After a long quiet spell reentering the blogosphere to report, hopefully on some regular basis of the continuing journey inward and outward of yo mismo Peace Rider.
As often happens what comes next for me comes just in time to make plans and gather what I need for the next journey. The idea came late in the summer that Cuba might be the next place I should head to. I had been there once before but should I go again? A friend asked why Cuba and not some other country? I couldn't readily answer until as before the ordering of circumstance and persons met made it clear Cuba was the place I should go.
I "portaged" out of Alaska to Seattle for a few days of very enjoyable visiting with friends continuing on to Los Angles on AK Airlines and from there to Panama City via COPA 1/13. I was quite happy with my choice of this national airline of Panama with friendly service and real meals at no extra cost. Made it out of the city by bus late the same day overnighting in Penonome three hours west. Fortunately, the bus stop was close to a hotel I stayed in before. But the "portage" was over rough ground putting holes in my duffel bag, at least that's where I think it happened. No harm done otherwise. Three more bus rides and two taxis got me to my friend's place on lovely mountainside outside Boquete. It was a relief to stop moving and toting bags for and just enjoy the flowers in bloom, birds of many kinds and the green magic surrounding Boquete. Just a bit of ongoing local busyness and madness, as my friend calls it, during the annual Flower Festival ending this Sunday. Now that my friend has returned home from Columbia the birds are returning to a feast of bananas and rice he sets of an early morning a sunrise. A real joy to be here once again.
I learned a hard lesson in Mexico about having to deal with heavy bags with bike and associated gear. This time I made two light weight wheeled dollies, one to use under my disassembled bike in a soft suitcase and the other for a large duffel with other biking and camping paraphernalia. Boy, was this a hernia saver, especially after I left airports behind and had to get bags through bus stations or into a hotel. I wanted to leave some gear behind in Panama City. That didn't work out. Upon later reflection I had more peace of mind knowing it was all still in my possession in Boquete without the concern of having to arrange a later rendezvous. .
My time here is all too brief. I leave and fly to Havana from Panama City 30 January.
I go with a letter of introduction from Chena Ridge Friends (Quaker) meeting in Fairbanks, AK where I have been a long time attender. The plan of the moment, subject to circumstance, always, is see where these contacts lead beginning in Havana and go with the flow, don't push the river. I already have a place to stay in Havana at a Casa Familiar thanks to Moira, a Fairbanks friend who visited Cuba over Christmas.
From Havana I will leave by bus or train, for the Oriente (east end) of Cuba. I prefer the clickity clack of wheels on steel to another bus ride but will see. The prevailing winds are out of the east with other Friends to meet in the cities of Holquin and Gibara. With all of that I will as time and circumstance allow post to the blog with happenings.
As you will note from previous postings I began riding with a banner that says Love is the Way leaving from Homer, AK last June. Geoff at Dateline copies again did a masterful job of redesigning a a smaller banner with the same essential message I can hang from my rear panniers. I also had it made into bookmarks in both English and Spanish I can give to people I meet in the course of what could be a two month stay. On the reverse of the bookmark is a sampling of the handprints and words, you'll need a magnifying glass, from the Homer to Talkeetna, AK trip. This should be posted to my FB link from the blog fairly soon.
On the message side is also a Cosmic Wheel combining sacred geometry with the four earth elements and colors from the Mayan Cross. Curiously after this image came to me I looked on line and found a similar flower pattern, actually figure eights lying on their sides, the sign of infinity and the divine.
A thought for the day. We are a nation driven to distraction by our technologies, its handmaidens not its masters. The more you allow distractions of the mind to take you away from awareness in the present moment the less you are with the sacred, present only in this eternal, ever changing moment of now.
Bendigas,
Peace Rider
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