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American Rider Missing in Mexico

firstbuell said:
Carlo, there are no sides here -

da barf isn't binary, it's a 3-dimensional snowflake of divergent opinions....
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I say tomayto, you say potahto....


Let's call the calling off off....
 
The main problem isn't with riding, but the lack of "on the ground intelligence". Just because he had years of back-packing through countries, doesn't mean anything when it comes to riding. Whenever you go to a foreign country, the most important thing is to figure out which places are safe, which places are not, and to hire guides (or someone to watch your back) as you go exploring. However, by motorcycling solo, he was likely diverting a lot of his attention to learning how to ride and he probably didn't get enough intel on the dangerous conditions on the ground. Also, riding on a moto (rather than in a bus or with others), increases the chance that you make the wrong turn and head into the wrong part of town. I hope he is found soon and in good health.
 
Those who do, can. Those who don't, need to believe its insanely difficult to justify their inaction.

There are threads like this all the time on sailing forums too, mostly from people bent out of shape who've owned a boat for 2 decades that's never spent a night in a different zipcode.
 
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The "gentleman" found was not Harry. Harry is still missing. Harry has travelled all over the world. Travelling by road in Mexico or much of central america isnt difficult and I really doubt his dissapearance has anything to with his level of experience on a bike. He wasnt attempting to do some epic off road adventure. Merely ride a road from one area frequented by MANY international travelers to another area frequented and MANY international travelers. No one is trying to make him out to be a hero or anything else. He has extensive experience in spanish speaking cultures and wasnt some hick from the central valley with no experience. There are Barfer's who have VERY recently travelled the same areas with zero issues.

The lack of empathy and adventure expressed by many in this thread is appalling. Here is to hoping Harry is found alive and well.
 
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I'm bummed to hear that the gentleman who was found was not Harry. I will continue to keep my fingers crossed for a positive outcome for the adventurous young man. I took a lot of similar trips as a youth and was lucky enough to make it through them all with a few scars and a lot of stories. I hope the end result is the same for Harry; a few scars and a lot of stories.
 
Mexico or America, riding alone has its particular risks. He might of just ran off the road like people here in the US do too. :(

Solo riding, while dangerous, also has its charm.

Good luck rider. Hope you are still here.
 
OaklandF4i said:
The "gentleman" found was not Harry. Harry is still missing. Harry has travelled all over the world. Travelling by road in Mexico or much of central america isnt difficult and I really doubt his dissapearance has anything to with his level of experience on a bike. He wasnt attempting to do some epic off road adventure. Merely ride a road from one area frequented by MANY international travelers to another area frequented and MANY international travelers. No one is trying to make him out to be a hero or anything else. He has extensive experience in spanish speaking cultures and wasnt some hick from the central valley with no experience. There are Barfer's who have VERY recently travelled the same areas with zero issues.

The lack of empathy and adventure expressed by many in this thread is appalling. Here is to hoping Harry is found alive and well.
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Yeah well, this didn't appear to be a thread dedicated to finding Harry. It simply announced the problem, initially pointing to a single CNN article that was short on facts and begged for additional questions. That we've raised questions you're offended by you is on you. The lack of empathy you claim here is because you've overlooked it. :2cents
 
well-put, Dreg. Having been on many long solo trips in foreign countries, including Mexico, I have a lot of empathy for this guy. A quick scan through this thread again reveals lots of empathy, and a lot of unanswered questions.
 
DReg350 said:
Yeah well, this didn't appear to be a thread dedicated to finding Harry. It simply announced the problem, initially pointing to a single CNN article that was short on facts and begged for additional questions. That we've raised questions you're offended by you is on you. The lack of empathy you claim here is because you've overlooked it. :2cents
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I'm not offended. Some posts have shown empathy. A number not. Its Barf, its to be expected. Some good info, some ignorant, some tongue in cheek, some just... well...
 
wakked1 said:
Those who do, can. Those who don't, need to believe its insanely difficult to justify their inaction.
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I find these kind of name calling posts just as distasteful as anything else. Basically one group here is calling other people "cowards" because they don't agree with this man's decisions.

I will try to present an alternative. This person may have "issues". He may be an adrenaline junkie. He may be suicidal. Or more unlikely, he could be DEA, or CIA. I doubt he is an agent at this point. And I also doubt anyone here knows his real motivations.

Since some seem unable to read the CNN piece, I am going to quote two parts. You will note in the first part that he was already in danger which required military escort. In the second part, he talks about his confusion concerning danger. Maybe he did not make a rational (brave or cowardly) decision.

Just got an hour and a half long escort out of some area it was too dangerous for me to be," the message said. "Stopping for lunch and ... voila Internet. ... Gonna get back on the road soon. Apparently there's another military escort waiting for me in some other town...
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I've been chased with a gun in Colombia, chipped my tooth on a gun that was shoved in my mouth in Venezuela and shot everything from a bazooka to a machine gun, an M16 to a Colt .45," Devert wrote in his travel blog, A New Yorker Travels. "I've been in some of the poorest and some of the most dangerous parts of the world and to many of the finest, and I still can't tell which I liked more.
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The main thing when traveling is to choose a safe route and to know what's going on.

According to this site, the route he took was extremely dangerous: http://www.insightcrime.org/news-br...p-official-list-of-mexico-2012-homicide-rates

Looking at this crime blotter, (enable years 2012-2014) you can see hundreds of unsolved homicides throughout the map and road. https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=1191195c7c184e4da8f94bba7b40914f

When I decided to do a moto trip in Mexico, I specifically chose Baja because from my research I knew it was relatively safe (once I passed by the fishy border cities). But I wouldn't dare travel through an active war-zone without adequate insurance / protection and/or riding buddies. Trying to do otherwise and as a new rider (meaning you can't outrun them if you need to) just doesn't make sense.
 
slowblood said:
Mexico or America, riding alone has its particular risks. He might of just ran off the road like people here in the US do too. :(

Solo riding, while dangerous, also has its charm.

Good luck rider. Hope you are still here.
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So true, I have heard a number of horror stories over the years.
 
slowblood said:
Mexico or America, riding alone has its particular risks. He might of just ran off the road like people here in the US do too. :(

Solo riding, while dangerous, also has its charm.

Good luck rider. Hope you are still here.
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Thank you Kyle, well said.

I carry ghosts with me when I ride. They're pretty good about tapping me on the shoulder and saying, "like this, just like this, this is how it happened to me."

As for this missing American, God please help him, something is dreadfully wrong I fear.
 
Relieved to hear he has been found and is in caring hands...
Won't be as relieved as I can be, till the full story comes out, and both what happened, along with is there full recovery? Any memory of what happened? Or is it a complete blank?
 
louemc said:
Relieved to hear he has been found and is in caring hands...
Won't be as relieved as I can be, till the full story comes out, and both what happened, along with is there full recovery? Any memory of what happened? Or is it a complete blank?
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Keep reading, he has not been found.
 
Missed this when it first came out..

No bueno is right. :(
 
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