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2024 Winter Adventure
  • Theo Manseau
  • Theo Manseau

2024 Winter Adventure

Taking my motorcycle from Canada to Argentina over the next seven months, exploring the Americas from north to south. Expect lots of camping, epic landscapes, and a few unexpected detours along the way! Meer informatie
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  • Het begin van de reis
    16 oktober 2024
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger

    Slight Detour

    20 oktober 2024, Canada ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    After talking to a local motorcycle shop, I found out my bike’s issues stemmed from some very questionable repairs by Guiho’s mechanic. They told me that welding the muffler back together was a ridiculous fix—which explains why parts of the bike started melting. They also discovered that the carburetor was never cleaned and the new chain was improperly installed leading to even more problems.

    Now I’m waiting on quotes for a new muffler, and it’s unclear when the repairs will be completed. With nothing else to do in the meantime, I booked a last-minute flight to Vancouver so I can still visit my mother.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger

    Unexpected breakdowns

    31 okt.–1 nov. 2024, Verenigde Staten ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    I officially set off yesterday after repairs on the bike were completed. Due to a late pickup, I only made it as far as the London, Ontario area. I called my cousin, who kindly let me pitch my tent in his backyard for the night. It turns out finding camping spots in late October or early November is a real challenge, but I managed to locate a year-round campsite in New Glarus, near a small community outside Madison, Wisconsin.

    Today’s ride came with its own challenges. I really felt like a leaf in the wind! A large storm brought strong winds with gusts up to 80 km/h, making it difficult to stay in my lane.

    Unfortunately, I encountered more mechanical issues, which I believe are related to my choke or carburetor, though I’m not entirely sure. Thankfully, I broke down outside a small national park near Chicago. It’s a bit eerie here, as the park closes tomorrow and I’m the only one here. I’m hoping to find a mechanic and get back on the road again soon.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger

    South Dakota

    3–4 nov. 2024, Verenigde Staten ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    The past three days have brought a lot of progress. Amazingly, my mechanical issues seem to have resolved themselves (knock on wood). I suspect a bad batch of gas was the culprit behind all the trouble. While troubleshooting, I did discover that my bike needs a very specific spark plug wrench—so I’ve been on the lookout for one and will keep checking. I have a feeling it’ll come in handy down the line in this adventure.

    On the bright side, finding camping spots has gotten much easier as I continue west. Tonight, though, I opted for a hotel to dry off; after three days of rain, all my gear is thoroughly soaked.

    I’m excited for tomorrow. I’ll be approaching some scenic spots and starting my journey south along the Pan American Highway.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger
    11

    Badlands

    4 november 2024, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    I decided to pass through Badlands National Park, and it turned out to be a really interesting place. The park has stark differences from the surrounding areas, which are flat and grassy, while the Badlands are filled with rugged canyons and abundant wildlife. As I drove through, I got fairly close to several deer, bighorn sheep, and a group of bison.Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger

    Mount Rushmore

    4–5 nov. 2024, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    While in Rapid City, I discovered that Mount Rushmore was just a short drive away, so I took a detour to see it. The place and the surrounding area had a strange, almost eerie vibe—it felt like a ski village in the off-season, with everything closed and barely anyone around. Aside from me, there were only about ten other visitors scattered around the monument.

    A park ranger mentioned that camping was allowed anywhere in the area, so I decided to spend the night in the mountains. The morning brought an unexpected surprise: I woke up to around 3 inches of fresh snow on the ground, and it was chilly. I waited for the day to warm up a bit before packing up and hitting the road again.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger

    Denvor

    6–8 nov. 2024, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ☁️ -1 °C

    After days of riding through endless, flat grasslands, I finally made it to the Pan-American Highway. My spirits lifted as the Colorado foothills began to emerge on the horizon—a welcome change of scenery after so much open prairie.

    My first real stop on this journey was at Ember Hostel, an intriguing place set up in what used to be an old, wealthy estate from the early 1900s. I arrived just in time for happy hour, where they offered free beer for several hours—a perfect way to unwind after long days on the road. I mingled a bit but mainly kept to myself; after eight days of relentless travel, it was a relief to stay in one spot for a while and just breathe.

    The following day, I spent some time researching new routes and identifying interesting places to explore over the next stretch of my trip. In the afternoon, I set out on foot to explore the city, hunting for a SIM card and taking in some of Denver’s local architecture.

    By the evening, I returned to the hostel for some rest and recovery, appreciating the downtime before the journey ahead. This morning, I’m heading toward Santa Fe, though there’s a winter storm on the horizon that might make things a bit tricky. We'll see what the road has in store    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger

    Lots of Mountains

    10–11 nov. 2024, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C

    I decided to try my luck with the mountains this afternoon—I couldn't imagine trekking all this way without going over them. And I couldn’t be more thrilled with that decision. The ride up to 9,000 feet was absolutely incredible and might just be the best part of the trip so far. Winding through switchbacks and weaving along raging rivers was an experience like no other. Every turn seemed to reveal a view even more amazing than the last, and the photos I took simply don’t do it justice.

    My destination today was the Great Sand Dunes National Park, but I arrived a bit too late to explore. Instead, I found a perfect spot on the side of the mountain to set up camp. It’s one hell of a location, I have to say. I’m bundling up tonight, though, since temperatures are expected to drop to -15°C. We’ll see if this sleeping bag really works its magic.

    As I write this, I can hear a nearby pack of coyotes howling at the moon—a pretty cool way to end the day    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger

    Route 66

    11–12 nov. 2024, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Before heading south, I checked out Great Sand Dunes National Park, which was an incredible experience. The dunes are about 700 feet tall, so I figured it was the perfect place to take the bike off-road for the first time. It was definitely challenging—riding through deep, soft sand mixed with patches of snow was a whole new experience for me. I dropped the bike a couple of times, but honestly, that was part of the fun.

    From there, I made my way down to Santa Fe, where I camped solo for the night in a desert canyon. It took about an hour of off-roading to get there, but it wasn’t as tough as earlier in the dunes. The next morning, I packed up my tent, took that classic left turn at Albuquerque, and kept rolling toward Texas.

    Of course, no American road trip would be complete without a ride down Route 66. I was surprised to find so many old towns along the highway filled with abandoned gas stations and motels—it felt like stepping back into the late '80s, with a kind of ghost-town vibe.

    Halfway through my ride to Amarillo, I realized I had mismanaged my time and would be riding after dark—a situation I’d been trying to avoid for the entire trip. I decided to take my chances, but it wasn’t long before I nearly collided with not one, but two large bucks on the road. The close encounters left me shaken, but with my hotel still two hours away, I had no choice but to push on through a nerve-racking ride. When I finally arrived in Amarillo, I decided to book an extra night after noticing a harsh rattle near the engine. Thankfully, it turned out to be just a loose skid plate that needed a quick adjustment.

    Now I’m figuring out what to explore next in Texas.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger

    Dallas

    15–18 nov. 2024, Verenigde Staten ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    I had an awesome time in Dallas this past weekend, staying with Aunt Camille for three nights. We hit up a couple BBQ joints and grabbed some amazing Tex-Mex. We also caught up with Tristan and Carol, who hosted a fantastic dinner, and went out for drinks with Jay one night. It was definitely a weekend to rememberMeer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger

    More Mechanical Issues

    18–21 nov. 2024, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    After leaving Dallas, I headed south to Austin, Texas. Along the way, I noticed my bike was overheating more than usual, though it wasn’t anything too alarming at the time, so I figured I’d check it out the next morning. I rolled into the Firehouse Hostel, a cool spot housed in an old firehall from the 1800s. Met a few people, explored some cool bars, and had a good time. The next morning, when I took a look at my bike, I found a ton of metal shavings in the coolant system. I’m hoping it’s just the water pump that’s gone, but if not, things could get pretty grim. Looks like I’ll be sticking around Austin for a bit until I get a full diagnosis from a local mechanic. Not the worst place to be stuck though—Austin’s got a lot going on, and I’ve got a few comedy shows lined up for tonight, so I’m definitely looking forward to that!Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger
    1

    Austin

    19 nov.–3 dec. 2024, Verenigde Staten ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    The past two weeks in Austin have been a mix of patience and good times. After dropping my bike off for repairs I checked out the comedy scene. I managed to snag tickets to a couple of shows at the Vulcan Gas Company and Mothership Comedy Club and both were a lot of fun.

    Austin, definitely has college-town vibes and it quickly grew on me. 6th Street is packed with bars and live music and stays lively every night of the week—it’s an experience in itself. While waiting on updates about the bike, I settled into a routine: mornings at the gym, afternoons just walking around the city, and evenings were spent chatting with people from the hostel. To save money, I made most of my meals in the hostel kitchen, but I still treated myself to some fantastic BBQ. I also joined the hostel crew for a few pub crawls on 6th Street, which were always a good time.

    One unexpected highlight was going to a Longhorns football game. The energy was unreal. I don’t fully understand the rules of football, but being in the middle of that kind of crowd was a crazy experience.

    Thanksgiving in Austin was another great experience. I hadn’t realized how big the holiday is here—apparently, it’s even bigger than Christmas for some people. A group of us from the hostel went to a small dive bar serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The place was absolutely packed but the food and atmosphere made it worth it.

    The bike parts were supposed to take two weeks to arrive but luckily they showed up just after one. The mechanics replaced the water pump only to find it wasn’t the cause of the overheating. It turns out the radiator is corroding, which is causing the metal shards to build up in the coolant system. Unfortunately l’ll have to keep flushing it regularly to avoid problems, but replacing the radiator just isn't an option. At least I know what’s going on.

    Today, I hit the road for Laredo Texas , about four hours South, right on the Mexican border. During the ride, an old issue came back—the bike started bogging down after around 230–250 KM on a full tank. It seems to be a fuel delivery problem, but as long as I keep the tank full, it shouldn’t be too bad. Still, it’s something I’ll need to deal with once I’m in Mexico.

    Today I plan on crossing the Mexican border, heading for my first stop in Monterrey! I’m pumped for this next chapter to begin.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger

    San Luis Potosi

    3–4 dec. 2024, Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    The past couple of days have been an adventure starting with the most unusual border crossing I’ve ever experienced. After leaving Texas and crossing into Mexico I found myself at a toll booth with no customs officers or passport stamps. At first I thought I’d somehow crossed illegally by accident but soon realized that’s just how it works here.

    The drive to Monterrey was about four hours and uneventful except for the steady rain the entire way. The next morning I headed out early for San Luis Potosí. The ride started with heavy fog blanketing the city and surrounding mountains. Visibility was less than 100 feet making the first few hours slow and challenging. Eventually the fog lifted revealing a stunning mountain range.

    Unfortunately my bike is still giving me trouble and at one point I doubted I’d arrive at all. It’s struggling to go over 90 km/h, I’m not sure why but I think it’s a fuel related issue. On top of that my rear blinker isn’t working so I’ve been using hand signals. It’s been… interesting to say the least as not everyone seems to understand them.

    Despite the mechanical setbacks I made it to San Luis Potosí. I’m staying at a unique hostel inside an old 1800s mansion. It’s a bit eerie being the only guest but the place itself is beautiful. The city has been lively with Christmas celebrations in full swing.

    Tomorrow I’ll try my luck getting to Mexico City. Once there I plan to drop the bike off at a mechanic hopefully for the last repair.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger

    Mexico City

    4–8 dec. 2024, Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    The past few days in Mexico City have been an exciting mix of chaos and good vibes I started off in a hotel downtown to ease myself into the city. Getting there was wild the traffic was absolutely insane. I’ve seen busy cities before but this was on a whole other level. I wish I had been able to take pictures while on the bike. It’s hard to describe the scene: endless streams of people, cars and motorcycles all fighting for space on very narrow streets.

    The riding has been interesting! Lane splitting is very common thing in Mexico and is absolutely my favourite way to navigate gridlock traffic. I was very apprehensive at first but I slowly got the hang of weaving between cars. It can easily save 20-30 min of travel time.

    The next day, I moved to a hostel called Apapacho, which was just 1.5 kilometres away from my hotel. I was surprised it took me 45 minutes to navigate there on my bike. Once I arrived I was pumped to find out it had a great rooftop terrace/bar. I ended up spending a ton of time there, hanging out with other traveller's and swapping stories.

    The following days consisted of sightseeing, eating some street food and checking out some local museums. I finished my last full day in Mexico City checking out the ancient city of Teotihuacan which has some of the largest pyramids in North America.

    Unfortunately while I was there my wallet was stolen so I spent my final day in the city canceling credit cards and transferring funds to my emergency bank account. Although I was bummed out I enjoyed the time I had in Mexico City.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger
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    Peubla

    7–8 dec. 2024, Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Had a fantastic drive through the mountains on my way to Puebla.

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger
    1111

    Oaxaca

    9–12 dec. 2024, Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    The drive from Puebla to Oaxaca was amazing! It took me through so many valleys and endless switchbacks, with incredible views the whole way. I ended up staying in Oaxaca for three days at this super lively hostel where I made a bunch of new friends.

    While I was there, I checked out a petrified waterfall one of only two in the world which was cool. I also went on a street food tour that was absolutely delicious. Turns out Oaxaca is famous for its food, and now I see why. A bunch of Netflix shows have even filmed here, showcasing all the different Mexican cuisines.

    Now, a group of us from the hostel are heading to a coastal city called Puerto Escondido on the coast. Hoping to try my luck at surfing while I’m there.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger

    Puerto Escondido

    12–14 dec. 2024, Mexico ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    The drive to Puerto Escondido ended up being longer than I expected because of construction, which tacked on an extra two hours. Thankfully the scenic route made up for the delay. I got there a few hours before everyone else coming from Oaxaca and checked into this cool little hostel called the Straw House. Once the group arrived and got settled, we hit the streets to explore the city.

    Puerto Escondido has a laid-back, beachy vibe, and it’s definitely a tourist hub it felt like there were more foreigners than locals.

    The two days I spent there were action packed, and I was so busy that I forgot to take any pictures. Most of my time was spent chilling on the beach, wandering through the local market, and attempting to surf which, as it turns out is way harder than it looks.

    On my last night, I decided to join the group at this bar called the Cactus Club. I was excited since I hadn’t been out past 9 PM for drinks since I left Canada. The night got off to a wild start when two German girls from my hostel almost got arrested for having open alcohol in public. Thankfully, we scraped together enough cash to pay off the cops even though the bribe was ridiculously high.

    After that, the night went smoothly, and I had a great time. I said my goodbyes to everyone before heading back to the hostel, knowing I wouldn’t see them in the morning.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger

    Salina Cruz

    14–15 dec. 2024, Mexico ⋅ 🌬 30 °C

    I split my drive to San Cristóbal de las Casas over two days as I’ve discovered that 11-hour days are a bit too much on a motorcycle. I took my time riding along the coast, enjoying the warm weather and scenic views. I stopped in a port city and found a nice hotel just outside the city to spend the night.Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger

    San Cristóbal de Las Casas

    15–16 dec. 2024, Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    The 6 hour journey to Mont Cristobal took an unexpected turn. About three-quarters of the way there, I was hit by a drunk driver on a small moped. Thankfully, I wasn’t hurt, and my bike only sustained minor damage. However, the moped was completely totalled. The language barrier made communicating with the man and his friends quite challenging, but we eventually agreed not to involve the police. After that, the mood shifted dramatically they became cheerful and even invited me to join them at a bar for more drinks. I politely declined and continued on my way.

    The final stretch of the drive was stunning, with the road climbing quickly and offering incredible views of the valley below as I ascended the mountain.

    When I arrived, I checked into a small hostel with strong hippie vibes. That evening, I joined the hostel crew for dinner at a charming Turkish restaurant. It was there that I learned unsettling news the cartel had recently set up new roadblocks on the way to the Guatemalan border, where robberies and assaults were reportedly happening daily. Taking this into account, I adjusted my plans and decided to take an 8-hour detour to a safer border crossing along the coast.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger

    Talisman border crossing

    16–17 dec. 2024, Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    The eight-hour ride today was smooth and the coastal views were a real highlight. I ended up in Tapachula for the night, but things didn’t go quite as planned.

    I’d found a hostel on Google Maps, but when I showed up, the address turned out to be wrongI was at the owner’s house. After chatting with a family, they gave me the correct location, and I headed over. Once I arrived, there was a bit of a language barrier but after some effort, I managed to get a bed for the night.

    It wasn’t until I settled in that I realized something was off. The place was packed with families kids running around everywhere and a general sense of chaos. Eventually, I found out this wasn’t a hostel at all but a migrant shelter. It explained a lot, but it also meant I barely got any sleep since it was clearly set up for long-term stays, not travelers passing through.

    By morning, I decided to head out early and crossed the border into Guatemala without any problems.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
  • Theo Manseau2024 Winter AdventureReiziger
    1

    Antigua

    17–21 dec. 2024, Guatemala ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    The border crossing into Guatemala went pretty smoothly. I was shocked by how much pollution there was near the border, though. At some points, it was so bad I almost threw up driving past certain sections. Thankfully things got a lot better about an hour in.

    My first stop in Guatemala was a place called Antigua a really cool town just outside Guatemala City. The main draw there is the active volcano about 30 minutes away. The day after I arrived, I decided to tackle the mountain. I spent the morning hunting for a sleeping bag to buy or rent since I had mailed mine home after reaching Texas. No luck, but I ended up sneaking my blanket out of the hostel, and it actually did the trick.

    I decided to do the trek solo to save some cash. I took an Uber to what I thought was the starting point, but it turned out to be the wrong spot. I had to hitchhike a couple of times to finally get where I needed to be. The hike itself was pretty tough—I was racing the sunset and managed to finish it in just three hours. By the time I reached the camp area, I was way too tired to make the extra two-hour trek to the edge of the volcano. So, I set up my tent on the side of the mountain instead.

    The eruptions were amazing—there were smaller ones every 10 minutes and big ones every couple of hours. It felt completely surreal. Around midnight, heavy clouds rolled in, so the show ended until the next morning.    Meer informatie

    Zie vertaling
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