Nov 27 - Mazatlan - The Striking Viking

The past few days have been pretty low key here in Mazatlan.

I have basically been relaxing, doing some errands and stuff and actually getting a tan. Riding with gear on does not get one much of a tan, except your nose. Most of the time spent in the Baja was either in trucks or with tshirts on so I am trying to brown up abit before the surfing area.

I had to take care of some banking back home so I decided to stay another day in Mazatlan as this hotel has free internet and a good phone both close by.

Today I also went to the local Canadian Consulate which is right across the street from my hotel. It was nice to feel like I was on Canadian land for abit and the ladies there were super nice, very knowledgable and very helpful - very Canadian. I registered so they know me and where I am should I get in trouble. Me, trouble, nooooo.

Tonight at dinner I had one of the local motorbike cops pull up right in front of my hotel. I have seen these guys around and they are kinda funny to me. In Canada and the States bike cops ride big loaded up 1000cc plus harleys or full size Beemers, these guys are riding some kinda tiny bike, it looked pretty funny.

So I run around the corner and get my bike and park it beside his for contrast, as per the pic. The guy was really nice and he loooved my bike, he kept oGgling it with lust, LOL. I could tell he liked all the room and allllll that engine sticking out.

It turns out his bike is a 250cc machine with lights sirens and crash bars. That thing must have been guuutless! When he asked me if my bike (1100cc) was fast I said out of habit "well no not reall...," then I reconsidered "Yeah I guess so". When I mentioned my highway cruising speed I thought he was gonna faint, lol. And that is only about 3/4's the cruising speed of my other bike!!! Anyway he really enjoyed sitting on it and when I suggest we trade bikes and go for a ride he almost did it, LOL. Ron, on a Mexican cop bike yeehaaa!!

Also I still have not shaken this cold so I thought another day of rest, sun and tacos on the beach might be some help. Besides, I have used their beach so much that the staff in the hotel across the street all think I am staying there so why not take advantage, lol.

I am also sorting through pictures and trying to create room on my storage chips, I've filled them up! Over 4 gigs so far!

Yesterday was an interesting one. I met the Striking Viking and we hung out abit during the day. Who is the Striking Viking? Well in short, he rode his motorbike around the world, and not just around like some actors, but he visited 57 countries. http://www.strikingviking.net/

Ok so riding the world on a motorbike, quite an accomplishment eh? Well get this...he starts from the states, does a very similar ride to what I am doing, but when he gets to Columbia (I am not going that far this trip) he gets kidnapped by guerillas for ransom!!! Yeah that guy! Recently in the states there was movie released by the National Geographic Channel about his story so many of our American readers have heard of him.

Years ago Viktor sent me an email with alink to this guy who travellings site. I read it and he was past the columbia incident and near the southern tip of south america abot to cross over to Africa.

Well, I sent the guy $30 for gas and made it onto his email list. I received weekly updates for the rest of his journeys, much like you are reading now...hey where is my $30? LOL.

So I followed him around part of the world virtually including the part where, when he finished he decided to settle in Mazatlan. Well now how could I not meet the guy?

So what happens when you are kidnapped? Well he didn't have someone to pay a ransom, so he convinced them he was deathly ill and having a last life adventure 'so just let me go'. He even starved himself and injured himself so he had blood to make it more convincing.

They let him go and he acquired another bike and continued on with the adventure!!! How much fortitude does that show?

Anyway, we chatted, rode our bikes around Mazatlan as he ran a few errands and had lunch. He was a great guy and offered a ton of valuable advice about travelling and blogs. Thanks Glen!!!

Ok so tomorrow I leave for the surfing area... all small coastal roads....