Jiminez, Mexico, June 1

I get to wish my sister another Happy Birthday, as my internal calendar was out a couple of days.  In order to celebrate Sis's birthday, I stopped at the first classy hotel that came into view after today's run north.  I could see the pool through the lobby as I negotiated a room.

 I have had a swim, and although the internet only seems to work in the lobby, it is pleasant to sit and fire off Cuba pics and watch somebody's little princess have a birthday party.  It is probably more interesting to watch her little friends' Mom's tackle the job of wrangling what appears to be 50 or so 5 year olds...

More of Cuba:

 When the Revolutionary War broke out, Che led a group of rebels in Santa Clara into a battle with Batista's forces.. He and his comrades took this Cat and tore up a section of the train tracks, thus overturning an armoured train of Government troops which were sent from Havana to quell the insurgents...

We met this fellow after a visit to the Che memorial museum.  He was taxing a couple from Havana.  He also has 15 old Harleys in his home in Havana, and he was involved with bringing a group of riders, from the States, into Cuba.  Werner and Claudia ended up spending a few days with Luis as he diagnosed and fixed an electrical problem on Werner's bike.  There truly is an international comradship of moto riders...

This was a "Whizzer" of unknown vintage...

Blondy needed to have a pic in front of Che...

Luis' classy taxi...

On the road again...

 

Cuban pizza was to become the staple food for the journey around the island, mainly because the street food was one tenth the cost of tourist food, and able to be purchased in "Nationals"

Anybody who doesn't recognize this car has not really lived a full life...

My Dad had a Ford Falcon, which I totally abused...

Did I ever tell you about the '56 Chevy that I blew up getting my daughter to the hospital so that she could be born???

Do I have the tourist look or not, eh?

Or the '51 Willy's that went head on with a truck and cost me my spleen?

All in white, and I never did figure out what they were about...

An old dually International...

Blondy is a very accommodating girl, under the circumstances..

Or the '49 Ford which was my daughters' first ride???

A visit to a tobacco farm and this fellow showed us how to make real cigars.  He has been doing it for  43 years, so he made it look easy...

 Drying the tobacco leaves for three years...

 Fermenting the leave to achieve the unique aroma and taste...

 This fellow did an excellent job of explaining the process...

After the visit to the tobacco farm, Werner and Claudia went one way, and I the other, as we set about exploring the Island.   

 On this road to the northern coast, Blondy rolled over 120,000 kilometers.  I promised her a party when we rolled into Mexico City..

I found this peninsula and the beautiful water...

The beach was chock a block with what I tood to be coral...

Nice eh??.....

Did I tell you how much I like these Cebu trees?  When I grow up, I am going to plant one and build a treehouse in it...

I decided that particular beach was not campable, and moved on...

 finding this wonderful casa particular..

 and meeting the landlady's son, Tony...

 and his pride and joy: a renovated Lada, which is 33 years old..

 He said it cost him over $10,000 dollars to get the car running.

Tony is an electrical engineer, and his sister was studying to be a dentist.  Both of his parents worked in the medical field...

I knew I should have been serious about the changing cows of North and South America...pictures don't do these guys justice...

 In some parts of Cuba, it is better to ride the dirt to the side of the road, rather than deal with potholes and broken pavement.

In some parts of Northern Cuba, the soil is so rich-looking, one could throw a seed down and have it  start growing...

 Plowing  with oxen...

Nearing Mantua...

 These trees are such a brilliant red, that I could not resist taking a few pics.  Everpresent Spring and Summer down here...

 This looks interesting...

What do you think?  A little stealth camping by the beach?   No one will ever see me...this will be easy....

 I will just set up a temporary sun shelter for awhile, and when everybody leaves...make camp.

 Easy as pie, right??

Notice the intensity of the sun....to be continued....