The BIG Scare

So far I've been trying to get everyone up to speed and cover the stories of four months on a motorcycle since it took me this long to start the Motorcycle Habit. Everything appears to have been sunshine and roses. This is not exactly true. In the beginning of February, we all experienced our first scare of the trip.

The boys are equipped with a device called the Spot. Essentially this is a GPS personal tracking device that was set up before they left. It directly emails the immediate family on a nearly daily basis. There are three options on the device. The guys push one of the buttons depending on the circumstances. One says "OK All is well on Bike adventure Love to all - Rich & Wood." Also in the message is the latitude and longitude link so you can tell where they are and look at the satellite photos and topography. We get these so often that I hardly read the message; I just click the link, seethe with jealousy and go back to working ten hours a day, inside, during our seven month long winter, wonder where I went wrong...but who is complaining. After all I am the oldest and I have been acting 30 for over 30 years.

Another button on the Spot is the "unknown/caution" button. At least, that is what we all anticipated and believed it to be when they first departed. The idea behind the button is that it means they do not what lies ahead and it has the potential to be dangerous. The third button is the 911 button. We do not get messages from the 911. That button triggers a direct call to the local search and rescue, embassy, etc. who calls the family later. It is not a thought we like to entertain. But back to this second button...

I was in Ely and it was a Friday. I got this message from my little brother that evening, sent at 7:55 in the morning:

"xxxxx, soon the pictures will be there. i'm in a rush this morning, but tell the parents that the spot may not be working as we are heading for the jungle and it may all be canopy, therefore no clear shot to the satellites. we have met yet another motorcycle traveler, this time from oregon, on his own. nelson is his name. we are heading into what is called la mosquitia, a region in honduras which is still undeveloped, and they say it is the last of its kind in latin america. nelson is coming with us. okay, gotta go, love you, bye.

wood"

We do not know La Mosquitia. We do not know Nelson. Imagine that this is the last message you get. At first read, it did not scare me too much, but I was on edge, something seemed troubling even if it was only the blackberry brandy in my purse...

-- luludilly