Eric_Hill_Mexico0027_ORTA
Though most of this leg was culturally rich, Mexico was just for fun. I figured since I’ve been to Mexico so many times before, I was ok with just having a good time with some friends. Six guys and I started in LA and rode the entire length of Baja California, Mexico on motorcycles. This had been the plan for months, but there was one little problem the night before our early start… I didn’t have a motorcycle! So in a matter of minutes I found one on Craigslist that worked and I picked it up early the next morning. Sometimes you just have to go for it!
Eric_Hill_Mexico0020
The next morning the seven of us riders and three support crew all rendezvoused at a Home Depot parking lot a couple exits from the California-Mexico border and officially began the journey from there. One last minute swap though. I traded my cruiser I’d just bought for my buddies dirt bike style motorcycle. He was less experienced and was getting whipped around by the wind on the taller lighter bike, so he asked of he could ride my heavier more stable cruiser. You kidding? The ability to go on and off road, plus long-travel suspension? Yes please. A win for both of us.
Eric_Hill_Mexico0077_ORTA
The ride was a lot colder at first and a lot hotter in the end than I had expected. I was glad to have my high-tech Dare Denim on to battle the cold and be comfortable in the heat. I had to layer and un-layer on top, but the jeans could stay the same at least! We somehow managed to get down to Cabo with no injuries and six of the seven bikes still working. I’d call that a success. My buddies rode the same path back, but I could only stay with them for one more day after Cabo. I had to move on to Barbados.
Eric_Hill_Guyana_0050_ORTA
Barbados is a tiny country, but with my friend “Money” Mike’s help, I packed my days full of exploring and hanging out with some cool locals. The highlight of the trip besides acting Bajan for a couple days with Mike, had to be the Animal Flower Cave on the northern most tip of the island. This place is normally a cave with calm pools of clear water surrounded by thousands of sea anemones that look like blooming flowers. When I got there, however, the huge winter swells were crashing occasionally into the cave. With the assurance of the land owner that there was a deep water buffer between me and the opening to the cave that would prevent me from being washed out on the rocks below, I braved the waves coming in and crossed my fingers I wouldn’t get sucked out onto the jagged coral getting smashed by massive waves below.
Eric_Hill_Guyana_0024_ORTA
Barbados and the next country Guyana both had their official languages as English, and the locals claim to be speaking it, but when they talk to each other I only understand about thirty percent of it! There’s a different vocabulary, sentence structure and accent… Very different. I was glad to have met Kevin, a guy I quickly became friends with in Georgetown, Guyana. He showed me the “real Guyana” and seemed to know everyone in the country. He is a young, but sharp business minded guy that I think is going to do well in life. He was the one who got me in contact with the local Amerindian tribe in Santa Mission where I was able to teach a little math to the children in the schoolhouse and witness how the villagers successfully hold onto their culture with the world changing around them.
Eric_Hill_Guyana_0026
After I got some help finding the local bus to get me to the ferry to Suriname, my next country, I finally gave into the pressure of catching up on some things. I locked myself in a fifteen dollar hotel room where there was internet in Paramaribo for two nights and caught up on blogs, finances, pictures, family, friends and everything else I had to neglect in my whirlwind of travel. After two solid days in front of a computer, I was ready to explore again!
Eric_Hill_Suriname_0041
My main goal in Suriname was to get to a remote fishing village of Caribb natives at the mouth of the Moroni River called Longamankondre. I had no contact there, nor did I know anyone who had been there. I had just read about it accidentally in a random search of Suriname several months earlier. So I found a little fishing boat that was going there captained by the Longamankondrean fisherman that would ultimately take me under his wing. After getting permission from the village chief to stay once we arrived, I was shown where I could set up camp: right next to the chief’s house in a hammock under the grass roof of an open-walled hut. It was perfect. There was only a sprinkling of rain that first night, but by morning I was greeted by an incredible sunrise coming up over the French Guianan rainforest across the river.
Eric_Hill_Guyana_0038_ORTA_CV
That day, a Sunday of rest for the villagers, I helped mend some fishing nets for fishing the next day before I went exploring the beach along the mouth of the river at low tide. I had a little moment of panic when I realized I couldn’t take my same path back. The tide had come up and my route had been cut off by the muddy river water, which had completely covered the beaches all the way to the thick jungle. I was surprised to find that my escape route back to the village was easier than I expected. The seemingly impenetrable jungle that lined the river was actually zigzagged by trails cut through by humans and animals. Besides some unwanted spider webs and lots of mosquitos, I was able to get back pretty painlessly.
Eric_Hill_Mexico0069
I got back in time to go with a couple hunters into the jungle that night. The thick forest seemed much less overwhelming with two guys that knew what they were doing. One held the camera and the other one and I held a gun each. Not for hunting, but for protection from jaguars! They said the chances of attack were low, but it still added some excitement to the journey. I got to try out some catch-and-release hunting skills they taught me. I even caught my first wild bird by hand! On part of the journey when we canoed through a tight waterway cutting through the jungle, I even nabbed myself a baby crocodile!
Eric_Hill_Mexico0059
The next morning I woke up just before sunrise on my last day to go along fishing with the village fishermen. It was another perfect morning. Just a few puffy clouds lit up red-orange by the rising sun and calm water. Luck was on our side that morning too. Maybe it was the necklace the chief’s sister beaded for me and gave to me for luck the night before. We cast in the nets and when we pulled them out an hour later, we got so many fish the fishing day was done! The father and son team dropped me off on the other side of the river in a little village in French Guiana so I could make it to the airport on my way to Paris. It was a perfect end to my short stay. I just met these two, but I knew I would miss them.
Eric_Hill_Mexico0054
Eric_Hill_Mexico0001 Eric_Hill_Mexico0002_CBK Eric_Hill_Mexico0003 Eric_Hill_Mexico0004 Eric_Hill_Mexico0005_CBK Eric_Hill_Mexico0006 Eric_Hill_Mexico0008 Eric_Hill_Mexico0009 Eric_Hill_Mexico0010 Eric_Hill_Mexico0011 Eric_Hill_Mexico0012 Eric_Hill_Mexico0013 Eric_Hill_Mexico0014 Eric_Hill_Mexico0015 Eric_Hill_Mexico0016 Eric_Hill_Mexico0017 Eric_Hill_Mexico0018 Eric_Hill_Mexico0019 Eric_Hill_Mexico0021 Eric_Hill_Mexico0022 Eric_Hill_Mexico0023 Eric_Hill_Mexico0024_ORTA Eric_Hill_Mexico0025 Eric_Hill_Mexico0026 Eric_Hill_Mexico0028 Eric_Hill_Mexico0029_CBK Eric_Hill_Mexico0030 Eric_Hill_Mexico0031 Eric_Hill_Mexico0032 Eric_Hill_Mexico0033 Eric_Hill_Mexico0034 Eric_Hill_Mexico0035 Eric_Hill_Mexico0036 Eric_Hill_Mexico0037 Eric_Hill_Mexico0038 Eric_Hill_Mexico0039 Eric_Hill_Mexico0040 Eric_Hill_Mexico0041 Eric_Hill_Mexico0042 Eric_Hill_Mexico0043 Eric_Hill_Mexico0044 Eric_Hill_Mexico0045 Eric_Hill_Mexico0046 Eric_Hill_Mexico0047 Eric_Hill_Mexico0048 Eric_Hill_Mexico0049 Eric_Hill_Mexico0050 Eric_Hill_Mexico0051 Eric_Hill_Mexico0052 Eric_Hill_Mexico0053 Eric_Hill_Mexico0055 Eric_Hill_Mexico0056 Eric_Hill_Mexico0057 Eric_Hill_Mexico0060_ORTA Eric_Hill_Mexico0061_ORTA Eric_Hill_Mexico0062 Eric_Hill_Mexico0063 Eric_Hill_Mexico0064 Eric_Hill_Mexico0065 Eric_Hill_Mexico0066 Eric_Hill_Mexico0067 Eric_Hill_Mexico0068 Eric_Hill_Mexico0070 Eric_Hill_Mexico0071 Eric_Hill_Mexico0072 Eric_Hill_Mexico0073 Eric_Hill_Mexico0074 Eric_Hill_Mexico0075 Eric_Hill_Mexico0076 Eric_Hill_Mexico0078 Eric_Hill_Mexico0079 Eric_Hill_Mexico0080 Eric_Hill_Mexico0081 Eric_Hill_Mexico0082 Eric_Hill_Mexico0083 Eric_Hill_Mexico0084 Eric_Hill_Mexico0085 Eric_Hill_Mexico0086 Eric_Hill_Mexico0087 Eric_Hill_Mexico0088 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0001 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0002 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0003 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0004 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0005 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0006_CBK Eric_Hill_Barbados_0007 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0008 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0009 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0011 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0012 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0013 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0014 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0015 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0016 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0018_ORTA Eric_Hill_Barbados_0019 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0020 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0021 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0022 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0023 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0024 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0025 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0026 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0027 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0028 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0029 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0030
Eric_Hill_Barbados_0018_ORTAEric_Hill_Barbados_0031 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0032 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0033_CBK Eric_Hill_Barbados_0034 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0035 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0036 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0037_CBK Eric_Hill_Barbados_0038_CBK Eric_Hill_Barbados_0039 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0040 Eric_Hill_Barbados_0041 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0001 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0002 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0003 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0004 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0005 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0006 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0007 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0008 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0009 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0010 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0011 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0012_CBK Eric_Hill_Guyana_0013 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0014 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0016_ORTAEric_Hill_Guyana_0015 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0017 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0018 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0019 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0020 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0021 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0022_CBK Eric_Hill_Guyana_0023 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0025 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0027 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0028 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0029 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0030 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0031_ORTA Eric_Hill_Guyana_0032 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0033_CBK Eric_Hill_Guyana_0034_CBK Eric_Hill_Guyana_0035_CBK Eric_Hill_Guyana_0036_CBK Eric_Hill_Guyana_0037 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0039 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0040
Eric_Hill_Suriname_0011 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0041_ORTA_CV Eric_Hill_Guyana_0042 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0043 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0044 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0045 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0046 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0047 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0048 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0049 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0051 Eric_Hill_Guyana_0052 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0006 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0007 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0008 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0009 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0010 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0012_CBK Eric_Hill_Suriname_0013_CBK Eric_Hill_Suriname_0014 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0015 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0016
Eric_Hill_Suriname_0036Eric_Hill_Suriname_0017 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0018 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0019 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0020 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0021 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0022 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0023 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0024 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0025 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0026 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0028
Eric_Hill_Suriname_0027Eric_Hill_Suriname_0029 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0030 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0031 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0032 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0033 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0034
Eric_Hill_Suriname_0045Eric_Hill_Suriname_0035 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0037 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0038 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0039 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0040 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0042 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0043 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0044 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0046 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0047 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0048 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0049 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0050 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0051 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0052 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0053 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0054 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0055 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0056 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0057 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0058 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0059 Eric_Hill_Suriname_0060

Source: http://gowitheric.com

DARE_DENIM_ERIC_HILL-BLOG