Random Photos

These are just some random photos I took in the last few days of my trip at the wedding, in Sayulita and in Puerto Vallarta. Enjoy everybody. Thanks for following me on this journey. Harry

"The End"

Tour de Vida, the Bike tour has officially come to an end. It is too soon to really understand all my emotions right now. I can't believe I am back in the Boat, over six weeks after I left for this adventure. I had ups and downs like it is in life, I pushed through the hard days and with a bit of luck I made it!! Of course I had some pretty scary situations riding on busy narrow roads in Mexico. I feel like that was the toughest part, and of course the dogs. Just on my last day I got chased again. Well, I made it safe through all the challenges on this trip. I feel like it was an amazing experience and ultimately changed me a bit. I learned a lot of different things on this trip. I am sure I will use a lot of the skills I learned in the future. I hope I was able to relay the message of "Tour de Vida" to a lot of people. More importantly, I hope I got people to think about the issues this society faces. Cancer is just on of our problems, but it shows us that something is definitely wrong. I have said it before I say it one more time. Every decision we make we need to think of our grand children.

I also want to thank everybody who supported me in any way on this trip. With shelter, friendship, donations, food, encouragement, technical support and in many other forms. Thank you so much. There are few people who helped me a lot, and I couldn't have done this trip without them. They know who they are, and I owe these people a lot. I am very grateful for their help. Thanks so much guys!!!!

Thanks for following my progress during my Tour de Vida. Good bye everybody!!

Harald Wilhelm Niedl

The Final Destination of "Tour de Vida"

This is Sayulita, Mexico! It is a "Dogs Life" at the Beach Front Complex I'm staying.

I got my tent in the front behind the laundry and I just pop in and use different houses to cook, shower, hang out, and swim in the pool. I almost feel quilty living it up like this right now. I hope you enjoy the pictures of Sayulita.

Harry

"it is all about our children!"

I have been raising donations for the American Cancer Society over the past 6 weeks. I have reached my final destination, but I will continue my fund raising efforts for a few more weeks. I do believe that cancer has become an epidemic over the past 30 years and more research is needed why it has gotten so bad. I of course believe that it is all about what we eat and the air we breath. I took this photo just right next to highway 15. These are some of the chemicals used in Mexico. Obviously change is needed, and it needs to happen now. If we don't act now, how bad will it be in 100 years? It can only get worse! So please take the time to think about the point I am trying to make here. Thank you so much for your time, and please continue following my blog. I also posted a video about this issue on facebook, please watch it.
Harald Niedl

Almost at Final Destination!

I am in San Blas now, only 125km from my Final Destination. Tour de Vida is coming to an end. There is still time to donate to my cause. Thanks so much for following me on this journey. Please remember that it is all about the future generations to come, and time to act is now. Thanks again

Harry

"It is all about our children people!"

I have been on the road for 5 weeks now, and I spend a lot of time alone. So I guess, I have a little time to think about the world we live in. Please, think about the message I am trying to make with my journey. It is about living your life to the fullest, that of course doesn´t mean to just live in the present. Native Americans believe, that we live for our grandchildren. What we do now will directely impact them. I am really getting into my cause, and I find myself wanting to continue my journey. I feel sad that it will be over soon and also that I haven´t really done enough. I would like to just keep going south, but of course I also have financial responsibilities like student loans. Anyways, that means I have to get my ass back to Steamboat and start working again.

I am less than 400km away from my destination and could be there as early as friday. Time and life itself just passes by so fast sometimes, we wonder where the years have gone. I hope that I did make a difference, and everything was worth it. That at least one person changed their way of life, their outlook of life itself because of me. So please slow down a bit and focus on the smaller things in life, and what really is important. If you are Italien, of course it is family! If you are not Italian, it still should be family!!!! Family is forever!!! Sorry, I am going soft a bit! I am still a tough guy, a lot tougher than Arnold.

Thanks so much for your time and please think about the cancer and how so many people are sick. It can only get worse. So, time for change is now! Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,

Harald Wilhelm Niedl

Little Mexican Cowboy!

Stage 20-25 Video Update

Check out this video!!

Hi to all my Friends out there. I guess there have been rumors out there, that I wasn´t ok. Well, I am super!!! The last week has been very tough on me. Since I left Hermosillo I have been dealing with incredible heat. Every day up to 115 degrees, and no shade anywhere. It also hasn´t been too safe out there in the little villages. I got cornered by a drunk guy on a horse like a cow in Potom. He did that 3 times and asking very agressively for money. It was still early enough and people were around, so I knew I was safe. It made me mad, and I had to try hard to stay calm. He was a little fucker too, but on his horse he felt tough. Anyways, I just kept walking and eventually he left. After that I decided to stay out there close to highway 15 at all times. It is a lot safer, and I have been sleeping at 24h Truck Stops. It is loud and dusty, and I can´t sleep well. At least it is safe and I just have been focusing on getting it done. Finally the heat got to me a bit, and I have been sick a bit the last 3 days. So yesterday I could only do 66km, I just have stomach problems. I am sure you know what I mean. So I had to stop pretty much at every gas station. I took some pills Somer gave me yesterday, and didn´t eat much. So I feel a lot better today, but I still can´t eat much. Of course I have to be careful now, not beeing able to eat and riding 100k a day. Well, we all know I am an animal and I will win this fight too. Sometimes life is tough and you feel like giving up. In my opinion you just have to be flexible and find a solution to make it better. So that is why I changed my strategy where I sleep, and also how I travel now. I start a lot earlier, around 7 am. In the afternoon when the heat is unbelievable, I pull over somewhere with shade and sleep a few hours. Then I ride again till about 7pm. That is how the last week has been every day. I am less than 800km from Sayulita now. So please keep following me and send good energy out there for me. Please don´t worry about me at all, I am on mission. Thanks again everybody who has donated. Thanks so much.

Harry

Video Update Stage 18

Hi everybody! I am in Ures now, just resting up a little bit after yesterday. Well, people who know me know how I make decisions sometimes. I looked at the map of mexico and thought highway 17 looks good. I of course had no clue that I would go through the Sierra Madre mountains. Yesterday was tougher than on Red Mountain Pass, I ended up doing over a hundred km again. Not just that, lots of climbing and the heat was incredible. The 2 nights before I stayed in small villages at their baseball field. I had running water, a wall protecting me from dogs. Before I left the states I told Mike how I imagine my journey. That I will grill every night and that I will get invited off the street a lot. Well, I had a few nice grill outs in the states and I got invited to spend the night in Silver City. It was still too cold in the states. Now it is exactly how I imagined. I have been cooked for 3 times and stayed with a guy last night. The hospitality and friendlyness of people has been just incredible. Every where I go people wave at me and ask me where do I come from and where am I going? Last night I wanted meat, but no store had meat. Ruben heard that I was looking for carne, so he just told me to go inside his house. 15 minutes later I had a typical mexican dinner in front of me. He let me stay there and also cooked breakfast again for me this morning. Thanks Ruben. Oh, he also saved my from 3 vicous dogs. Their weight was only about 60lb. combined, but it was 3 of them. Damn, they sourounded my and came from every direction. Oh my god, I screamed and jumped from side to side like Bruce Lee trying to defend myself. I just couldn´t get rid of them, so finally after about half a minute Ruben saved my sorry ass. Well, lesson learned here. I will never leave anywhere with either a stick, water or rocks again. He was laughing so hard too, and told his neighbor afterwards about the gringo. People are so nice in the siera madre mountains, life is slow and simple. I love it. Finally I feel like an adventurer again, I just love going into the uncertain. It makes me feel so alive and free. I have had absuletely no problems, I feel a 100% save here. I am close to highway 15, the highway I will follow pretty much the rest of the way to Sayulita.

Thank you very much for your donations and everything else people have done for me. Thanks a lot. Harry the Animal

In Mexico

Hi! I'm in Mexico now. I just crossed over this afternoon. I slept at a rest stop right next to highway 80 last night. The Border Control stopped 3 times to check me out. The 3rd time the guy actually got out ant ask me if I carry a gun for my protection. I told him I am going to Mexico, and hell no I don't have a gun. He told me I was not safe, and it is dangerous here. Anyways, lot of people will tell you what they think. Listen to them, but then make up your own mind. Well, it was 11 o'clock at night so I was not going to move at this point. So I have been like a Ostriche, put your head in the sand and you will be safe. So my tent is my save heaven, I get in there and I feel like an ostriche. Nothing can hurt me and I am save in my tent. I also had my firts crash today, finally. If you are waiting for this crazy story, you have to wait long. I am just an idiot. I made it over all this crazy passes, and never had a problem. Well, today I forgot I had a trailer attached to my bike, and I just let go of my handle bars to ride without hands. It took less then a second for me to be on the ground. My poor babies Destiny and Oscar got banged up a bit. I made it up to them by really cleaning them up and checking all the nuts and bolts. My babies are fine, and the only thing that hurts now is my pride and my body. I scraped my left side up a bit, but not too bad. I t feels really good beeing in Mexico now, I just love it here. I did get myself a room here in Aqua Prieta, so I can clean up and eat some good food before I hit the road. I will take highway 17 to Hermosillo which might take me up to 3 days. After that I will take highway 15 on and off, when I can I try to take a smaller road. Some spots, there will be no other option then 15. But with no shoulder, I will have to be very carefull. The Immigration officers already warned me about the drivers here, and how I have to be very aware of the traffic around me. I am excited about my journey ahead, and I hope I can continue my message here in Mexico. Keep following my JOURNEY and hit me up when you feel like it. Hasta luego amigos!!
Harald Wilhelm Niedl

Hi, I am back!! I was in the middle of nowhere for the last week. I got my camera stolen in Gallup last friday, so I got a new one saturday morning. Long story, but I just got the camera going again today. So for the past few days I have been riding through amazing country. The Gila National Forest is very beautiful and not many people out there. The first night out of Gallup I stayed just nesxt to the road, near Fence Lake. Don't tell the locals, but I saw a wolf right there. Local ranchers are against the goverments wolf reintroduction programm, and they will kill them on the spot. I feel lucky I saw one, they are beautiful animals. So I guess everybody noticed I changed my route, and I am happy I did. I had great camp spots the last 3 nights and good food and wine. I overcame my mental issues, wondering what the hell am I doing and beeing extremely lonley. I got over it and I am on a roll now. I am in Silver City now, got myself a memory card and food thanks to a donation from Walmart. Well, they don't know that. Long story!
I saw the Tour de Gila bike race come by today, I guess Lance and Levi are in it. They zipped by so fast , I could't really see either one. I know they were right there. So does it count? Can I say I saw Lance and Levi? They saw me that is for sure, I was yelling "Tour de Vida" the whole time the field rode by. I finally have a little map now, thanks to the lady at the store in Quemado Lake. Hey Ladies from the store in Alma, got you on facebook. Thanks so much Amber for helping me out at the store in Buckhorn. Yeap, that is what I do. Ride my bike all day by myself and then when I get to a town I stop at the local store and talk to the ladies. No just kidding, I talk to anybody I meet. At this point I tell you my life story within 5 minutes of meeting me.
I think I will make it to the border by friday, and after that no more phone calls. So anybody who wants to talk, call me the next 2 days. Thanks everybody for your support!
Tour de vida, keep the message going!!!
Harald Wilhelm Niedl

T-Rex and I on Indian Reservation

Hi Everybody. I am in Galup now after riding mostly through Indian Reservations for the past 2 days. I left Durango wednesday morning and made it to Shiprock that day. I did talk too much in Durango how I haven't had anything bad happen. Well, the first day riding I had 2 flats! Yesterday I rode to Tohatchi and slept there right next to the rode. This morning I made it to Galup and I got myself more spare tubes. I could not find pepperspray, which I really need now. The dog attacks are increasing at an alarming rate. So far I have been able to fight them off with just yelling at them. It did finally hit me yesterday, what the hell am I doing? I am lonley and tired out there, wishing Mikey or somebody else would be with me. Well, I am alone and I can't change that. I guess I start talking more to Mr. T (T-Rex)! I also named my bike and my trailer while I was in Durango. My bike is of course a girl, her name is Destiny! My trailer is a guy, and his name is Oscar. So the 4 of us just have to keep riding along, and hope the weather will get better. Thanks everybody in Durango!!! Night, Mark, Gunter, Carley, Courtney, Dawn, Esme, Isac. Ok wish me luck guys, hasta luego amigos!

Stages 1-7 from Steamboat to Durango

Hi everybody, I am in Durango now. I made it over the brutal Red Mountain Pass on saturday and over Molas and Coal Bank yesterday. The weather wasn't too bad the whole week and I also had no flat tire or any breakdown at all. I feel like I am a drunk guy on a bike trying to avoid all the glass pieces and other scrap on the road. So I have to pay attention at all times and can never just tune out and ride. So far I have gotten really lucky and had no incidents so far. The first 4 days of my ride were very lonely and kind of sobering being out there all by yourself. I just keep my happy thoughts and keep riding. The landscape was amazing, and because everything is slower on a bike I also notice a lot more. So far so good, and I will keep updating my progress when I can. Thank you so much for your support.
Harry

Ready for Take off!!

It is saturday today and we are having a Send off Party for me this afternoon. Anybody close to Steamboat, please come by and say hello. I appreciate everybody's support and want to thank my friends who already donated to my cause. Thank you so much.
I will leave Monday morning for my journey. I am very excited and also very nervous. Please follow me on my journey to Sayulita. I will update my Blog as often as possible. Hasta luego
Harry

The Wedding

Please check out my friends website to find out more about their wedding. mikeandkrissytietheknot.com

Tour de Vida Blog

March 27, 2010

I will leave Steamboat Springs on April 12th, heading west on highway 40. I decided to go through Durango, therefore I will ride south on highway 13 to Rifle and head west to connect to highway 550. This highway will get me to Durango, CO and also will get me to highway 191. From Monticello, UT I will ride highway 191 all the way to the Mexican border. I am a little bit over 2 weeks away from probably the biggest adventure so far in my life. I am pretty much ready to start my adventure, but I still have to finish the winter season with my employers. My Tour de Vida ride will support the Ride for Life event for the American Cancer Society. The Donation page is all set up and I am able to accept donations at this time. Please contact me with any comments or questions about

Tour de Vida. Thank you very much for everybody's support.

Harald Wilhelm Niedl