Sometime during the three years I resided in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico - located about 4 hours by moto north of DF (Mexico City) I was declared Godfather of my brother Bob's daughter Amanda. She was born weighing only a couple pounds, very prematurely, and was residing in an incubator somewhere in the United States. My brother Bob was off piloting F-16s for the USAF. Not knowing how I could help and wanting to do something, I wrote and mailed the following poem to my sister in law Laurie.

I recalled in the poem that Bob had been born in Tokyo - Dad was assigned there at the time, and recently, in Mexico, I had become Buddhist after befriending a celebrated world class Japanese artist who confided in me he moved to Mexico because he could not paint in Japan. Apparently Japanese society had not been inspiring for him, I had found Japanese society to be the opposite.

Poem for Amanda

Godfather blues
Waiting for news

Chanting in a foreign place
looking into your face

A photograph

Are you really that small
practically not at all

Koichi Yanashima

An artist

He paints

He chants Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

The ultimate law or true entity permeating
all phenomena in the universe. First chanted by
Nichiren Daishonin on April 28, 1253 at Seicho-ji temple
in the province of Awa, Japan.

Chanted for you

Over and over

Your Father born in Japan

Blessed by a Holy Man

Koichi knew ...........

Godfather knew too

Copyright November 6, 1983 San Miguel de Allede, Mexico


Eat, Drink and ride Arizona and visit us at our ranch

xfiltrate

I hope I did not imply I'm a Hunter S expert or friend. I only had read a few of his books previously, seen his pieces in Rolling Stone .... then went years not hearing much about him at all. But I always liked him, always a fan. You most likely know more about Hunter S than I do. I just met him, that's all really.

Our meeting was brief and casual. During a break in shooting on TV show "Nash Bridges", (a total POS starring Don Johnson). Somehow, Don and Hunter used to get hammered together (years ago I imagine). Don invited him to hang out. I think he tried to hire him as writer for the show.

I was just a lowly crew member but sort of the resident motorcycle expert. Don invited me over to meet him during a break. Don rides, likes bikes, and like Hunter, loves anything that goes FAST. Don is an expert car driver. really good.

Hunter sat under an umbrella in 90F heat. (hot for San Francisco) He was quaffing a tumbler of some hard liquor at 10am ... which minions topped up every so often. Hunter S was with us two days hanging around on set and partying with Don at night.

I mostly listened ... did not talk much or grill him. In my line of work you DO NOT act like a fan boy or star ****er around the "stars". I only told him I was a long time daily rider, former racer et al and that I wrote for City Bike (local bike mag), I gave him a copy. My Ninja was just outside. He only half kiddingly asked for a go.

Don had just bought one of the early "fake" Indian's that came out in '97 or so. It used a Harley copy S&S motor. Basically a POS ...I told him not to buy it. (he later sold it for huge loss)

Hunter S was non plussed about Don's Indian, but polite. Our conversation was mundane ... just ordinary chat about bikes, riding. He is rather abrupt, opinionated ... and FUNNY ... but also deadly serious. Loved guns ... of which there were many trick ones of all kinds on set. (all blanks)

He did go on a few delicious rants with Don, who was back and forth as I sat there. Funny stuff ... such a great story teller. After a half hour we were ready to shoot and I went back to work. (sound dept.)

So that was it. Nothing ground breaking, no deep insights, no life long friendship established. ...I just sort of got a feel for who the guy was. It was an honor to meet him.

My feeling is ... he was THE REAL DEAL. A TRUE CRAZY BASTARD GENIUS. That much I could recognize even during our short encounter. Somebody took pics ... but I never saw them, no idea where they are. (On a movie set someone is always taking pics ... of everything that happens)

Don Johnson has a million Hunter S stories ... and he told quite a few to the crew. I've forgotten most of them.

In this line of work we work with all manner of celebs ... no big deal and most consider the crew as "family" NOT poparatzzi. If anything we shield them front the public, never pester them with Fan Boy shit ... and never talk out of school. It's our deal.

Rancho Los Rosales
Route 66
Flagstaff, Arizona (continued from that thread about riding a 600cc around the world)

molleydog, not being restrained by any spoken, unspoken, code of conduct, or law that you so eloquently described channeling you into prescribed behaviors while on movie sets, I must confess that not having ever been crew or even an extra on a movie set except that one time at Churubusco https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estudios_Churubusco studios when I rewrote the entire scrip overnight and was escorted off the lot by security because the Director liked my script better than the original. I confess I am an unadulterated fan of Hunter S Thompson.

Johnny Depp, who played Hunter on the big screen, financed Hunter's million dollar funeral - from Wikipedia:

"On August 20, 2005, in a private funeral, Thompson's ashes were fired from a cannon. This was accompanied by red, white, blue and green fireworks—all to the tune of Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" and Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man."[50] The cannon was placed atop a 153-foot (47 m) tower which had the shape of a double-thumbed fist clutching a peyote button, a symbol originally used in his 1970 campaign for Sheriff of Pitkin County, Colorado."

And this being about 10 years after his funeral, I propose we have a memorial wake for Hunter at Rancho Los Rosales, Flagstaff, Arizona in the very near future.
I will invite Johnny and alert all the old fans and the younger groupies.

And, by the way we just invested in one of those "professional" Canon (pun intended) camcorders and two of those new Sony lavalier mikes and 2 other hand held microphones and other stuff and considering you are a "sound" man might you consider crewing for the documentary of the Hunter S Thompson 10 year celebration - "Hunter S. Thompson, Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride 10 years After."

I liked your evaluation of Hunter better than that of his commander at Eglin AFB, even though Col Evans seems to agree with you.

"My feeling is ... he was THE REAL DEAL. A TRUE CRAZY BASTARD GENIUS. That much I could recognize even during our short encounter. "

"In summary, this airman, although talented, will not be guided by policy", Col. William S. Evans, chief of information services wrote to the Eglin personnel office. "Sometimes his rebel and superior attitude seems to rub off on other airmen staff members."

Having actually met Hunter S. , as you call him, you will, oh yes along with Johnny Depp, be the guests of honor.

Bed and Breakfast on us Ride here as fast as you can to help plan the party and bring your attorney.

xfiltrate Eat, Drink and have your ashes shot out of a cannon.

Mollydog, looks like we will be taking the Hunter S party on the road.

Thanks for your comments on the KLR650s - we have two now and will be
saddling up and riding south in about a month, so if you want to stop by
the ranch, do it, otherwise, looks like all celebrations will be south of the border.

No response from cast or fans but I never lose hope.

C Yaaaaa

xfiltrate

It's been a while since I've posted a drawing. Mostly because I didn't draw a lot.. but I think this babe is not too bad.

She is not done bit given that I'm out coming week.. I doubt if I'll ever finish her ..

Anyway, comment away..

Alex

Has Nagel been an inspiration?

Eh? Nagel? I dont understand.

It is based on a punk drawing I saw somewhere. Truth is, drawing from nothing is difficult.. so I usually base it on something I know.

Alex

The other day, I was feeling a bit lonely for the road and roved through the latest books available from audible.com. Thankfully, I found "Jupiter's Travels" -Four Years On One Motorcycle -by Ted Simon.

Amazing, as I listened to him describe his solo ride through Europe, Africa, South America, Central America, Mexico, California, Australia and on and on and on , finally someone has given words to many shared experiences that I did not know how to bear before those who had not been there with me.

The break downs, the fear, the curtailment of liberty, the freedom, the curiosity, the wisdom, the passion, I could go on and on and on too.

Now, if anyone cares, I just suggest that they read "Jupiter's travels"

If you like to read - get the book, if you like to listen - get the audio book read by the world class reader Rupert Degas.

Jupiter's Travels is comforting for those who have been there and an inspiration to those just saddling up and riding out and represents a truth
that those who cannot or will never go might never experience without Ted Simon. Thanks Ted.

This book is as close as you can get to the world without actually being there.
5 stars!!!!!

Ted Simon also created a 501(c)(3) foundation The Ted Simon Foundation
that promotes truth and understanding as perceived by adventure motorcyclist.

When I helped sponsor an Irish motorcycle during a gone by Dakar, I shared that honor with the Ted Simon Foundation - I did not know who or what it was then, and was too busy living to figure it all out.

Don't let Ted Simon slide by like that campsite you should have chosen before it got dark.

xfiltrate

The Corner Drug Store was a 24 hour crisis center located just off campus of the University of Florida, Gainesville.

While a graduate student I worked as a counselor at the Corner Drug Store and handled - mostly overdose cases from illegal drugs, but also provided counseling for everything from birth control to suicide prevention and I wrote the following poem. Dr John Creech was the founder of the Corner Drug Store. My poem hangs on the wall of the Corner Drug Store. There are 24 hour crisis centers in virtually every major city. And, they are usually FREE. So no traveler really has to ever be alone.

The Corner Drug Store

Once there was a man named Creech
Who knew a little could be done by each
So a hundred volunteers he did teach
To help the people they could reach.

These volunteers who hold you close
If you experience overdose
They help you through the helter skelter
by providing food and shelter.

They counsel those who want divorce
Tell you "you are going to have a baby
And help you through abortion maybe,
or through adoption of course.

There is even a free Clinic
for the most zealous cynic
So if you are feeling all alone
Go ahead and use the phone
Don't hesitate till it's too late
Call 377- 3888*
copyright 1976 EVG

*ficticious #
poem was done from memory so I may have missed a few beats.

xfiltrate

Brilliant! Love it!!!

Nice touch ChrisFS

Gracias amigo - you got it!

xfiltrate

By the way xfiltrate, you left a post about Ted Simon's Jupiters Travels. That book is single-handedly responsible for getting me interested in motorbikes. I have a copy of it and another one of his books called Riding High but last night after reading your post I downloaded the audiobook read by Rupert Degas. I lay in bed listening to it for half an hour before going to sleep and I'm looking forward to continuing tonight and every night until it's finished. It is the most perfectly written book I have ever read and I'm sure listening will be even better. Thanks for the idea sir!

Roger that Houston

xfiltrate

Australian born writer Rusty Young discovered Thomas McFadden - a convicted British drug smuggler by speaking with other South American back packers who had visited him in prison.... and by reading about McFadden's prison tours in the Lonely Planet guide book.

Rusty took time out from teaching English in Colombia to write "Marching Powder" a true story of friendship, cocaine and South America's strangest jail.

As an anthropologist, I urge my fellow travelers venturing beyond the tourist haunts of Mexico, Central and South America to read this book for valuable insights into Bolivian culture. These insights can be extrapolated into deepening your understanding of cultural differences among a wide variety of cultures. This book provides great insight into a very different system of justice.

My review of this major contribution toward understanding more than one "South American system," is, I place it somewhere between Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" and Hunter S Thompson's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." The book is very entertaining and heart breaking at the same time. Based on my own experiences in Mexican jails while working for the International Red Cross, I say this book is spot on. I suggest the audible version:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312330340...l_402cso66v9_b

xfiltrate eat, drink and read "Marching Powder" by Australian Rusty Young

Bikes travels and everyday stuff that spins in my head and ends up on my facebook page.