This is the adventure of a guy named Ryan who is pedaling his bike from La Esperanza Honduras to Boulder Colorado. Help support the ride by sending 10 monthly installments of positive vibes, keep this Duzer going! Check my progress on the interactive maps, click on the links below. !!New!!! Buy the official super cool T-Shirt and support my kids in Honduras. Click on the T-shirt link below to see the design and order your very own Duzer shirt.

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

What a Wonderful World

I've been off the bike now for 2 weeks and my legs are happy. No more battling the wind, waking up to freezing temperatures or eating bananas all day long. I am home and happy. The ride was an amazing dream come true and I've been reliving every moment as I rest in my cozy house with mom and brothers. It was a total success, I got to reconnect with my buddy Jeff, explore parts of the world I'd never seen before and sleep under the sparkly sky in all sorts of different landscapes. This was two years in the making, it started as a crazy idea, then became an obsession as I planned, researched and mapped out the adventure. I would lose sleep in my little Honduras house as I dreamed of what would happen and who I would meet. I planned for the worst but only experienced the best (besides hurricanes and wind). The highlight of the trip was meeting all the wonderful people along the way who helped in times of need and warmed my heart. Countless strangers brought me into their homes, fed my hungry tummy and filled my soul with hope. This world is a great place and peddling from La Esperanza to Boulder reinforced my belief that there are kind and caring people all over. I'm getting settled now and hoping to find direction to my life. The past three months the only direction I knew was North, now I'm ready to take on another direction and explore my passions. If any of your know of good jobs let me know, I need to start making money to pay off my food bill from Mexico. The "What Does Duzer Do?"T-shirts are still for sale, email me at crazyduzer@gmail.com to order one. All of the proceeds go to buying school supplies for the kids in my barrio in La Esperanza. Thanks to all of you for supporting me along the way, I felt your love and positive thoughts.

Friday, December 16, 2005

We Did it!

We Did it! Originally uploaded by duzercruzer.

Jeff and I finally made it home to our mother's arms. It was an emotional moment as our tired eyes got their first glimpse of the beautiful Flatirons. We had been dreaming of this moment for a long time. The last 20 miles from Golden to Boulder were easy, I don't think that our tires even touched the ground, we were flying high. We were fortunate enough to have some company on the ride, my brother Ethan and my favorite high school teacher, Mr. Boyer came and met us in Golden to brave the cold and warm our souls. We were greeted on the south end of Boulder by lots of friends and even Santa Claus. We've been good boys this year. I'd like to thank everyone who supported me over the past two years and especially those who supported the long ride home. It started as a crazy idea but ended up being the adventure of a lifetime. I'm finally home, Peace Corps is done, now it's time to rest my sore legs and eat some cookies. Call me at ---/---- if you want to talk about bikes, refried beans, international development, cold bucket baths or about my new love for Krispy Kreme donuts. Hooray for bikes!

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Happy Thursday!

Ok, It's on. The Jeff and Ryan train is rolling into Boulder on Thursday morning. We will be leaving Golden at around 9am and will be pedaling happily into South Boulder at around 11am. Come and meet us for the final stretch, we plan on doing a couple laps around downtown to ring our bells sing Ole Ole Ole!! Happy Happy Joy Joy.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Colorado Ho!!

It feels great to be back, breathing Colorado air and riding on Colorado roads. We crossed the N.M./Colorado border on Sunday in style. We flew up and over the dreaded Raton Pass and ended up in the sex change capital of the world, Trinidad. Since then we have visited the wonderful towns of Pueblo and Colorado Springs. I sure am glad that I live in Boulder, those places are nice but Boulder is the best! There is a magnet in Boulder that is pulling hard and my drive to get to my warm home is propelling me like a rocket. I've had my fun but it's time to be back with family and friends. That said, Jeff and I will be coming in on Thursday morning instead of Saturday. Whoever wants to meet us can call Jeff's cell at 360-393-9976 and we can coordinate. See you soon, Ryanito

Friday, December 09, 2005

Why is the Desert Cold?

Howdy folks, Ryan here in a small pueblo in Northern N.M. Well, the weather outside is frightfull but the fire inside me to get home is on overdrive and this keeps me warm. My motivation to reach Boulder is stronger than ever, get me out of the cold, I am not a Polar Bear! I went outside to get my water bottle this morning and it was frozen solid. It's ok though because gas station hot chocolate is keeping me warm, thank the lord for Chevron stations along the interstate. After staying with Nikoli and Nina in Albuquerque (I finally learned how to spell it) , Jeff and I headed to a charming little pueblo south of Santa Fe called Galisteo. It just happens to be where my buddy Morgan's dad lives so we stayed with him for a night. He filled our bellies with green chili enchiladas and let us put lots of extra logs on the fire. Cheers to great people!!! No wonder why Morgan is so cool, cool daddy=cool son. His wife Anette and son Alec were very good to us and Alec even let me sleep in his great bed while he slept on the couch. What an amazing twelve year old. So now we are in Las Vegas staying with another friend of a connection of a cousin of an estranged monkey, it's a long story but we are happy and in good company. We'll be riding into Boulder next Saturday the 17th, get ready for a cookies and milk reception at my house, details to come later.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Salvation in Albequerque


Salvation in Albequerque
Originally uploaded by duzercruzer.

Jeff and I were treated to amazing lasanga made by none other than Nikoli and Nina Frant, old friends from Boulder. It feels great to be with familiar faces again. They have a warm house and very warm hearts, thanks.

Under a Blood Red Sky


Under a Blood Red Sky
Originally uploaded by duzercruzer.

I took about 30 photos of this magical sunset. It kept getting better and better and I couldn't put my camera away. If you want to see all the photos you need to come to my house and bring some cookies, I'll show you all the secret photos that you never saw on the blog.

Sunsets are better in Red


Sunsets are better in Red
Originally uploaded by duzercruzer.

On our first night camping in N.M. we were treated to the most breathtaking sunset I've ever seen.

Gusty Winds Will Always Exist


Gusty Winds Will Always Exist
Originally uploaded by duzercruzer.

I thought that this sign was funny because for the past 7 days it has been constant wind. I don't need a sign to tell me that riding into the wind sucks. I watch the cars fly by and I get real jealous, they don't seem to be affected in the slighest, no fair!

Hot Springs in Truth or Consequences

Hot Springs in Truth or Consequences Originally uploaded by duzercruzer.

Getting to this funky little town was painful, headwinds the entire way. Our motivation? Hot Springs. It was worth it, ahhhh. There was enough Lithium and other minerals in the water to make a monkey go cooky. The truth is that the water was piping hot and made our cold bones feel so good, the consequence was that we got dehydrated.

Fields of Cotton


Fields of Cotton
Originally uploaded by duzercruzer.

Southern N.M. is covered by fields of soft cotton. I considered weaving myself a new sweater.

Remnants of the Evil Bot Fly (For mature eyes only)


Remnants of the Evil Bot Fly (For mature eyes only)
Originally uploaded by duzercruzer.

Here it is ladies and gentlemen, you asked for it and here you go. This the the second of the nasty bot flies that lived inside my arm for two months. This one came out in El Paso, I was sitting on my bed, watching the Simpsons and got the urge to squeeze the wound. Boom! The dead larvae shot out of my arm and stuck to the headboard. This frightening sight almost made Jeff puke.

The All American Boy is Home!


The All American Boy is Home!
Originally uploaded by duzercruzer.

Crossing the border was an emotional moment. I love traveling the world but being home is where I feel the best.

Monday, December 05, 2005

USA USA USA!

I love being back in the good old U S of A. We easily crossed the border in El Paso and went straight to the first all you can eat buffet. We are exactly the kind of customers that those places don't want. Anyway, Texas was nice but we only stayed one day, New Mexico was calling our name. New Mexico is absolutely beautiful, golden deserts and breathtaking sunsets and sunrises. Camping out has been fun, especially at hot springs. The only problem is that it's COLD!!!!! I am freezing! I tried to ride faster to stay warm but that just builds up sweat which later turns into sweatsicles, brrrr! We are hoping for a heat wave soon, please send warm thoughts. Oh yeah, send some anti wind thoughts too, the wind is coming straight from the south and we are going north.