My Alibaba Carbon Fiber Journey
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Funny, I just opened this. Been working my tail off. Been to 4 states in last few days (in the R8) and left it in an airport parking lot in a random town in the south of the USA and flying to Peru now to ride my motorcycle someplace. Trying to get to Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay but there is still civil unrest down there still and I'm a bit hesitant to get my a.. kicked again this week or worse. It didn't feel so good to end up in hospital last time.
And I'm going up to 13,000 feet tomorrow to sleep and started taking Acetazolamide today. I'll be at over 16,500 feet in a few days. I prefer the pills to chewing the coco leaves when I get to elevation but it makes my feet tingle and my body feel weird. But it works.
And I'm going up to 13,000 feet tomorrow to sleep and started taking Acetazolamide today. I'll be at over 16,500 feet in a few days. I prefer the pills to chewing the coco leaves when I get to elevation but it makes my feet tingle and my body feel weird. But it works.
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The red dots are the active protests as of today in the region I'm going. The small purple line is the route I want to take, but it seems a bit hairy so I may try the blue line which goes to a smaller border crossing. I need to get some more Intel over the next few days to make the decision. But as an r8 community, you don't have to worry about the car. I've given instructions to sell it to an enthusiast should I meet my demise. As they say, I'm here for a good time not for a long time. I'm honestly sometimes a bit surprised I've made it this far...
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I believe it was brought up before, but FYI - you can edit your previous post to add content, unless you really want to get up with your post count.
Great to hear you're well! Enjoy your travels!
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I know but it's just faster to add a new one. I don't care about the count and don't really understand why people would want a high one. Every time I see my count I think I need to get a life and not spend so much time on this site but for some reason I really enjoy the group of people and the R8.
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Appreciate the book rec. I've dealt with what they apparently call combat PTSD and think it rewired my brain a bit to be hyper aware of my surroundings and have a very serious ability to handle risk. It's hard to leave that in the past fully. .
One of the things I enjoy about traveling in places most people wouldnt think about going / doing things most people would do is that I'm hyper focused. Everything from wind direction to faces to routes to smells and beyond are in hyper focus at all times. I get the same sense in business as I'm constantly trying to figure out how to push all the chips on the table so there are consequences for failure. Sometimes it works and sometimes I crash hard. But it's just the way it is. It's what I enjoy. I don't need the money anymore but can't imagine what I'd do sitting around. I think I'm going to get back into sailing in heavy weather and get an old Swan or other sturdy boat. I love life and don't do things recklessly, but do enjoy the edge.
One of the things I enjoy about traveling in places most people wouldnt think about going / doing things most people would do is that I'm hyper focused. Everything from wind direction to faces to routes to smells and beyond are in hyper focus at all times. I get the same sense in business as I'm constantly trying to figure out how to push all the chips on the table so there are consequences for failure. Sometimes it works and sometimes I crash hard. But it's just the way it is. It's what I enjoy. I don't need the money anymore but can't imagine what I'd do sitting around. I think I'm going to get back into sailing in heavy weather and get an old Swan or other sturdy boat. I love life and don't do things recklessly, but do enjoy the edge.
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I love books like that, I just bought that one
...Have you ever read "On Combat"? by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman? It was recommended to me by Ron Donvito (Marine Corps. combatives instructor/program founder of L.I.N.E.) Excellent book and if you've been in combat situations (whether in the military/law enforcement or just in real street fights with people trying to kill you) you'll immediately resonate with what he's saying.
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I can't wait for Judd to release a book titled "My Alibaba Carbon Fiber Journey", which focuses on life motivation, aftermarket warranty experience, world travels and survival tactics in politically unrest third world countries, and has very little reference to Alibaba or Carbon Fiber.
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I literally burst out laughing reading this... h ahah ha ha perfect!
I think you'll find it a good read. I haven't read "On Combat", but I'll check it out. Thanks for the recommendation. "Left of Bang" was recommended by my carry instructor. I haven't been in combat, but I've been on the wrong end of a barrel, so this is very real to me.I love books like that, I just bought that one
Have you ever read "On Combat"? by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman? It was recommended to me by Ron Donvito (Marine Corps. combatives instructor/program founder of L.I.N.E.) Excellent book and if you've been in combat situations (whether in the military/law enforcement or just in real street fights with people trying to kill you) you'll immediately resonate with what he's saying.
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For those of you that dont like long posts, dont bother to read this. Its of not a lot of value.
Ok, so I'm currently in a fairly nice $29 a night hotel that even has a heater which is real luxury at 12,000 feet in the rainy season. I'm not in what you would call a tourist town to say the least so not really feeling like going out. Instead, I'll add a chapter to the book that Mr. Nagengast started (and gave me a good laugh).
This chapter is called Starboard side pannier as a metaphor for how Judds treats his belongings and personal safety. Now I'm not sure if any of you ride motorcycles but if you ride it's not a question of if you crash, but when. It truly is inevitable. In my case, it's unfortunately more frequent than I'd like. Ive had years of shoulder pain from riding and crashing, which luckily is gone, and it was worth every second of agony for the joy i get being on a bike. But riding truly is a passion for me much more so than cars. I enjoy cars, but don't have a burning passion for them like some on this forum. To each his own.
I've owned a lot of bikes and typically keep 2 or three in my stable. I've had the harleys and dirt bikes and everything in between. I really have a lot of miles on the road riding. Aside from commuters, who typically have the most miles, I think I've ride more than anyone I know my age. My point is, I think I know what im doing on a bike and have trained with professionals and continue to train. I'm a decent rider.
A pannier, for those that don't ride, is something you hang on the side of your bike to hold your belongings when you travel. They have soft ones that are like small duffle bags, and hard ones that lock. When I travel in the USA I typically like the soft ones but when I'm in more third world countries I like the hard ones because they lock and are harder for people to steal. What happens relatively frequently in third world countries is a road gets blocked for some reason (crash, landslide, whatever) and sometimes you have to sit there for hours waiting for it to clear. This is when the little punk thieves come out and try to grab what they can from open car windows or use a knife to cut a pannier off. So, I use the hard ones for theft prevention.
My right side pannier on my Tiger 800 xca has seen better days to put it lightly. I mean, looking at that first photo I just took today, I can't even count the number of dents and crashes it's taken. These things are pretty sturdy. Tipping the bike over at 5 mph or 10mph doesn't even leave a mark. All those dents are from probably 15mph and above when the thing hit a rock or curb or something. It won't stay on the brackets anymore without falling off so I used a rope to tie it on. Then I used a piece of a popped tube from one of my tires to tie it on. Then I tied it to the bike again on the top. The darn thing doesn't fall off anymore, but it's not exactly pristine. My favorite dent is the one in the second photo. That on the top of the pannier and I got it when I was going down a very steep dirt road and the dirt turned fine and slipper half way down the decline. I couldn't slow down and hit a rock with the front tire and I flew over the handle bars ans the bike did a somersault. Thank God it didn't land on me, but getting a dent in the top of a pannier is really pretty crazy.
This is literally how I live my life and believe I wint regret a second of it. But I am pretty nervous these days as when I'm riding I see all the burned tires and rocks that were used very recently during protests. I have not hit an active block on this trip and am hoping I don't and route planning around them, but I'll be very happy when I'm out if Peru in a few days time. This country has some issues that I'd rather not be involved in as it's not my fight to fight. I just want to get out.
![Wheel Tire Vehicle Automotive tire Automotive lighting]()
![Bumper Door Wood Automotive exterior Automotive tire]()
Ok, so I'm currently in a fairly nice $29 a night hotel that even has a heater which is real luxury at 12,000 feet in the rainy season. I'm not in what you would call a tourist town to say the least so not really feeling like going out. Instead, I'll add a chapter to the book that Mr. Nagengast started (and gave me a good laugh).
This chapter is called Starboard side pannier as a metaphor for how Judds treats his belongings and personal safety. Now I'm not sure if any of you ride motorcycles but if you ride it's not a question of if you crash, but when. It truly is inevitable. In my case, it's unfortunately more frequent than I'd like. Ive had years of shoulder pain from riding and crashing, which luckily is gone, and it was worth every second of agony for the joy i get being on a bike. But riding truly is a passion for me much more so than cars. I enjoy cars, but don't have a burning passion for them like some on this forum. To each his own.
I've owned a lot of bikes and typically keep 2 or three in my stable. I've had the harleys and dirt bikes and everything in between. I really have a lot of miles on the road riding. Aside from commuters, who typically have the most miles, I think I've ride more than anyone I know my age. My point is, I think I know what im doing on a bike and have trained with professionals and continue to train. I'm a decent rider.
A pannier, for those that don't ride, is something you hang on the side of your bike to hold your belongings when you travel. They have soft ones that are like small duffle bags, and hard ones that lock. When I travel in the USA I typically like the soft ones but when I'm in more third world countries I like the hard ones because they lock and are harder for people to steal. What happens relatively frequently in third world countries is a road gets blocked for some reason (crash, landslide, whatever) and sometimes you have to sit there for hours waiting for it to clear. This is when the little punk thieves come out and try to grab what they can from open car windows or use a knife to cut a pannier off. So, I use the hard ones for theft prevention.
My right side pannier on my Tiger 800 xca has seen better days to put it lightly. I mean, looking at that first photo I just took today, I can't even count the number of dents and crashes it's taken. These things are pretty sturdy. Tipping the bike over at 5 mph or 10mph doesn't even leave a mark. All those dents are from probably 15mph and above when the thing hit a rock or curb or something. It won't stay on the brackets anymore without falling off so I used a rope to tie it on. Then I used a piece of a popped tube from one of my tires to tie it on. Then I tied it to the bike again on the top. The darn thing doesn't fall off anymore, but it's not exactly pristine. My favorite dent is the one in the second photo. That on the top of the pannier and I got it when I was going down a very steep dirt road and the dirt turned fine and slipper half way down the decline. I couldn't slow down and hit a rock with the front tire and I flew over the handle bars ans the bike did a somersault. Thank God it didn't land on me, but getting a dent in the top of a pannier is really pretty crazy.
This is literally how I live my life and believe I wint regret a second of it. But I am pretty nervous these days as when I'm riding I see all the burned tires and rocks that were used very recently during protests. I have not hit an active block on this trip and am hoping I don't and route planning around them, but I'll be very happy when I'm out if Peru in a few days time. This country has some issues that I'd rather not be involved in as it's not my fight to fight. I just want to get out.
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Those of us that have ever ridden a motorcycle ‘at speed’ understand what it means to “counter-steer”. It means that at a certain speed you use what is called gyroscopic procession to “lean” the motorcycle, hence two exciting things happen: 1) your front end begins to “push”, and 2) you get to steer with the throttle instead of the handlebars once the bike is leaned. When you tell people about counter-steering, they think you are crazy; “You mean you turn left to go right?” The answer is YES.
Our friend JuddS, has definitely “taken the road less traveled” and as a poet once said; “that has made all of the difference”. The mainstream world takes the “easy” road of NO risks, and so many miss out on the “thrill” of race-speed aggressive “counter-steering,” simply because it does not make sense to them.
“Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing, it is so often from the noblest motives” -Lord Henry in Oscar Wilde’s “Portrait of Dorian Gray”. (I wouldn’t take much of Lord Henry’s advice, but this was profound.)
Many would call these things that JuddS does “proud” or “stupid”, but I applaud JuddS’s desire for adventure (for our entertainment), and will not worry much about his return to us here in the States. If he returns, I get a cookie. If he does not, I will be much surprised.
Nonetheless, I will be praying for you my friend!
JB
Our friend JuddS, has definitely “taken the road less traveled” and as a poet once said; “that has made all of the difference”. The mainstream world takes the “easy” road of NO risks, and so many miss out on the “thrill” of race-speed aggressive “counter-steering,” simply because it does not make sense to them.
“Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing, it is so often from the noblest motives” -Lord Henry in Oscar Wilde’s “Portrait of Dorian Gray”. (I wouldn’t take much of Lord Henry’s advice, but this was profound.)
Many would call these things that JuddS does “proud” or “stupid”, but I applaud JuddS’s desire for adventure (for our entertainment), and will not worry much about his return to us here in the States. If he returns, I get a cookie. If he does not, I will be much surprised.
Nonetheless, I will be praying for you my friend!
JB
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I'll make it back. And I've got a question for the car guys on here. I'm planning on shipping my bike back to the states in a bit as it's been about a three year adventure down to Chile, where I am now. I don't want to take this bike from here to South Africa, the next leg of the trip, because it's just too beat up and I want to buy a new bike with no hard miles on it.
Anyway, air shipping is $3,800 bucks including putting it in the crate and all that. I can get a full container by sea for the same price. So I figure I can buy a car or two down here and stuff it all in one container and send it by sea back to the USA. Chile is basically a huge desert so the old cars are rust free and in surprisingly good condition.
The car needs to be at least 25 years old to be allowed in the usa. I'm thibking ill get an old restored VW bus. Anyone have a better suggestion?
Anyway, air shipping is $3,800 bucks including putting it in the crate and all that. I can get a full container by sea for the same price. So I figure I can buy a car or two down here and stuff it all in one container and send it by sea back to the USA. Chile is basically a huge desert so the old cars are rust free and in surprisingly good condition.
The car needs to be at least 25 years old to be allowed in the usa. I'm thibking ill get an old restored VW bus. Anyone have a better suggestion?
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