Leaving Tucson

We plan to leave Tucson tomorrow morning. Gay is going to drive us 50 miles to the border and we will peddle across that imaginary line that so effectively defines two distinct nations. From there we will either board the bus or bike, depending on their policy of un-boxed bikes.

Tucson has been nice. Lots of eating and drinking. Ed taught us how to make Presidente Margaritas, which fueled our painting project. Brauts, beer and booze, what could be better? Did I mention Ed and Gay have a hot tub? And cable. Basically, all of those muscles we developed over the last 500 miles are gone and now we "well rested".

The Dias de Muertos celebrations have been happening. Leah and I went to an old Mexican movie made in the 1950s. Then we got to see a parade. It was a great goulash of cultures mixed into Day of the Dead theme. There were Somba groups and marching bands, but the best were the bagpipe players with there faces painted like skeletons. Yeah, Tucson is pretty cool. The bus costs a $1, "bicas" is awesome, and "the Ordinary Bike Shop" traded my old dead armadillo tire for a new one--without charge--Sha!

Last weekend Ed and Gay took us down to Nogales for a taste of Mexico. We walked across the border, ate some Mexican food, drank some beers, did some shopping and walked back across before dark. The city was bustling with people everywhere, the sidewalks are all uneven, people are friendly or loud, and Spanish is spoken all over the place. It was awesomely over stimulating. I am getting excited to be there for longer than a day and all this fear and caution is well intended, but also... a culture of US, fear.

I can't wait to be sending word from the other side. Love. Love. Love.
Love.
Amor.