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Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
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Topic: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding! (Read 794951 times)
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Max Wedge
Engineering Pathologist
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Years Contributed: '10
Years Supported: '11
Motorcycles: '10 R1200GS '06 YZ250F
GPS: The mitten in Region 4
Miles Typed: 2460
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Sport-Mowing.net
Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #560 on:
July 20, 2013, 05:34:35 pm »
If we need to send lawyers, guns or money, just let us know where! Viva la Lightcycle!
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Scoop
National Man of Mystery
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Years Contributed: '06, '10
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Miles Typed: 1558
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Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #561 on:
July 20, 2013, 09:04:54 pm »
According to a post on ADV Rider, there is a note on Neda's Instagram that suggests they've headed back to Canada for a short vacation from the vacation. That was posted on July 18th.
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"Gender Box"...Rocketbunny
"but in reality the optimal pace can only be confirmed in hindsight"...Gene
lightcycle
Nomad
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GPS: formerly Toronto, Canada
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Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #562 on:
July 21, 2013, 01:55:20 pm »
Updated from
http://www.RideDOT.com/rtw/98.html
After almost a month on the island, our time in Cuba was coming to an end. From Vinales, we doubled back on the main Autopista past Havana towards Playa Giron on the south coast. There were some nice beaches that were a lot cheaper than the resorts at Varadero and Cayo Coco, but we were really here to see the Bahia de Cochinos - The Bay of Pigs.
Bikes take a break
We rode through the swamplands of Zapata, the largest wetlands in the world and home to crocodiles, lilypads and marshes. There, we found an all-inclusive resort (first one of this trip) right on the beaches of Playa Giron, and immediately gorged ourselves sick on several rounds of complimentary cocktails that were more sugar than alcohol.
The resorts was filled with locals and backpackers, and after we left the bikes parked outside our cabin, we were relatively unmolested and enjoyed sunsets and mojitos at the rustic, 2-star budget resort.
Poolside at Playa Giron
The infamous Bay of Pigs, a lot more peaceful than it was in 1961!
Just outside the resort is the Bay of Pigs museum, which housed military vehicles from the period of the invasion as well as a photographic history of the ill-fated attempt of US-backed Cuban exiles to wrest control away from Fidel Castro after La Revolucion.
Outside the Bay of Pigs museum
The failed Bay of Pigs invasion was important for a number of reasons. Successfully resisting the US-backed attack made Castro a folk hero to communist nations all over the world. It's also rumoured amongst conspiracy theorists that Kennedy's assassination was linked to his wavering support of the military operation, pulling critical air-support at the last minute and dooming the invasion to failure while costing lives on the ground. Fingers point to angry high-level US military officials orchestrating the enigmatic assassination.
It was very interesting walking through the exhibits of the museum and seeing the invasion from Cuba's point of view: the deification of Castro's military expertise and the bumbling incompetence of the "insolent Yankee invaders". To see history retold from two different sides really gave perspective into how our beliefs and attitudes are so easily influenced and shaped by textbooks, museums and propaganda. At the end of the tour, even I wanted to shout out to world, "Viva La Revolucion!"
Musicians practice in Cienfuegos
After a couple of days at Playa Giron, we took a short two hour ride to Cienfuegos, the port town where we would meet up with the Stahlratte again to take us back to the mainland. A month in Cuba was more time than we needed, and the lack of Internet access made us feel very isolated from our friends and family that we normally kept in touch with via Skype and social networking.
Now we were on the opposite side of the dreaded "schedule" - trying to find ways to pass the time and dodging the hustlers at every street corner, while waiting for the ship to take us off this prison island! Honestly, we did feel a bit trapped, not able to leave when we wanted to, and I understood now the plight of many on the island, not having the resources to leave the country. Never did we look so forward to throwing up our lunches overboard!
"In every neighbourhood: Revolution!"
Over 50 years have passed since La Revolucion, and the politics of the country is still defined by it, using the resistance as both a solidarity cry and a means to control the population.
Canadians are the primary visitors to Cuba, and our flag is ceremoniously decorated all over the place
Most of the Canadian tourists are from Quebec, as French and Spanish are close enough to get by. Many of them spend much of their time and social security cheques in Cuba. We saw lots of older Canadian men in the company of young Cuban JineterAs (female hustlers), exchanging their companionship for gifts, meals in tourist restaurants and accommodations in resorts and hotels. In Cuba, Canadians have a bad reputation for being sex predators, targeting child prostitutes. Very sad.
"What kind of bikes? How many ccs? How much? How fast?"
Cienfuegos means "100 Questions" en espanol...
The buildings and culture in Cienfuegos are supposed to have a very French flavour to it - residents from Louisiana and Haiti immigrated to this part of the island at the turn of the century to become rich sugar barons. Not knowing anything about French architecture, I just took a few pictures and said, "Oui, oui!" to the French Canadian tourists milling around the area. And tried to keep small children away from them as well...
Main plaza in Cienfuegos
YuTong tour bus bought from fellow comrades in China
Who let these dogs out?!?
Cobblestone streets of Trinidad
We arrived a few days before the Stahlratte was scheduled to leave, so we had some time to explore the area. The main attraction in this region is the town of Trinidad, about an hour away. We rode along the road hugging the south shore, not doing a very good job dodging the tiny crabs that were sunning themselves on the hot asphalt. The air was pungent with smushed crab from all the vehicles going back and forth, which made me a bit hungry.
Trindad was just meh. This is my meh face.
Trinidad is a tourist trap. It's supposed to be a well-preserved slice of Spanish colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. In reality, it's a bunch of restaurants and souvenir shops with tons of foreign tourists that invade the town in long Chinese luxury tour buses from Cienfuegos. The buildings were nice-looking though...
I dunno. I think we're just getting Cuba'd out at this point.
Riding through the cobblestone streets of Trinidad
Neda picks up some fresh fruit on the ride back from Trinidad
We got our hair cut at the local hairdresser. Our final souvenir of our time in Cuba
In retrospect Cuba was both fascinating and frustrating. It was definitely the most different place, politically, that I've visited, and the whole communist brain-washing, police-state, inform-on-your-neighbour, control-the-news-and-Internet thing was something I loved to see in person. Neda lived through it, so I don't think it was that interesting to her. We learned a lot more about the pivotal role Cuba played in the history of world and its status as a pawn between the superpowers, and got to experience this education from their point of view. We visited Miami years ago, and Cuba gave us new insight into the Cuban-American community there - something we were embarrassingly ignorant of.
Having spent almost a month on the island (more time than we needed), I'm not sure if we'd ever go back again. I don't feel like we travelled through the country as complete outsiders and I do find myself deeply interested in anything Cuban that pops up in the news, now that we can actually read the news again.
Next up: Escape from Cuba!
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Scratch33
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His Excellency's Car!
Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #563 on:
July 21, 2013, 03:29:39 pm »
Quote from: lightcycle on July 21, 2013, 01:55:20 pm
In retrospect Cuba was both fascinating and frustrating. It was definitely the most different place, politically, that I've visited, and the whole communist brain-washing, police-state, inform-on-your-neighbour, control-the-news-and-Internet thing was something I loved to see in person. Neda lived through it, so I don't think it was that interesting to her.
"Every revolution evaporates and leaves behind only the slime of a new bureaucracy."
-- Franz Kafka
Glad to see you back.
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All Your Forum Are Belong to VS
veefer800canuck
Nicky Hayden stole my childhood!
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Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #564 on:
July 21, 2013, 03:38:38 pm »
Alright. Glad to hear you did not check into Guantanamo as "guests". haha
Was wondering where you had disappeared to, as the lack of Internet makes it seem like a long time when you're outside looking in.
The 1950's era American cars I find very interesting, especially as how the locals keep them running with anything they have at hand, including swapping the worn out V-8 engines for Russian tractor engines, etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yank_tank
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bluepoof
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Blueberry Stiglet Coho MotoGuzziBatmanGilligan III
Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #565 on:
July 21, 2013, 03:58:52 pm »
I love your honesty about getting burned out -- sometimes when I'm on a long ride (though much much shorter than yours!) I feel pressure to have every minute be rainbows and unicorn farts. I think we can all nod and relate to the feeling of being "done" with a place, even a historically/politically interesting and beautiful place.
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veefer800canuck
Nicky Hayden stole my childhood!
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Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #566 on:
July 21, 2013, 04:02:43 pm »
Quote from: bluepoof on July 21, 2013, 03:58:52 pm
I feel pressure to have every minute be rainbows and unicorn farts.
New avatar for you Carolyn.
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bluepoof
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Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #567 on:
July 21, 2013, 04:07:26 pm »
That's what every ride of mine is like, right there.
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Blunder
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Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #568 on:
July 22, 2013, 08:41:42 am »
And the mane is blue!
Glad to see another update guys. If you can't wait for the Stahlratte, well, have you ever seen Papillon?
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When you come to a fork in the road, lick the spoon.
lightcycle
Nomad
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Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #569 on:
July 23, 2013, 11:29:24 am »
Thanks for all your concern and well wishes, guys!
We're currently back in Toronto visiting family and friends and stocking up on parts and supplies. Our blog is woefully behind because of the Internet blackout in Cuba, and also both our laptops died had died while we were on the island, but I'm doing my best to catch up on it between social calls.
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Where are Gene and Neda now? •
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Scratch33
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His Excellency's Car!
Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #570 on:
July 23, 2013, 01:26:44 pm »
Quote from: lightcycle on July 23, 2013, 11:29:24 am
Thanks for all your concern and well wishes, guys!
We're currently back in Toronto visiting family and friends and stocking up on parts and supplies. Our blog is woefully behind because of the Internet blackout in Cuba, and also both our laptops died had died while we were on the island, but I'm doing my best to catch up on it between social calls.
Where are the
bikes?!
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Kneescrubber
King of the 90º flat turn
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Just a little more
Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #571 on:
July 25, 2013, 01:00:08 pm »
Quote from: Scratch33 on July 23, 2013, 01:26:44 pm
Where are the
bikes?!
They've probably been turned into Urals by now.
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Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #572 on:
August 03, 2013, 08:58:39 am »
Any plans to ride more?
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Farked Up
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Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #573 on:
August 04, 2013, 05:29:17 pm »
Sick? Burned out? Getting divorced? Giving up on BMW & replacing with more reliable, better looking Suzuki V-Stroms? We're going to keep guessing until we get "the rest of the story".
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Kneescrubber
King of the 90º flat turn
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Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #574 on:
August 04, 2013, 06:09:11 pm »
Quote from: Farked Up on August 04, 2013, 05:29:17 pm
...Giving up on BMW & replacing with more reliable, better looking Suzuki V-Stroms?...
Yes. Suzuki is the ticket to worldwide travel. Always have been. Right?
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I'm on ST.N so its not like I'm a productive member of society anyway. DogBoy
It's the internet. It runs on drama. Cablebandit
The difference between fiction and reality is fiction has to be believable. Tom Clancy
lightcycle
Nomad
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Years Supported: '11
Motorcycles: R1200GS
GPS: formerly Toronto, Canada
Miles Typed: 2018
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Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #575 on:
August 05, 2013, 12:30:01 pm »
Quote from: Scratch33 on July 23, 2013, 01:26:44 pm
Where are the
bikes?!
I've been procrastinating getting another blog post out. Full story to be told soon!
Quote from: Swagfu on August 03, 2013, 08:58:39 am
Any plans to ride more?
YES! We are not done yet!
Quote from: Farked Up on August 04, 2013, 05:29:17 pm
Sick? Burned out? Getting divorced? Giving up on BMW & replacing with more reliable, better looking Suzuki V-Stroms?
No. Yes. No. No, but a V-Strom does find a way under our bums, but that's a bit later into our story...
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Where are Gene and Neda now? •
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Scratch33
Reputation 15
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Years Contributed: '06, '07, '08, '09, 2x'10
Years Supported: '11
Motorcycles: '08 R1200GSA, '09 DD750, '07 F800S, '10 Madass 125
GPS: That Other Place
Miles Typed: 12394
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His Excellency's Car!
Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #576 on:
August 05, 2013, 02:43:57 pm »
Quote from: lightcycle on August 05, 2013, 12:30:01 pm
Full story to be told soon!
Now I know how my cats feel ten minutes before dinner.
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rauchman
Capt Ugachaka
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Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #577 on:
August 06, 2013, 11:25:48 am »
Aside from the amazing story and pics of your epic ride, how are you liking your bikes? Enjoy your vacation. I'm sure you need it.
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Don't pee into the wind!!!
JonS
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Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #578 on:
August 07, 2013, 08:08:13 am »
Quote from: Scratch33 on August 05, 2013, 02:43:57 pm
Now I know how my cats feel ten minutes before dinner.
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Just here for the pie.
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I see what you did there.
Re: Quit our jobs, sold our home, gone riding!
«
Reply #579 on:
August 07, 2013, 12:36:44 pm »
Quote from: lightcycle on August 05, 2013, 12:30:01 pm
Full story to be told soon!
Aaaaaaiiiigh! Another cliffhanger!
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"Always be yourself. Unless you suck, then be somebody else."
"My anecdotal evidence can beat up your anecdotal evidence."
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