Puerto Escondido

Happy Halloween from sunny and hot Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca Mexico. The kids were out parading around town last night looking for candy and I´m sure they will be back for more tonight, lets just hope we are ready this time. We got some powdy faces when we told the local children that we didn´t have anything. The town of Puerto Escondido is very nice and modern compared to many of the towns we have been through. The surfing culture has definitely given this town the majority of what has today. Many cantinas line the sand, while the hotels and cabanas line the street across the way. Travelers have a strong presence here. People from all over the world are either her to surf, relax, or get their groove on! Jimmy and I have been duds, and have not dipped into the late night social scene yet. It seems like right after we have dinner we are completely spent from our daily activities that we just collapse. Maybe tonight will be the night, being halloween and all. Everyday in the water are the same locals, guys that we see in the surfer mags that are out here when it really gets big. You would think that these guys would be turned off by our appearance or have somewhat of a territorial trait in their character, but for the most part you can paddle right up to them and have a conversation or wave as they walk by on the street. Jimmy dropped in on Roger Ramirez. He is one of the original surfers of Puerto and probably someone you dont want to mess with. It was an accident, Jimmy apologized, and then they went on to talk about our trip and why we came to Puerto Escondido. While the times here are high, the surf continues to weaken. Tomorrow we are thinking about packin it up and heading on to the next destination, Barra de la Cruz. Barra de la Cruz is not far from here, maybe 2hrs or so. It is the site of the 2006 Rip Curl Search. I´ve been reading up on it and the it seems isolated but can still bring a crowd when there are waves.

-Boo

And then there were two

What a last four days or so. I can only eloborate on what I think I`ve seen due to a severe sunburn located directly on my right eyeball. Yeah, it hurts about everyday, all day. I guess that is what happens when you are a proud consumer of contact lenses, in the surf for a solid 4-5 hrs. a day glaring into the horizon, and frequently sticking your head out of the car window going 60 while yelling at cows to get off the road. When I get home it is time for that lasik surgery. So, surfed troncones. Not bad, more like a really fun day back at home. We were inspected a few more time by military. The more you try to crack jokes with them the quicker they let you go. Met a guy from bakersfield who ran a restuarant, steak and baked potatos and who knows how many cervesas. Don`t forget the tequila shots. Saturday was "The Day". We arrive at Casa Fiesta around 10:15 am. Now a few things to keep in mind; 1. It is Jimmys birthday (23) 2. Casa Fiesta is a privately owned 5 bedroom house that sits on the northwest tip of Zihautanejo`s bay. 3. We had it all to ourselves. Ben a friend of a friend of my moms owns this amazing house, the layout is just (excuse my french) breathtaking. Jimmy had the a room to himself right above the water, Timmy had his room just above the pool, and my room was on top of the world. We got there not knowing what to expect and before you knew it breakfast was served by our own private cook, our bags were unpacked and clothes washed, and JJ the bartender was anxiously waiting to get us drunk. The next seven hours went by with frozen margaritas, infinity pool acrobatics, more great food, tequila, the entire staff sang feliz cumpleanos and we all continued to get completely hammered. Sunday, ouch. I have not had a sip of any alcoholic beverage since Saturday. When we all met up for breakfast around 1230pm the staff had plenty of funny looks on their faces and giggles that accompanied the looks. Enrique said, "Do you need to stay another night?" I said, "Yes Enrique, please." So they let us stay another night. A huge thanks goes out to everyone who had a hand in what was one of the most amazing days of our lives. Back to reality now. We slept at the beach last night and stayed up late with the howling dogs until sunrise, sleeping periodically. A man killed a 6ft snake about 100ft from our tents. I missed that, but Jimmy said it was awesome. I guess he ran over it and then pulled one of those reverse then forward then reverse moves on it, yeah just like the movies. Threw a few rocks at it and then picked it up with a stick and then was showing to all his buddies. Go Mexico! Ten minutes down the road this morning we dropped good ole Timmy off at Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo airport in route to LAX. His flight is scheduled for three hours long, I guess it just doesn`t seem right when you know that you have been on the road for almost 30 days. He was great to have on the trip for the time he could allow, Thanks Tim. Now, it is the Jimbo and I and we are in fabulous Acapulco. Just one night and then tomorrow Puerto Escondido, Yeeeesss! We have not really grown to fond of these big cities. It just doesn`t feel like Mexico or at least our perspective of what Mexico is. In the cities it is hustle and bustle, cars everywhere, people trying to get you to eat here or stay there, not for us. Tents, surf, a small shack that sells tacos de carne, smiling chicas, that`s all really. The one good thing about cities though, Is that when we got here today Jimmy and I both ate a Big Mac, fries, 10 piece chicken Mcnuggets and a coke. That`s right, McDonalds baby. Well that`s it for now. Big day on the road tomorrow so it is bed time,

-?donde esta timateo¿

whats on the menu?

Well the swell has decided to decrease for the next few days so paradise has temporarily been down graded. Tonight we are going to pack the burban nice and tight so that in the morniong we can get on the road with no distractions. Our next stop, Troncones. Troncones is WNW from Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo. It is another good surf spot and thats all we know. Then Saturday we will arrive in Zihuatanejo at a house called "casa fiesta", thats good. Thanks to one of my moms hook ups we will be expected for lunch and then....well what else would you do at house who´s name is casa fiesta? On the 27th team manburban will lose one of its members. Tim is plane ticket in hand and flying home. So if anyone wants to join, you know where we´ll be.

-carne asada

Rio Nexpa

Buenos whatever, i have no idea what time it is right now. I just ate the gnarliest burrito of my life and now it is a little difficult to focus on the blog update. We have found paradise. It is called Rio Nexpa. $25 US a night and you have a bungalow on the beach. The surf here is great. It feels like you paddle a mile out until you reach the peak. Then these long, rippable lefts just come firing through and if it is a good one you are gone for about twenty minutes because that means you are tearing this thing up all the way in and then paddling all the way back. The hammocks are hung and broken in, the breeze makes for a nice afternoon ciesta, and then you are back in the water before you start crackin the brew. I think we are going to go chase some iguanas around for a little while, they´re quick.

-Team Manburban

Mazatlan-La Ticla

Well it has surely been the most frightening but the most beautiful last few days of the trip. The road from Tepic to Puerto Vallart is tight and hugs the mountain curves as you spy the steep drops only feet from your tires. From the road you see a beautiful 400ft waterfall lunge over the top of a peak and into a misty abyss. Our first sight of monkeys happened as we were leaving yet another completely vacant beachfront campsite a few days ago. They bounced across the road directly in front of us and we totally lost it! Storms will come in as scheduled at about 2am every morning, so if you dont put your rain cover on before you hit the sheets you are in a quick panic while getting drenched. Though when you are sleeping in a pile of your own sweat throughout the night,a little fresh blast of cool rain drops feels pretty darn good. So far our only encounter with bandidos came last night. We were eating at a little dinner spot about 100yrds away from our tents when someone decided to snatch a few drinks out of our cooler. Thankfully, we were out of beer! Then the bandido woke me up around 11pm when he stepped on a plastic bottle we left on the ground, ha! I popped my head up, grabbed my flashlight and shined it right on him. I yelled, ¨hey!¨and he darted off into the night. Good thing for me because i couldn´t find my glasses so there was no way i was about to face him head on. Jimmy was in the hammock passed out and Tim had earplugs in, I was enfuego! So Jimmy and I played lookout with one other local for about an hour after that and then went back to bed. There are plenty of friendly faces here that make you feel warm and welcomed that completely take away from the corrupt nature of fewer individuals. We are starting to see more travelers the further south we head. La Ticla has a great lefthand point that can be epic when its on. We surfed it yesterday afternnon and I filmed the boys out there today. Our next stop is Nexpa. Everyone is saying that the swell is hitting it very good right and you can stay in bungalows for about 180 pesos a night ($14 us). Off to get fed and then surf more. Til next time, from the land where less is more. Well at least in my eyes.

Mazatlan

We finally made it to mainland Mexico! The ferry ride across the Sea of Cortez was wild due to a strom passing through. It was only 6hrs but we rocked right to left all the way there. Mazatlan is bigger than i had expected. Well first of all, we drove across the Tropic of Cancer. That was sweet. When we pulled into Mazatlan we went straight for the ocean and found 6ft swells pounding the on the beach right by the city. The next thing we noticed was a group of surfers charging this left hand point that was a little overhead and looked kind of decent. The only thing that distracted us from paddling out was the fact the sunset was approaching, there were no camping sites (city), and we had to try to find a friend that told us to look him up when we arrived. By a stroke of luck we found him (Johnnie) and he invited us right in. We stayed in his guest room last night and tonight we are bbq`ing steaks and shrimp. Lots of resorts, McDonalds (it was a must), warm water, hot air, and a good showing of tourists in Mazatlan. Tomorrow we will most likely head out and start to creep towards Puerto Vallarta which is about 6hrs away. I think we are finding more peace and happiness in the smaller towns, where we can pitch our tents close to the water and and appreciate the adventurous side of things. I can't believe we swept the Cardinals!

-hasta luego

LA PAZ

We arrived at scorpion bay monday afternoon after being forced to camp along the side of the highway due to flooding arroyos. since hurricane jimena (i believe) there has been great damage to many towns and most tragically, the loss of life. tropical storm olaf which passed by last week dumped enough rain to create a new push of water runoff from the mountains to the coast. so every river that hits the coast and crosses a highway at some point was anywhere from inches to three feet above the road. we were nervous at some points crossing these rivers, but the manburban prevailed and we arrived unscaved. unfortunately we did not score epic scorpion bay. you could realize the potential for what perfect waves it could create, but we surfed perfect 1-2ft waves for four days and then had to pack up and head for la paz. oh yeah, tarantulas are very sneaky. especially when you are simply resting by the fire at night, wearing sandals, and then all of the sudden you feel something climbing on your foot. goodtimes.... so the ferry leaves tonight at 11pm from la paz to topolobambo. we are heading there instead of mazatlan because it is cheaper, 6hrs. opposed to 12hrs. la paz is cool. there is a main drag that hugs the sea of cortez and on the other side a series of restaurants and hotels, discos and shops. before we leave today we are heading over to this place called tailhunters. it is a sports bar! you know what that means.....GO DODGERS or Vamanos DOYERS!

adios mis amigos

Baja Sur

The last two nights have been spent camping right on the beach. We have been completely alone each night. You look around waiting for someone to set up camp near you and there is just no one there. Bonfires, cooking, guitar playing, and the sound of the ocean are starting to become routine. Last night a storm hit the coast and woke us all up. We remained in our tents commenting on the strong winds and infrequent rain spurts from midnight until 3am. We are now in the town of Guerro Negro in Baja Sur. Tomorrow we hope to hit Scorpion Bay because that is when the swell is supposed to peak. Having a blast, lots of driving, cactus is unreal, and the tacos have never been better.

-adios

It's time

We are currently packing things up at tim's place in Pacific Beach. Lots of boards (10), tents, food, beer, fishing poles, it's all in there. Just a few stops on American soil and then we are off. We hope that you all follow along and we will try to keep things as entertaining as possible. We send out our goodbyes to our friends and families who we will miss, but surely see again.

sincerely,

The Man-Burban