We have already informed you about the expedition of several adventurers, including our panda, who share a passion for scooters. How this group of young globetrotters is doing so far will be outlined by one of the participants who has already returned.
Míša, you returned a bit earlier than the rest of the expedition. Was that the plan from the beginning or a result of the situation? Have there been any other personnel changes so far?
Yes, my return was planned from the very beginning. I have state exams coming up that I didn't want to postpone. The team members didn't mind, and I was glad I could experience this month-long, absolutely amazing adventure. One unexpected personnel change did occur, on Michal's part, who now has pleasant parental duties ahead of him, so he will be replaced by another member on January 15th. I must admit, however, that Michal brought a lot of fun to the group, and we have been thinking of him often.
Describe the progress of your journey for me. Where have you traveled so far and where are your friends currently located? Has the expected return date or the planned route changed in any way?
We started our journey on November 20th in Cancun. We were slightly delayed by jet lag, but also by the relatively demanding installation of the mudguards, which we were trying for the first time. We had the route prepared, but not in complete detail. That wasn't even possible since we didn't know how fast we would travel in such heat. However, I must say I was pleasantly surprised. We initially planned the route in 30-kilometer segments to get used to it. After two days, we started adding more and more until we reached 70 km per day. A big disadvantage was that it wasn't always possible to ride during the midday hours. In Central America, it also gets dark very early. By 5:00 PM, we were already starting to think about where we would sleep that day and began looking for "accommodation." In total, we traveled through five countries – Mexico (from Cancun), Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, where my friend, whom I met in Denver (Colorado), was waiting for us. She hosted all of us for a few days, and I, albeit reluctantly, waited for my flight.
We had to change the route a bit. The original path was supposed to be through Zacapa (Guatemala) along the CA13 road. However, the road was not suitable for scooters, and I would say not even for cyclists. Countless trucks speeding by created dangerous air pressure. We sat on the road for about an hour deciding whether to go or not because we really wanted to see Guatemala. After Kačka's fall from her scooter, we decided to prioritize safety and go through Honduras. You can see our exact route in the attached map.
I cannot answer the question of whether the return date has changed, as we never set one. Only I had one set, which was December 20th.
Did you encounter any complications or dramatic moments?
I must admit that this was my first trip abroad where I was truly afraid. Firstly, we were traveling as a group of people who didn't know each other at all before the trip, and secondly, I was frightened by internet articles about how dangerous Central America is. However, after my return and with my experience, I cannot say that. The truth is that we were incredibly lucky and throughout the entire time, we only met very kind and helpful people who would stop us and ask what kind of strange bike that was. Basically, we were riding, filming the landscape, and the locals were filming us. Even the backpacks provided by your e-shop were a complete mystery to many natives. Mrs. Panda, who accompanied us, attracted children in particular. At that moment, I was probably most on guard so that some youngster wouldn't run off with her.
We only experienced one unpleasant moment the whole time. About 20 kilometers from Belize, we arrived in town late, and it was already dark. There was some kind of local disco happening in town, and as we were passing through, suddenly 15 people gathered around us, accompanied by firecracker explosions and various shouting. In the end, everything turned out well, and we found a roof over our heads with very kind people who showed us around the area and let us taste a mandarin with chili, which no one really liked. :-D
What, on the other hand, do you consider the greatest experience in a positive sense?
The greatest experience was probably every night in Central America. I won't surprise anyone by saying we slept on various beaches and gardens, but the nights spent in fire stations and in the window of a kebab restaurant will truly amuse me for the rest of my life. The truth is that when you wake up on the beach and see a beautiful sunrise, the feeling you have is truly priceless.
How did you spend Christmas and New Year's?
The expedition celebrated Christmas, of course, with potato salad and schnitzel. They celebrated the holidays with two Czech cyclists. Since it was just after my departure, I was glad they had a merrier time with new friends. They also celebrated New Year's together in Nicaragua, and I assume by tasting some local rum. ;-)
Did you experience any interesting situations with our panda? How has her journey been going so far?
I always had the panda tied to my backpack so she had a good view. The funniest incident probably happened the first night on the beach when I left the panda next to me so she would feel comfortable and sleep well. However, I didn't know that so much sand would pile up on us during the night. In the morning, instead of a panda, I found a little ball of sand. :-D With regret, I picked her up, dusted her off, and hugged her. From that moment on, she had a reserved space right in the sleeping bag. :-)
The panda also caused a big stir among the children we met on the pier during a stop in Omoa, Honduras. Everyone was looking at her and petting her. One little girl even didn't want to give her back at all. She became our great friend. We all watched over her together and took care of her. When we stopped somewhere, they asked us why we had this animal with us. So we started telling the story of how this project was created and how your company helped us realize our dreams, for which we thank you many times over.
Saying goodbye to the panda was really hard. Currently, Sany is in charge of her, and she promised to take the best care of her possible.
And how did the backpacks purchased in our e-shop prove themselves?
Haha. There was a big scramble for your backpacks one evening. :-) Only four members of our expedition bought the backpacks, and after just a few days, the others were kicking themselves for not buying them too. I personally had my first experience with this water reservoir, and I must say it was the best thing I could have taken on the trip. The backpack didn't restrict me in any way. Whenever I wanted to drink (which was quite often in these temperature conditions), I didn't have to stop like the others. The 1.5-liter volume was also ideal. I was also very surprised that the water in the reservoir stayed at the same temperature.
The first-aid kits from your e-shop also came in handy. Kačka slipped on a wet road with her scooter and scraped her knees quite badly. We treated her within 10 minutes.
Does this expedition have any impact on your future life? Does one's priorities or approach to life change, for example?
Every one of my trips always influences me greatly. However, with Central America, I am a bit conflicted. On one hand, Central America caused me great disappointment, and on the other, huge surprise and one big question to ponder.
I was disappointed mainly by how they treat the environment. While I have four trash cans at home, they throw a glass Fanta bottle into the woods without blinking an eye. Honestly, Fanta and Coca-Cola are lying around everywhere. It was sad to see often dirty streets and smog, but above all, the people's lack of interest in their own, and it must be noted, absolutely beautiful nature in which they live.
What surprised me a lot was the people's contentment. We often met local natives who live in something I would compare to a woodshed. In Belize, we met such a gentleman with whom we had the opportunity to talk. It was absolutely incredible how he talked about his life in a small cottage in the middle of nowhere. With such enthusiasm and joy that even if you didn't want to, one single question comes to mind: How is it possible that we go to work here for 8–12 hours to buy a big TV or a new car and it's still not enough for us? How is it possible that when asked how you are, we answer "bad," even though we have food, a roof over our heads, and other living standards? Somehow, it makes you think about whether this chase for the material world makes any sense at all.
Do you still have a positive relationship with scooters? Doesn't one get "fed up" with it quickly at such intensity? And what about the mood in your team – did you struggle with cabin fever?
To tell the truth, I personally really "got into" the scooter. I was surprised that for the whole month, my legs only hurt for one day, and that was, I think, the eighth day. After all, I was very pleased with the praise from Tomáš that as a woman, I was very surprising. :-D So I can already say that I am looking forward to it getting warmer so I can discover the beauties of Bohemia.
As I mentioned, I knew the other members very little and only through this expedition. That caused a little uncertainty because we didn't know what to expect from whom. However, I must say that except for one exception, I got along with everyone on the team, and I think the rest of the expedition feels the same. All six of us (counting Michal as well) helped each other, made fun of ourselves, but also of others. We all took it sportingly. If we didn't know what to do, we voted or told each other the pros and cons. After all, a month is still a short time for "cabin fever" to develop on a larger scale.
Your expedition was also supposed to have a charitable reach. Did you manage to realize this intention?
This charity event called "Kids belong to school" is organized by Marek. Even though we met several schools along the way, there was no opportunity to visit these schools.
Have you thought about where you will head next?
Certainly. And the backpack will definitely be with me. I would be extremely happy to catch up with our expedition while they are still on the road and possibly join them and finish the journey. However, if they are already back, it will definitely be Peru, where I have been planning to go for several years and so far unsuccessfully.
Thank you for your time, and we are keeping our fingers crossed for the rest of the expedition!
