South Padre Island, Texas

Dear Anthony,

After waiting several days in McAllen, Texas, unable to move forward, unwilling to go back…. I decided to venture off to have some fun even if it kills me. Something that I learned in Spain, make the best of any situation.

I was directed to South Padre Island, which must be the best kept secret on the list of great beaches. It’s amazing!! But I was still so caught up with what I was going to do to get into Mexico, that I was having a hard time just enjoying the moment. To make matters worse, I had just spent the last hour or more listening to the security guard, who happens to be Mexican, telling me about all the horror stories about travel in Mexico.

I decided that the best thing for me to do was to head back to McAllen and continue to wait for the title for my bike. Once I had that, I could continue on.

I was getting ready to pay my tab… when I noticed this woman staring at me(picture attached). She motioned with her finger for me to come dance with her... I turned around wondering if maybe she was talking to someone else...

I politely turned her down, then I stopped myself... What are you doing here? You said you wanted to have some fun, well here's your chance. Get out there.

Once again, she called me over and this time, I accepted.

After kicking it up on the dance floor with these two older women, they thought it would be a real kick to take me back to their beach side condo to show their friends what they had found. We stayed up half the night, playing music, dancing and drinking wine.

It was just what the doctor ordered. The following morning, I had five women standing over me talking about the whole encounter. When I got up, I cooked them all breakfast, took a few pictures and went back to the bay.

I spent another two days on the island contemplating my future move. Should I stay or should I go? Somewhere between asking that question, and getting the answer…

I was shot down again… the battery on my bike was dead. The prognosis was not good. I was having electrical problems.

I made a noble attempt to revive it; making it just far enough down this dirt road to arrive at Harley’s Country Store and Biker Bar. This place was so cool. Everyone was really nice.

They welcomed me into their little family… gave me a place to sleep… food to eat… work… and gave me more admiration then I deserve for driving that distance on a little 250CC cruiser…. “This boy has a cast iron ass”, they would say. Or “This boy has huevos grande”, which means big balls. If they only knew how I really felt inside.

All their love made me feel a whole lot better about my present situation. I stuck around long enough for their Sunday barbecue then hit the road determined to make it to Costa Rica.

I had my bike checked over at the Harley Dealership on the way back to McAllen. They couldn't find anything wrong with my bike. So I got the rest of my things from my hotel. I finally had the paperwork that I needed and I got insurance for my bike. Things started coming together again.

I met three older Mexicans bikers heading to Veracruz the following day, which is roughly 800 miles south on the Emerald Coast. The wind was at my back and I was moving forward once again.

Then I had a moment to think….

I decided that this trip has been really great so far, but it would be so much better if I had someone to enjoy it with. So I called my girlfriend Stefanie… asked her if she wanted to come meet me out here in Texas. She was on the plane two days later.

I thanked the three bikers for their offer to escort me into Mexico, but I’m sticking around. One of them gave me a business card and a standing offer for us to visit their restaurant in Veracruz when we pass through. His friend replied in Spanish, “the food’s not that good, but at least it’s free”. We all laughed. I took their picture and they left.

Two days later, I was waiting at the airport in a 2004 Red Ford Mustang convertible. It was a picture perfect reunion. Hugs and Kisses and plenty of sunshine. When we got back to Harley’s, there were a dozen or so people anxiously waiting for Stefanie’s arrival after hearing so much about her.

We’ve been floating on air from the warmth of these people who have given us so much assistance, acceptance, and love. We’ve been offered numerous jobs, places to live, been put up in very nice hotels the past three days… we were given money, taken to dinner, our drinks taken care of… and countless other small, significant acts of generosity as all the doors have been flung open for us.

We have also been offered a partnership opportunity by a rather eccentric couple with the means, facility and vision of opening a coffee shop… which is also a dream of Stefanie’s. Ironically, this wasn’t the only offer that fell into our laps yesterday. A long white hair, named Bob, also has a coffee shop and needs help getting it going. He’s an importer of coffee beans from Cental America…

things seem to be falling into place rather quickly.

I could go on and on, but I know time is precious and this blog is getting long.

Costa Rica is still the destination, but we’re planning to hold up here for awhile and take in all this place has to offer. I love you and hope that this blog finds you well and brings you some peace.

Leap and the net will appear.

Dad