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**xbacksideslider** · #1 25 Oct 2012

It's been three days . . . .

Did you vote absentee? but then I shouldn't encourage you.

This morning I got talked into a ride with some super motards; we met at the 7/11 and went up Little Tujunga, out over Boquet Canyon to Leona Valley for breakfast.

**ratbikemike** · #2 26 Oct 2012

That had to be a good ride John, Chasing motards on a cbr1000rr I'm guessing. I've been in Belize for a few days and I gotta say, it is good to not struggle every time I speak to someone. Also I have been watching TV.... the Daily Show, the debates, some nascar and will watch motogp, Martinsville, F1 in India etc. Was offered a pint of Blue Bell ice cream for $6.40us. I put it back. Food is high but I found a couple of places for 'Belize rice n beans w chicken' for $3.50us It was all I could eat. Found some friends I get together with in the evening. Got a deal on a hotel and I am chillin for a couple days. This is not a touristy place but rather a dump with good tv, internet and a mix of people. Before I left Mexico I went to Bacalar Lagoon and found the Spanish fort used to defend it. White thing is a model and it must have been tough to attack that thing. Got fotos of lily pads above and below. I think it is the depth and clarity that makes the water different colors. Mayan sculpture that, if I remember right, is called ' Bird with large penis'

**ratbikemike** · #3 26 Oct 2012

I walked in the pharmacy and bought meds. No hassle or doctor needed. $13.60us The bottle on the left $30 ($2.25us) looks like the stuff used during surgery to stop infection. Was magic on my bashed thumb. Saw this bright paint in the garage and learned that it is not legal to paint a mural on the outside of a building. Classic Mexican social/political murals squashed. This one is of a Mayan fighting the forces of evil (the spanish). Inside the store were art supplies for sale and a this painting that I related to. I was struggling trying to find a money changer and this guy.... when I first saw him, I gestured that he should strap his helmet, This guy lead me on a wild ride at triple the speed limit, rolling through stop signs at 20 mph etc etc I thanked him and changed the money. That is a DL650 Suzuki police bike.

**ratbikemike** · #4 26 Oct 2012

Did I mention that the locals don't drink the water? This is the art work that greeted me as I arrived. Found a small banana farm for sale. Decor where I have breakfast and Belize rice n beans w chicken 'street food' ($3.50us total).

**ratbikemike** · #5 26 Oct 2012

For those not familiar with the process... A foot peg bolt would not tighten properly and the problem was found to be the threads in the frame. I borrowed a drill from Mrs. Lee who owns the Akito Hotel, where I am staying. Then drilled the hole, used chain lube on the tap to makes new threads in the frame and screwed in the new, correct size, threads. Some skill is required. The coil is very tough steel and does fit regardless of the misleading picture. The Heli-coil kit and drill bit cost $$43.00us and I walked the 5 blocks the buy it. Got about a dozen coils and gotta say I've got 6 more at home, in storage. But now I can be confident that this foot peg will not fall off in the jungle. It is important to me. Older style country and western music ( Hank Williams sr) blasted from this orange cart in the city park.

**xbacksideslider** · #6 26 Oct 2012

Good you could get caught up by watching TV.

It would be fun to hear the artists explain their thougts about those murals.

Nice helicoil job.

Not the CBR, I have to short shift to give those motards a chance when I'm on that thing. The 750 Commando is just right.

A bit more power but more weight too, so up to about 70 it's got nothing on those singles. So Little T is a good match up but Boquet is faster, more speed, and the Norton has the advantage there. That bike makes me look good; guys go "How do you go so fast on that relic? on those skinny tires?" Every time I get on it I catch myself downshifting when I mean to be upshifting . .

. . and depending on who it is that I'm riding with . . . . it can make a difference.

**ratbikemike** · #7 1 Nov 2012

Broken legs and such will be postponed indefinably. All through Mexico was Catholic mixed in varying ways with indigenous beliefs. I found english speaking Belize to offer rivals. Belize was founded by english pirates that would raid spanish ships loaded down with gold headed back to europe. Because of winds and currents the spanish had to come up along the coast. Easy pickins for a long time. Belize City has the best natural harbor to be had. Later they became honest businessmen and shipped lumber all over the world. Not many trees near the river anymore.