American on Motorcycle Missing in Mexico

[TheTraveler]

Link to CNN article

Link to his blog

Cliffs:
- Missing in central Mexico since January 23
- Wanted to ride from New York to south of Argentina
- On a 2002 Kawasaki (don't know which model)
- Didn't know how to ride until 2-3 weeks before start of trip

[Klondike1020]

Originally Posted by TheTraveler

Cliffs:
- Missing in central Mexico since January 23
- Wanted to ride from New York to south of Argentina
- On a 2002 Kawasaki (don't know which model)
- Didn't know how to ride until 2-3 weeks before start of trip

life is an adventure ... Seize it and go/

Good for him.

Unfortunately - not all adventures end well

I hope he is ok. I hate to see people lose, but at least he was pursuing his dream instead of trudging along in this corporate chain gang that many of us subscribe too.

Ill throw a prayer out there for him.

[antiant]

Not smart to travel in an area known for things like this.

[Galaxieman]

Given that he's only been riding a couple of months, he might have wrapped himself around a guardrail somewhere. If he had any sense at all, the '2002 Kawasaki' he purchased would have been a KLR since that would be the bike most likely to get one across two continents with all one's gear. Given how long he's been out of communication, I'd definitely rule out the 'random accident', as with the embassy involved a bike wrapped around a guardrail or in a ditch somewhere would most likely have been reported. I hope he's hanging out on a beach somewhere with little umbrella drinks, but based on what that section of Mexico has looked like in recent days, I for one wouldn't travel there without at least a Company-sized element of troops with crew-served weapons. The U.S. State Dept (for all it's foibles) does put out pretty decent travel advisories.

Go to State.gov

Enter 'Travel Advisories' in the search block. The first returned result is travel.state.gov.

Go to travel.state.gov.

Enter 'Mexico' in the search block. First returned result is to the Mexico Travel Warning. Of note, US Gov personnel are advised to defer non-essential travel to most areas of Mexico. Of specific note is the section on the state where he went missing: "Michoacán: Morelia is a major city/travel destination in Michoacán - Defer non-essential travel to the state of Michoacán except the cities of Morelia and Lázaro Cardenas where you should exercise caution. Flying into Morelia and Lázaro Cardenas is the recommended method of travel. Attacks on Mexican government officials, law enforcement and military personnel, and other incidents of TCO-related violence, have occurred throughout Michoacán. Due to criminal activity in Lazaro Cardenas, in late 2013 the Mexican military assumed direct control of the port. In many areas of the state, self-defense groups operate independently of the government. Armed members of the groups frequently maintain roadblocks, and although not considered hostile to foreigners or tourists, are suspicious of outsiders and should be considered volatile and unpredictable. Groups in Michoacán are reputed to be linked to TCOs."


I understand that for the most part, the world is a safer place than people who get paid to 'protect' us make out. However, the level of warnings for Mexico are not even close to commensurate with the level of crazy going on there right now. When the government of a country is aligning with vigilante groups because they can't take care of dealing with their internal criminal elements, you've essentially got the wild west from the late 1860-70's, except that the U.S. Cavalry isn't around in case things really get out of hand. There are a couple of places without travel advisories, which are that way because they are located off the major narco-trafficing routes. Cabo San Lucas comes to mind, though you should FLY there instead of driving through other parts of Mexico. Aside from the couple of spots the cartels leave alone, unless you're fluent and (not kidding) look Mexican, stay the hell out of the rest of Mexico.

[rasta]

Originally Posted by TheTraveler

- Didn't know how to ride until 2-3 weeks before start of trip

Hope for the best....but that's just stupid

[7oxSin]

im waiting for a link to one of those threads that says. "hey guys know ive been here for 2 weeks but im selling my 250 for a gsxr 1000 and riding to mexico, peace!"

[rasta]

Originally Posted by 7oxSin

im waiting for a link to one of those threads that says. "hey guys know ive been here for 2 weeks but im selling my 250 for a gsxr 1000 and riding to mexico, peace!"

At first I though it was the guy in this link:

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=159782

Then I realized the OPs were the same person

[7oxSin]

Originally Posted by rasta

At first I though it was the guy in this link:

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=159782

Then I realized the OPs were the same person

yeah that sounded alot like the missing guys trip!

[misfitsailor]

Not smart alone.

[csmith12]

That's a shame, hope they find the rider.