest needs, to give children a pleasant learning environment for their educational development.

Municipal authorities who were present during the visit made a commitment to support the project by contributing skilled labor, while community authorities agreed to contribute unskilled labor to accomplish what at that moment was still only a dream.

The first phase of construction project began on August 10, 2009. This photo shows the excavation of trenches for the classroom foundation, with the participation of parents and the technical assistance of an architect delegated by Plan.

In November, parents were much more encouraged by the project’s progress since construction had advanced to the point seen in the photographs. Parents, school children and members of the Community Development Council (COCODE), which represents the community, participated in the construction. The municipality of San Luís Jilotepeque contributed skilled labor with two masons and the COCODE, along with the school’s teachers, was responsible for coordinating and managing construction materials and labor, with Plan’s ongoing accompaniment

In December 2009, thanks to additional support from the donor and the kind-hearted people who supported the project, the school’s main patio, an unpaved area where children play, was paved with concrete.

From savings on the purchase of materials for the classrooms, it was possible to replace the roof on the little kindergarten. The roof had deteriorated because the structure’s lifetime had expired. This contribution gave the 98 children a safer roof that does not leak in the rainy season, as can be seen in the photos, meaning they are not at risk during classes.

This is a side view inside one of the four classrooms where the roof was replaced.

The next photograph shows the replaced roof from outside, along the small walkway.

In February, construction of the two beautiful classrooms was completed, as can be seen in the following photographs.

This photograph shows the walkway outside the two newly-constructed classrooms, currently used by first grade students.

The students are seen in the next photograph.

Children are now using the facilities thanks to the donation for this project. This section of the report includes some testimonials from children who have benefited from the project.

Eliazar (8 years old) is in the first grade. “I like the classrooms a lot. I am grateful to the people who helped make them.”

Hilda Marleny (8 years old) is in the first grade. “I like the classrooms a lot. Thank you for helping us make the classrooms. We feel good about studying in the new classroom. It is prettier than the other classrooms.”

Teachers are also grateful for this altruistic act from sponsor Aaron Zukoski and everyone who made El Camarón community’s dream into reality and contributed to the children’s educational development.

This photograph shows the four teachers from the kindergarten where the roof was replaced.

Medardo’s family is very grateful for the changes they have seen in their community. Mr. Santos Erasmo Mendez (the father) said, “I am grateful to the godfather for visiting the community. It was very moving to receive him in our home. Medardo was very pleased with the little presents he brought him and I am thankful for the support for our community by building classrooms to enlarge the school, fixing the school’s main patio and replacing the kindergarten roof. I hope the godfather is very successful in this work and that his visit will not be the last.”

Mr. Aaron Zukoski, you are always welcome to come back and visit our village and see your great project.

Plan Guatemala thanks you for your support and guarantees that many children, now and in the future will benefit from your kind assistance.

An amazing event

2009-09-28T23:28:00.000-07:00

On November 19th, 2007 I set off on an around the world trip. The plan was to visit South East Asia, India, Africa, Europe and South America over a stretch of 10 months. On Saturday, April 25th, 2009 (17 months later) I finally made my way back to San Francisco, CA. Instead of stepping off a plane at San Francisco international Airport I came back on a Raleigh 300 cross country touring bike via Panama City, Panama.

My 17 month around the world experience was a life changing experience. My travelling mantra of "try anything, do everything and challenges are only opportunities" changed the way in which I see the world. Along my travelers I met many different people from all places on this beautiful planet. Before I came home I wanted to do something to give back to these amazing people and to this beautiful world. So...I decided to ride a bike from Panama City, Panama to San Francisco, CA. I did this to raise awareness and funds for children living in poverty in Central America. Specifically, the goal was to raise $15,000 for a school construction project in a small community 3 hours north of Guatemala City. I worked with an amazing organization Plan USA. Combined with Plan USA and supporters from back home in San Francisco we created The Last Hill Before Home. A grassroots all volunteer project aimed to create solutions for children living in poverty in Central America.

I got back to San Francisco on April 25th, 2009. By the time I rolled across the Golden Gate bridge the Last Hill Project had raised $11,000! Not bad especially considering the economic time that we live in today.

To raise the remaining $4,000 we decided to throw one last fundraiser. The Last Hill project decided to turn its attention to a one day special photography exhibit benefit and auction. For the fundraiser, I would gather together 6 other photographers that I met on my trip around the world. Bringing together these photographers was a challenge in and of itself but the hard work paid off. When all the photographers were picked I had a collection of 7 photographers with 7 photographs. Each photograph told a unique story about travel and culture. These photographs became the backbone of the "7 Views" photography exhibit. In addition, we were lucky enough to get 111 Minna Art gallery in downtown San Francisco to host the event. On top of that, San Francisco's local emcee Orukusaki provided an amazing line up of entertainment. from there, the Last Hill's very own Michael Ward presented a poetry reading and another artist Michael Peterson donated an amazing original piece of art. the stage was set for an amazing day.

About 150-200 people from the local San Francisco community rolled out to the event. The photographs were amazing and inspiring, the music was entertaining, the poem was moving, the painting was breath taking and the crowd was supportive. Everyone came together to and talked about giving and helping and in the end the last remaining funds were raised for the school construction project in Jalapa. With the funds the 400+ children of Jalapa, Guatemala will be able to have a clean and safe place to be educated. For the first time there will be enough space to open up high school classes. And maybe, eventually, these kids will be able to attend college.

Thank you to everyone who came out to the event. It was a spectacular time!

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Photo's for sale - Help the children of Guatemala

2009-09-28T22:13:00.000-07:00

$30
Chennai, India
Wandering through the slums
Rishi Oswal
rishio.com
15x20
$45
Sliding Across The Sky
Valle de la Luna, Atacama Desert
Trekking through the Atacama Desert in the Spring of 2008.
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Aaron Zukoski
lasthillbeforehome.blogspot.com
12x18

$35

Tel Aviv, Israel
This was one of a series of spectacular sunsets that I witnessed during my stay in Tel Aviv, Israel. On this day the sky had a pink purple tint and horizon was clear except for this one sail boat.
Wei Hu
whereiswei.com

6.5x20

$45
Every satsang and puja ends with a ceremony know as 'arati'. A flame, symbolizing the light of knowledge, is waved before images of the deities and teachers while mantras are chanted. Likewise the ego vanishes without a trace when incinerated by the dawning of knowledge.
Rishi Oswal
rishio.com

15x20

$45
“Gateway”
St Louis Arch, Missouri
Joshua Rapp

13.5x20

$30
OK Pilot
Brian kelleher
http://www.gravelbox.net/

12x18

$30
Wilhelm Scream
Brian Kelleher

http://www.gravelbox.net/

12x18

$30
“The Fight”
Carson Pass Trail, Sierra Nevada Mountains
Joshua Rapp

12x18

$30
“Keeping Time”
Astronomical Clock, Prague
Joshua Rapp

12x18

$30
Rehasher
Brian kelleher

http://www.gravelbox.net/

$35
Neyar Dam, India
Morning Sunrise past the clear lake against the backdrop of the mountains.
Rishi Oswal
rishio.com

15x20

$30
Indian Smiles, Yukson to Tashiding
Sikkim, India
We were walking between the small rural villages of Yuksom and Tashiding when this Ute of four children went past.
rataphotography.co.nz
13.5x20

$25
Sakes Alive
Brian Kelleher
http://www.gravelbox.net/

12x18

$25
Mamallapuram, India
Walking under rock formations
Rishi Oswal
rishio.com

12x16

$40
West Coast
South Island, New Zealand
This was the first freelance commercial work I had done and the first helicopter flight I had been on. When we’d come to the coast I whipped around and took a few quick snaps of the coast line, it looked amazing.
Lisa Howard
rataphotography.co.nz

12.5x18 $45
Sliding Across The Sky
Valle de la Luna, Atacama Desert
Trekking through the Atacama Desert in the Spring of 2008.
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Aaron Zukoski
lasthillbeforehome.blogspot.com

Friends....

Thank you to those of you who made it out to the "7 Views" Photography exhibit benefit and auction at 111 Minna on September 19th. Our community came together to view some inspiring photos from around the world and to raise money and support for a school construction project in Jalapa, Guatemala. In total, about 150-200 people came to the event in San Francisco and with your help we hit our goal of $15,000. The construction is already in progress in Gautemala and in a short time the community will have 2 new classrooms to house 400+ children and to bring much needed education to the community.

A few people have expressed interest in purchasing one of the remaining photos from the event. Above are the photos from the event that did not sell. I have also attached a discounted price to the photo. If you would like to make a contribution to the children of Guatemala via Plan USA you can do it today. Please email me if you would like to purchase one of the remaining photos. All donations are safe and secure and will go towards the school project in Guatemala. I can be reached by email and my address is below.

Thank you again to all that came out in support.

Peace,

Aaron

azukoski@gmail.com

To make a donation...
http://www.firstgiving.com/lasthillbeforehome

I can deliever the photo to you directly if you live in the Bay Area. If not I will have to ship. Price does no incuding shipping.

Mike's Poem

2009-09-28T21:37:00.000-07:00

My great buddy Michael Ward and I at our fundraiser for the Last Hill Before Home at Le Scorpion in Los Angeles.

For those of you who missed it...Below is Mike's poem that he read at the "7 Views" photography exhibit benefit and auction at 111 Minna in San Francisco on Saturday, September 19th. His poem was inspired by two things. One, he wrote the poem as a if he were me. He got the content from stories that we shared as we rode our bikes from Panama City, Panama to the border of Costa Rica. It was an amazing 2 weeks that we spent together and a time that I will never forget. Two, he got inspiration from the photo above. The photo above I took while walking across Spain on the Camino de Santigo. It is one of my faviorte photos from my journey and this poem was inspired by that. The trip and this fundraiser has been a life changing experience for me...one that I will never forget. Hewas able to put this amazing story to life through his poem.

Mike...Thank you so much for the poem and having the courage to stand up in front of a room full of strangers to deliever it. It was an amazing thing to do. Much love...

Born as a simple thought in my mind
A fantasy to leave the daily grind
I poured my energy into this thought
Becoming detached from things I’d bought
Life is not about the big tv
Or these thousand count sheets
So much more for me to see
Beyond these crowded streets
So strong was this thought
It eventually became real
I sold off most possessions
I listened to what I feel
With no idea what I was going to find
I knew I had to leave it all behind
Setting out into the great unknown
How can I describe all the things I’ve been shown?
I walked the world for over a year
Through many lessons
it became very clear
The trip was the beginning
Rather than an end
From all corners of the world
I made many a friend
The places the people
Each playing a part
Teaching me in life
You must follow your heart
I realized that no matter
Where my shadow may fall
That I am
We Are
A part of it all.
With one world
One people
One sky up above
In spite of our differences
We share One Love
Little by little
I began to see
The trip was about more
Than just me
It played in my head
Like the words of a song
“give back to that which I belong”
Scary and crazy it would seem
But I felt my calling,
It became my dream
My vision was born
In piece and bit
When it came together
I knew this was it
All of my travels
Brought me here
At a moment in time
It all became clear
Many of days
My shadow stretched long
Each step I took
Was a verse to this song
It took the world
For me to roam
So together
We could climb
The Last Hill Before Home!

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

The photo exhibit

2009-09-28T21:09:00.000-07:00

Yo!

It's been a while since the last post. And there is a good reason for that...busy...busy...busy for the "7 Views" photography benefit and exhibit.

Where do I start? Lets start with the week before the exhibit.

The week leading up to the exhibit was probably one of the busiest weeks of my life. First off....thank you to Brian and Casie for all the help and support that week. Without the two of you I certainly would not have been able to get everything together.

The Monday before the exhibit I started a new job. That's another story for another blog. In short...I'm with an awesome company called Trulia. they are an online real estate search engine. An awesome company with great vision. They help people find homes and help real estate professionals connect with those buyers. I started work on Monday and with that I was back in the great American workforce. So, my days, were filled with dot com stuff and at night I was busy working with Brian and Casie on the event. All of the small things started to catch up with us like cutting cardboard backs for the pictures and inserting them into sleeves. It was all busy work but in the end the photos looked amazing, the programs were ready to go and the show was finally here. It was all a lot of 2am nights but it was well worth the work.

111 Minna, in downtown San Francisco, is the perfect place to throw a fundraiser, especially one that has an artistic element. The event space was perfect! Alfredo was working hard on the entertainment and his band's came through! The music was a great element to the party. Mike's poem was also such a great add to the party. His poem drew in a large round of applause and one of his friends even bought the photo that inspired the poem. Mike's friend, Mike, had his painting on display. It was also an artistic interpretation of the entire ride from Panama to San Francisco. I attached the photo above. The painting was auctioned off for $200 with the money going to the school in Jalapa.

Brian and I got to 111 Minna at 8am. It was fun setting up the photos for the show. Probably one of the coolest stories from that day came at 9am on Saturday morning. Michelle, the event planner for 111 Minna, noticed one of the photos. While she was looking at the photo she got on the phone to her sister. The photo is by Brian Kelleher and is of the punk rock band NOFX. Apparently, Michelle's sister is married to one of the guys in the band. On top of that....the guy in the picture is Michelle's brother in law! Brian took the picture of NOFX in a small bar back east. Its an awesome photo! What a great way to start off the event! Michelle called her sister and she came down to the event with some friends and put a $80 bid on the photo...and won it! Brian if you are reading this...you might like to know that your freaking awesome picture of the lead singer of NOFX is comfortably chilling at his condo in the SOMA district of San Francisco! hahahah!

All in all the event was an absolute success. About 150 to 200 people came through the doors at 111 Minna. The music was fantastic, the photos looked professional and everyone was in great spirits at the event. We raised around $3,000 in total and with that we hit our goal of $15,000. The IF which is the young professional club of the World Affair Forum co-sponsored the event and brought a large group of people. Poem's were read, stories were told but most importantly awareness was raised for children in need of help and a school is going to be built in Jalapa, Guatemala.

Plan's Regional Development Director, Kristina Miletic, also came out to the event to pass out a few flyers and meet some of the attendees at the event. She is a total trooper because she flew in that morning and had to fly out that night for an engagement. She brought down a ton of information on Plan and we were able to pass it out to the people that came threw the door.

There are a million thank you's to give out but I think I may save that for one special long thank you blog. but...for all those that helped make this event successful THANK YOU!!!!!!

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Entertainment for the Event at 111 Minna on Saturday, September 19th from noon to 6pm

2009-09-15T20:26:00.001-07:00

Here's the lineup...

Sat Sept. 19th 12pm - 6pm

12:00pm - 1:45pm - (D.J.s)

1:45pm -1:55pm - OrukusaKi

1:55- 2:10pm - Cio Castenada

2:10pm - 2:25pm - Amy Serrata

2:25pm 2:30pm (band setup/DJ)

2:30pm - 2:55pm - Sarah Jaye

2:55pm-3:00pm(band setup/ DJ)

3:00pm - 3:45 pm Panthellion

3:45pm - 4:00pm (D.J.'s)

4:00pm - 4:45pm - Davu Flint

4:45pm - 5:00pm Plan USA / Aaron Z [speach]

(announce silent art auction ends 5:15pm)

5:00pm - 6:00pm D.J.'s

event ends at 6pm sharp

(artist sites)
http://www.panthelion.com
http://www.amyserrata.com
http://www.orukusaki.com
http://www.myspace.com/davuflint
http://www.myspace.com/ciocastaneda

Peace,

Aaron

7 Views - Bringing together travelers, photography and philanthrophy

2009-08-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

Photograph courtesy of Rishi Oswal.

Photograph courtesy of Aaron Zukoski.

Photograph courtesy of Lisa Howard.

Photograph courtesy of Joshua Rapp.

Photograph courtesy of Brian Kelleher.

Photograph courtesy of Brian Kelleher

Photograph courtesy of Wei Hu

Photograph courtesy of Tom Robinson

Amigos...

The movement of prayer flags at Thorung la Pass, Nepal to the deep blue lake at Atitlan, Guatemala to wandering monks in Angkor Wat, Cambodia to punk concerts in New York, New York...this exhibit has the unique spirit of photography and adventure. Moody, inspiring, thought provoking, breath taking, energetic, vibrant and chilling are some of the words that I've heard when showing the samples for the "7 Views, 7 Travelers: Photos from Around The World" exhibit. The idea of this exhibit is to bring together 7 photographers and showcase their unique way in viewing the world that we live in today. I met each of these passionate characters on my 17 month around the world trip. None of them have met but each of them share 3 things in common: a special way of viewing the world through the camera lens, a love of travel and the desire to use their talent to give back to a greater cause.

I hope you can all make it out to the "7 Views" Photo exhibit benefit and auction on Saturday, September 19th from noon-6pm at 111 Minna Art Gallery in San Francisco, CA. The event is going to feature 7 amateur photographers and their photos from around the world. On hand will also be two live bands, a poetry reading, a special talk from the beneficiary, Plan USA, and a few stories from yours truly. The event is FREE with a suggested donations at the door, 21 and up and open to the public. At the end of the day all the photographs will be auctioned off with all proceeds going towards Plan USA and a school construction project for children living in poverty in Jalapa, Guatemala. Come on out to check out some inspiring photos or hear some cool beats on 111 Minna's awesome sound system or come out to simply show your support for the kids of Guatemala.

Above I have included 28 samples of the 49 photos that will be available for auction at the event. I finally received the last of the photos and this is the first time that I have put the samples together in one post. Over the past 2 months I have been collecting the photos from the photographers. Our photographers are scattered around the world and are in places like New Zealand, China, Australia and the UK. This truly international exhibit is a showcase of their amazing work. A special thanks goes out to all the photographers that have been kind enough to donate their amazing photography.

The Last Hill Before Home is an all volunteer project whose mission is to bring a solution to the problems that children face who live in poverty in Central America. The goal of the project is to raise $15,000 for a school construction project for a small community near the town of Jalapa, Guatemala. The school will provide the 400+ children of the community a safe and clean place to learn. The school will also provide a place for the children of the community to attend high school for the first time. With this safe learning environment the children of Jalapa will be able to open up doors of self-growth, optimism and opportunity.

This event will mark an end to this grassroots project that started back in November of 2008. Initially, I wanted to do an inspirational event that would bring attention and awareness to this cause. So, on January 19th, 2009 I decided to ride a bike from Panama City, Panama to San Francisco, CA. The entire ride crossed 8 countries, spaned over 3,500 miles and took 3 months and 7 days to complete. The ride finished on April 25th, 2009 when I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and rolled back into San Francisco. The ride is over and this "7 Views" event is the finally of this truly amazing project. I hope you can all make it out!

For more information on the photographers you can check them out here...

Rishi Oswal

http://www.rishio.com/

Wei Hu

http://www.whereiswei.com/

Lisa Howard

http://www.rataphotography.co.nz/

Tom Robinson

http://www.tomrobinsonphotography.com/

Joshua Rapp

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124736721575#/profile.php?id=1417578291

Brian Kelleher

http://www.gravelbox.net/

For more information about the event and to R.S.V.P.

http://www.facebook.com/azukoski?ref=name#/event.php?eid=115940855189&ref=mf

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

111 Minna

2009-08-17T21:12:00.000-07:00

I just went onto 111 Minna's webpage because I was going to send their link to a friend. I noticed that 111 Minna has a calender of event on their main page. Well I also noticed that September 19th had a link on it. Guess what came up...

Check it...
http://www.111minnagallery.com/?m=20090919&cat=3

I'm going to have to thank Risa for this...THANKS RISA!

Risa has been working on our press release information and she is getting the word out. Lookin Good!

Aaron

Kickin it with Mike

2009-08-15T20:25:00.000-07:00

Mike and I are headed out to the cituy to pass out some flyers for the event!

Nice car bro!

Aaron

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Hovclick.com

2009-08-15T19:04:00.000-07:00

Check out this killer Popup by Hovclick.

My buddy Blake added a Popup to my blog. On the popup itself we added the flyer to the event PLUS a link to the facebook event page. Now when one of my thousands of readers (hahahahah) go to the blog they'll be be (hopefully) directed to the event page.

Thanks for the help on this Blake!

www.hovclick.com

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Orukusaki

2009-08-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

Alfredo 'Orukusaki' and I are hard at work setting up our entertainment lineup for the exhibit at 111 Minna. Alfredo has a ton of contacts into the entertainment indusrty in San Francisco and he is putting together a dope lineup for the show.

For the show at 111 Minna he's got two hip-hop DJks, 3 solo musical live performances AND a live band. Alfredo will also be throwing down some of his own lyrics on a 15 to 20 minute set at the show itself.

This is going to be an awesome party. Save the date folks Saturday, September 19th from noon to 6pm.

Check out Alfredo's web page here...

www. Orukusaki.com

After working on the lineup for an hour or two at his cool and hip pad on Haight street in San Francisco we hit up a small trendy bar called Laszlo in The Mission to meet the DJ's that will be spoinnng at 111 Minna. Its was a fun night filled with rice and veggies at Fredo's pad and Red Stripes at Laszlo.

Thanks for the help on This Orukusaki!!!

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

The photographer's...

2009-08-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

Hola Amigos!

I hope this email reaches you all in good spirits. I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank you all for you amazing photographs for the 7 Views photo exhibit benefit and auction. It has been an absolute pleasure to see all of your amazing photography. Now that I have all 7 of your photo's I thought it would be a good time to make a proper intro. Below you will find the names of the photographers with web pages and facebook links. If you got a second you should check out each others web pages. This event is going to be amazing and I can't even begin to thank you all for your amazing donations. Its all going to such a great cause and together were going to raise the remaining $4,000 to build this school for the 400 children who live on $2 a day in Guatemala.

Tom Robinson

I met Tom on a slow boat ride on the Mekong river in Laos. Tom and his girlfriend Verity were doing an around the world trip and we were able to spend a few days sightseeing and taking some cool photos together in Northern Laos. Tom and His girlfriend live in London, UK.

http://www.tomrobinsonphotography.com/

Joshua Rapp

My Cousin! My cousin and I had an opportunity to do some travelling together in Germany, Austria, Prague and Slovakia last summer. I think the best time we had together was discovering the beer halls in Bratislava or taking his dog, Adonis, for walks in Munich's main parks. He needs to get a website up ASAP! He's got some great black and white pics from Korea to Germany to small towns in the good ol USA! Josh is a meteorologist for the US Air force and he has just moved to Seoul, Korea.

Wei Hu

Where in the world is Wei??? I met Wei in a cool ass Riad in Morocco. We kicked it a few times in between side trips to the coast or hiking in the Atlas mountain range. Wei was also on an around the world trip. Originally Wei is from Kansas, USA and he pursued his dream to travel around the world. I think Wei is somewhere in Vietnam but his current plans are to set up shop in Shanghai, China before heading back home.

http://www.whereiswei.com/

Brian Kelleher

Brian brings a unique perspective to the show. He has submitted 7 black and white pictures of punk shows from various places. Its a great addition. I can't wait to see the descriptions! Brian and I met in Pai Thailand. Pai is a cool little town in Northern Thailand. Days we spent lounging around by the small river and checking out the various food stalls in this cool little town. Brian, from Ireland, is somewhere in the Australian outback at the moment trying to wait out the economic crises! Good luck!

http://www.gravelbox.net/

Lisa Howard

I also met Lisa in Pai. Lisa, the only woman in our group, brings an exceptional viewpoint to the exhibit. Her pictures are amazing and her passion for adventure and travel really come through on her work. We spend long evenings in Pai trying to get the perfect shot of the bamboo bridge across the river. Lisa, from Australia, is spending some time in New Zealand doing exceptional work for the environment! thanks for the addition Lisa...we appreciate it! Lisa and her partner in crime, Adam, have an amazing web page. Check it out!

http://www.rataphotography.co.nz/

Rishi Oswal

Rishi and I spent a few days hanging out in a small ashram in the state of Kerela, India. He's photo's from his travels in India are passionate and inspiring. He shoots weddings to pay the bills but his love for photography is expressed is in his work. He currently lives in LA but he says he plans on moving to San Francisco soon. Alright...another travel buddy in the Bay! He's also going to try to make the show in September.

http://www.rishio.com/

Aaron Zukoski

My pictures are quite up to yours...you all know my story!

www.lasthillbeforehome.blogspot.com

Cheers!

Aaron

Wei Hu pics a Hella Tight!

2009-08-10T20:05:00.001-07:00

Wei! Wow man! Amazing photo's. Thank you for sending these to me. I really do appreciate it. Where in the heck was that last one taken? Mars? Seriously..that photo is breath taking.

Take a look at Wei's blog here...

http://www.whereiswei.com/

I met Wei in a cool hostel in Morocco. We hared a few laughs, traded some stories from back home and showed off our travel photo's. Wei and I were both on "around the orld" trips but going in opposite directions. At this present time I think he has decided to push back his return to Kansas and is currently living in China. Good choice buddy! Keep going! hahahah!

Thanks for the addition brother!

Aaron

Why??????

2009-08-10T17:12:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken somewhere in the country side in Panama sometime in January of 09. Here I am chilling with my bike Caesar. Riding a bike from Panama City, Panama to San Francisco wasn't a part of the plan when I left home back in November of 07.

Why did I take off and travel?
Why did I ride my bike 3,500 miles across Central America?
Why am I holding yet another event?

The simple answer...I guess...is because I was looking for a change. I was looking for inspiration. I was looking for a challenge.

The reaction- I found all of those things and now I want to give back. I want to help. I want to give the same opportunity that I have recieved to others. I want to at least provide an option to people who may not have that luxury. I set out to do something and now...I feel so close to making that happen.

I've told my story before on this blog but I think I'm going to tell it again...

Back in September of 2007 my life was going along at it's usual pace. I was the Director of Sales and Partner of a small real estate boutique in San Francisco. We were doing real estate finance. The market was starting to slow and some banks even started to go under. My business partner and I had hit some sucess but times were getting harder. We lost a bit of money, had to lay off some people and calculated that it was going to get worse before it got better. The writing was on the wall...the market was going to hell! On top of that, personally, I was losing interest and wasn't finding any motivation or inspiration in the work that I was doing.

I needed a change...

I decided to mix it up a bit. I saw an opportunity and so I decided to take it. I had a personal dream which was to "give it all up" and "travel the world". My job was winding down and I eventually found myself on the phone with American Airlines booking a one year open ended flight around the world.

The plan was to go to South East Asia, India, Eatern Europe, Northern Africa and finally Macchu Pichu in South America before heading back home to San Francisco. I got rid of my apartment, sold my car, put my stuff back into the attic at Mom's house in Oakland and took off. It was an amazing experience just to simplfy my life to a back pack. And then just after a going away party in San Francisco I found myself in the back seat of my buddies car headed for SFO International airport.

The journey itself was amazing. I had the best Vietnamese sandwich of my life from a street stall in Hoi Ann, Vietnam, I studied yoga in an Ashram in Kerela, India, I walked across Spain on the Camino de Santiago, I studied Spanish in a small school in Santiago de Chile. I met people from all corners of this amazing planet. I shared stories from San Francisco and heard others from villages in Nepla to shops in Marrakesh. The trip was everything I wanted it to be and more.

I chose to go to these countries for a few reasons. For one, these regions of the planet were cheap! I had to be on some kind of budget if I wasn't going to work for a year. But also because these places are developing countries and they don't speak English. I wanted to go to places like India, laos and Bolivia because they would provide a challenge. I hoped to see things from a different prospective...I wanted a different view of the world. And...I got it. It was an amazing learning experience.

At times it was very difficult...

In Mumbai my life was changed forever.

I went to Mumbai because my good friend Reggie wanted to meet me there. A few days before arriving in Mumbai my friend Reggie emailed me and the subject was "I need a vacation". He said that he wanted to meet me in Mumbai. At the time I was somewhere in the middle of India checking out this national park that I heard a lot about. So the plan for me was to go see the Taj in Agra, Head to Delhi for a night and fly to Mumbai. I got into Bollywood a few days before Reggie and I decided to check the town out. I think Reggie's motivation for meeting me in India was for 2 reasons. One, he did need a vacation and two he wanted to hang with a friend who was feeling a bit of home sickness. Just the week before I got Reggie's email I posted a blog about being home sick and a bit depressed.

So here I was in Mumbai. I was going to do a bit of sightseeing and I wanted to kind of figure out the city before my yupish friend Reggie arrived. HAHAHAH! I wanted to make sure things went smoothly for my buddy. My hotel was right in the middle of Mumbai near all the tourist attractions like The Taj Hotel, Victoria train station and the docks where you launch off to go to Elephant Island. I was walking down a main street coming back from a cool ex pat hang out. I was walking down the street when I noticed off to my left a wide gap between two massive buildings. I noticed two kids running through a hole in the fence. Sometype of advertisment slapped onto a board was hiding the hole in the fence but as the advertisment flapped in the wind I noticed a giant slum behind it. You can see these slums when flying into the city and you heard all sorts of stories about the things that happen there. This make shift town within a town was massive and sprawling all the way back to the next block. But, the sight of this slum wasn't the image that stuck with me. As I continued to walk down the street I noticed a women sitting by the hole in the fence. She was sitting crossed legged, in a torn and dirty purple and gold sari. Shes was filthy dirty and had a desperate look on her face. She sat crossed legged and with one hand she was holding out her hand begging for change. In her other hand, sprawld out across her lap, was her child. The babies arm's were hanging to the side with the head back and eyes rolled deeply back. The baby looked as if it were dead.

At that moment I felt completely helpless...completely powerless. I was a stranger in a strange land and I had no idea what to do. I felt like a coward when I walked away...but what was I supposed to do?

The image of that woman sittting there in her purple sari stayed with me as I continued my travels. I look back from time to time in my personal journal and I notice that I mention how I felt about that day. I can remember how I traveled through this beautiful world how I felt a growing urge to help and give back. I felt powerless and I hated it. As I traveled I wanted to do something...anything..to give back. But what?

After about a year from the time I left San Francisco I found myself in South America. I can remember the day when I was in Buenos Aires, Argentina when my plane left for Peru. I was two weeks away from going home but I knew that it wasn't my time to get back. So, I didn't get on the plane instead I traveled through Argentine and finally made my way to Santiago. It was there in Santiago that I decided to do somehting to give back. My first idea was to volunteer in an orphange somewhere in Latin America. I had met many people that did this all over the world and their stories and photos were very inspiring. I can speciafically remember trekking through Morocco with my great buddy James. He told me a ton of stories about his time volunteering with children in an orphange in Nepla. His black and white photos from his time there were amazing. Eventually, I did some research and found that most of the placements cost money up front and per month. In most cases that money was sent off to a third party or a broker somewhere in the US, England or wherever. That didn't sit well with me.

Eventually I decided to use my time, money and resources and create my own grassroots charitable project. I found Plan USA and I believed that their mission of finding solutions for children in developing countries fit with my own mission. To raise money and awareness for this cause I would do an inspirational event. I would ride a bike from Panama City, Panama to San Francisco, CA and make special stops at Plan offices and to Plan sponsored communties to learn about the problems and issues but more importantly the solutions in regards to children living in poverty. The ride would span 3,500 miles and cross 8 countries including El Salvador which is one of the most dangerou countries in the world. Hopefully by doing this I would be able to draw attention to a cause that I truly believed in. Maybe a few people would listen to a guy that had never been on a rode bike before talk about raising money for kids in Central America.

The goal specifically is to raise $15,000 for a school construction project in a small community near Jalapa, Guatemala. The money would build 2 new classrooms for the 400+ children of the community. The school would provide a space for the children to help realize their dream of a better education. Hopefully this would provide the community an opportunity to help lift themselves out of poverty.

I was even able to make a special stop to this community in Guatemala. The people put on a great show and celebration for the stranger. I was most impressed by a little kid of the community who came up and talked to his fellow classmates. He was wearing a blue plaid shirt with a big ol belt buckle and cowboy boots. He told his classmates to live each day to its fullest, to work hard and to study. He was very courageous!

The bike ride was one of the hardest and most challenging things I have ever done. The first day of the ride was 35 kilometers. I'll never forget the ride out of Panama City on the nic named "Cobra Road". It took around 4 hours to go the 35 kilometes. By the ened of the trip I was racking up 160 kilometer days. I even rode from La Paz, Baja, Mexico to San Diego, California in 12 days. Thats 900 miles in 12 days of pain, push, agongy, and pure beauty. This planet is truly an amazing place. Again...it was the most challenging thig I have ever done...physically, emotionally and spiritually but in the end it was one of the most rewarding projects I have ever completed.

On April 25th I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge. It was an amazing experience and something that I will never forget. By the time April 26th rolled around the Last Hill Team raised about $11,000. When I say Team I mean all the friends that volunteered their time and energy to help out with the cause. Like Cyn Garcia who drew up a press release, or Mike Ward who met me in Panama and supported me every step or Erin Alonso who helped throw the party in SF or my good college buddy Evan Thomas who threw another fundraiser in LA. And so many more people!

Now as I write this and reflect back I can see the goal. It's within reach!

Were throwing one last event in San Francisco. A one day special photography exhibit benefit and auction at 111 Minna Gallery on Saturday, September 19th from noon to 6pm. The photography on auction is a collection of 7 photographers who I met on my travels around the world. There work is beautiful, inspiring and thought provoking. By no means are we professionals (or maybe I should speak for myself) but we are passionate about photography and we all care about the cause.

I feel so lucky I can't even begin to explain. I have been extremely fortuante in my life. I have a loving family, supportive friends and have been raised in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area. Mostly I have had the opportunity to attend school and I've had the opportunity to get a proper education. traveling has made me appreciate all the beautiful things in life especially opportunities likes these. Travelling has taught me that life is fragile and that there is a totally different reality out there.

I'm doing this because I want to give the same opportunity of education to these children. I'm doing this to hopefully inspire others to help make a positive change in this beautiful and amazing planet that we live in. I'm doing this for the woman in the purple sari who was sitting on the street in Mumbai but I'm also doing this because I wanted to see if a dream can become possible. What I have seen, what I have learned and what I believe is that making a change, having a dream and persuing it with hard work and passion can bring opporunity to those who need it most.

The Last Hill Team is throwing one last event because it is a follow through on a promise made back in January of 09. I made a promise and set a goal of $15,000 to go to building a school for the children of Jalapa, Guatemala. With bit of luck and a ton of hard work we hope to raise the remaining money needed to see this project to the end. If you are reading this I hope you can make it out to the final event of the Last Hill project. It's going to be fun, entertaining and hopefully inspiring.

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

7 Views fundraiser

2009-08-10T17:03:00.000-07:00

Amigos...

Please join the Last Hill Before Home crew on Saturday, September 19th from noon to 6pm at 111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco. The fundraiser event is an international photography exhibit benefit and auction featuring 7 travelers and there amazing photography. The event will also include a poetry reading, cocktail bar and live musical performance. The goal of the event is to raise $4,000 that will go to a school construction project in Jalapa, Guatemala. This particular community is in dire need of a school for the 400+ children. All funds are administered by Plan USA and the school will provide a safe place for the children of Jalapa to learn, grow and realize their dreams of a better future.

We have some exciting news...All the photographers have submitted their photography for the event. You can check out some of their sample work on our facebook event page. The photography is moody, exciting, thought provoking and inspiring. The facebook page also has a ton of information including links to other related articles and organizations.

I hope to see you all there!

http://www.facebook.com/share.php?appid=2344061033&src=box&tid=115940855189&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.time.com%2Ftime%2Fmagazine%2Farticle%2F0%2C9171%2C1909604%2C00.html#/event.php?eid=115940855189

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Rishi..well done brother...

2009-08-10T16:55:00.000-07:00

Rishi!!! Thanks for the photographs brother! I really appreciate it.

Rishi Oswal is our latest and last addition to the "7 Views" photography exhibit benefit and auction. His photography is moody, inspirational and breath taking. My favorite photo is the one at the top. Where is that? I can't wait to get the stories behind these pictures. Rishi has spent a lot of time in India and his photo's from the sub continent are amazing. This is going to be a great addition to the event. On top of that...Rishi told me that he is planning to make the event. So cool! It's going to be great to have at least one other photographer there.

i first met Rishi in an Ashram in the state of Kereal in India. Kerela is on the Southern tip of the country at is covered in greenery and an interesting network of beautiful water ways. It was a great place to spent 2 weeks detoxing in a place like that. Rishi and I actually had the same dorm room in the Ashram. He was studying yoga and on his way out. Luckily we were able to hang out for a few afternoons together. He put together this amazing slide show for the ashram. Check out his website here...

http://www.rishio.com/galleries/2009/index.html

Thanks for the addition Rishi!

Aaron

Scary news

2009-08-10T16:52:00.000-07:00

Some scary stuff is happening in Guatemala these days. Check out this article if you have a minute or two. I saw this in my cousins Time Magazine this week. After reading this article I come to realize how importnant it is to help provide people, especially children, an opportunity for a better education. We have to take care of our future and it seems these days that there is so many problems when it comes to politics especially when political matters end in violence.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1909604,00.html

Aaron

More pics by Lisa...

2009-07-31T13:12:00.000-07:00

Check out more of Lisa's photography here...

http://www.rataphotography.co.nz/

Aaron

Lisa Howard...I love your pics!

2009-07-31T12:13:00.000-07:00

Photos Courtesy of Lisa Howard

We have another addition to the 7 Views photography exhibit benefit and auction. Lisa Howard thanks for sending me your photos. they're amazing! Her photo's tell a unique story, her keen eye picks up some breath taking shots and all I gotta say is Wow! I can't wait to get these pictures blown up.

I first met Lisa back in late 2007 in a small village in Northern Thailand. Our photography hobby instantly brought us together and a great friendship was born. I can remember our nights of hanging out with friends from all over the world in huts made of bamboo. Those were the good ol days when all we had to worry about was where we would find our next bowl of Pad Thai or where we would take our cameras for the day.

I wrote to Lisa the other day and this was her response..."dabbling in a bit of photography, been teaching film and media at the schools in the next town (somewhere in New Zealand), working as a coordinator for an environmental company helping organize a carbon monitoring project and tonight I'm going searching for endangered snails on the side of a mountain!" Wow...this chick is cool!

Thanks for the pics Lisa...we appreciate it!

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

for more info on the project check out our facebook event...

http://www.facebook.com/events.php?ref=sb#/event.php?eid=115940855189

7 Views full flyer

2009-07-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

The flyers are finished! At least we think. Lets go to print...Thanks again for all the hard work Devin. These look very professional!

Check out other work by Devin...

http://www.gummdesign.com/

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

I want a guest speaker!

2009-07-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

Aight people...

Here I am at the community in Jalapa, Guatemala giving a speech to the people benefiting from this project. Check out this awesome picture of me in my Plan shirt with my eyes closed! ahahahah! I wish I had another picture. It would have been cool if someone took this from the back of the school so that you could see the 1000 people listening on. I don't really remember what I said during this speech because I was SOOOOOO nervous. But I do remember talking about how the people of Jalapa were very kind, gracious, hard working and had BIG hearts. I told them that education was so important! I promised to work as hard as my Guatemalan brothers and with a lot of work I would be able to convince the good people of San Francisco and beyond to help, pitch in and eventually we will build this school for the children.

So the 7 Views on Saturday, September 19th is going to get here faster than I think. I'm sure I'll have another speech and I promise that I'll try not to be as nervous as the last one!

But...

I'm looking for a guest speaker...

Greg Mortenson you out there?
http://www.gregmortenson.com/

John Wood are you interested?
http://www.roomtoread.org/

Does anyone have any connections to these guys? These are the dream speakers. I'll compile a list...

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

On the Attack...

2009-07-23T14:29:00.000-07:00

I just emailed...

Professional Photographers of America's charity branch
http://www.ppa.com/community/
http://www.ppa.com/
San Francisco Street Photogrphers group on facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=52850385745&ref=search
San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=6462482295&ref=ts

Maybe their interested in Sponsoring this event? I'm not looking for any money or anything like that. Instead these like minded people, groups and organizations should jump on board. This will be a great time to promote their events, show support for a worthy cause and in return promote our 7 Views event.

Is anyone out there listening to this???? Maybe someone reading this knows someone with one of these organizations? Myabe you have advice, insight or a suggestion? Maybe you are a part of an organization that would like to help promote this event and help a great cause?

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

I'm looking for groups to co-sponsor the event

2009-07-23T12:23:00.001-07:00

The flyer is coming right along! It's hot...check it out.

Back when I was riding through Mexico I realized that for this event to be successful I need to reach out to like minded groups and organizations. I've been tapping into my social circles of friends and their friends...hard! I love my friends and family and they have given so much of their time, energy, creative know how and of course money. Now I feel that it's time to reach out to other like minded people. I feel that if I can find these people and tell me about this incredible journey than maybe they will be willing to help.

Using the power of this blog and filling it with images and stories has been an incredible tool. I mean...I was able to raise $11,000 for the school construction project in Jalapa and I wasn't even in the United States. That's pretty amazing. Now its time to again use the Blog and put myself in front of these like minded people. But where do I start? How do I find these people? I can't just sit at my house in Oakland and use the force! I gotta get out there...shake some hands...and tell the story of A Man...a Dream...and A Bike...

Where I begin?

How about Facebook?

I was looking at some cool non profit organizations in San Francisco and in the surrounding bay area. I have been extremely interested in the micro finance arena. Basically, Micro finance is connecting entrepreneur people in the developing word to people in the developed world. These companies act as a platform for donations. The one thing that I really like is the fact that it's also a cultural exchange other than just a straight donation. These web pages provide stories from real people in villages from China to Uganda.

The hottest org out there right no is Kiva. I actually applied for a job with them but I guess they didn't feel that my bike ride qualified me for the director of development job! hahahaha! Anyway...I found this other amazing organization called Wokai. They basically do the same thing as Kiva but instead they work with people directly in China when Kiva is all around the world. So...I was doing some research and was really liking what I saw. Eventually I made my way to Kiva's facebook fan page and then Wokai's fan page. From Wokai's fan page I found a link to an affiliate organization called World Affairs Council Young Professionals-San Francisco. It's a big ol name but it sounded interesting. Anyway...I check out the facebook site than their web page and found some seriously interesting stuff.

Basically The World Affairs Council which is based in San Francisco brings guest speakers to the city from all over the world to discuss international topics and issues and then they bring their professional insight into how we can go about to solve the issues. The World Affairs Council has a branch that is geared to Young Professionals. Very Interesting stuff! I found on their web page that they were having a meeting the very next day...so...here it is. This was a perfect opportunity to get out there and see what presumably like minded people are doing.

I got my butt off my couch in Oakland and cruised out to the Young Professionals (IF for short) meeting. The first 3 people I met had done around the world trips, lived in another country or were planning to do some type of charity work in another country! HOME AT LAST! It was such an amazing feeling to be surrounded by like minded people. This was turning out to be some very exciting stuff. The meeting was great. The whole purpose of the night was to bring together volunteers, members and board staff to conduct a steering meeting. We broke off into small groups to discuss upcoming events and talks. I sat in on a brainstorming group The small group was supposed to throw out international topics. Vote on the interesting topics and then from there bring it to the council. If approved a small group of people would turn that idea into a full blown event with guest speakers an all. I like the idea about doing a talk on ho social media was changing the face of communication and persuasion. Very interesting stuff!

Eventually I was able to do a bit of networking and I finally got in touch with the president of IF. I told her that I had an event coming up and that I was looking for co-sponsors. I told her I wanted to contact her and she quickly wrote down her email before continuing her next convo. Well...I email'd her about this wild adventure that I have been on for the almost the past 2 years. I told her about quitting my job, travelling around the world, the bike trip, Plan USA, and eventually the photo exhibit benefit and auction. I got an email response..."Amazing!" from her! Hell ya...I wow'd the president of IF...not bad! hahahah!

So...I moving forward with IF. The president passed my proposal to the board. They voted on it and it looks like they want to be a part of the event. With a bit of luck and a lot of hard work...hopefully...IF will bring the peeps to this amazing event so that we can tell a unique story and support children living in poverty in Central America. Fingers crossed!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5252203385#/group.php?gid=5252203385
http://www.wokai.org/
http://www.kiva.org/

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Devin Gumm

2009-07-22T15:23:00.001-07:00

Yo!

Check out Dein's web site if you get a chance. His stuff is sick!

http://www.gummdesign.com/

Thanks agai for all the help with the flyer buddy!

Aaron

The kid in the flyer!

2009-07-22T14:16:00.000-07:00

My last post was about the creation and production of the flyer. I talked about the different ideas that we had and the different roads that we took to get it done. This time I want to talk about the image of the kid. This little guy has become the face of the 7 Views photo auction and benefit for Plan USA.

Above is the original image that I took when I made a visit to a small community near Somoto, Nicargua. And below that is the image of the kid on the flyer that my good buddy Devin put together. Thanks again for all the hard work Devin!

The whole point of the last Hill Before Home was to ride my bike from Panama City, Panama to San Francisco, CA. The entire ride took me 3 months and 7 days to complete. I rode through 8 countries and marked something around 3,500 miles. I wish I knew the exact mileage! I did this to raise awareness and funds for children living in poverty in Central America. My idea was that if I did something inspirational if I did something crazy enough people would pay attention and notice this cause. I teamed up with an organization called Plan USA. The idea of the trip was not only bike from Panama City to San Francisco but to also make special stops along the way. So I made special stops in Nicaragua, El Salvador and eventually Guatemala where the school is going to be built. I took a picture of this kid during one of my visits when visiting a community in Nicaragua.

The day I actually took this picture is a day that I will never forget.

The day started around 6am. The Plan driver picked me up at my hotel and we drove to the Plan office in Somoto, Nicaragua. The office itself was full of plan Staff running around, grabbing some coffee (in Nicaragua they take there coffee black with sugar which I came to love) and looking over their daily assignments. The office was a cool looking home that was converted for commercial use. There were probably around 30 people in their Plan shirts running around. Some staff stays in the office but a lot of the staff was actually headed off to the village's that they help.

I met with Horacio Torres the director of Plan Nicaragua. The day before we all visited a village a few hours from the office and this day we were going to visit another community, this time even further away. I remember being excited to head out to another community and I was excited because I had a chance to go with Horacio...the director..and someone so knowledgeable about the problems and issues and of course the solutions.

So we drove through the hills of Nicaragua over rocky roads and dried river beds. This particular community, because it was so far removed from the town, had even less services, acess to good and because of that was even in a poorer condition than the rest. I think we were something like 30 kilometers from the Honduran border. Plan had been working in this community for some time and because of their work within the community the children had access to a school, bathrooms and a pump for clean water.

Once I got to the community we were greeted by some volunteers and community members. The people in the dusty school room were primarily farmers. There was one teacher and also about 10 or 15 kids. I think all in all there were bout 40 people there. The people of the community were eager to tell Plan about their needs as a community. They also wanted to thank Plan for the help that they have received.

There was one particular moment that hard to take. 3 kids about 9 or 10 years old gave a presentation. They presented two pictures. One picture was of their school as it is now and the next picture was of their school as they wanted it to be. The first picture was dark and dusty looking. The other was full of flowers, had another school on it with a garden and flowers. With all the courage in the room they told the people of the community and they people from Plan that they hoped to get a clean and safe classroom where the snakes couldn't get in. The existing classroom was dangerous, dark and scary they said. I'm sure it took a lot of courage to do that.

Finally, Horacio Torres gave a talk. The idea of the talk was to tell the people of this community that plan was there to help. But Plan wasn't there to give handouts...rather they were there to help these people help themselves. The speech was accepted with nods, smiles and feeling of positivity. It was a great motivational speech and inspiring. The people eventually came up with an action list. The came up with a list of to do's that would help the community to get the clean and safe school with the garden.

During Horacio's talk a small chubby cute little boy with a huge smile walked unknowingly into the meeting. It was in the middle of this serious talk and the kid was laughing and giggling. It gave Horacio an opportunity to tell the people that "this is why we are here...this is why you must work hard...so that your children and your future have the opportunities that they deserve." The kid just ran right through the middle of the meeting and eventually found his mom.

Outside I caught up to his mom and nicely asked if I could snap a quick shot. And there you have it...

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Story of the flyer

2009-07-22T13:50:00.000-07:00

The story of the flyer...

We've been putting sometime into the flyers these past few weeks. And were proud to get the final product out there.

So Mike has been on my butt these past few weeks to get a flyer produced. He's absolutly right when he tells me that the flyers are key to marketing the event. So many times these past few weeks I wished I had the flyers on me to promote the event. I meet people all the time and usually the conversation turns into..."so..what do you do..." and that's when I usually turn the conversation to Plan, the bike trip and the upcoming photo exhibit.

So I finally got on the ball and I contacted my good buddy Devin Gumm. A few weeks back we were texting and emailing back and forth about the flyers. It was one of the conversations that were full of ideas and "times to meet" but we never put a date to it. Its one of the situations where the meeting between Devin and I would never happen unless we set a firm date.

So Devin calls me about 2 sunday's ago and he is headed to The Park Chalet. The Park Chalet is this cool restaurant and bar in Golden Gate Park. It was a beautiful sunday afternoon and those a re the best times to head to Golden Gate Park. So, kinda on a whim, I decided to drag myself from Oakland to San Francisco to meet up and get some food and a few drinks. On the way out there I called our friend Blake to see if he wanted to kick it as well. So I got Blake, he lives close to Golden Gate Park, and we headed out. This particular Sunday was awesome...the weather was perfect. At PC it was Devin, myself, Blake, Candice (Devin's girlfriend) and Candice's brother and his girlfriend. It was a great time to catch up and kick it.

Eventually we all decided to head back to Devin's place to work on the flyer. It was a perfect opportunity. So Blake, Devin, Candice and I headed back to Devin and Candice's place. It was a great opportunity to get everyone tgether to work on a flyer. Both Blake and Candice have also helped out with this event. Candice a few months back also threw a one day bake sell at the school where she teaches and Blake has been my IT Guru for the 7 Views project. So getting everyone together was a perfect opportunity.

So after a few hours of brainstoming on the flyer and munching on some bomb ribs from Candice's brothers BBQ early that day and Devin doing his magic we came up with this flyer...

It was all a brainstorm and I felt that this image would be a powerful picture. On top of that I had written down a Barack Obama quote the day before. We thought it would be an attention grabbing picture and powerful quote. I felt that it was going in a good direction and everyone else agreed.

So...before Devin put to much time into the flyer I wanted to get a few second opinions. I sent it to Mike and he hated it! hahaahah! Thanks for the honesty Mike...I really appreciate it and I of course value your thought. He didn't like the image, he thought it wasn't properly communicating what we were trying to do plus he didn't like the font. He came up with a great idea to use the last flyer (from the event in April) as a precedent for this flyer. That way we could use the same font and "feel" because we are trying to brand an image. Great suggestion!

I also showed this image to my friend Reggie and Rachelle. They didn't like it as well. They have been a huge support for me lately for this event and beyond. They didn't like the image because it was depressing...and it is! I like to think that its more persuasive than depressing. They suggested something more positive. Rachelle said something like "this entire Last Hill event is about positivity"! Great call Rachelle...that it is! I showed them the image of this guy and we all agreed that we should use this image.

Sorry Devin...back to the drawing board. Devin is a total professional and he has put a lot of time and effort into the last flyer and now he has to start over. So...Devin came up with this new flyer. At first we were going to use the actual iage of the kid. In the original picture he was holding his mom's hand and there people in the background. He said that original picture was too busy so he imposed the image of the kid on a different picture that I gave hime.

He finally finished the flyer and put some text on it. He wrote me an email and attached the picture and said something like "this is PIMP and you know it"!

Hell ya...that looks way better.

So I showed the different, new and imporved picture to a few different people including Mike, Reggie, Rachelle, my mom, sister and cousin who is an artist. They all loved it..BUT...

We loved the image BUT the font and words were all worng. Almost there Devin...sorry buddy we need to make another change. I think by this point Devin was/is getting a bit irratated...sorry buddy!

Finally we got the words right. Cleaned it up and added the Plan USA logo and yes devin this flyer is PIMP and I know it. I'll be super proud to hand this flyer out to people and to slap it all over San Francisco. We have about 7 weeks until the event and were getting excited!

So now we just need to finalize the back of the flyer and get a logo from 111 Minna. 111 Minna has been a bit slow to get back to me so maybe well have to do without their image. Sucks for them really because were promoting their venue for free!

Thanks for ll the help, suggestions and input everyone! This flyer is positive, professional and flashy! Its perfect!

Aaron

Rock and Roll baby!

2009-07-11T11:44:00.000-07:00

Photos courtesy of Brian Kellher

Hard core rock and roll with an artistic twist! Freakin awesome! I love these pictures! Thanks for the addition Brian.

The 7 Views Photography exhibit is proud to add another photographer to the mix...Brian Kellher. His black and white action shots from punk concerts near and far are going to add the rock and roll grunge twist to the show that we need. I first met Brian over beers and basketball in a small town called Pai, Thailand. Within minutes we were hanging out in this chilled out place telling stories from back home. I think the entire night was actually spent in the back of some bamboo hut looking bar just chilling, showing off our trvel photo's and telling dirty jokes. We hit it off to say the least.

Brian is currently somewhere in the Australian outback. When I first told him about the exhibit he was all for it and super excited to help out for a great cause. But he told me I would have to wait for his photos because he was something like 200 kilometers from the closet proper internet connection. He's somewhere out there fighting the kangas and avoiding the dingos...hahahah!

Thanks for the pics brother!

About Brian...

"Punk rock and photography are just about as awesome asa eachother. I'm Irish but have been traveling full time since October 2007, which means I don't get to see as many gigs as I'd like. The only thing better than a good gig is waking up the next day and realizing you've captured it on camera. It's rare for me, but incredibly satisfying."

http://www.gravelbox.net/

http://www.flickr.com/people/readysteadyjedi

http://iminthecomputer.blogspot.com/

More info about the exhibit...

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=115940855189&ref=mf

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

7 Views photo exhibit...our latest addition

2009-07-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

Photos courtesy of Joshua Rapp

We got another photographer lined up for our 7 Views event in September!

Joshua Rapp, Black and White photographer, has submitted his pictures for the event at 111 Minna event in Spetember and we are very excited to show off a few of them here! Josh specializes in black and white photos. His great eye for composition tells a unique story about the wold that we live in today. Josh a meteorologist for the US Air Force has spent time abroad in Korea and Germany. His experience living abroad is evident in his dramatic work.

Josh, my cousin, and I did some travelling in Germany, Czech republic and Slovakia back in the spring of 2008. Josh was living in Germany at the time and we were lucky enough to catch up and hang out. The time was filled walking his cool dog, Adonis, in Munich's main park our sharing a few laughs in the beer halls of Bratislava. Were super excited to bring him on board for this amazing event and his B&W pics are going t be the perfect addition!

Josh actually was the one to introduce me to Plan USA. Back in November of 2008 when I was living in Santiago de Chile I started to research non profits to do this entire fundraiser for. I found a few groups like Save The Children and CARE. Right at the time that I was researching these groups Josh sent me an email telling me about Plan and how he was sponsoring a child through the organization. I got right on Plan's webpage and ever sense then I have been a strong advocate for Plan and their mission.

The 7 Views international photography exhibit is a one day special event that is benefiting the school construction project in Jalapa, Guatemala. Check the link below for more information about the event!

http://www.facebook.com/azukoski?ref=name#/event.php?eid=115940855189&ref=mf

Tell your friends!

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

"7 Travelers. 7 Views. Photo's from Around The World." - Update

2009-07-06T16:50:00.000-07:00

Photo's courtesy of Tom Robinson.

Amigos...

Some exciting news about our international photo exhibit benefiting Plan USA and the children of Jalapa, Guatemala.

Tom Robinson, travel photographer, has joined our team for the "7 Travelers. 7 Views. Photo's from Around The World." event at 111 Minna on Saturday, September 19, 2009.

"Tom Robinson, an English photographer born in 1981, who finds himself most at home in parts of the world that are nothing like back home in Saint Albans, England. Tom has travelled extensively through South East Aisa, South and Central America, yet still feels he has only scratched the surface of these continents. With a wealth of expereince in both photographery and travel he is able to capture the shots. Some of his previous clients include Orange, Yahoo!, Tequilla London, Castrol and Schmap."

I first met Tom and his girlfriend Verity back in December of 2007 while travelling in South East Asia. We were catching a slow boat along the Mekong River from Wiang Kaen, Thailand to Luang Prabang, Laos. After a 2 day slow boat ride on the murky water of the might Mekong River and over crazy coctails made of Lao Lao we all became great friends. His pictures from Vietnam to Peru are breath taking and were very excited to add him to the exhibit.

For more information and to view some of Tom's pictures you can visit his website http://www.tomrobinsonphotography.com/. I've added some of his photos to this post above.

For more information about the event please visit our facebook event page http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=115940855189&ref=mf. Don't forget to invite your friends!

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Join our group on Idealist.org!

2009-06-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

Check it out...

http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Org/200443-192

Aaron

Join our group on LinkedIn...

2009-06-29T15:32:00.001-07:00

Check it out people! I created a group on LinkedIn. Join it if you got a second and pass the message along!

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2073283&trk=anet_ug_grppro

Aaron

Check out our Facebook Invitation...

2009-06-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

The children of Jalapa, Guatemala need our help!

Come on out to our event to support this cause...

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=115940855189&ref=mf

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Another Dream in the works...

2009-06-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

On November 19th, 2007 I set off on a journey. The original plan was to visit a few different regions of the world in a 10 month stretch. I wanted to go to South East Asia, India, Northern Africa, spend a small amount of time in Eastern Europe then head to South America where I would finish off the trip with a hike up to Macchu Picchu in Peru before heading home. So, I got the around the world plane ticket, I sold the car, boxed up all my stuff and took off for a great adventure.

Well...things changed up a bit...

I saw the sights in South East Asia, I stretched out in an ashram in India, I lived in Barcelona, I climbed the pyramids in Egypt and I hiked all over South America. While I was in Buenos Aires it was time to make a decision. I had just arrived to Argentina and my trip was near the end. My plane ticket back to San Francisco was departing within a few days. So...I decided not to get on the plane.

I ended up staying in B's A's for a few weeks. I went to Santiago de Chile to live and study Spanish and I eventually made my way to Machu Pichu to see the amazing ruins. So again...I was left with a decision. My journey was over. Do I go home and get back to the grind at work? Or, do I put together one last adventure?

The Last Hill Before Home, a grassroots fundraising event aimed to raise funds and awareness for children living in poverty in Central America, became that "one last adventure". I decided to do an inspirational event that would bring attention to the plight and struggle that these children face everyday. I decided to ride a bike from Panama City, Panama back to San Francisco, CA. The entire trip would cross 8 countries, take a little over 3 months and span over 3,500 miles. I had never been on a rode bike before but I thought to myself...just do it! Luckily my great friend, Mike T, met me for the first 2 weeks but after that...I was alone!

I hooked up with a NGO non profit called Plan USA. At first Plan was a bit tentative to let me do this crazy event in the name of their organization. After speaking with some people at Plan and putting the Zukoski charm on I convinced them to let me have at it. After Plan saw that I was dedicated to their mission they became super supportive on many levels. Aside from sending out my blog and fundraising information to their entire support network, via the Plan USA newsletter, they also helped me understand more about their organization and what exactly they did. For example, they took me to different Plan sponsored communities in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. A truly life changing experience.

On April 25th, 2009 I rode my bike across the Golden gate bridge and finally made it back home to San Francisco after 17 months and 7 days, including the 3 month and 7 day bike trip. What a wild ride!

The Last Hill Before Home held two more parties for the children of Jalapa, Guatemala. We threw parties in Los Angeles and San Francisco to raise more awareness and funds for the children. So...to date...we have raised $11,000, not bad especially since I was trying to communicate with the Last Hill board via internet shops in Central America after riding the bike for 7 plus hours a day.

Along my travels I came up with an idea. One of my hobbies is photography. Before I left for my trip I took a digital SLR camera with 3 lenses. I wanted to make sure I got all the best travel photos to show to family and friends back home. Back in India when I came up with this idea, I wanted to create some type of photo exhibit once I got back to San Francisco. I wanted to show off the cool pictures and I was hoping to make this event into some type of fundraiser. Well...now that idea, that dream is becoming a reality.

On Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco we will be hosting a one day special photo show from noon to 6pm called "7 Travelers. 7 Views. Photos from Around the World." The idea is to bring 7 of my travel friends together to show off our photos from our trips. These 7 travelers I met while traveling through various parts of this amazing planet. With a bit of luck and a ton of organizing we will be able to show off our inspiring photos AND raise the remaining $4,000 needed to build this school in Guatemala.

On top of that the event is going to feature some great live music, poetry and other art work. 111 Minna is an amazing place to hold the event. I sent out the initial invitation and the facebook invite already has 700 people invited! Its going to be fun!

I must give some super props to all my friends for helping out. There's no way I can make this dream become a reality without them. Mike Ward, Erin Alonso, Steve Ly, Jay Baby, Blake Cohlan, Risa Kostis, Cindu Thomas-George, Alfredo Griffin aka DJ Orukasaki to name a few. Damn...I hope I didn't leave anyone out. There will be more thank you's to come!

I hope to see you guys at the event!

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Photo Exhibit

2009-06-26T00:43:00.000-07:00

Lets do this one for the kids...

The Last Hill Before Home presents-

"7 Travelers. 7 Views. Photos from Around The World."

Amigos...

Save the date...Saturday, September 19th from noon to 6pm for a FREE one day special photography exhibit at San Francisco's premiere art gallery 111 Minna.

The "7 Travelers. 7 Views. Photos from Around The World." photo exhibit is a one day extraordinary exhibit featuring 7 amateur photographers photos from amazing locations around the world. This is going to be a great event and one not to miss! Come out and enjoy the inspiring photos, have a few drinks, share a few laughs and feel the cool beats on 111 Minna's awesome sound system.

The Last Hill Before Home is a grassroots charitable fundraising campaign whose mission it is to create educational opportunities for children living in poverty in San Luis Jilotepeque, Guatemala. What started as a 3,500 mile cycling journey from Panama City, Panama to San Francisco, CA has turned into an array of events aimed to raise awareness and funds to help educate children in Guatemala. With the funds raised from this event we hope to build a school for Guatemalan children living well below the international poverty line and we hope to bring much needed education that will open up doors for self growth, optimism and opportunity.

So...come on out to the "7 Travelers. 7 Views. Photos from Around the World." show and help the children of San Luis realize their dream of a better education. The event is 21 and up and although the event is FREE we will be asking for charitable donations at the door as well as auctioning off all the photos at the event. Any amount is welcomed and much appreciated!

All the funds raised for the school construction project are administered by Plan USA a non profit and 501(c)(3) organization.

More details to come about the event.

For more information check out...

111 Minna

www.111minnagallery.com

Plan USA

www.planusa.org

Join our cause on Facebook

www.causes.com/lasthillbeforehome

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

"Only 5 months ago it was all full of unknowns."

2009-05-28T12:15:00.001-07:00

Well guys...were almost there!

I don't know if you've checked the Firstgiving page lately but there has been a few changes. I've been chasing in some of the money from some of the last few events. I had a stack of cash from the party in LA, the party in SF, the bake sell and some other random stuff. Finally, Ive been able to make some updates. Were soooo close its not even funny. At this time we have almost $11,000 in for the school construction project in Guatemala. Wow...it felt great to update those numbers.

I was just reading Mike's blog and I pulled a quote from it. "Only 5 months ago it was full of unknowns." When we take a step back and pause for a moment to look at what we have created we start to realize that this dream has become a reality. We realize that this idea of giving back to people, to children, in a place as far away as Guatemala is becoming a reality. When I first set out on this adventure I had never been on a road bike. I didn't even own a bike. I didn't know anything about the route from Panama City to San Francisco other than I had to go UP! Life was certainly full of the unknown.

Now...look what we have created. We've raised over $10,000 to build a school for kids in Guatemala that live on $1 a day. We've given them the chance to work towards a better future. Once this school is built it will show the moms and dads of this small community Near Jalapa that with hard work there children will be able to gain the education that they deserve.

When I started this adventure I had an idea and a dream, and I was alone. Looking back I was lucky enough to have Mike meet me for the first 300 miles in Panama. I also had some of my best friends meet me in Los Angeles and complete the ride. Along the way I stopped in Plan sponsored communities in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. There I met with Plan employees who took me in like family and showed me the workings of Plan. Friends from Santa Barbra to Chicago also joined the cause. By the time I got to San Francisco we had a full Board of Directors that were dedicated to hitting the goal.

We threw fundraisers in LA and San Francisco. We brought people together from all over the world to donate to this cause. And now....were almost to the goal.

I'm working on one last event in San Francisco. Today actually I'll be applying for a special event permit in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. With some hard work well be able to pull people together to make it to our goal of $15,000!

Aaron

Rob and I are still trying to keep up with Scott

2009-05-22T15:57:00.000-07:00

Rob, Scotty and I hit the road the other day. Scotty's been trying to get us to do his favorite ride...the Calavasass road. The route pretty much starts at Scotts house and goes for about 20 miles. The route is BEAUTIFUL. The winding road through the mountains makes anyone on 2 wheels feel like Lance Armstrong. The views of the mountains and resovior are perfect and there's even a Bald Eagle's nest along the way. We even go to see the amazing bird perched up on this huge nest! How amazing is that!

So we rode. It was totally strange being on the bike with those guys. Just a month before we were cruising up California's coast. Now, that section of this amazing journey is over, and the three of us are out for a day ride in Milpitas. Adjusting to the real life is still taking a bit of time.

I've been talking with the guys a lot about this one day ride in Golden Gate Park. Their perfect to bounce ideas off of. There's a ton of work to be done but its good to throw out ideas and do a bit of brainstorming. The whole idea is to raise the remaining funds for the school in Guatemala by throwing on a one day ride with a picnic at the end of it.

I think the highlght of the day was when we hit this 2 mile uphill secrtion on the way back home. Scott, an iron man, picked up the pace and started flying up the hill. Usually I would just sitt back on the bike and watch his cruise but this time I had no bags and a lighter biker...I was on equal ground. So I pushed hard and tried to catch him. I lost sight of him fopr a bit but decided to push harder. After a few minutes I caught a glimpse oh him as he was crusing up the hill. For a quick second I told myself that I was keeping up with an Iron Man...that was cool!

Peace, power and pedal

Aaron

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

A ride in the park

2009-05-22T15:22:00.000-07:00

My buddy Blake and I decided to do a little ride in the city the other day. Blake lives in San Francisco, in the sunset, and we decided to meet at his place on a perfectly beautiful Saturday. The idea was to bike around Golden Gate park head out to the presidio, ride over the Golden Gate Bridge and dip into Sausilito for lunch and then head back. Blake got a bike a few months ago and so we were both excited to get some biking in on this perfect day.

Blake first came to The Last Hill Project a few months ago when I was cruising up the Mexican coast. He mentioned that he wanted to get a bike and ride with me part of the way. I told him that would be cool but I was doing about 80 miles a day in some tuff terrain. Blake wasn't quite up to that pace but he told me that we would ride when I got back to SF.

So here we are...crusing through Golden Gate park.

I told my buddy that we are about 4 or 5 thousand bucks short of hitting the $15,000 goal. As we were riding we were passing around ideas on how to reach our goal. One idea was to do a one day bike ride event where the participants pay a registration fee. The money of course would go through Plan USA and then go towards building the school in Guatemala. My intial though was to do a bike ride that started at the Golden Gate bridge and rode for about 7 miles in Sausilito and back. The terrain isn't to hard BUT it might scare some people off.

So Balke and I decided to change it up a bit. We came to the conclusion that we need to make this thing a total joy ride. We want to do a 10 mile ride around Golden Gate park and then ending at one of the popular picnic areas, Speedway Meadow. That way even people who haven't been on 2 wheels in years wouldn't be scarewd to come.

So were cruising along Golden Gate park and we stumble upon a huge festival, at Speedway Meadow, geard for kids. Wew stumbled upon a couple of really choice things. One, we noticed amongst the mahem of kids running around crazy, that the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition was sponsoring a bike barn. So I rolled up to the guy and got a ton of info on the SFBC and some valuable contact info. Two, Cliff Bar was sponsoring the event and again Blake and I made an intro and got The Northern California Marketing Doirectors info. Shell also be a great contact if we decided to get some corpoprate spopnsors. And three, I was even able to reserve a spot for the picnic at San Francisco's Park and permit department which is located right indside the park. I guess you could saw were starting to make some moves for the event.

The ride with Blake was super cool. We hit up a cool cafe in Sauslitio. Grabbed a beer and talked about the usual. Blakes a super cool and chill guy. Blake and his lovely irlfriend Krystal are moving to a new apartment near the feerry building. It was great to see his eyes light up when he was talking about getting his own place with his girlfriend. We also talked about South America and travelling. He's always toying with the idea of taking his business and moving to Santiago de Chile.

Overall...it was a great day. Its great to be back!

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

"The Year of The Bicycle"

2009-05-13T18:36:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here in my new favorite cafe, Ritual Coffee Roasters, in one of San Francisco's coolest neighborhoods...The Mission. My triple cappuccino has just arrived. This place sure does know how to serve the best looking drinks in town. This place is one of those coffee shops where everyone has an IBook (there probably all blogging right now) and everyone is probably a bike messenger. God...I love San Francisco's style.

I just picked up one of San Francisco's free publications, The San Francisco Bay Guardian. The cover picture is a group of eccentric cyclists biking through one of the city's streets. Its kind of ironic that the title of this particular paper is "The year of the Bicycle" because I actually got the paper to get some ideas about a fundraising event.

Its kind of a big day today because I put into motion the last (hopefully) fundraiser for The Last Hill Before Home project. The plan is to do a one day bike ride to raise the remaining $4,000 for the school construction project in Jalapa, Guatemala. The idea is to get around 50 or 60 people to register for a leisure one day bike ride in the San Francisco Bay Area. It will probably cost around 75 bucks to register. Were going to try to get some sponsors for this as well. On top of that we hope to get some media coverage. Hopefully, if all goes well, we will be able to raise the remaining funds for the school.

There is a ton of work to do but its all very exciting.

I called Rob, Scott and of course my main man Mike about the project. All the guys are super pumped and we even came up with a tentative route for the event and a date. I got a ton of ideas for this thing and I want to make sure it goes well. Its all very exciting!

Save the date...Saturday, July 25th. Gets those bikes tuned up people. Let's build a school!

More info to follow!

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

A New Begining

2009-05-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

With every death there is a rebirth.

So, Ceasar is on a UPS truck somewhere on the East Coast. Dropping off the bike that courageously took me from Panama City to San Francisco was a bit hard. To tell you the truth I almost broke up in tears on my way to cycle sports in Oakland when I had an appointment to drop it off. But...with every death there is rebirth. With the end o one chapter there is a begining to another.

When I got back to San Francisco I knew that I had to send the bike back to Jeff on the East Coast. So my scramble for a new bike started off imediatly. Luckily, I was having a conversation with my dad about options to get a new bike. He mentioned that he bought a good Specialized road bike a few years back and only put 5 miles on it. He said the he was dating a woman who competed in triathalons at the time. So...of course he went out and got a bike in hopes to keep up. For whatever reason the relationship ended and the brand new specialized bike has been sitting in my dads storage unit in Berkeley for the past 4 years.

He told me I could have it if I wanted it. "Of course", I told him. So last week he brough over his brand new Specialized road bike. The only hitch was that my dad at 6 foot 3 is a bit bigger than me. I stand at 5 foot 11 and it was a possibilty the bike was going to be a bit to big. But when I saw the bike I knew right away that I would fit on it. And guess what...it works perfectly.

Before I shipped off the last bike I put the two together. They are about the exast same size.

So...now I got a road bike. Perfect. I was getting a bit worried because I got bck into town on April 25th and I hadnt been on the bike in the past 2 weeks. My body was going through some changes and I was feeling sluggish because of all the toxins building up. When I got to LA on April 18th I stepped on a scale and it came out to 145 lbs. That was after 13 days of riding in a 14 day time frame where I covered about 1,000 miles. 2 weeks later when I stepped on the scale, after not biking at all, it came out to 161 lbs. My moms cooking was seriously taking its toll!

The picture above is of the bike at Lawerence Hall of Science in Berkeley. There are some amazing rides in the East Bay with some killer views of San Francisco and the bay. The trail that Ive been doing is a 30 mile trail with some super steep hills that go all through the Oakland and Berkeley Hills. Aside from the amazing views the trail takes me into a redwood forrest. One second Im in an urban sprawl in Oakland and the next Im pedaling away in a green foresst. Not bad.

So...This week Ill be working on the next Last Hill Event. We hope to do a one day bike ride somewhere in the bay area. The goal is to raise the remaining $4,000 for the school in Guatemala. Hopefully e can get around 50 people to ride with a registration fee of about $75. Thats the general idea right about now. More details to come on this soon.

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

This sucks!

2009-05-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

Today has been a rough day to say the least.

I've been seriously depressed today. Why? Because today I dropped Caesar off at the bike shop. From there the guys at Cycle Sport in Oakland are going to box up the bike and ship it off to Jeff...the real owner.

For those of you who don't know...here is the story of the best bike in the world. A bike that laughs at Costa Rican jungle covered mountains...a bike that could run over any Honduran pothole no matter how toothy...a bike that could take any beating and push on threw.

I got to Panama 2 weeks before the ride started because I needed to do a few things, including getting a bike. I got to Panama on January 2nd. The first 10 days I ran all over the city looking for a perfect option for the 5,000 kilometer ride. Luckily, Panama had a few shops. Using my broke Spanish I was finally able to get an option that looked good.

I found a bike shop called Riley in Panama City's downtown area. The guys at the shop recommended me a cool looking Specialized mountain bike. They even had all the accessories like top of the line tires, helmets, biker shorts...everything. So, about 1 week before I was set to take off on this wild adventure I told the guys at Riley to hold the bike for one day. My pan was to sleep on it for the night and pick it up the next morning.

There were already a few issues. One, I needed to get a set of pannier bags. On top of that I had to get a front and rear rack. I did some research and I found the racks in Santa Barbara and the bags in Canada. So...I was going to pick up the bike at Riley's and have the rest of the gear expressed to Panama. It was turning in a nightmare but by this time there was no going back.

So the night before I was supposed to get the bike from Riley's this guy Jeff, from the East Coast of the US with a set of red dreads down to his butt, walks in with this cool looking green bike. I was obviously anxious to talk to the guy because I wanted to pick his brain about anything and everything bike related. After all...at this point I've never attempted anything like this. So...over a bowl of spaghetti and after a few beers I got the goods on Jeff and his story.

Jeff, an outdoor adventure guy full of life, was riding his bike from Nicaragua to Panama. From there he was set to go to Colombia to do some volunteer work. After telling him my story and after a few of Panamas finest brews we came to the conclusion that we would make a trade. I'd give Jeff my backpack and a bit of money and Jeff would give me his bike in return. But, because this bike was Jeff's baby he wanted it back at some point.

That next morning Jeff was walking out the door of the hostel off on an adventure in Colombia and I was giving my new set of wheels a once over. Before Jeff took off he said, "this bike has good energy, it will get you home." Then he pointed to the Reggae sticker slapped across one of the bars and said, "and oh ya...One Love baby." Seriously with that he was off.

So here I am. Riding BART to my buddie Reggie's house to have dinner and to do a bit of catch up. He lives in Dublin and riding BART to his place has given me a needed second to do a bit of reflecting. I'm thinking a lot about the trip and a lot about Ceasar these days. Seriously that bike was bad ass. It could really take a beating and it got me back home in one piece.

Jumping back on Ceasar was strange because it felt so familiar but the landscape around was so different. On my way to the shop I started to have flashbacks from the trip. I could remember the first time I got ran off the road in Costa Rica, or I could visualize perfectly when I brought the bike to the Plan sponsored community in Guatemala. The kids there loved to play with the bike bell or they were so intrigued by the skinny ties.

The day was a bit depressing. But, I guess its important to realize that this is a time of change and its even more important to look to the next day a to look towards the next adventure.

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Hard at work...

2009-04-28T14:56:00.000-07:00

I'm back in the Bay and there is a ton of work to be done. So I thought I'd throw on the most appropriate T Shirt possible and get to work.

Aaron

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Where is Trevor?

2009-04-27T22:56:00.000-07:00

Check this out...

http://trevorschronicle.blogspot.com/2009/04/catching-up.html

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

A little press

2009-04-27T21:57:00.000-07:00

Check this out. Sanfrancisco.com promoted the party! Hell ya!

http://www.sanfrancisco.com/last-hill-before-home-charity-fundraiser-e569541

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

The Last Hill Before Home video

2009-04-27T20:54:00.001-07:00

I had an opportunity...so I took it...

Back in September of 2007 life was running along at its usual pace. I was the Director of Sales for a boutique Real Estate Finance firm in downtown San Francisco. I had an amazing apartment full of nice stuff in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood with a killer sweeping view of the city by the bay. I had the nice German car in the garage. And since I had been living in San Francisco for the past 10 years I had the city figured out. Life was great but at the same time I was looking for something more. I was looking to expand the way I saw the world. I was looking to travel. My dream for the past 5 years was to give it all up and travel the world.

The economic crash was on the horizon and the real estate industry was already starting to tank. Our company had to lay off some employees and from there my business partner and I started to question our careers in the real estate industry. Eventually we closed up and I was left with one question..."what now?" With nothing really holding me down I realized that I had the opportunity that I was looking for. I had the opportunity to pursue my dream of taking the year off and travelling the world.

On November 19, 2007, my best friend Davy and his sister Krissy dropped me off at San Francisco International Airport. All I had on me were two backpacks and an around the world plane ticket. The plan was to travel to South East Asia, India, Eastern Europe, North Africa and eventually South America. I was scheduled to get back home to San Francisco 9 months later. Well....a year and a half later I arrived back in San Francisco crossing the Golden Golden Gate Bridge on a bike. Its truly funny how some things work out.

Along my travels I had an amazing time. I met people from all over the world. I joking say these days that I could do the whole trip again but this time Ill have a couch to crash on wherever I go. I ate exotic food from grasshoppers in Thailand to goat head in Morocco. I saw some amazing sights like the Pyramids in Egypt or Iguazu falls in Argentina. I lived in Barcelona, I studied yoga in an ashram in India, I walked across Spain on the pilgrims trail and I studied Spanish in Santiago de Chile. I made the most out of my time.

People often ask me..."do you feel like you changed"? I can honestly say yes. Along my travels I saw many things that affected the way I look at the world. I came face to face with the challenges and hardships that countries face. I saw the ugly side of pollution, poverty and homelessness. One specific example, I remember, in Mumbai I saw a women begging for money with one hand while clutching her dying baby with the other.

Before I returned home I wanted to do something. I wanted to give back. When I experienced that horrible sight in Mumbai I felt helpless. I really didn't know what to do. So finally while I was living in Santiago de Chile, around the same time that Barack Obama was filling the international airwaves with rhetoric of change and peace, I decided to do something about it. I decided to create. I decided to DO. I decided to create a grassroots charitable fundraiser that was aimed to bring awareness and funds to children living in poverty. I decided to do an inspirational event that would bring attention to the cause. I decided to ride my bike 3,500 miles across 8 countries to bring the stories of the children to conscious of the public. I worked with an amazing non profit organization, Plan USA (www.planusa.org), and with their leadership and guidance I was able to make this dream become a reality.

On April 25th, 2009 I crossed the Golden Gate bridge on a bike. It was a long journey, an amazing journey and this blog has been the story of that ride. Crossing the Golden Gate bridge with friends and family cheering me on was a day that Ill never forget.

As of right now the unofficial total that we have raised is about $11,000. Were raising this money so that we can give the gift of education to a small community of children in a town about 3 hours drive from Guatemala City. I rode my bike from Panama to San Francisco because I love adventure, I rode my bike through the jungles of Central America because I love the great outdoors, I rode my bike through the wind, rain and desert because I wanted to get peoples attention so that I could tell them about the struggle and challenges that people living in poverty face today.

This video above is the story of my life from the past year and a half. This video above was a gift given to me and the Last Hill project as a chronicle of the adventures. This video was probably one of the best gifts I have ever received. For this I have to thank one of my best friends James G. James put countless hours into the video. If you watch closely you can even see that the lyrics match the photos. James was so dedicated to this project that he even spent his Saturday afternoon, the same Saturday when I rolled over the Golden Gate, to put the final touches on the video. James works as a writer/editor for CBS TV in LA. One thing that is truly amazing is that this project is bringing together people that are using their professional skills to contribute to an amazing cause. James...I don't know how to say this or how to ever repay you but...thank you my friend...thank you.

I hope you all enjoy the video...

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

The Bake Sell

2009-04-27T20:53:00.004-07:00

This is my friend Candice on the right in the purple shirt. About a month ago Candice told me that she wanted to help out with the Last Hill Project. Using her resources she put together a bake sell at her school. She told the parents and the kids what I was doing and she told them that I was building a school in a small community in Guatemala. Candice sent some information home with the kids and told them that there would be a bake sell to help raise awareness and funds for the children in Guatemala. On top of that Candice put together a wonderful picture board with information about the ride.

The bake sell was a few days after I got back into town. I was also lucky enough to attend the sell and talk to the parents about the ride. The whole event was pretty quick but it was a great opportunity to spread the message. And..we raised a few hundred bucks! Awesome...thanks Candice!

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

S.F.S.U. Interview

2009-04-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

Lets talk a bit about this interview. Where shall I start??? Lets start here...with my buddy Blake.

My buddy Blake, whom I know from San Francisco State University, ontacted me about a month ago. He shot me an email asking me where I was, how things were going and then he mentioned that he wanted to meet me somewhere along the ride. I told him that it would be awesome if he could meet me. Again, anytime anyone wanted to meet me I was all game! The more people that got connected to this project the better. But and there was a BIG BUT I told him tat I was about to hit Baja California and that if he wanted to meet me he would have to hop on a plane in a few days and fly to La Paz. Plus...I told him that I planned on doing Baja in 14 days and that I was riding about 150 kilometers per day through the wind, rain and desert. Well...after reading that last email Blake never got back to me! hahah!

I eventually cleared Baja, flew through San Diego, and up the coast of California. I was one day away from San Francisco when I got a call from Mike or maybe it was James. Mike and James were working seriously hard and fast on getting this amazing slide show presentation done so that we could show it at the party in San Francisco. James, a writer/producer/editor/a guy that can leap buildings with no problem at all was going to sit at his house on Saturday and wait for the last pictures of me from the Golden Gate bridge so that he could edit the video and have all the photos from the last day. Anyway...Mike or James told me that they would add the pictures and email the slide show to Blake. Ahhhhhh Blake gets back into the action! So Blake would then upload the video Saturday afternoon and burn it to a DVD. Well..this is all a side note, but the video came through. The video was played at the party and it was probably one of the coolest moments of my life. Anyway...on Sunday I realized that I had to get the finished product from Blake. So, thanks to a ride from my Dad we went from the Westin in San Francisco to Blakes Apartment near Golden Gate Park to get the video.

After chating with Blake, Blakes awesome girlfriend Crystal, my dad and I we all came to the conclusion that the slide show was the coolest thing from the night! So as my dad and I were taking off Blake comes running out the door to pass a message along. It turns out that his roomate is an intern for NBC and she is also a senior in the Media and Broadcast Department at San Francisco State University. Anyway...his roomate Cory (the girl in the video) wanted to interview me for the San Francisco State University TV station. Blake wanted to know if I was in?? Hell ya...any exposure or any chance to bring awareness to the cause was good for me. So here I am...the next day doing an interview with the Fabulous Cory Marshall on the San Francisco State University campus.

I was a bit nervous but the story of the bike trip has been told more than a few times. It was fun to do and some great experience. Thanks Bake and Cory for the opportunity! I had a great time...

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

The Golden Gate Bridge

2009-04-27T20:50:00.001-07:00

So this is it. My last day of the ride. 3 months, 8 countries and something like 3,500 miles. This was one of the first views of the bridge along the ride.

What a perfect day!

I gave the bridge a hug..the bridge huged me back...

Outside San Francisco State University

We made it boys!

Alctraz in the background.

Devin, Candice, Scott, John and I dodging traffic in downtown San Francisco.

This was a pretty cool moment. This picture was taken in Daly City. But from here you can see the top of the Golden Gate bridge. When I first saw the bridge I almost lost it. I started gigiling like a kid. Rob was next to me with this huge smile on his face. He thought it was pretty cool to share that experience. I think I said something to Rob like..."wow man...wow...there it is...the bridge...I was wondering what this moment was going to be like."

Getting ready in Pacifica for the big day.

Taking a moment to let it all sink in...

Somewhere along the bridge the guys got caught up and I had a few minutes to just chill before we crossed the bridge.

Its not really the same as riding through downtown San Salvador.

Check out the giant picture that Mike gave me. Its a compilation of some of the best pictures from the trip! What a great present. Coming across the Golden Gate Bridge to my friends and family cheering me on...that will be a day that Ill never forget.

This was an amazing moment!

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

"The Civic Generation"

2009-04-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

On my first ride in the US I noticed a USA today headline at a gas station somewhere in San Diego. The headline said something about a new generation, the article called these people the "Civic Generation". Once I got into LA I found the article on the internet. The article talked about a new generation of people. These people are affected by current events like 9/11, these people are inspired by Barack Obama and his message of change and these people, in most cases, lost their jobs because of the current economic crises. I thought this was interesting because this project was inspired by a lot of these topics.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/sharing/2009-04-13-millenial_N.htm

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

The San Francisco Party!

2009-04-21T23:31:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

I hope you all can make it out to the Last Hill Before Home final fundraiser event in San Francisco on Saturday, April 25th. The party is going to be one to remeber. Its goingto be held at Atmospher on Broadway in San Francisco and all proceeds will be going to the school construction project in Jalapa, Guatemala. Live Latin Bands, DJ, photo slide show and a speech that Im a bit nervous about are all part of the program. Check out the link below for more information and to get your tickets online. Act soon because this event will sell out. Hope to see you all there!

This event will be held at Atmosphere - 447 Broadway in San Francisco
http://www.a3atmosphere.com

The Last Hill Before Home is a grassroots fundraising effort aimed at helping raise awareness and money to help make a difference in the lives of children living in poverty.

830pm-10pm Party kicks off with the musical stylings of Gabriel Navia and his band while we welcome Aaron back and celebrate the cause.
http://www.gabrielnavia.com

10pm - 2am DJs Jason Everett and Greg J will be playing the latest house/ hip hop/ top 40/ and mashups in both the mainroom and lounge. Pre-sale tickets are available and highly recommended as we anticipate this event selling out. http://www.lasthillbeforehome.eventbrite.com/

Aaron

Big Sur

2009-04-21T23:29:00.003-07:00

Biking along the California coast through Big Sur was probably one of the most challenging and most rewarding rides of the entire trip. It really didnt seem to difficult until looking at the elevation climb and distance travelled. I think thats because it was so nice to have company along the way.

Climbing out of big sur was a two day ride. We all felt like champs once we hit this sign on the other side of the park.

This is a typical seen. Scotty does Iron Man competitions. His bike is super light and he only carries about 20 punds with him. On top of that he doesnt even have a small rig on his gears. He does this to cut down weight. So we usually get a good view of his back side as he flies past us on the hills.

Getting closer.

The views were amazing but that ocean looks a bit colder than the ocean in Costa Rica!

Taking a break after a big climb.

Pushing through the drizzle, the fog and the wind in Big Sur!

The road was amazing!

Scotty and Rob setting up camp in the rain after a 80 mile day.

Some funky little towns along the California coast.

Robs checking the map!

Aaron

Is it only a sign?

2009-04-21T23:29:00.001-07:00

This was exciting. The first road sign that pointed the way to San Francisco!

This was actually something that I had dreams about. Where would I be? What would it look like? How far would I be from San Francisco? I was riding along with Rob when I saw it. I looked back down at the road and then I realized that this was it...this was the first San francisco sign Ive seen in forever!

I had to touch it!

Getting close to home!

Aaron

The crew has arrived

2009-04-21T23:28:00.004-07:00

The crew has arrived!

Rob, John, Scott and I. We took this picture at Refugio State Beach before we took off on a 80 mile ride. Scott has been in touch with me for a few months. He does Iron Man's so obviously he is a big fan of challenging rides. John is also a good friend from SF state. He just got a bike and is super eager to ride with us as well.

This is a picture of our buddy Jerome. In this picture hes stalling in his car. It was hilarious because this one one of the first times he has driven anyone around in a stick shift. Jerome attends Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo. Gerome grew up in San Francisco and is a good friend of ours. He was going to let us stay at his place on campus but we decided against it because 7 people in a dorm apartment sounded a bit to cramped!
Getting some dinner after a 80 mile ride to San Luis Obispo.

It was a long day!

The ride this day was beautiful!

Rob got a flat somewhere along our ride on day 3 three. These guys change there tires with ligtning speed! Its a bit different for me when I got to take off all my bags.

A giant hill on day 3.

Scotty and I are catching up!

Getting ready in the morning!

Grham cracker

marshmellow

choclate

God bless the USA

Having a party at Refugio State Beach. We stayed in the hiker/biker section of the park. Check out the guy on the right. His name is Trvor and he was doing a ride from Reno, Nevada to Florida. I told him about some of my stories from Mexico and I think I may have convinced him to go down to Baja. Trevor...where are you???

Scotty arrives!
Greg is making fun of my super baby alpaca hand made bolivan hat!

Id like to take this opportunity to Thank ServiceMaster of Stockton for their generous donation!

Rob had to get a loner bike because they were fixing his rack in Santa Barbra. It was absolutly hilarious watching him cruise around State Street in downtown Santa Barbra on this beach cruiser. Hey Rob...ya think that bike will make it to San Francisco?

Cynthia, Rob and I grabbing some lunch in Santa Barbra. Cynthina is another good friend of ours from San Francisco State. She heard about what we were doing and wanted to help out. So she sent out some press releases and PSA's to local rdio and TV stations. She even got me an in studio radio interview with a local radio station near Santa Barbra.

The rib injury continues!

This truck is getting a bit to close!

Aaron

Some funny Videos

2009-04-21T23:28:00.003-07:00

Getting outta LAX

2009-04-21T23:28:00.001-07:00

Robs biking honeymoon was over before it began. I took this picture the morning of our second day. His rack on the back left broke off. To make matters worse the screw broke off in the bike itself. Luckly I had some zip ties with me to make for a quick fix. Then Rob wanted to make sure the screw on the other side was working. As he was tightening that screw it also broke off. I kne something bad happened because Rob got instantly quiet. So...with a few more zip ties we fixed the problem and hit the road. Luckily we were about 2 hours from Santa Barbra where we could go to a shop.
Denny's breakfast!!!!

Our good buddy Greg let us stay the night at his place in Oxnard. Its always nice to have friends along the way. His wie Brenda cooked us this amazing dinner. Its like a Japanese fondu....awesome! During dinner Greg and his wife would tell us about stories from Costa Rice. They have a dream to one day get rid of all there stuff and drive down the pan american highway.
This is a typical photo. Ever since college Rob would be the one woking and I would try to look busy in the background! But thats only because Rob loves this stuff!

When Rob saw the condition of my chain he was a bit disappointed. I havent cleaned that thing off in like 2 months!

Some wild looking stuff here in America!

Ummmm...I love LA!

Rob and I at Venice Beach in LA!

This day was perfect. The weather was amazing and the route followed the ocean all the way up.

Here we are at LAX trying to figure out how to get out of the parking lot. In Mexico and Central America there is only one road and it goes North. In Los Angeles there are a ton of options but most of the options are off limits to bikers. So, luckily, Rob picked up some amazingbiker specific maps before he came down.

Whats up Joey! Thank for letting me crash at your house for the past few days.

Last minute touches to the bike. We have something like 500 miles from LA to San Francisco. For whatever reason, maybe because I have a friend to ride with, I wasnt really worries about the distance that we had to cover in 6 days.

Aaron

Rob is here

2009-04-21T23:27:00.001-07:00

This is one of my best friends Rob. We took this picture right after he got off his plane from San Jose. Were at the baggage claim in Los Angeles Airport.

Rob was one of the first people I contacted about this ride. I was in Santiago de Chile when I called hime long distance from a small locotorio in Santiago's Providencia district. I called Rob first for a few different reasons. One, Rob is a big biker. In college he rode from San Francisco to Washington DC. He did this with our fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, to raise money and awareness for people with disailities. I also wanted Robs advice because as a police officer I knew that he would give me a straight and truthful answer espcially if it concerned safety. Anyway....when I told Rob about the idea he was thrilled. But he also wanted to make sure that I had the proper bike and that I would take all safety precaustions. His wife, Monica, thought I was totally crazy but thats another story.

So here we are...at the Los Angeles airport. The LA to SF trip almost had a problem. A few days bfore I aggrevated an injury that I had. Im not sure how this happened but somehow I got a serious rib injury. I told Rob two days before that I wasnt sure if I would be able to ride. Rob was crushed with the news but he totally understood. But...on the morning of the day that Rob was supposed to get in I decided to chance it and see how it would go. When Rob saw me in my riding outfit he was super excited because he knew we were going to hit the rode. That day my ribs didnt hurt much so there wasnt really any need to stay longer in LA.

So here we are...the plan is to put Ros bike together in the LAX airport parking lot and ride on Oxnard, about 55 miles north. From there we have a tough 5 days of riding up the California coast to San Francisco.

Aaron

Party in LA for Plan

2009-04-21T23:08:00.002-07:00

Allright...so here we go. On Saturday April 18th my good friend Evan hosted a party/fundraiser for Plan and the school construction project in Jalapa, Guatemala. He threw the party at a cool bar called Scorpion on Hollywood blvd in Los Angeles. This party was planned for about a month. We did a good amount of preperation for the party. Evan got the back room of the bar for our group with a DJ and a rafel to make a few bucks for the fundraiser. For the rafel Evan seriously hooked it up. He got a 2 night stay in a delux room at the Roosevelt hotel, back stage passes to the Jimmy Kemel show and a gift certificat to a super cool resturant in Hollywood.

Evan and selling some tickets!

A bunch of my college buddies from San Francisco State.

Joey and I taking a break from the party and trying to catch up. Joey is a film maker and hes always working on a ton of different projects.

Joey's brother David made it out to the party. A few nights before he threw a tribute concert where he was trying to raise money so that inner city youths could get funds to apply to and visit colleges. David is also a super talented musician.

Mike made it down to the party as well!

Mike, Greg and I. Greg offered up his place for me to crash at on my ride back to San Francisco. Greg was one of the first guys to respond to some of the emails about the Last Hill Project. He even pledged to raise $500 for the Last Hill Project. Obviously he is a big supporter!

Mike and I...from Panama to Los Angeles! Happy birthday Mike!

This is a picture of my good buddy Dan. Dan and I met a few months back in Buenor Aires. He was taking spanish school while I was travelling through. We tried to speak in spanish with eachother but that went nowhere pretty fast!
All in all we made about $500 for the school construction project in Guatemala. Thanks for making it out everyone!!! We had a great time!

Aaron

Livin it up in Hollywood

2009-04-21T23:08:00.001-07:00

Some of my knucklehead friends from San Francisco State. It was great to catch up with some of my buddies from school. I havent seen these guys in a few years at least. It seems like a lot of my friends take off for LA after school. It was cool to get a chance to tell the guys about the trip in person. One of my buddies, Jonah, had no idea I was even gone. When I told him I rode up from Panama he said..."damn man..how long did that take you? Like 3 weeks?" He was totally seriously and then he realized that he had no idea what he was talking about. I guess at times it does take a few seconds to process that I rode my bike across 8 countries.
This is a pic of Joey and I. Joey is one of my best friends from SF State. He lives and works in LA and its always nice to get to spend some time with him.
Here are two of my buddies that I met while travellin over the past year. Brent, the guy on the left, I met while I was living in Barcelona last summer. Ben, the big guy on the right, I met while travelling in Buenos Aires. It was super cool to catch up with these guys!
This is a pic of my buddy Evan and his lovely friend Goli. Evan is hosting the fundraiser/party for The Last Hill project on Saturday. Evan lived up in San Francisco for a few years before taking a job at the Rosevelt hotel down in Hollywood.

Aaron

Bring it on Dodgers!

2009-04-16T23:09:00.000-07:00

I love this picture.

I got to take a few days of in Los Angeles. I got a ton of friends down here so it was a perfect place to rest for a few days and visit with some friends.

The second day I got into town my buddies Joey, James and Barack told me that the Giants were in ton playing the Dodgers. Well...this was a perfect opportunity to dust off the Giants hat that Ive been carrying since Panama and cheer for my team at Dodger Stadium.

Aaron

Camino Real

2009-04-16T22:58:00.002-07:00

I just really like this picture!

Riding through California is a bit different than the rest of Latin America. For one, in Latin America there is only 1 road and it goes towards the US. Here in the US there are a ton of different routes that take you all around.

Anyway...its good to be back in the US!

Aaron

Baja by the numbers....

2009-04-16T22:58:00.001-07:00

Can someone help me out with this??? I biked across Baja from la Paz to San Diego in 12 days. Is that good? Have you biked across Baja? Anyone out there??? I want to get some info about any similiar experiences.

So...here are the numbers...

Day 1 Pichilingue (Port town south of La Paz) - Kilometer 77 - 53 Kilometers ( I had to hitchike from kilometer 35 to 77)

Day 2 Kilometer 77 - Villa Constitucion - 100k

Day 3 Villa Constitucion - Loreto - 122k

Day 4 Loreto - Mulege - 132k

Day 5 Mulege - San Ignacio - 150k

Day 6 San Ignacio - Guerro Negro - 155k

Day 7 Guerro Negro - Rosarito 100k

Day 8 Rosarito - Calavina - 163k

Day 9 Calavina - El Rosario - 126k

Day 10 El Rosario - San Vincente - 184 k (last 20 kilometers in the rain)

Day 11 San Vincente - Ensenada - 95k

Day 12 Ensanada - San Diego 158k

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

SD to LA

2009-04-15T14:34:00.005-07:00

Here is my buddy Matt. I met Matt and his good college buddy last summer on the party island of Ios in Greece. We kept in touch here and there and as it turns out he has a killer place in San Diego. I told him that I was cruising threw and he made sure to put up his buddy for the night! Thanks Matt!
Another crazy day...

So I made sure to get up EARLY in the morning when I was in San Diego. The plan was to get from downtown San Diego to Hollywood in one day. I threw the info into Google the night before I realized that the whole trip, door to door, was going to be about 130 miles. Wow! Big freakin day but truly I couldnt bare to spend another night in a hotel.

I was supposed to meet one of my best friends, Joey, in Hollywood. Once in Hollywood I was going to take a few days off before making the jounrey back to San Francisco. On top of that my other good friend, Evan, was host a fundraising party on Saturday for the Last Hill project. The pieces were coming together and it was time for some time off. I made it from La Paz to San Diego in 13 days. Crazy!

Leaving San Diego I really had no idea how to get to LA. No GPS, my map that I got at the gas station was pretty much useless because it didnt show the streets. So..my plan...follow the street signs. Well...I got lost in La Jolla. I think I climed the same hill three times. I got really lost once and I remember crusing through the hills trying to dodge $250,000 porches and ferrari's. Ceasar liked that.

I somehow talked my way onto Camp Pendalton. At first they werent going to let me on but truly that was the only way to go. It was kinda crazy trying to bike when off in the distance the US Army was conducting drills with army guys running around with giant machine guns. I told myself that I traded the farmers of Costa Rica with their machetes for the US Marines with their machine guns...I didnt know which one I was more worried about. I finally got across the base and into another suburban area. This was really crazy because I had no map and I was following the green bike lane signs. Ill never forget that.

It was getting late but really...I thought I was going to make it to LA. I was sooooo excited to see Joey and actually hang out with some friends for the first time in about a year and a half.

I got to Pacific Coast Highway and Martin Luther King blvd in downtown long Beach. My legs were dead tired. I thought I could be the bsolute champ and make it to LA but that was looking like it wasnt going to happen. I probably made it about 100 plus miles. If only I didnt get lost in La Jolla or if I didnt hit so many damn stop lights along the coast Im sure I could have made it. But no...here I was...in a jack in the box prking lot watching the sun go down. I called Joey three times...no answer. I got some tacos, freaking amazing but Im sure not the best for me, and took a break. I started up a conversation with some guy and he eventually told me there was a train to Hollywood. So, another dilema, get a hotel 6 in Long Beach or grab the train and TRY to find Joeys house. I hated the thought of staying in a hotel 6 on Martin Luther King blvd in the LBC while I knew Joey was out and about in LA watching his brothers put on a tribute concert. So...I cheated and grabed the train.

You have to take a second and imagine this scene. Here I am about to get off the commuter train in Hollywood. Im exhausted, Im freezing, I have a ton of layers on. Sweat stains all over my cloths, the bike looks beat down, the beard is in full effect. I really looked like a homeless man coming out of the train station and onto Hollywood BLVD. Seeing the lights of LA and the famous names in the stars on the groud was a total culture shock that I couldnt even think about. Holy Crap...I was in LA! This is great. So now...all I had was Joey's address. No time to call. I knew that he was leaving his house soon because the concert was starting in like 30 minutes. So I pushed forward riding through the night, again, on Hollywood blvd, looking for Joey.

I was about 2 blocks away with 5 minutes to spare when the street hit a dead end! DAMNIT!!!! That was frustrating. After getting some directions for some guy waiting for the bus I found my way. Side note, does anyone ask for directions in LA anymore??? That guy gave me the craziest look! So here I am...crusing up some winding road looking for Joey. And guess what...there he was walking down the drive way heading for his car. I was so completely exhusted I could even tell him it was me. Instead I decided to ride right past him. Then I stoped....I layed the bike on the ground...I rolled over on the ground and just started to BUST UP IN LAUGHTER!

Joey was on the phone and seriously I thought I heard him say "hold on mom....some homeless guy just rolled his shopping cart on my property." Then he said with the utmost confusion..."Aaron? Oh my God....Aaron? What the Hell? Aaron? Is that...how did...what the...is that...Aaron?" I hadnt seen my buddy in a year and a half and this was our reunion. Hilarious!

So I made it to LA!

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

I'm home!

2009-04-15T14:34:00.003-07:00

Wow...I'm back!

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Here we go...T.J!

2009-04-15T14:34:00.001-07:00

This story is a bit overdue but here goes.

So I spen the night in Ensanada. The last time I was here it was about 5 or myabe 6 yeas ago. The place has seriously changed since Ive been there last. There were a ton of new high rises, new resturants that looked like any other place in the US and a ton of party goers on a Saturday night. I wanted to get into the party mood on that Saturday night but I just wasnt feeling it. It takes a ton of energy and effort to go out by yourself. So I kinda just walked around, had a beer or two and called it a night but not before I had a late night McDonalds. Ohhhhh that was good!

The original plan was to wake up early in the morning and head to Rosarito. According to my map Rosarito was about 100 kilometers to the north. The ride wasnt supposed to have any hills or anything like that and it was going to be a straight forward day. I was going to ride on Easter Sunday and then spend my last night out of the country in Rosarito. From there, according to my map, the US and Tijuana was another 25 kilometers. On that Monday I was going to ride the last 25 kilometers, cross the border AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE and then ride the additional 20 miles or so to San Diego. I had a friend who lives in San Diego, Matt, who said I could crash at his house. He emailed me all the information and he knew I was coming. I met Matt last summer in Greece. We all had a blast parting it up on the Island of Ios. So the plan was set. But of course in typical Aaron fashion It didnt turn out that way.

Im not sure if it was the 3 Corona's I had the night before or the double cheeseburge I threw down my belly at 12:30am but I had the hardest time waking up at my usual 6am. Instead when I got up it was somewhere around 9.30. I was a bit frustrated but I quickly calmed down because I knew I only had around 100 kilometers that day....by this time I could 100 kilometers in about 5 hours with stops. I was actually so relaxed about it I even decided to take a long and big breakfast on Ensanadas main tourist street. I got some amazing pancakes with eggs, bacon and juice. At breakfast I asked the guy for some directions and how far it was until I hit TJ. He said TJ was only 100 kilometers away. That was strange because my map said something like 130 kilometers to TJ.

So finally the ride started. It had to be something like 10.30 by now but I wasnt at all frustrated because it was Easter and I was crusing along the pacific highway with some amazing views of the ocean. The legs and the body felt great an I must had been crusing along at a great pace because It seemed as if I would be to Rosarito in no time flat.

I hit one hitch along the way. I tried to take the bike along the Pacific Coast Highway but apparently bikes arent allowed on the new toll road that follows the coast. After trying to negotiate with the police to try and get by I realized it wasnt going to happen. Again I was a bit frustrated because I had to back track plus by this time it was getting close to noon and I felt like I wasnt getting anywhere.

The old road to Rosarito was damn hilly but it was a beautiful ride. On top of the cool farm land that I went threw there were barely any cars. I threw on some house music and pushed as hard as I could to make up the time.

As I was getting closer to Rosarito I started to realize how much I missed home and I started to realize how close I was to being home. On top of that I started to see signs that were completely contridicting my map. For the first time on this trip my map and the road signs were different. My map said that Ensanada to TJ was about 130 k but the sign suggested that the distance between Ensanada and TJ was only 100 k. My mind started to calculate the possibilities of making it to the border that day instead of tomorrow. I started to really kick myself for sleeping in.

The border crossing at TJ was a hot topic lately. The news was telling EVERYONE to stay out of Mexico and TJ was probably the reason for all that news. So I had two options. One, cross TJ late on Easter Sunday afternoon or two stop in Rosarito and cross TJ early on a Monday morning. There were pros and cons for each option. But...either way I wanted to get home. The night before I was getting totally lonely and I wanted to get home asap.

So this is what I decided. TAKE THE SAFEST OPTION. My plan was to ask a police officer or maybe two what they thought and then I would leave the rest to fate. So right before I got into Rosarito I saw a military check point. I asked the army dude there and he said that it would be better to cross today then wait another day. He said there would be a ton of cars and people on Monday morning. When I got into Rosarito that really helped my decision because this place was a total crap hole. It was super depressing. There was no way I wanted to stay in another town that was full of crappy taco stands and Americans on Vacation.

So I pushed forward...hard!

It was probably around 4 in the afternoon. This was either going to be the stupidest idea or it was going to be a breeze. My body was a bit tired but the adreline was pumping because I was starting to realize that I could be on US soil in about an hour for the first time in almost a year and a half.

Theres a huge hill before you get into TJ and the quality of the road sucks. On top of that the cars were flying by at a ridiculous pace. Theres also a magic about TJ. I guess you could call it a black magic. People drive like freaks when they get into the city. I even saw one guy pull over on the freeway and reverse his car up the on ramp on the wrong side of the road. That made me nervous. So I pushed harder. I remember getting to the top of the hill and looking out over TJ. I had a huge downhill in front of me and I can remember coasting down it pretty fast. I wanted out of TJ as fast as possible.

Something went wrong with my bags. This car pulled up next to me and the guy in the passanger seat was yelling at me. Because the roads are so bumbpy in TJ my back two backs came loose and tumbled into the freeway traffic. On top of that the two bungee cords were loosly dangling next to my bike. If one of those cords caught the wheel than for sure I would have ended up in TJ general hospital. Luckily I got away with no injuries and only the sleeping map got run over by a big rig. I pushed even hard. The sun was going down.

I made the border.

I crossed the border.

It was anti-climatic for sure. Then I realized I had to figure out where I was going to stay for the night. I had to make it to San Diego. I pushed harder. This day was getting crazy.

I stopped at 3 different gas stations to get a map and ask for directions. I was in the US but I realized that I was still speaking Spanish.

I rode threw Chula Vista at night on Easter Sunday. That sucked.

I finally made it to downtown San Diego. Coming in on Harbor Drive and seeing those bright and clean city lights was a trip. I was back in the US. Once I got to downtown San Diego I went looking for a internet cafe but that was a total joke because here in the US that really doesnt exist. So I had another problem on my hands. It was Easter evening and I didnt have my buddies contact information. So...sitting on my bike in downtown San Diego, trying to figure out my life for the night, I looked up and saw a hostel. How ironic....my first night back in the US and here I was about to check into a hostel. Whatever...lets do it...I told myself.

Back in the USA!

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

yummy

2009-04-11T19:16:00.000-07:00

So...

for breakfast this morning I had some sort of goat head soup with black coffee.

Thats kinda hard core...right?

Aaron

Do you believe in Omens?

2009-04-09T20:46:00.000-07:00

So do you believe in Omens?

The day started off perfectly. I woke up around 5:30 am to go through my ritual of getting ready to hit the road. I packed my bags, gave the bike a tune up, got dressed, did some stretching and morning yoga breathing exercises and then headed off to get some breakfast. As I was packing my bags I peered out the window and saw the full moon, brillantly lit up, sowly dipping past the far off mountains with shadws of cacti in the foreground. A perfect morning really. I was in a cool little town, Calavina, in Baja's Desert National Park.

I finally got my self situated and was on the road by about 7:00am. It was a super cold morning and luckily the wind died down a bit from the day before. The sun was still rising behind me. The view of the cacti fields and the mountains was just perfect. Ceasar likes Reggae in the morning. It helps him to get warmed up so I poped on one of my favorite albums. Unpolished, by Midnite. The second track is my favorite. Its chorus goes a little something like this...

Live The Life You Love
Love The Life You Live

Again...a perfect way to get up.

Ive been thinking a lot about the bike ride, getting back to San Francisco and what the next step of my life is going to be. Being out here in Baja is truly inspiring. Its one of those places that is ruugh on the outside but once you get used to it you easily fall in love. The conditions here are harsh. Wild winds, the desert, dry land, volcanoes. It has everyhting. Its a place where sometimes all you are allowed to do is think.

So here I am. Its after lunch and Im thinking about my future. The past few days my imagination has run wild with different ideas about different jobs and careers. Sometimes I think about getting back into real esate, other times I think about opening a bike company that leads tours through Mexico and Central America, sometimes I think about going back to school to get my MBA. But today was a bit different...

I asked myself a question. What if I kept going? What if I didnt stop riding? What if I continued the fundraiser...continued to help those who needed help...continued to help children? Is that possible, I asked myself. What if I kept going? What if I used everything I learned in the past few months and fine tuned it? What if I made it bigger and better. What if I rode to Alaska? Maybe I could start over and start my Tierra del Fuego at the tip of Argentina?

Then I started to think about the children. One thing I learned along the way was that children around the world are in serious need of help. I started to think about all that has been accomplished on this fundraiser. For example, the $15,000 that we hope to raise for the school project in Guatemala. I thought about the stories Ive heard in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala.

So my thoughts recycled. What if I kept going? What if I went to Africa? Theres more to be done. Then I told myself...maybe...but Ill want to do it right. Put more time and effort into it. What about Africa?

Right then, right at that moment a noticed a movement off to my right it was about 5 feet from me. No one was around. I hadn't seen a car in a bit. The road was open and free. I was cruising along at a good pace. I was in a small valley surround by red mountains.

At that moment a giant, beautiful, powerful red hawk swooped in and snatched up a red and green snake. The snake twisted and turned to get away. The hawk pushed with its wings as fast as possible. Its wing span was incredible. I lifted myself out of my seat and pointed in the air...screaming...It was one of the most impressive sights Ive ever seen. Before the hawk disapeard it turned back and gave me a glance that Ill never forget. It was something out of a dream.

It was an Omen...

Peace, Power and Pedal
Aaron

Oh the wind!

2009-04-09T17:46:00.000-07:00

This was a great morning. The legs felt great, the bike was running well and I had a huge cllimb through the mountains as the sun was rising in the background. The day before the wind was ripping for the last 35 kilometers of the ride. It made the ride slow, hard and frustrating. Little did I know that this day was going to turn into a complete nightmare.

About 30 minutes after I took this picture the wind started up again. This time the wind was violent. I made the ride slow, frustrating and at times dangerous. I had about 40 kilometers until the next town. Like I said before, the twons in Baja are far apart which makes this entire adventure all that more challenging. Theres no where really to take a break, no where to get some shade and nowhere to hide from the wind. At times the wind got so bad it pushed me around at least a foot to the left and a foot to the right. Luckily the cars behind me noticed how bad I was getting tossed around so they took there time and space when they passed.

At one point I got so pissed off and frustrated I told myself that I was going to pull over and hitchike. I saw this big white building ahead and I told myself that Id pull over and stick they ol thumb out. Or, I thought, maybe I could catch a car coming out of the parking lot and hitch a ride there. So I pushed forward, hard and slower. The wind was fierce. I dont know if you bike but if you do then you know how hard it is to deal with the wind. Its a total mind game and it was really getting me. So as the big white building got closer and closer I was getting more and more excited to get the hell off the road. At that point I would have done anything to get off the road. Well...when I got close to this white building I noticed something strange, something just wasnt right. This white building turned out to be a prison...A FREAKIN PRISON! NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD PICK UP A HITCHIKER OUTSIDE A PRISOn! A WAS SOOO FREAKIN PISSED!!!! I couldnt believe it. I was so angry, frustrated and bent up about I literally almost started to cry. So...I pushed forward. Kicking, screaming and crying....I pushed forward. From 8am to 12.30 I pushed for 40 kilometers.

Then I made a left hand turn. The wind stopped. But then I hit some of the biggest and steepest mountains that Ive seen on the 5,000 kilometers that Ive ridden. But...thats another story...

Typical break in Mexico.

TJ is getting close!

Lets rewind a second here. About 5 days into Mexico I came up on this small little comidor somewhere in the middle of Oxaca. I met this trucker and he told me a bit about Baja. We passed some stories back and forth but before I left he told me to watch out for "The Hill of Death". Well...here I am...looking at the hill of death. This mountain isnt the biggest that Ive ever seen. The biggest was probably in Costa Rica. In Costa Rica near a town called San Ramon I climbed for about 35 kilometers. BUT...this was probably the steepest hill Ive ever seen. It was sooo steep in fact that for the first time on this trip I stoped at the bottom of the hill to pump myself up. It was a freakin monster. To make matters worse I could see a big rig that recently fell off the road. It truly was "The Hill of Death"!

A picture from the top. People driving by were going absolutly CRAZY in their cars when they saw me climbing this bad boy. Tons of people slowed down, took pictures, shouted words of encourgament. People were going crazy. I didnt even flintch at times like this because my concentration had to be 100 percent on the road. Any mistake meant that I would fall possibly hurt myself and have to push the bike up the hill. The whole thing probably took me 45 minutes but it was 45 minutes of pure pushing!

Oh ya...this is still the same day as the crazy wind!

Amazing views of the Volcanoe in the distance.

Photo opp!

This day was long but the scenery was amazing.

Baja...oh Baja...you sure do know how to challenge a guy!

For two days I got to ride through Bajas National Desert Park. The floral and fauna was out of this world!

The boulders...Great place to take a break.

Fields of cacti going off into the distance.

I put Ceasar in this pic so you could see how giant this cactus really is.

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Life of Baja

2009-04-04T19:12:00.000-07:00

Here we go ladies and gentlemen....Baja! There is about 1,480 kilometers between La Paz and TJ. I really dont know what to expect out of Baja so lets have at it!

This was a cool little town along the gulf of California. I believe I took this photo in a small town called Maurate.

This is soooo typical. In mainland Mexico I usually get up, pack, stretch and then hit the road for about 20 kilometers or so then I get breakfast. Here in Baja its a completly different story. Because the towns are few and far between I have to make sure to get food before I take off on the road. If I dont its very possibl;e that I would have about 50 kilometers before I hit any town or cafe or resturant. This picture is typical because Im usually studing my map with my coffee before I get my food. Ill miss mornings like these.

Check out the mountains in the background. Absolutly beautiful. The past two days I rode through those exact mountains. The views were spectacular. Unfortunantly some punk ass stole my camera on the boat from mazatlan to La Paz soooooo I dont have any of those pics.

Another set of mountains along the route. Baja California sur is breathtaking!

priceless!

I constantly find myself throwing up my arm or arms in this part of the world...the scenery is that amazing!

When your alone out here you have to do the little things to keep you sane. When I take a breather along the road I like to park Ceasar on onw side of the rode while I chill out on the other side. I usually grab an apple or snack or whatever. The funny thing about this is that when cars come drving up they usually see the bike laying next to the road without anyone around. The look of absolute confusion on their faces is perfect comedy reliefe for those long and lonely days.

Couldnt miss this photo opp....

Everyday the color of the mountains change. Today grey mountains with the road winding up, up and up!

It really doesnt get better than this.

Poser!

If you got a second check out the map of Baja. Its not just a road that goes straight north. The road zig zags from East to West. The land changes, the scenery changes. I had no idea what to expect when I got to Baja. Truthfully all I though was that I was getting closer to home. Baja has been an amazing ride. Ive been to 40 countries and I have to say that Baja is probably one of the most beautiful places Ive been to.

This day was actually painful. I passed around 6 or 7 different beaches with water that looked like this. I really dont know how long its going to take me to get through Baja so I decided not to stop because if I did I dont know when Ill leave.

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Kilometer 56

2009-04-04T19:11:00.000-07:00

Lets start here...

Mazatlan 56 (a sign along the road indicating that I'm damn close to achieving a huge milestone in this entire adventure)

I cant hold it back anymore! I'm in the middle of nowhere. By myself. Exhausted. Riding my bike, pushing through the wild wind, I'm at 110 kilometers or so today already....I start crying...

This is huge. I'm under the 100 kilometer mark to Mazatlan. Lonely Planet says that from Tapachula at the Guatemala/Mexico border its 2,200 kilometers to Mazatlan. After briefly looking over my own numbers I'm sure it has been longer that that. I crossed Guatemala and entered Mexico at Tapachula around March 5th. I got into Mazatlan in about 3 weeks. Its been a long haul. I have accomplished a HUGE milestone. My body is near break down, but my spirits are so high...its hard to even explain.

I'm overwhelmed. I'm exhausted. I'm listening to U2 but that's not why I'm crying. Seeing MAZATLAN 56 on the green and white sign on the autopista brought so many feelings rushing through my body. Just before the sign I was kinda doing a recap of the trip. I thought about Mike and our first day on the ride back in Panama. It was a grueling 35 kilometers. hahahah! I thought a lot about the mountain pass at San Ramon, Costa Rica where I climbed for 4 hours. I remembered Mike's email the next day. He said that Costco was recalling all the Cliff Bars with peanut butter. Well that would have been nice to know BEFORE the ride through the mountains because I had like 20 bars with me. I thought about the long and bumpy road to the small communities in Nicaragua and remembered how Horacio, the Plan director, was telling me he had to have back surgery because of all the rugged roads that he has visited over the years. That got me to think because the people in those villages had to travel that road EVERYDAY. I thought about El Salvador and all the farmers with their giant machetes slung over their shoulders. I thought of my little buddy Medardo in Guatemala. I hope he was getting some use out of the soccer ball I gave him. I thought about the flyer that was created for the party in San Francisco that were throwing when I get back. The flyer says, "A Man's Inspiring Journey from Panama to San Francisco." That was amazing when I saw that. It was one hard example of how change and how Ive changed over this past year.

Almost a year and a half ago I was riding high. I had the German car, the nice one bedroom apartment in San Francisco with the million dollar view, the real estate job with the nice title, I "had it". Then I realized I wanted something different. I realized that those material things were only holding me back. I realized that there had to be more to life. I wanted to learn, to grow and to see the world. I wasn't necessarily "trying to find myself," as the cliche goes. But I had no idea what was in store. That flyer for me is evidence and proof of that change. Seeing that green and white MAZATLAN 56 sign brought it all home. Here I am pedaling along Mexico's highway 15 with 56 kilometers to go to Mazatlan and to hit a hug Milestone.

I'm in the moment here along highway 15 but I cant help to think of my friends and family back home. I'm truly overwhelmed with this ride. I cant hold back the tears.

Around the same time the next day from when I saw the Mazatlan 56 sign I find myself curled up into a ball on top of my bed in my hotel in Mazatlan. I'm in the fetal position with my back facing the ceiling, clinching my fists. "Oh my god...I think I need to go to the hospital", I mumbled to myself. Its around 10 am and I've been throwing up and have a serious case of diarrhea. There's a sharp shouting pain driving through my lower stomach going from the left to the right. I got a bad case of food poisoning...AGAIN! Luckily, around 1 or so theres a knock at the door. The maid is surprised to find me in the room. My eyes are blood shot red. I'm sweating, sitting on the corner of the bed with my ripped up BERKELEY shirt on. "hay problema senora. yo soy enfermo."Somehow my Spanish is working. I tell her that I'm seriously sick, need some help, and am alone. Luckily the hotel staff is extremely nice and caring. They even go so far as to go to the store to get me some water, Gatorade and medicine.

The plan was to get on the ferry from Mazatlan to La Paz, Baja California at 3pm that day. I was supposed to arrive into La Paz the next morning at 9 am. I wanted to get off the ferry and start riding. I was even hoping to get something like 100 kilometers in that same day. Instead, my food poisoning is going to set me back a bit.

The hotel room is dark and musty. This place was cool back in the day when John Wayne was a regular. Today their willing to chop the advertised price in half to get the business. Even though its a bit run down and old it still has its charm and the staff was great because every few hours they would check on me...making sure I was still live! hahaah! I was trying to hold out on changing the ferry ticket. Maybe the sickness would go away and I could catch the ferry? Eventually the pain got worse but the staff at the hotel even went so far as to go to the ferry to exchange my ticket for me. Even thought the staff was super nice it was probably the loneliest place to spend 20 hours. I was curled up into a ball under a nasty old and stained sheet trying to pass the sickness.

The next morning I had to pull it all together. I had to get out of Mazatlan that morning. I couldn't waste anymore time. I was still a bit sick but I had to push through. No Tengo Tiempo!

The day before when I got to the ferry office the lady told me that the next ferry to La Paz was April 20th. Aaaahhhhh??????!!!! Shocked and a bit worried I asked her if there were any other companies that operated ferries to La Paz. She pointed to the building next door. The other office wasn't nearly as nice as the first plus the lady behind the counter didn't speak any English. That's because the only ferry to La Paz wasn't really for passengers, instead it was primarily for truckers and buses.

So anyway...here I am on the truckers boat to La Paz. No nice lounges on this thing, nothing fancy at all but hey...at least I got a ride. The boat was basic as they come. I had to tear off the seat cushions of three seats to make myself a bed on the floor. I was only able to get a few hours of sleep. My new friend, this guy named Jesus, sitting a few seats away shared the 5th seat cushion for our feet. classic scene really. Jesus and I sleeping on the floor sharing a cushion for our feet. The worst part about this trip was that my head was a few feet from bathroom door. The bathroom, for whatever reason was really hot and steamy inside. It also had a serious sewage problem. So ever few minutes I would get these hot and smelly breeze coming from the bathroom. It also kept reminding me how brutally sick I was only 24 hours ago.

I woke up with new life. The roller coaster of the past few days wasn't going to affect me. I even had a hilarious biker short moment. I changed into my riding outfit on the boat and then went to grab some breakfast. The look on all the hard core looking Mexican truckers faces was hilarious when I walked into the kitchen. A few of them even busted up laughing because I'm sure they thought I looked so ridiculous. Well that put me into a better mood. But, after breakfast, when I went down to put the rest of my stuff away I noticed that my camera was gone.

Some slimy, wormy, maggot stole my freakin camera. All the pictures from Guatemala, from the village near Jalapa and my travels through Mexico...gone!

So...the emotional roller coaster cranks on....

Ive been travelling for over a year. Ive travelled to 5 continents and Ive been to over 40 countries and it takes the ferry from Mazatlan to la Paz to get jacked. Damn! I didn't make a fuss, I didn't tell the crew or captain. All that would do is piss some people off. Probably some truckers who are going to pass me along the road somewhere outside of La Paz. Luckily most of my pictures are backed up. So...I let it go...but damn it does suck!

We finally get to La Paz. The water is a beautiful blue and green. My friend, Jesus, tells me to take a picture. I laugh and ignore him. I didn't even want to think about that. I finally get through security and hit the road around 10am. I wanted to get some kilometers under my belt. After about 5 kilometers or so I notice a beautiful white headed Eagle perched atop a cactus on a plateau above the blue and green water. I can tell the Eagle is watching me as I cruise by on my bike. I tell myself that that must be an omen...it looked amazing! I tried to make it a point to bring myself out of a funk that Ive been in for the past 2 days.

I can tell right off the bat that Baja is a whole new ballgame. The mountains surrounding La Paz and Pichilingue (where the ferry port is) are dry, with colors of grey, orange and red. There are cacti everywhere and nothing else. I thought main land Mexico was dry but this...this is Baja...and this is the desert.

So I'm cycling along. I'm about 10 kilometers outside of La Paz and see another sign. 1,462 kilometers to Tijuana. All of a sudden nothing matters...here it is...the last stretch before getting back to the US. In just a few days Ill be back home. I don't care about the camera, my pain in my stomach is non existent and again I feel invincible. The adrenaline is pumping. I get an immediate high. Another challenge...another huge challenge. Lets do it!

Mexico is a funny place.

10 kilometers later I realize that I'm in the desert and nothing is around me. The adrenaline instantly wears off. there is a BLASTING head wind hitting my face so hard my eyes tear up. Its so hard that I feel like if I stop pedaling I would be going backwards. Has anyone attempted biking Baja from South to North, I thought?

The desert is a funny place. The desert can make or break a person. The 1,462 kilometers instantly seemed a long way away.

I pushed through 30 kilometers of torturous wind. It took me forever to do those 30 kilometers. I finally got to the top of this hill where a dusty restaurant stood. Next to the restaurant was some type of shop. The walls at the shop were taped together and the walls were made of garbage bags. I rolled over to the shop. An older Mexican dude with 2 dreads in his hair and a limp when he walked, told me that there wasn't a hotel or even a small town in the next 150 kilometers. The kid at the restaurant confirmed that story 10 minutes earlier. Oh crap....what now???

This was getting scary. I'm not prepared for this. I'll be camping in the desert, alone, for sure. My mind was working on overtime for options. One, go back to La Paz about 40 kilometers. Two, ask the creepy dude with the dreads whose selling pirated DVD's under this tarp If I can camp here. Three, push forward and see what happens. Four, hitchhike to Santa Rita which is about 100 kilometers away. It was already getting late in the afternoon. So...these three dudes in light grey uniforms hear the anxiety in my voice when I told the crazy Mexican shop keeper that "I had a problem". I slowly drifted back to the bike and pulled my map out. these guys told me that there was a restaurant 45 kilometers up. By this time it was 2:30pm. I thought to myself that if the wind doesn't get too crazy then maybe I can make it the restaurant.

As I'm talking to these guys in their uniform I notice that they are coca-cola delivery guys. There truck was tucked behind a few cacti next to the restaurant.

So here's the plan...push forward to the restaurant at kilometer 77...and see what happens.

These past few days have been too much!

About 3 kilometers up the road I see the coca-cola guys unloading the truck at a small shop. One of the guys gives me a classic Mexican whistle and yells..."Vamos Amigo...Vamos!" Clueless to what he was talking about I wandered up to the truck. The next thing I knew Ceasar is getting hauled up into the back of the truck and I'm sitting shotgun with my new three amigos. They tell me that they'll give me a lift to kilometer 77 after they tell me that I'm freaking crazy for cycling through Baja. I introduce myself as were whizzing along routa 1 in Baja California Sur. they introduce themselves...I can tell they're pretty excited to get a bit of company from a wild looking stranger. "Hola, me llamo es Jesus" the guy next to me says. I reply, "Hola, Jesus. Mucho Gusto." The next guy, a short man with a sharpened mustach with a round face introduced himself, "hola me llamo Nacho." I couldn't help it, "Nacho...tu llamo es Nacho?" He replied again..."si, Nacho." I repeated it again but slowly...."Naaaccchhhoooo?" He had a big grin on his face. I smiled equally as big. The other guys expression didn't change at all. "Mucho Gusto Nacho!" The third guy, who was kinda the leader of the group because he was the driver but more importantly because he knew how to count to 10 in English, said "Me llamo es Julio." I looked over at my three new amigos as we were flying down routa 1 in Baja California and said "Mucho Gusto Amigos"!

So here I am with Jesus, Nacho and Julio cruising along from kilometer 35 to 77 to find some restaurant that is supposed to help me out. As I glanced out the window I caught myself in the reflection. I looked at the guy in the mirror and said I hope you have a plan to get out of this pickle that were in. I noticed my hair blowing in the wind, my beard was in FULL effect and my Camino de Santiago scarf was wrapped around my head all I could think about was..."Is this it...is this what my life has come to?"

I think I'm going to love Baja...

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Biker short moment of the day

2009-03-27T20:34:00.001-07:00

two biker short moments....

Im trying to get to San Blas, Mexico. Its about 125 kilometers north of Sayulita. No problem! Im about 30 kilometers away and decide to take a break in this town. I try to take a ton of breaks during the day because my bum gets a bit sore plus its important to stay hydrated. For whatever reason the people in this random town are looking at me like Im a freakin mad man. I guess my appearance has changed. I got a beard. I have this scarf I use as a head bad and ya I got this bike thing that Im pushing around.

So I go into a little shop and grab a yogurt drink and a gatorade. Pretty much the only healthy thing these places have. Im standing outside enjoying my drink when this mini van pulls up in front of me. This 4 year old kids looks at me and then looks at the bike and then back at me. Hes a cute little guy just checking out the town but is just amazed by the bike and me. He dazes off into a look of wonderment at the bike. I finally give the guy a head nob to kinda say hello. He realizes he is staring at me then gets this look of shock on his face. Thn his eyebrows squint together and he looks REALLY SCARED!

He slowly leans back into his captain chair and then I notice the window being slowly rolled up. Like I was going to jack the car or some thing! hahah! Then...ya theres more...he keeps sliding down into the chair and hides behind the door.

Do I really look that bad????

number 2

Im about a day or so away fro Mazatlan. The scenery has changed a bit. I notice on both sides of the road that there are farms with sometype of seeds that are being harvested. Something new....so something cool to look at. The scenery was cool and it was a perfect day. Blue sky and I was getting excited for Mazatlan.

Then about 10 minutes later I see these 3 giant big rigs flying down the road. No big deal except that there was this giant cloud that was following the big rigs. Big rigs...no problem...giant gey cloud moving fast towards me when I havent seen a cloud in months...kinda strange. Then I heard rain. Ya...rain... This was getting strange. So weired in fact that I almost pulled over.

Then as the big rigs approached I started to get pelted by something. IT WAS RAINING SEEDS! pouring down on me pelting my skin...it hurt! This was new. I guess there was nothing I could do...laugh it off...

Aaron

Off to Mazatlan baby!!!!

2009-03-27T20:10:00.001-07:00

Sunset in Sayulita!

This place was amazing.

Here are the next few days....

3/27 Sayulita - San Blas 80 k

3/28 San Blas - Acaponeta 142 k

3/29 Acaponeta - Mazatlan 158 k

This picture was taken outside the "only hostel in Sayulita". It was a cool place with a chilled out Reggea vibe.

The two guys on the side of me were from the South of the US. Great guys on spring break. We had many conversations about the market because they were about to graduate in a few months. They are construction management majors so we had a bit in common because of my real estate background.

All the way on my left is Elliot. Super cool guy from Indiana. He just finished his 27 months in the peace corpse. He was in Nicaragua where he taught Environmental sciene in a small village near Lago Nicaragua. The guy has traveled all over the world and now he was following his dream of bussing it back to Austin Texas from Nicaragua to meet his friends for his birthday.

A cool church in a small town along the way to San Blas from Sayulita.

Almost to Mazatlan. This is huge because this is the end of "main land" Mexico. Once I get to Mazatlan I take a ferry to Baja. At this point Im about a 2 day ride to Mazatlan.

The ride from Sayulita to San Blas was one of the most spectacular rides of the trip.

Getting closer to San Blas the country really started to change. I felt like I was back in Costa Rica because everything started to get super green.

Great views.

Here is a biker short moment of the day. When I was riding to Acaponeta from San Blas I had a decision to make. There are two rodes that get there. One is a nice and new paved autopista that cars have to pay to use. The other is an old, winding road thats free. I opted for the new road because the shoulder was huge and there were less cars. Well this kind of turned into a mistake because on this rode there were no shops or places to fill up on water. It was EXTREMELY hot and I didnt have enough water on me. The rode was also super long and there wasnt even really a place to stop in the shade. Anyway...it was a long hard haul with no stops. By the time I got to a tienda I was about 5 kilometers out of town. I was exhausted and dehydrated. I got some gatorade and water and took a seat in this guys little dusty shop. Next thing I knew I passed out in the chair with my legs up on this dude truck. Anyway...something like a half hour went by and I was so tired that it took him a few seconds to shake me out of it. It was seriously time for a break.

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Another reflection

2009-03-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

Something happened to me in Mexico. I don't know if I entered into an eternal phase of riders high, or what? I'm not really sure.

A couple things we can talk about here.

Cycling through Mexico has been really tough. It has been extremely challenging. Looking back I think the hardest part has been the stretch from Guatemala City, through the Mexican states of Chiapas and Oaxaca to the city of Puerto Escondido. It has been hard. The days on the bike were probably about 8 or 9 hours each. The whole thing took me about 9 days and I probably rode about 135 kilometers per day. The numbers were pretty big but that's not why it was so hard. It was hard because the scenery, for the most part was dry and flat and also because it got extremely lonely out there. Besides those factors it was also hot as hell! At that point of the trip the size of Mexico was also really getting to my head, Mexico was huge and that mental barrier hurt. At this stage of the game it was also the half way point. Things began to drag and drag out slowly, which made the whole thing even harder. I guess if you had to put it into one word it would be suffering. Something, I guess, I'm not really used to.

But along the route something changed. I hit certain milestones. I started to get physically stronger and healthier. I started to consistently hit 135 kilometer days, my legs started to really hit a stride. Then the scenery got a bit better and things started to look up. When I finally hit Sayulita things were so different for me. Life in Sayulita was amazing. I got to a cool surfer beach town, made friends and had some time to look back and reflect. Life in Sayulita was liberating because I felt I was getting closer to home. I was reaching the goal. Sitting on the beach and passing stories back with my buddy Elliott I was able to look at that time in the south of Mexico and realize how hard it was and then I realized that I got through such a hard time physically, emotionally and spiritually. And here I was in Sayulita. I really could appreciate every second in Sayulita even more.

Changing thoughts here....When I got to Sayulita I had sometime to think about the bike trip, think about the children that I met and think about my travels over the past year. I think this bike trip has truly given me the feeling of accomplishment and liberation. Around the year 2003, about a year after I graduated college I came up with a dream to "give it all up" and travel the world. At that time I was in kind of a rut. I was in a job I didn't necessarily like that was lacking direction and passion, I was with a girlfriend and we eventually broke up, I was living in a cool and cute apartment in a nice district of San Francisco but it wasn't a very inspiring place. Things were moving along but I wanted something more....I wanted to travel. A couple of things changed from that point I got a job that I was good at, in real estate, I parted ways with the girlfriend and I moved into an amazing apartment in North Beach in San Francisco. Life really picked up. Things were looking better but honestly I was still looking for more inspiration...more passion.

I still had the travel bug, I still wanted to travel.

A few things happened at this point the crash of the real estate market and eventually the market as a whole was on the horizon. The writing was on the wall and my business partner and I were looking for a change. Bush was still in office but he was quickly going to be out the door. Names like Clinton and Obama were all over the place with Rhetoric of "change" and "new direction". So an opportunity arose. My business was closing and it was time to make some decisions. I didn't have a wife, no kids, no mortgage, no job and a bit of cash. So, in 2007 I decided to per sue my 5 year old dream and travel the world. I was ready for the NEW DIRECTION I was ready for the CHANGE I was ready to see the world. So, on November 19, 2007 with a 9 month around the world plane ticket in hand, and no apartment and relatively small belongings, my buddy Davy and his sister dropped me off at SFO airport 3 hours before an American Airline plane was set to depart for Bangkok, Thailand.

So here I am 17 months later with no apartment, no car, no belongings, a bike and a heart full of experiences. Being in Sayulita I feel like I made this trip everything that I wanted it to be. I feel liberated because I realize that "more is less". I feel like I set a HUGE goal and I accomplished it. I feel changed because I was supposed to be home months ago but seeing the beauty this world has to offer but also getting in touch with the issues has inspired me to the point where I felt that I had to pick up a bike and try to make a change was important to me.

I wonder...what will the rest of this trip bring me?

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Heres the plan....

2009-03-27T20:05:00.000-07:00

So here is the plan....

Im in Sayulita at the moment. I have 3 days of riding until I hit Mazatlan. Mazatlan is a huge step! Seriously. Its a big mental and physical win for me. My book says that from Tapachula to Mazatlan its 2,200 kilometers.

From Maztlan Ill take a day off. From there I hop on a 17 hour ferry and cross to La PAz in Baja California. One in Baja I hope to ride straight threw. Something like 14 days or less if I can make it. That is probably going to be one of the biggest tests of all. 14 days straight of riding. The most Ive done has been 9 and that was killer. The 9 day ride was from Guatemala City to Puerto Escondido. That was such a long and hard ride and the scenery was bland at times.

Baja is going to be different. Its supposed to be a bikers dream. Thats how my buddy Jeff explained it back in Panama City. From what Ive heard and from what Ive seen its supposed to be beautiful. Im a bit worried because its also a very desolate place. Sometimes there ae gaps that are about 200 kilometers long with only a few pueblitas around. Wish me luck!

From Baja I get to Tijuana. Im a bit worried about TJ because of all the negative news. I hope to get to Rosarita the night before and make the 25 kilometer ride to TJ in the morning and cross the border asap. Some people said I should take a taxi but I honestly think that may be more dangerous.

From Tj my first day off will be in San Diego. I got a few friends there plus Ill need the rest. Then Im off to LA LA Land! We have a party scheduled in Hollywood for the 18th that my buddy Evan is helping to throw. Its a fundraiser for the village in Guatemala. Hopefully that will help with the donations.

Then my great friend Rob meets me in LA to ride back to San Francisco. Rob is taking the first flight to LA from San Jose. Hes going to wear his biker shorts on the plane and assemble his bike in the LAX airport. How hilarious is that! then were off. From LA to SF its usually a 7 day ride. Were going to try to make it in 5. Again...wish us luck.

Some serious momentum is on the horizon. Were at $5,000 right now in donations. Amazing really! But...the goal is $15,000. Were throwing a big party in San Francisco on the 25th. We hope that brings in a couple of bucks. Plus we hope to get some donations that last week as well. Im sooooo nervous and overwhelmed right now. I want to hit the mark so bd. I want to make sure the people in Jalapa get their school. They deserve it...truly....

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron

Im so torn up!

2009-03-27T20:02:00.001-07:00

Seriously...Im so damn torn up...

I have 3 socks left.

I havent done my laundry in 12 days. I only have a few jerseys and shorts....you get the picture.

When I was getting into Vallarta I heard some change hitting the ground. A few minutes latter I heard it again. My bag was ripping and money was falling into the street.

My headphones broke.

The past two nights I slept on the beach witch was great. Only thing is NOTHING dries overnight. Everything is sloppy wet the day before. Ahhhhhh putting on wet gloves, shorts and socks in the morning is awesome!

I have an asortment of bugs splattered on my arms and legs.

I have large ash stains on my face from the small fires along the roads.

I have these wild tan lines everywhere.

Im soooo torn up!

Time for a day off.

Aaron

Obama...you inspire me!

2009-03-27T19:59:00.001-07:00

I was living in Santiago de Chile on election night. Even in a country so far away all eyes were on the event. I found a cool bar in a ritz neighborhood in Santiago that was full of ex-pats. It was awesome to be with some Americans on such a big night. The atmospher was electric. The next day everyone was throwing up high fives because they too were watching the event. The next day in my spanish class we dedicated the day of Spanish to talk about you. We pick up new words like Cambio and Si, Podemos. It was awesome.

You ran on a ticket of change and you won! You mentioned in your inaguration the need to give back. You mentioned that Americans should help where they can and get back to their roots.

It just so happened that you won the election right around the time I was debating the next step in my life. I was thinking about coming home. I was looking at finding a teaching job somewhere in South America. In the back of my mind I wa thinking about a fundraiser. I wanted to do something to help children living in poverty.

Obama you in spire me. Your words of change and helping others really helped me to make my decion about this fundraiser. It didnt matter that your a democratic or a republican. All that mattered was the fact that what you said had meaning and truth behind it.

Thank you...

Aaron

Taco Me!

2009-03-27T19:53:00.001-07:00

Lets just say that I can wow any taco stand people.

I can seriously eat these days. I ride for at least 8 hours a day and because of that my apetite is threw the roof. Most people sit down and get 3 or 4 maybe 5 tacos. I on the other hand get straight to work. 5 tacos please. They always give me kinda a stange look at that point. I fly through the first tacos. I put al the toppings on! ¨5 more please¨! They ALWAYS give me a smile or a quick chuckle. Sometimes other people at the stand eye me a little closer. They next 5 tacos slow me down a bit. Usually the girl behind the counter will tell me how much I owe while taking my plate away. Thats when I have my chance...¨5 more please¨! ¨wow¨ the sometimes say. This one time this guy, at least 300 pounds or somehting, even gave me a ¨good job¨when I went for the 15!

The long Haul to Sayulita

2009-03-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

One last sunset in Acapulco before I head off on another huge leg of the trip. Heres the plan. Im in Acapulco at the moment and the next stage is from Acapulco to Sayulita. Sayulita is a small surf town about 35 kilometers north of Puerto Vallarta. The next stage of the trip is a HUGE one maybe even bigger than the Guatemala City to Puerto Escondido trip. So here we go...

3/17 Acapulco - San Luis San Pedro 150 k

3/18 San Luis San Pedro - Zihuatanjo 110k

3/19 Zihuatanjo - Playa Azul 124k

3/20 Playa Azul - Maurata 122k

3/21 Maurata - Manzanillo 176k

3/22 Manzanillo - Tiny beach town near Morelos 131k

3/23 Morelos - Puerto Vallarta 122k

3/24 Puerto Vallarta - Sayulita 35k

The first day out was no problem. Check out the shoulder in this picture. Awesome! The road was nice and the scenery was perfect. Tons of coconut plantations and the mountains were off in the distance.

This was totally crazy! I was just crusing down the freeway when I swore I saw a freakin Bengal Tiger. Yup! Check it out! Lion, tiger, bears, and even a small monkey cage!

The road on this stretch started to get super close to the ocean. Theres a stretch of about 250 kilometers that hugs the pacific coast. These days are really the best. When the scenery is good nothing else really matters. I find that Ive been doing a lot of singin these days. Weather is perfect, good music on the IPOD...let it rip!

Perfect!

Check it out...Zihuatanjo. The funniest thing happened the night before. Shawshank Redemtion was on TV. I love that movie. This is the town where they dissapear to. ¨Hope Red....I hoe to see you in Zihuatanjo. Because hope is all we got!¨

Great little town with cobblestone streets, resturants, cafes and tons of taco stands. I was hoping to meet a few people here but Mexico is dead. There are no tourists here at all. The economy crunch plus the travel warnings have seriously kept people out.

Perfect sunset in Zihuatanjo. I had a few minutes to walk along the beach and just relax!

This was a nasty sight. Big ol factory off in the distance. I stopped in this little town that serviced all the factory workers. A few of the workers were super curious about my travels. I heard a few of them say, ¨loco gringo¨ under their breath...nothing new fellas!

Playa Azul was a nice break. I found this camp site but this place was super hot! I couldnt really get the tent together in the intense sun so I opted for a cooler room near the beach. These little beach towns are perfect. Usually they have a few resturants on the beach, cheep beer and a laid back vibe.

Time to relax a bit after a 124 kilometer day....

The road from Playa Azul to Maurate was one of the most amazing days of the trip. The road followed the coast the entire day. The spirts were high, the bike was running great and everyone that passed by was super cool. Were their hills??? Ohhh ya...but that didnt seem to matter because the views were perfect. One day I hope to come back to this stretch of land. Theres a ton of hidden beaches everywhere. Most of the beaches litterally only have 1 little shrimp shack and nothing else.

There was also a good omen this morning. I was cruising along the road with not a person in sight when I saw this impressive Eagle sitting in the middle of the road. He was looking the other way. I stopped peddaling and let my momentum catch up. When I was about a meter away he finally heard me and started flaping his wings as hard as possible. He got a slow start and at one point I got right next to him and we started to race down the road. It was amazing. Finally he headed up and out but it was a cool moment.

Sweaty after an hour climb!

Amazing little beaches. There also no problem with pulling into these places and setting up camp.

The view was amazing and worth the climb. For about 50 kilometers it was 4 or 5 kilometers up and then down. You get the instant reward of climbing the hill but it was a tuf workout.

Ya baby!

After 122 kilometers of some of the best road Ive seen I finally made it to Maurate. A beautiful little beach tucked a few kilometers from the main road.

When I got into the beach there was a group of about 10 people my age. They were camping and volunteering on the next beach over. They were there to Save the Sea Turtles. Super cool people with some amazing stories. Later that night I was hanging out with a few new friends, one of them a volunteer at the other beach, when the owner of the resturant came running over. Apparently a few months back one of the sea turtles laid some eggs right next door and that night the babies were hatching. They were having some trouble finding the ocean so we had an opportunity to help. They are precious little creatures!

So tiny!

ya, they tickle in your hand!

Happy Birthday to me! Nothing like a little yoga on the beach at sunrise on my birthday. The sunrise was amazing.

Rasing the sun rising over the hill.

My birthday was perfect. I had planned to go about 150 kilometers this day. The first half of the day followed the ocean. Heres a cool picture after an hour climb to the top of this giant hill!

From the ocean to the coconut plantations. The day was very diverse.

So I decided to bypass my destination at the 150 kilometer mark and keep pushing forward. I felt great, Ceasar was running in top shape, it was my birthday and I wanted to see what these old 29 year old legs could do. It was a TOTAL RUSH when I passed the turnoff for the 150 kiometer stop. I knew that everyhting had to run perfectly or I would get caught in the dark. Plus this was going to be my biggest day of the trip. 176 kilometers. Why not? I wanted to get to Manzanillo because I heard some cool things. Maybe...just maybe...if the legs are up to hit I could hit a club or something and do a bit of dancing. That would be amazing!

The last 30 kilometers was a beautiful paved autopista with a wide shoulder. I was getting super tired and really needed a pick-me-up. Right about that time I saw a ton of kids linning up along the freeway. They were doing a Passing of the torch relay from Mexico City to Manzanillo in honor of a passed away Mexican President. I was right in the middle of their race. They were so excited to me rolling down the street. So I decided to give the kids high 5´s for 25 kilometers. That was the perfect pick-me-up.

After that this giant truck pulls up next to me and slowly rolls down the window. This happens every few days. Usually its a tourist trying to get a better look or someone has a question or wants to take a picture. This time this guy starts asking me how many kilometers I rode this day, where I was going and where I started. It turns out that this guy leads bike trip from Mexico City to Cusco, Peru. They have a crew and everything. It takes the group around 110 days. Crazy! Sounds like fun. Anyway...after I told him that it was my biggest day at 175 kilometers and my birthday him and his crew start hooking me up with water, fruit, gatorades and everyhting. I sure needed it because the blood sugar was starting to get real low! Thanks guys!

A few beautiful lakes surround Manzanillo.

Thats a joke...right?

There it is!

Mazanillo to this tiny beach was a wild day. The day started of with a cool, nice, flat road then it got scary hilly. After a tiresome ride I found this super small shrimp shack on the side of the road. I decided to get a drink and take a look at the map. The next town was at least 30 kilometers away. I was exhauste and it was starting to get a bit late. The lady told me that if I went back up the road to the dirt road and under the bridge I would find a small little beach with a resturant. Well...why not? After pushing Ceasar through the sand and dirt and through somehting that resembled a swamp I saw this gringo chick walking down the street. Now this was a bit odd...I was in the middle of nowhere and this beach wasnt on my map or in the Lonely Planet. Anyway there was this wild group of hippies camped on a different beach. She invited me over but I think by the looks of her swagger they were having a bit too much fun. I passed and then found this magical little spot.

Sunset in Manzanillo. Perfect on my birthday.

This is a good one. So I pull into my hotel in Manzanillo and see this couple watching the sunset on the other side of the pool area. Ya...the place had a pool...I had to upgrade for the B day. Anyway...we all start talking and sharing stories when Darryl tells me he has a mountain bike with him.

Side note...Im trying desperatly to get someone to join me spontanously on this ride. Maybe this is it.

I tell Darryl that he shuold join me. I tell him stories about how beautiful Baja is and how it would help the kids. He likes the idea but I dont think he wife was into it as much. Anyway...before Darryl and his wife take off I try one last ditch effort. I tell him to meet me along the road at about 7.30am. I tell him to look for the Tank on 2 wheels. I kinda forgot about that last part of the conversation and head off for a nightclub in town. No nightclub so off to bed.

So the next morning rolls around and Im cruising down the road that follows the beach. I see a break in the hotels and resturants that gives off to a great view of the bay in Manzanillo. I go over to take a picture. When I slow down I hear someone calling my name. WHAT THE HECK?? It startled me and it took a second to register but there Darrly was...all ready to go with his bike! Amazing!

So here we are. I got a teamate for the day. Darryl even spells me on the big bike and I get his mountain bike. We ride for about 40 kilometers or so. Have an amazing lunch. Pass a few stories back and forth. What an amazing surprise. It was so nice to get a break from the bike but mostly it was such an energizing feeling to ride with another person. Literally for the entire day and the net day I thought about how cool that was and how awesome the ride was. It really helped me get my mind off the road. Thanks Darryl!!!

Here is that dirt road that led to that little hidden beach.

The little beach.

When I pulled into the beach I was blown away because it was so beautiful. It was this little tiny cove tucked away. On the right was this rocky little hill. When the sunset it lit up all the cacti that were perched on top the hill. On top of that I was able to make a few new friends. I met this Mexican family from Guadaljara. The guy was a doctor and he was with his wife and family. They made sure I got a good meal...some homemade ceviche and made sure I had a cold Modelo at all times. He said he saw me about 4 hours back and was curious because I looked like a grino but my shirt had EL SALVADOR on the back. Im sure he was a bit confussed. Either way it made for a nice afternoon.

This is typical. So I see this sign for Vallarta 113. Then I go about 30 kilometers and see another Vallarata sign for 75 kilometers. Then I go another 25 kilometers at least and see another Vallarata sing that say 72 kilometers. That really can kill the mood!

Its been about 7 days of long and hard riding. Im exhausted so I went for a bit of a pick me up. Almost to Vallarta!

The ride to PV was a hard one. I had a 30 kilometer climb. I got so high that the weather and the scenery totally changed. The plant life was completely different!

It was like being back in the jungle.

Im so ready to get off this bike!

In all honesty this picture isnt the best but IM soooo excited here you have no idea! It was also after a 28 kilometer down hill ride. The views were perfect for the end of the day.

PV is a super cool town. Good food. Fun tourists looking for a wild night out. Some cool museums and some beautiful churches.

Another pic from Vallarta.

ya baby!

Puerto Vallarta was cool but the pay day came when I got to Sayulita. I finally made it after 8 days of riding. I busted my butt to get here. Orginally I wanted to take 2 days off in each of these towns...Escondido, Acapulco and Vallarta and then get to Sayulita. Instead I took 1 day in Escondido, 1 day in Acapulco and a half day in Vallarta. Now Im going to chill for 2 days. This is going to be fun.

Looking at my map when I was hanging on the beach I realized that I came so far. Im really blow away. Only a few weeks ago I was biting my nails in Guatemala completly tripping about how I was going to do this. I got together a good routine. I started waking up a bit early, I stayed positive and now here I am. AMAZING! I ready for a few days off.

Have you been to Mexico? I think the first spanish I learned was Una mas cervez, por favor! Still comes in handy.

Sayulita is famous for its fish tacos, perfect surf and paradise beach. The town is completly grigofied but thats ok by me. Hopefully I can meet a few people here.

I dont know if its the fact that I rode my bike here and I have a sense of accomplishment when I sit on the beach but...I LOVE THIS PLACE! Seriously...Ive been to about 40 countries and I love it here. The beach is social, the food is great, the weather is perfect, the people are nice. I LOVE IT HERE!

Allrighty...

So Here is the story of Omar...the dude on my right. I first met Omar in Panama. He was driving down with an Australian buddy and 2 other Australian girls. When the 4 of them got to Panama the girls took off for Colombia and the guys decided to drive back up to Mexico. BUT as it turned out the girls got on the airplane with all the documentation for the car. So Omar and his Aussie buddy were stuck in Panama at Lunas Castle hostel. We hung out a few times, passed some stories back and forth and that was it. He told me before I left to stop in Sayulita if I had a chance.

About a week later Mike and I are in the Purple House Hostel in David, Panama. The next day Mike is headed back to Panama and I was off to Costa Rica. Guess what...Omar pops into the hostel. They finally got the papers sorted and now they we headed back to Mexico. We hung for a night and the next day I was outta there.

About 10 days goes by and Im cruising along a back road in Costa Rica. Im standing over my bike because I had a flat tire or something when I see this Jeep fly down the road with music playing and a couple of girls in the back. That was odd because I was in a seriously remote area. The Jeep hits a U turn and I realize that its Omar, his Aussie buddy and a new gagle of ladies in the back. That was a wild turn. So they are headed to the beach and offer a ride but I was headed the oposite direction. I never met any of the other people but I actually radom bumped into one of the girls, Kara, who was in the back of the truck in Arenal, Costa Rica. Crazy small world!

So here I am in Sayulita and I make it my mission to find the guy. I meet Elliot, hes in the picture on my left and we go searching for the infamous Omar. I decided to find the guy the old fashion way. No calling, no email, no address, no facebook...I ask around! After going into a hotel, a bar and a resturant Elliot and I start treking down the beach and there he was...Omar! Hes walking away to this camp site or something as Im yelling his name down the beach. He sees me but of course doesnt recognize me because of the beard and the randomness of the situation. He stops, turns and starts to walk away. I think Elliot was thinking...sure buddy...you know that guy? I yell out his name again and Omar throws up a big smile and says, THE BIKE GUY! Hell ya...anyway it was time to reconnect and have a bit of fun.

Met up with some cool ladies from San Francisco! Hell ya...

Peace, Power and Pedal

Aaron