Raul Pardo

15/08/2024

Night 1 on my way to India. Moonrise at the campsite near Konya, Turkey.

I arrived late to what seemed like a large pond. I met a group of Turkish men and boys. They are fishing for dinner. I decline their invite to eat. I had my own just an hour ago, but I am happy to drink chai/tee with them. No english. They are quite busy with fishing, cooking, and their kids anyway, but every 20 mins, I get a new one. They are playing Turkish music in a car and drinking whiskey. I am not staying long. Days are quite hot during August, and I will try to take off as early as possible.

The night is clear, but the moon is too bright for night shots. I can't wait for a new moon. I think the next one is the first week of September.

28/07/2024

Should I click the link?

It says 15 hours, or else!

01/07/2024

I got a haircut!

Not only.

But first, let me say that they wanted to do a proper nice haircut for me. Then I explained that I was always using my helmet, I was always in the mountains, and I could not care less about how I was looking. The simple and uninteresting cut, THAT IS ALL ON ME.

I did not make it to their IG page. Nobody advertises a 3mm machine haircut 🤣😂😅

I had such a good time. Let aside that they did not allow me to pay, invited me for coffee, and offered to clean my bike gear (jacket and pants). We ended up exchanging stories about traveling and motorbikes and Armenian/Mexican cultures, enjoying time outside the shop under the sun. Did I mention I enjoyed myself a lot?

North of Yerevan, True Cost Barbershop.

And just next to them, there is a tailor shop, perfect for me to make some needed repairs to some bags and clothing.

27/06/2024

Seems like I am traveling backward following my steps from 2022. I didn't plan it this way. I was supposed to camp near Hovnanadzor, but I met someone in the area who made me really uncomfortable, and I had to leave because of safety concerns. This is rare. It happens once in a blue moon, if there is such a thing.

This happened many days ago. While on my way, I was followed, and I had to do some road gymnastics, take some dirtroads, and make some time behind a gas station. Maybe I was paranoid. I went to a couple of hostels that were fully booked, and I ended up in the same place I stayed in 2022.

Early on, I met the same people, ate the same at the same bistro. At least I got a different room. I decided to stay longer and rewrite the memories I had from last time.

I know Georgia will be different because last time I did a lot of dirt roads, and this time, I'm doing mostly asphalt, following the Dr. instructions.

I can't avoid Tblisi. There are a couple of items I didn't find in Armenia, and the next big city is Ankara.

22/06/2024

Pick something you would do for free, and make that your career.

21/06/2024

The wind that fueled the fire earlier this evening is gone. The mountain is dead silent, and I'm rolling in my tent, I've slept not more than a couple of hours.

I went outside my tent, wishing I had more wood to warm myself up, and there it is, the rising full moon behind Bones.

21/06/2024

Back to the mountains. Follow the road least traveled.

14/06/2024

20 months apart.

Now, I am Riding Bones again.

14/06/2024

I have done what I said, being in Turkey, Spain and Poland. That personal story unrelated to this adventure, ended.

Now I am getting ready to continue my journey.

Never give up!

Edit.
I tried sharing my IG story, but didn't work, so here is a copy.

10/06/2024

I have done so little. Climbing a dream, stumble again and again.

What is worth struggling for?

This is all manifested. My first YouTube video was titled "Stubbornness to meet a challenge".

https://youtu.be/KW7oDDY_YGs?si=Ws5vF-RfFjDCvFJx

It's from 2019.

I can confirm, I am stubborn, and I am meeting MY challenge.

I want to share my riding. How depressing would it be to share my failures?

4 years of failing and I am still here. Despite COVID, lost documents, the narcissists, broken bones, solitude.

Sleeping in a tent, being in so many countries not traveling but sitting alone in silence, saving energy/resources for when the time is right.

I have never take my eyes off my goal.

I don't look for attention, or money.

This page was created to share my dream and boy, it has not worked.

Sit down! Says the Universe!

And so I did.

I love my Stubbornness.

I will ride or die trying!

It's all on this page. This page tells a story about my struggles.

I asked for this: challenging journey. I didn't know the Universe would deliver so hard!

Bring it on!

It's just a story... but it's my story.

And I'm loving it.

In 2019 I decided to go on a world trip and because of reasons I was able to start only by the end of the year.I left Germany with my motorbike on a transpor...

01/06/2024

I'm in Germany/France for a few days. Will make another 3 very short stops in Teneriffe (Spain), Katowize (Poland) and Antalya (Turkey) before picking up Bones in Yerevan (Armenia).

Healing from 2 motorbike accidents took way longer than anticipated. 10 months for my left clavicle (including surgery, plates, bolts and screws), 2 months for the stress fracture on my right foot.

Now that I am physically healthy again, I can't wait to move on with my life and try to ride a very long motorbike trip. No fixed plan. My plans NEVER work. But here is the rough idea:

I am giving up Iran this year for 2 reasons: the cost of the Carnet d Passage and 3 countries that I did not enjoy because there was always a hurry.

Armenia and Georgia, although quite small, both have amazing mountains with dirt roads. And Turkey.

I ride about 20,000 kms in Turkey already, and it is so far, my favorite country. There, you never run out of mountains, lakes, rivers plus, The Black Sea and The Mediterranean. People are extremely friendly with foreigners and they have amazing food. They love Enduro, and the motorbike community is quite large.

I didn't document all those rides the way I wanted. There was always a hurry, something to run towards to, usually paper work. I was so focus on making it to Iran and twice I was denied (for reasons, Iran did not denied me anything).

There is a part of me that can't belive this is happening. My dream has been stopped/delayed 5 times already: 2020 Covid; 2021 rea$on$, 2022 documents lost, 2023 clavicle and 2024 foot.

It feels like the project is jinxed.

There is nothing I want in life more than riding my bike across many countries, I don't care much which ones or in what order.

The hardest struggle right now, is Enthusiasm. That strong and beautiful energy that radiates happiness, is missing.

I was full of it in 2019. But each following year came with a significant blow. Right now, I feel exhausted, depleted, annoyed. I almost feel cynic, but I refuse to dive so deep. That's not me.

You go on a trip knowing there will be challenges. But not in my wildest dreams did I anticipated what I have faced.

I want to make this work. I am obsessed with not quitting. I will ride up those mountains. I am determined, I am patient, I will persevere, I am putting the hard work, and I have support. Every single time I fall, there has been someone for me. I can't claim Im doing this 100% by myself. I am forever grateful to all the helping hands that show up in times of misery.

I own this only to myself. I have my word. I am not quitting.

26/05/2024

One last trip before picking up Bones.

I feel really off about motorbiking right now, rusty.

27/04/2024

What do you think your 10 year old self would think of you right now?

26/04/2024

I gave up the idea of having a bright sun as background with a dark motorbike in front (today's story).

Not 10 minutes later, different sides of the mountain, and I got this one. Happy days.

25/04/2024

Once again, something out of my control got in the way.

A happy accident, I said. 30kmh or less, how long do I need to recover?

It's been 8 days, and I can't run or take the weight of the bike on my right foot. 3 Loops and a Bay are going bye-bye baby. It's not gonna happen.

It's-not-gonna-happen!

So far, I've done over 2500kms taking almost no video (gopro attachment broke on day 2) or photos. I will make up for that after Hanoi, I said to myself. Plenty of time and nature. Didn't happen.

I did buy the missing attachments for the cameras, but there was no enthusiasm. You can't buy enthusiasm. Yes, you can put dedication, but who am I kidding. I do this because I love it. I go out first for myself, to have fun and share what I love, not because I have to. What I have to do is take time to recover. My foot needs time, my foot gets time. Nothing matters to me more right now.

I will do it again. I have unfinished business in Vietnam. I've done both directions, Hanoi-HoChiMinh and the other way around too. Both times, undocumented.

Now. I decided to take base in a lake near Hanoi. And just in time. There is a 5 day holiday and everything is booked. Seems like I got a last room here, so I am keeping it and will ride 'around' my base and see if I can capture some pics and videos, as long as my foot is not complaining, I will ride but not off-road. The area is fantastic, I am lucky with that.

The Vietnam Adventure, I fail.

I fail trying. And I might fail again because I am not done trying.

19/04/2024

Somewhere along our personal journey, we start questioning the direction of our lives. We start seeking purpose and become more aware of the signs that surround us, taking note of our dreams and sudden insights. We start feeling a sense of guidance and discover meaning.

Spirituality is our gateway to understanding how life steers us and with that, life gets a whole lot more fascinating. We tread more carefully and start reflecting more on ourselves. Everyone has a unique purpose, so trying to follow someone else’s path might just lead us astray.

18/04/2024

When your biggest worry is:

Where will I sleep tonight?

17/04/2024

(just this time, for the ones that have Instagram, Id appreciate a lot if you can leave a comment there for the algorithm, on Instagram. Thank you).

__________________________________________________________

Oh, give me land lots of land,
open wide, just to ride all by myself,
I abide to no ones shelf.

I'm free to wander all aroun',
up and down, never tight,
always loose, like the breeze that kiss my face,
reach the summit, cross the pass,
watch the lake, take a swim,
set my tent under the stars,
no one here to talk around.

See those towns?
great spots to settle down,
so long you fit their norms,
can't they see I don't belong?
I am sound, never bound,
try to catch me, I am gone.

I will ride, on my own,
never scared, I'm not impressed,
I don't care I missed a day,
even less if it's your day.
All I got is just this now.
What a gift, I'll take it all.

I do not say this Love is safe.
Any day might be my last,
sure tomorrow I'll be gone.
I will leave just pics and thoughts.
Maybe even spread the flu,
most of you will miss it, sure.

Oh, share with me,
why do you ride?
I might enjoy your story too.
It's not a thing, it's just here now,
what a time to be alive.

16/04/2024

(English follows below).

Hola moteros!

Hacia mucho que no compartia mis historias. En el 2023 me fracture la clavicula izquierda y luego de una operacion y meses de recuperacion, estoy de vuelta. Esta vez en Vietnam.
He tenido otro accidente, menor. Estare rodando en unos pocos dias y termino Vietnam en Mayo.
El plan es regresar a Armenia, donde Bones -mi moto de viaje me espera, para continuar viajando sin plan donde la ruta me lleve.
Aqui unas pocas fotos en el hospital, la historia mas completa la encuentran en mi perfil.
En Mayo/Junio de este año continuare compartiendo mis aventuras mas seguido. Gracias a quienes se apunten para acompañarme.
Voy en FB e Instagram como Riding_Bones / Raul Pardo. Mexicano y con muchas ganas de viajar el mundo.
No risk no fun.
Les deseo a todos buenos viajes, grandes aventuras y, sobre todo, que viajen seguros.
Saludos y hasta pronto.

___________________________

Hello, riders! It’s been a while since I shared my stories. In 2023, I fractured my left clavicle and after surgery and months of recovery, I’m back. This time in Vietnam.

I’ve had another accident, a minor one. I’ll be back on the road in a few days and will finish up in Vietnam in May.

The plan is to return to Armenia, where Bones - my travel bike awaits me, to continue traveling without a plan, wherever the road takes me.

Here are a few photos in the hospital, you can find the complete story on my profile.

In May/June of this year, I will continue to share my adventures more often. Thanks to those who sign up to accompany me.

You can find me on FB and Instagram as Riding_Bones / Raul Pardo. I’m Mexican and eager to travel the world.

No risk, no fun.

I wish you all good trips, great adventures and, above all, safe travels.

Greetings and see you soon.

16/04/2024

15/04/2024

The flat dirt road before the mountain. You know it's gonna be fun.

07/04/2024

F1DAY!

210 km, starting around 5:45 a.m., to catch F1 later on (12pm local time).

I had my long sleeves to start the day, I thought it might be slughtly cold so early, but it was already +25°C and super humid, a sauna, so I changed to summer gear immediately.

I planned for a 100, but I was able to double the distance and still be on time to watch the Japan F1 GP.

I was also on time to catch the sunrise, and 90% of the ride, the road was just for me. The QL14 is a remote route on the west of Vietnam.

05/04/2024

+40°C, it was a hell of a day. 180kms.

I took a boat, leaving Dak Drinh Lodge after a rest day. There is nowhere to hide from the sun.

I had the option to look for GoPro spare parts in Dalat, but I'd miss a whole day and decided against it.

Tomorrow, I start the Ho Chi Minh road direction Hanoi, no videos. I will focus on the 3 loops and Ha Long Bay, missing everything south of the capital. A reason to come back and ride Vietnam all over again.

I am weak. 9 months after the accident with little to no activity, I don't have the strength nor the stamina I had before. Work to do.

04/04/2024

Rest day.

I've been told I can leave this place by boat with the toy bike and avoid the slippery road. I think I'll take it.

03/04/2024

One of my favorite hobbies was skiing, every year until I ride a scooter for the first time in Thailand, March 2017.

Happy memories.

How many Bones have you broke?

My count:

Skull fracture: climbing, Mexico.
Chin and right hand: climbing, Mexico.
Left knee: Running, Mexico.
Left clavicle: Mountain Biking, Germany.
Left clavicle: Skiing, Austria.
Right clavicle: KTM bike, Turkey.
Left clavicle: Scooter, Thailand.

I have this weird sense of pride about it.

I am not going to lay down in a sofa because life happens.

If I ever have a more serious accident while riding, it will be while doing something that I love!

I will keep using this body as long as I can to enjoy a life of adventure.

03/04/2024

Ask and you shall receive.

I was wondering about off-road yesterday, and today I got it, only 6kms, enough! I miss the GoPro. Today was worth filming and adventure.

I was excited at first, then scared, I dropped the bike, lost a mirror, almost wet the computer, and almost couldn't pick the bike up. If it was Bones fully loaded, I'd be done. But this one was just OK. Tough. I dropped the bike in the mud and water, so slippery.

As I kept going, for a minute, Self Doubt got me. I was facing yet more mud, not fun, I assure you.

I was shocked and terrified, wondering why I didn't take the asphalt. I felt angry at myself because I had done much harder stuff in the past. Way deeper in the mountains in Turkey, alone. They called me crazy (some turk bikers), but since I was a beginner back then, I didn't know it was not ok to be alone. This time, people were not far in case of emergency.

I put myself together and finished the road, arriving at Dak Drinh Lodge. It's raining every day here. Getting out will be fun.

I am exhausted. There is no one here, just me and the owner. I have the whole place to myself, so to speak.

Tiny test. Like getting just my feet in the water before going full in.

And going back to that anger. I AM confident. I was angry at feeling NOT confident.

That is not me. F**k that.

Excuse my language, lol.