Verb
1) To ride a motorcycle with gusto. Gap (Darien): [gaep]
Noun
1) A strip of land separating Central and South America made impassable by the dense jungle, mountainous terrain, indigenous tribes, and unsavory characters. What:
A unique motorcycle based overland journey to the sweltering heart of the Americas incorporating surf, survival and adventure. image-14
Where:
The trip starts in San D
iego and ends in Panama at the end of the road, the nearly impenetrable jungle separating Panama and Columbia, a.k.a. the Darien Gap. When:
Departure is set for Fall 2014 to avoid the rainy season (hopefully somewhat) yet still tap into the Pacific south swell surf season and catch the beginning of the Caribbean swell season beginning in December. How:
We will be camping wherever possible on remote Baja beaches, mainland Mexican mountains and Costa Rican rivers. If camping is not an option, or our bodies are too weak and weary, inexpensive hotels, hostels and homestays will allow us a nights rest. Routes will be planned to incorporate as much dirt and secondary roads as possible thus taking the most challenging yet rewarding, scenic and culturally rich path south while still including our target destinations. Target destinations include the legendary as well as the secret and off the beaten track surf breaks of Baja California, Mainland Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Between travel to planned surf zones, routes will incorporate incredible natural and cultural destinations with the best adventure motorcycle riding possible: rugged Baja dirt tracks, muddy paths to Mayan ruins, lost roads to Central American craters…
Waves will be surfed using a variety of unorthodox surf craft including self-shaped traditional Hawaiian wooden belly boards, known as paipos, as well as modern lightening-fast inflatable surf mats which are quickly growing in cult status. These surf vehicles are chosen for their inherent simplicity, durability and packability for moto travel. Along the way we will also surf any standard board we can get our hands on as we meet fellow surfers and travelers willing to swap devices for a wave or two. This method allows us to keep our bikes from becoming cumbersome offroad, yet still be able to tackle any wave and potentially have an endless quiver of surf vehicles through individuals stoked on, and willing to support our mission. Survival will be sustained by supplementing our camp rations with fresh fish from the Sea of Cortez, Pacific and Caribbean by spearfishing. Simple break-down spears and masks will be packed. The fish rich tropical waters will easily provide protein anytime the ocean is divable. The goal will not be to spear huge trophy fish, but rather the sustainable harvest of a night’s meal as the bikes lack room for a cooler or ice to preserve excess fish. If in the company of locals or other travelers, the take of a larger fish for sharing could ensure us a place to camp, a shower, a beer, a borrowed surfboard but most importantly a new friendship and story. Who:
Dom:
-Rides the “Blue Burro!” (the blue bike, obviously)
-Trip Visionary and Documentarian.
-Native San Diegan.
-Recently graduated from San Diego State School of Nursing, May 2014.
-Licensed RN.
-Inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society for Nurses.
-Studied Wilderness Medicine for Healthcare Professionals in preparation for the trip.
-Completed six- month solo surf and motorcycle mission through remote Indonesia.
-Shaper of wooden surf craft: handplanes and paipos (traditional Hawaiian belly boards).
-Life long surfer/wave rider.
-Spearfisherman for 10 years.
-Ancillary Trip Goals: Latin American immersion to learn conversational Spanish skills to apply to future career as a RN, complete volunteer work in local clinics and hospitals throughout the trip as a means of giving back and further learning (will be documented!). Tom:
-Rides “Penny!” (The yellow one).
-Trip Public Relations and Philosopher. Voice of Reason.
-Native San Diegan.
-Scientist and member of local San Diego Biotech industry.
-Purified and crystallized protein in Academia and for pharma for the last 10 years.
-Completed 4 month Trans-American van camping mission.
-Exploration of the American southwest on Harley motorcycles
-Surfer and shaper of wooden surf craft.
-Spear fisherman. Caught the massive halibut which fed the tribe for two days on the recent Baja shakedown trip.
-Ancillary Trip Goals: Delve into Latin American culture and hone surfing and motorcycling skills. To fully embrace the Zen and freedom of life on the road and to wheelie up some deserted Central American beach! Luis:
-Rides “La Aventura” (the black one).
-Latin American Correspondent and Manager of Affairs.
-Native to the San Diego-Tijuana region
- With minimal preparation and guidance (head north), adventured from Tijuana to San Francisco on first motorcycle, a Ninja 250.
-Recently graduated from San Diego State University School of Nursing in December 2013.
-Licensed Registered Nurse.
-Studied Wilderness Medicine for Healthcare Professionals in preparation for the trip.
- Volunteered as a nurse at the Red Cross emergency room in Tijuana, Pediatric Oncology Center(Tijuana), and Emergency Room in Tecate.
-Bilingual blogger for the Spanish speaking market.
-Ancillary Trip Goals: Seek to contribute to the welcoming communities along the way by providing volunteer healthcare services in clinics and hospitals (will be documented!)
American by birth, Mexican by ancestry, and native to the San Diego-Tijuana border region, I am eager to experience the true Mexico and its rich culture as we explore south. Challenges:
Bike mechanics-
The bikes have been extensively modified for adventure. This includes beefier suspension for off-road and the carrying of loads, larger gas tanks for range and exploration, and crash protection to protect bike vitals. The potential for mechanical failure in remote locations always looms. Extensive tool and spare kits will be packed on each bike. Multiple practice trips through Baja and the Southern California deserts and mountains have prepared us for the Braap to the Gap mission. All three of us riding the same bike ensures the interchangeability of spares as well as allowing us to split burden the carrying of “luxury” spare parts. Our bikes, Suzuki DR650s, were chosen for their rugged simplicity and reliability. The last two years have been spent modifying and learning the in’s and out’s of our mechanical pack mules. Documentation-
Previous shakedown trips have taught us much about the challenges of documenting while on the road such as battery life, device charging, memory card storage and the complexities and time associated with filming and photographing. Mistakes made in the past will be resolved with added battery packs, usb charging devices and back up hard drives.
