1ST Annual Adult Bike Fundraiser

**markered by Tasha

The Road fromThe Salta Airport is Dirty. It was my first taste of
what the road was like. I had over 12 hours in flight from a night over in Miami getting my Passport that had expired. It was a bummer to have to get burnt on a Miami beach waiting for my passport to be ready. My skin was rosey. I left the posse for a bit but I was super determined to meet up with them in Cobra Coral, Argentina.

I was dumped at the Libertad super market to get some bike tools that were lost. I had my bike in a cart covered in plastic wrap. They were not to excited about that. Security told me that I would have to check my cart. Ok. Almost bought a helmet but honestly they did not fit.
Setting up my bike in their parking lot I noticed many curious faces. "What's white boy doing with a stripped down bike, pannier bags and tent doing in this lot?"

Needless to say I left with a bike full of hope rolling like a local with a San Diego cap.

SALTA _)0-0(_Col. Moldes

Many Tobacco fields and tobacco fiels. It was early afternoon so there was a good amount of traffic. I found a store that sold cookies and bought a few bags for the road. A storm was brewing out of the south. The road was easy and paved; mostly straight with some good coasting hills.

I kept asking people on the road. "Han visto otro Gringos en bici's?" My cap flew off right past some road workers in orange coats and weed wackers. They asked me if I was with a group of riders. "Yes," I told them. They are just a few hours ahead of you.
I kept riding knowing this storm was coming. I was too.

I made it to Col Moldes at dusk. I asked again around about the others and was told that they were here. The storm cracked and the first drips came down on my bike helmet with headlamp. I scared an old shop keeper. My headlamp I guess. I bought a 1/2 kilo of ribs and a few cans of Quilmes. Coming down into the resevior my eye glasses drenched, the light melting into lines. I came to a dark fork and stopped. Right then a lady passed me on a bike and I asked her "Donde esta camping" She pointed towards the fork.

I heard a group of people talking funny. We ate meat and I'm sorry Maria for stealing the birthday limelight. You too Kurt. We met another Argentinian who had just gotten back from biking Cachi on his Phoenix bike. He scared me when he showed me a large dagger he strapped off his back rack or water bottles on his front shocks. "For protection," he tells me. My first experience with an Argentinian gear head.

Col. Moldes__)0-0(____________________Alemania

We bounced out of soggy tent. Remembering a the horse that came grazing later that night and his face silhouette on the tent during the night. I realized in a big way that I was into this ride now. Bikes ready and coffee around the house. Our circle was slow to start but we got off to Col. Moldes no problem; stopping shortly to get provisions for our short ride south.

Ever seen a cactus growing out of a tree? Tobacco fields and parks with wooden wheels? The cookie breaks were an hourly communion along with long sips from our bottles. Our lunches were improvised sandwich artistry; sauge, queso, nice bread, a tomatoe and often avocados.
We had a few climbs before our drop into this pinched off valley. Two rivers meet: one chocolate brown and the other clear stream water.

Two old steel rail bridges cross these rivers making a path for a group of nine to roll into town past the old Station on down near the shore of the clear river where I immediately bathed.
We set up camp and the camp stoves roared. We had a nice fire now and the stars. The stars were so different. I saw Orion and the white belt of the Milky Way. The Southern Cross was hiding now or I did not see it.

Alemania ___) 0-0 (______________ Yasera

I could smell the dirt being rustled by a small dog. All the dogs were small here. Right now, pushing tent into bag, was when I really remembered the few hours my Minnesota back spent on the Miami Beach waves without sunscreen. Cowboy coffee poured with oatmeal, raisins and the mix. The grass here in this valley was green and tight. My toes loved them. My sunburn sucked. I wasnt' the only one burnt. Gary suggested Ibuprophen and I was ok. Brick water towers and the Train Station artesania stop.

This ride was HOT. The sun was wicked but the terrain changed. Now we entered an eire desert where the wind flew free. The water went quick. Crossing the dirty river, we stopped under a spine tree and adobe home with true canahueca and mud roof. Hemos pedido, " Cerveza and Fanta." A bit more riding to through the Sundance kid world where gauchos roamed and the llama held there own. Gargantia de Diablo or Mouth of the Devil was a large sandstone canyon full of fossils and foot prints.

We had to stop ahead to meet the local shop owner in Santa Barbara. More cookies. We arrived in Yasera early afternoon, the sun was beginning to shade us. We sat between two high ridges with the brown river coursing next to us. Our camp was in a wash of sand. Tents spots chosen. Rick and Kurt bathing in chocolate milk easing the days sweat. I think everyone was feeling a bit weak from all the days sun. i tooled around the rivrs edge in my thongs. The water was so silty that there was sandy stretches for feet prints. Found a rope and made a miniature river surfer. It could of been me.

Pasta , polenta, some box wine opened and the fire began. We all took to singing around the fire; toons we all were familiar with- Jim Croce? Maria and Kim seemed to carry the tunes. We made plans to rise early. The Southern Cross was spotted. "Lee! The Southern Cross." 4,3,2,1

Yasera ____) 0-0 (___________Cafayette

We slept on the edge of a storm. Clouds would cover, then scatter and I kept saying,"It's goin' Rain." My face was dried by a film of fine silt. Blowing a few stones from my nose, I rose and stretched. I was still surfing 12 hours later on a wood board in the chocolate river. Lee slept on his camelbag. Suprised to find his thermarest and tent wet, wet. I washed my face. It was me.
We were out at (:30. Met a man with no teeth selling local pottery on a rock table. He lit up right when two lamas came out of the canyon with maybe his grandson. He took no notice. He showed me the strips of white clay on the hillsides that of which his ceramics were made.
We ditched some trash in a city bin off the road. The red hills now where beginning to fade into a green valley. The wind was at our back making it through fast. Our next real stop was with Nick filling water bottles. Assorted Cookies. Then vineyards by Noon.

____Cafayette

We filled a local plaza resturant taking a row of tables in the street. Cafayette is a beautiful colonial town surrounded by vineyards. A local Police man instructed me to move a few bikes that were sticking out. I moved two bike back off the street. Fanta and beer and empanadas. Cheese, and carne and chicken empanadas. Some of our group stayed in Hostels while the most of us camped outside of town. "3 Pesos a night." "Beef not bombs." So the Guy says. Hey. Hot showers powered by a wood fed ovens in the back. We did our laundry; by hand in a concrete wash basin.

I could feel the intensity in everyone. INTERNET> YES!!! Dinner at 8-ish. Torrentes and Malbec, the white and red wine of this region. The blue cheese Pizza. The Pizza was blue! And you choose-your-salad option. Beets and Pineapple with olives and etc. Went to some random hacienda style bar later where a Bolivian Band was playing chirango, guitar, drums, and a flute. Introduced myself to the drummer after a set, thanking him for rockin the house. Threw in a few too many Quechua words and the coca chewing drummer reared back. I walked back to our back corner table. "Rockoo Guitara" means "hard rock?"

Cafayette

Had a day to rest. I sure took it easy. Did not sleep much after swatting mosquitos all night. My tent mate, Maria, had small pink mosquito tatoos all over. Ate breakfast then took a nap then didn't reall like breakfast so much. I realized one of my ankles was swollen. I figured I would go soak my foot in the pool but was only half way full. I went walking in my thongs on the hot pavement through vineyards. Found the irrigation ditch full of cold mountain water. I soaked my feet and fed the fish. The sun shined the whole day.

Went to lunch. Shopped a bit and had coffee with Rick. We had planned for a potluck. A Danish couple with their daughter were also staying in the campground and we earlier had invited them. Later a Swede arrived on a LiteSpeed bike. I went with Phil and invited him to our potluck. He was overjoyed having been swamped by a Middle school group.

Our conversations included: wine, Argentina, grade school, bike transportation vouchers in Europe, a 3 month vacation designed for couples to spend time with their child before the childs 4th birthday and biking. This barbeque was one our our bests. The Danish couple made a beet salad with brocolli. The Swede had a contagious laugh. I felt healthy again. I slept in a sealed tent peacefully.

Cafayette_____) 0-0 (_____Quilmes

We all met in the plaza that morning. Bikes were packed, bottles full of water. I think everyone was feeling rested. The sun was out as cruised through vineyard after vineyard. Even past a new vineyard where the land was freshly cleared. Wood posts with stretched wires holding the vines. This is where my first flats started. We got to the washboard dirt road that lead to the western edge of the valley and the Rock Hotel at Quilmes. We took our rooms and made it to the fresh water pool. The ruins here had been reconstructed within the last 50 years. They were still impressive plots. I could see how these Native people lived with their lama.

Breakfast the next day was the typical bread and cafe con leche. The museum there exibited local pottery and tools. A mock representation showed how Quilmes looked 500 years ago; rock walls with cactus wood shacks. Again we hit the dirt but it was all downhill. Tires got flat and fixed, flat and fixed.

Quilmes______________________) 0-0 (_________Observatorio
Rode up to Amaicha and ate lunch in front of Artist Cruz's Pacha Mama Museum. Beautiful Gaudy style sculpture, stone and metal. Our typical free-for-all sandwich lunches. Maria shaving at a gas station. Lovely. Some guy selling sandwich bags of coca, telling us that its the best thing for our climb. And climb we did. We






























made it into the cooler air of the eastern valley. Below was the town Santa Maria. Our guide greeted us at the gate. Small cabins and a small white dome observatory. Ever seen a large, fury tarantula- Kurt? We were shown the intricacies of proper bombilla placement and how to say "No more" while Mate drinking. If you say "Si" when offered then the next time the gourd goes around you get passed.

We found our bunks breaking into 3 groups according to age: 20, 30, 30+. Probably not intentional. Took a hike up the eastern side and witnesses their destroyed water tank from some recent rains. Then we went to more ruins. Ceramic shards everywhere. The spirits were at peace here. These Natives put their ancestors in ceramic vases and stored them for inspiration and heritage. They were a peaceful group but warred often with the Quilmes Indians to the immediate west. It was the Spanish Conquistadors that signaled their extinction.

I did my best to translate a fair amount of what was going on. Lots of these words or expressions I hate to translate as they live better in their own language. Our guide was more like a scientist-school teacher/astral traveler with a quasi spiritual bend. His wife had prepared us dinner that night: chicken and rice. Had a great talk with Maria about our religious upbringing. Some viewed the rings of Saturn that cloudy night. I rolled around in my top bunk slamming the wall for the snore-people to roll over.

Observatorio__________________________________) 0-0 (____Mollar

We rose to many flat tires. Hauled our gear down the dirt road to the main road. Nick was struggling with two flats. We hit the road to the summit in stride. Our lunch today at a small chapel off the road. We had some wine at lunch with our cheese and broken saltine crackers. The ride up became a crank-fest. My bottom bracket squeeled. My lungs started burning as we neared 10k ft. Hoo hoo. At the top we found such peace. Lama chilled in the mountain air. The town of Tafi below us lay near a large lake. Clouds hugged the hills looking like a shawl on a shoulder.

The ride down was fast. The gauchos were in full force as were the feeding Mustangs on the side of the road. We made it to Tafi and made our meal purchases for the following day. I bought some super tasty rolls and pastries. We stopped for a beer and swallowed the sun. Continuing on to Mollar the day cooled off as fog ripped right through us. Some showered. Tents on nice soft green grass. The FOOTPRINT of my Tent. What about the Footprint? We had a dining shed to ourselves tonight. Rolled into town with Gary to get some bottled beer. Spoke with the butcher for a good 1/2hr. He was asking about the city that went underwater. "OH, New Orleans." He was shocked that this would happen in Estados Unidos. I took my hand written receipt for 12 pesos on the return for those bottles.

El Mollar____________________________________) 0-0 (_Tucuman- Yerba Buena

Woke up, tents down, everything was in Auto now. Familiarized with our day to day packing the pannier bags, filling the water and taking care of some paperwork. I returned the bottles gladly showing the Meat man his receipt; that he actually took from me. We were excited to be doing more downhill. The cold morning air slowly thinkened and warmed as we descended. We stopped at a few Artesania shops along the way. This is the place to do it; along the green stretches where the loud river flows. One shop keeper gave us treats as we bought so many things: gourds, blankets and rugs, tshirts.

The road was full of recently cleared mud slides; large trucks chugging up these steep and narrow grades. We weaved in and out stopping again for Acor Assorted cookies. I believe Kim bought stock. Brown sugar blocks entered this refueling session. Phil got excited about "El fin del Mundo." We cooked down the mountain into sugar cane fields. Stopping briefly at a fork and taking off some layers. The road congests with loud and dirty farm trucks. We make good times eating lunch in Archeral on the Plaza. Street kids just asking for money. Maria shows him a magic trick. The reappearing coin. Fanta and Beer. Again. Nick says it's the real orange flavor that makes Fanta so good. We all roll, agreeing with the nod. After milanesa, I rolled around the plaza once, twice with the local moped kids. Victory lap and we were off to the last diesel sucking stage into the Suburb of Tucuman. Picked up a bit of single track; proved to be better then the rutted shoulder where we rolled.

Started into a nicer neighborhood with nice large homes. Stayed in a hostel in the town of Yerba Buena. Commerce increases when the sun goes down in the hot sleepy suburb of Tucuman. We went to Pizza and then an art opening. Kurt bought a painting? A jam band played, base and guitar. We sat and watched a few long rolling songs. Nick and Kim took the hammocks as the kids rocked out next door all night. Forgot to mention we are still in Argentina.

The next day Phil and I took a ride without our packs. We went up to the foothills and looked down on the city. We noticed quite a few other bikers that morning. And they were all women? The ride down was fast and free. Today our bikes got taken apart and packaged. Dude. You're doing it wrong! Some went to the city of Tucuman while others hung out around town. I was only here a few days and I really liked Tucuman. A tourism related organization had a parrillada for us (2WV) at their cultural center. The had some nice hand made items in their gift shop. I have never seen giant bamboo like they have growing there in the back. After our meat-fest a guitar was given to a local EMO rocker. He sang with heartfelt conviction.

We sat around a bon-fire and shared songs. The Argentinians love folk music. It's part of their culture: ex. Sosa. She is a famous career folk singer. It was good to actually hang out with local people. Share some tunes and good times. It got amusing after Kurt told me I looked pregnant. Laughed so loud he fell over and snapped his plastic chair. The Argentinians didn't even stop the song, flinch or miss the beat. I loved that. Life goes on.

This was such a fun vacation. I refrain from saying vacation because it really was more like a trip. The people and fields, animals and rivers, meals, Bbqs', tents and packing... Getting to know a diverse group of individuals and inspiring lifelong friendships. I want to thank everyone who helped make this trip happen. Thanks. And thank you to everyone who took this adventure cycling trip with Two Wheel View.

-Koa Rosa

************Next trips are in July, Catalonia Spain, and then Dominican Republic in November. Most pictures taken by Kurtis. Thanks again!

Argentina: Salta - Tucuman

9 of us rode from Salta to Tucuman experiencing farms and vineyards, colorful deserts full of ruins, mountains with lama and condor, on down to humid and densely foliated lowlands. We all made excellent connections with travelers and locals throughout our southern route. We shared this journey as an adventure in cycling. We all made it out alive and I believe stronger as a result of it. I was able to get some photos developed along the way but I am currently waiting on my other rolls to develope. Here is just a taste as the rest will have to wait.

Saludos y Paz
- Koa

Here We Go!!

Imagine this bike with a rider, saddle bags, camara, water, some snacks and an occasional Spanish word like " frijoles" and what you got are some Fun Times!!








Thanks again everyone who has contributed to making this a reality. Those of you in the Minneapolis area: Please keep the evening of Saturday, April 8th open for a festive event with pictures, food, beverages and maybe a guest leapercaun. Hopefully then more will see how great this ride will impact youth getting involved in biking. Please come back in April as I will be back from this Fundraising ride through Argentina with Two Wheel View.






***Sunset on Medicine Lake, MN in Jan 2006.

Last Week before our Fundraising Ride !!

Two Wheel View has updated their website. Click on any biker above for more info!

I have yet to meet my initial goal of $1500. If you have not sent a contribution there is still time!! Reaching this goal is about sponsoring a youth ride this summer in Spain. I will have a party after this Fundraising ride in Argentina-TBA. That way I can share stories and photos of the ride. I will also be able to explain better the benefits of sharing rides like this with students and youth.

Matchbox Paintings are still available!! Please let me know which one you are interested in and I will let you know if it is available. Copies of the originals are also available. If you have sent for one please allow a few weeks for me to get them to you.

You can find out more about this Argentina fundraising trip and the Youth Spain ride at the 2WV website.

Matchbox Descriptions

Here are some brief descriptions for the Matchbox paintings posted on this site along with a few photos from Bolivia.

I am really hoping that I can give a better understanding of the high valley areas of Chuquisaca, Bolivia. Sucre is the original capital of Bolivia. !Viva Bolivia!

Please support my fundraising effort to support Two Wheel View. The actual Matchbox paintings as well as more information on Two Wheel View can be found by scrolling down. www.twowheelview.org.



Thank you for your support!

-Kekoa Rosa

Matchbox paintings A1 - A16

A1 – A3: Campesinos

These are the local campesinos who would gather and haul firewood for my community.
They are all men and they have large bunches of branches and small twigs bound together with either leather rope or rubber straps. They usually carried a machete or ax with them. These men would haul one load and receive somewhere between $.75 - $1.50 depending on size. They often walked for miles bent with a large bunch of twigs. I would often catch them on the dirt roads right out of town with there packs off their backs.

A4 Campesino
This is sort of an abstract of a Campesino dude with a red shawl, rough canvas shorts and top. This captures the feeling of bareness that is often found in the campesinos dirt floors of his home.

A5 &A6 Campesino couple

These are the A-typical Bolivian high-valley Cowboys and Cowgirls known as Campesino’s and Cholita’s respectively. He wears his black felt hat, red bandana, leather rope, coca bag on side, canvas shorts and tire sandals. She wears a finely croqueted white blouse with a pleated purple skirt. She is holding what was to be a dove. I mixed charcoal in the paint for the background.

A7 & A8 Cholita chef and baker

This is any Cholita preparing something on the stone grinder. She crushes her peppers for salsa or “yahwa” and also uses it for grinding spices, corn or wheat. In the back her domed oven throws a white smoke out into the early evening. The crescent moon smiles and a star shines through. A8 is Dona Cholita baking bread. Her pans are made from flattened tin cans. The oven is a domed adobe oven that has a brick or ceramic floor. A fire is started inside the oven. When it is finished burning the coals are pushed to the sides and the bread is inserted. My neighbor made and sold her bread for something like 4 for $.15.

A9 Cholita with bollo hat

This is a cholita with the bolo hat that was made famous by an Englishman who had all these hats that were out of fashion in Europe. Behind her is a colorful weaving that resembles the Indigenous Bolivian flag.

A10 – A12 More Cholitas

These are Bolivian cholitas. Some of the toughest women I have ever met. They all typically wear a hat that can be colorful. They almost always wear their traditional pleated skirt called a Pollera. It is worn with numerous undergarments to make the skirt appear bell shaped. A11 walks down the dirt road. The house behind A12 is an adobe home with a grass roof.

A13 Horse
This is a Bolivian horse parked out in front of an adobe home with a large wooden door.

A14 Collage

This is a collage of the campesinos life. Above are symbols that could mean a lot of things: Passion, family, the unknown. Below that is Christ on a green cross. You have an extremely traditional people who live probably very similar simple lives as did Jesus. Then there are the Campesino family with their oxen that plow the fields, a spring of water and a duck.

A15 Campesino at a party.

I remember really enjoying laying this painting out. On the left is an “Arca”. This is a hanging collection of breads, wines, grapes, cheese, onions and many other things that you would definitely see at all major holidays like Easter and parties for their patron Saints. It symbolizes everything that has given them sustenance and life. It is often celebrated with giving thanks to Pacha Mama (earth mother) by splashing a bit of chicha (corn beer) on the floor and is served from a plastic pail.

Matchbox paintings B1 - B10
B1 Cholita Mollering

I believe this was my first of this design with the cholita’s back to you. Her braided hair is tied together at the back. She stands over her stone and rolls a curved stone over the flat stone to grind her food. The smoke rising from the oven makes a familiar animal; maybe a ox or cow. The afternoon shifts slowly to night.

B2 Virgin on half-shell

This is a statue that can be viewed from the main plaza in Sucre. She stands above a doorway into the only church on the plaza. She stands within an alcove that is half domed above her. She stands upon a shell that sits upon a blue globe with 3 angels. Her coat is blue with gold stars and she wears a thin gold -rimed crown.

B3 Traditional Trabucco Carnival outfit for men
This is the traditional garb worn by men. They wear a leather cap that is hard as rock and resembles the metal hat of a conquistador soldier. Upon the cap are three paper-mache flowers with pistal of wire. The dress is very colorful. He carries a red pouch that he wears under his right arm usually for coca. Not shown here but their shoes are like a wooden clog with long and loud spurs off the back of them.

B4 & right below it B 8 Cholita weavers

Cholita weaving her tapestry. The women in this region are extremely talented with this traditional weaving. Many of the scenes they depict are mythical creatures. The weaving is tedious and all done by hand. The wool is also often hand wound and dyed.


B5 Reed hut
This is a traditional reed grass hut found on the floating islands outside of Puno, Peru on Lake Titicaca. It is completely waterproof and weaved using reeds. The floating islands are numerous layers of stacked reeds. These people make their living traditionally off fishing. The story goes that they once lived on land but left because of constant persecution from invading Quechua and Amarya people.

B6 Campesino

Similar to A5. Black felt hat with black parka and plastic coca bag hanging off his side.

B7 Companion Campesinos

These two campesinos take the local country transportation: their feet and friendship.

B8* Cholita Weaver

Refer to B4

B9 Franciscan church and yard

Traditional Franciscan hacienda style church and yard. I believe the original church was destroyed in an earthquake. They have the feel of the California missions and were placed usually a day’s walk apart from other churches. The bell tower was one of the more impressive towers I have seen. The bells rang for Sunday Mass and other festivals. They always rang a certain way when someone died within the community.
The town plaza sits in front of the church.

B10 Pigs on Lago Titicaca

Pigs are usually free during the day to feed on trash picked over fields. On the lake a fisherman sails his single bright blue triangular sail. A very popular dish especially on the weekends and usually on Sunday is Chicharon. It is a huge cauldron where they deep fry pig parts. Usually served with chicha and corn on the cob.

Matchbox Paintings on Page C
C1 - C16

Painting C1 Sajama

Sajama is Bolivia’s tallest mountain. It sits alone on the high desert called the altiplano. It is covered in snow year-round. Those are sod homes in the front. They are actually made of grass sod and are extremely warm inside. Only one community builds with sod. They live on the altiplano growing quinua and herding llama.

C2 Gnarled tree

Some of these trees in the countryside offer excellent shade for animals and humans. Often times the farmers will store hay in the trees to keep animals away from them.

C3 Plowed field at dusk

I used lots of colors. I made a point to put the Southern Cross in the sky. This was something I always looked for in the evening sky. It often hung low on the southern sky.

C4 Cat on Roof

There is a full moon and I noticed a cat walking along the ridgeline of the roof. I was trying to work with things within the community at night.

C5 Church entrance

This is the entrance to the church within the town I lived. The roof is wood with ceramic tiles. The building is all white. There are reliefs on the wall of the entrance. This is a Franciscan church and is a Mission style church similar to the California Missions. Bolivia’s official religion is Catholicism.

C6 Carnival mask

Carnival is much celebrated throughout Bolivia. All the major cities have their parades of dancers, jugglers, bands, clowns, town officials. They can last a few days as many days are spent practicing in the streets. Water balloon fights are very common. This particular creature mask is supposed to resemble the devil.

C7 Cholita on a stroll

She is walking along a stream in town. This is where she washes herself and her cloths. The mountain is painted red. Many of these areas are full of mineral rich earth that can go from a very dark black dotted with crystals to white chalk fields.

C8 Cholita in town

She wears a maroon shawl and cowgirl hat. She has a pink shirt on with a grey skirt. This is looking down into the town cemetery. The hills here are green so it must be in the wet season.

C9 Oxen with yokes

This is an amazing thing to see. All of the components of a Campesino’s plow are made of wood. These farmers usually carve their own plowing spears often mounting a metal spike at the end if the earth is particularly dry. I never did try this but the farmers who had it down were extremely efficient. During planting the campesino controls his oxen and plow. A cholita will often follow behind with a basket full of seeds planting right behind. I have seen them use these plows once to till a potatoe field. The oxen walked the lanes between the potatoes plants and plants that were accidentally pulled up were quickly replanted by a trailing cholita.

C10 Adobe house with a weaving

I was walking in the countryside and noticed this small adobe hut with grass (paja) roof and sitting up against the house was the most colorful weaving that was not yet completed. I would often see weavings propped up on trees which seems like a perfect place out of the sun.

C11 Fox

I used dabbed the colors on with a fine matchstick. I would often see fox (zorro’s). I never did see a bobcat or larger cat alive anyways. Once I was shown a large cat pelt that my neighbor shot years earlier. They are much more beautiful alive.

C12 Dark man

This is a very dark man. I remember having a really hard time with his eyes.

C13 Cross with Sacred Heart

This is an abstract painting of a cross covered in a white sheet and the Sacred Heart is pouring through in red. I was moved at how the community revolved around the traditions of the church.

C14 Jaguar from Tiawanaku

This is a 4 ft statue of a black stone jaguar that was found at Tiawanaku. This civilization predates the Incas. The Inca civilization had a deep respect for this place. Tiawanaku is located near Lago Titicaca outside of La Paz. It was once surrounded by the waters of the lake but now they have receded. The temple and sun portal are very impressive objects that were once covered in gold. Many of the stones are misplaced or moved.

C15 Sun

The sun is so intense here mainly because the elevations here range anywhere from 5,000 – 8,500 ft. The lines of the mountains mimic those found in these high valleys.

C16 Abstract

This was purely experimental. The scratch marks are actually ballpoint pen. The yellow is actually the paint underneath the gray.

Two Wheel View Postcard

Great shots of some of the people and children moved by this great organization!!

On my way up the Nicoya Penninsula
Nossara, Costa Rica - December 2003

Basement Gallery

Here are a few shots of my Basement Gallery. Please come by and visit!!