Chicharron de Bayamon

Antes de que se construyera la autopista, los que viajabamos de Mayaguez a San Juan teniamos que cruzar el pueblo de Bayamon manejando por la antigua carretera PR-2 (La Militar). Cuando yo era joven, habia muchos negocios a la orilla de la carretera vendiendo el famoso chicharron de Bayamon. Era costumbre de las familias que viajaban, parar a la orilla de la carretera a comprar chicharron.

Este proximo domingo es el desfile Puertorriqueño en Filadelfia, y en muchas esquinas hay negocios ambulantes vendiendo comida en la calle.

Ayer, tuve la oportunidad de comprar chicharron en Filadelfia. Dicen que el cerebro guarda los olores y los sabores de la niñez. Con tan solo probar el primer bocado de chicharron, automaticamente me transporte a aquellos años cuando nos parabamos a la orilla de la antigua carretera PR-2 en Bayamon. Buenos recuerdos de aquellos tiempos.

Minimalist GoPro Accessories and Mounts

I seriously need to come up with a way to travel light with the least amount of GoPro accessories and mounts during my motorcycle adventures. Throughout the years I have accumulated too many mounts and accessories, to the point that I had to purchase a case to carry most of them. 

The problem is that my motorcycle has limited space to carry all the GoPro accessories and mounts, plus my three GoPro's, my Nikon DSLR and the tripod or Playpod. I am trying to avoid using my smartphone to video record my rides if I can; the three GoPro action cameras should keep me busy at this time.

One easy solution would be to record short GoPro video clips on different days, weather permitting. I should have an answer to this dilemma in the following days. 

Are You Ready For Fall Foliage Motorcycle Rides?

I am not ready because it reminds me that winter is around the corner. Riding in the fall often means riding through lots of fallen leaves. The fall is perfect for leaf peeping/watching and taking pictures, but with so many leaves on the road during peak foliage in October, we have to be extra careful especially around the curves.

Picture was taken near Lake Nockamixon State Park in Bucks County, about 45 miles from Philadelphia. 

1984 New York Amazin Mets at Shea Stadium in Queens, NY.

A mami le encantaba el beisbol, y era la fanatica numero uno de los Indios de Mayaguez. En 1984, mami pudo vivir en persona un partido de los Mets en el Shea Stadium por primera vez. 

Mom loved baseball and was the ultimate Indios of Mayaguez fan. In 1984 mom got to experience a Mets game at Shea Stadium in person for the first time. 

My Dogs Are Barking

The phrase "my dogs are barking" is an old American idiom that means your feet are tired, aching, or hurt. I've been living and managing Rheumatoid Arthritis since 2009. 

I am 70 years old and for the last few years I have been looking for a pair of comfortable pair of shoes or sneakers that I could wear all day pain free. I tried many other quality brands that fell way short. Today I received a pair of Orthofeet Tilos Orthopedic sneakers. Orthofeet Tilos are by far the most comfortable and supportive shoes I have ever worn. I love these sneakers. 

Tomorrow's LOVE Park Salsa dance, with Salsa dance lesson at 7 pm, and dancing until 10 pm will really put the sneakers to the test. Wish me luck.

Lebanon AIDS Community Alliance

While I was packing some things last night, I found the promotional poster of the first ever Lebanon County AIDS Walk that I was a part of when I was working for AIDS Community Alliance in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. 

Those years living in Lebanon, Pennsylvania were the best of times, and it was the worst of times of my life. It was one of the most significant chapters of my life, personally and professionally. 

Navigating through that period of my life was exhausting and incredible rewarding, while I learned to focus on personal changes. I am grateful because it shaped me into the person that I am today.

La Foto Se Fue Viral

Esta pasada semana pude finalmente arreglar un poco, una foto que tengo desde hace mas de 50 años de mi motora Kawasaki H2 750 del 1972, compitiendo en carreras de aceleracion en el 1/8 de milla en la vieja Pista de Añasco en Puerto Rico. (Riverside Motor Speedway) 

La foto fue tomada en el 1976 por mi gran amigo y hermano Angel W. Castillo en La Pista de Añasco. Esa es una de las pocos fotos que tengo de esa motora, y que ha sobrevivido a traves de los años. 

Me sorprendio muchisimo que la foto se haya compartido tanto, al punto que se difundio rapidamente entre muchas personas en Facebook, incluyendo los administradores de la actual Pista de Añasco Team Underground. 

En los años de los 1970s, la Pista de Añasco era el punto de la fiebre todos los viernes por la noche en el area Oeste. Era costumbre reunirnos en la Sandwichera y el garage de gasolina de el difunto Gaby en Mayaguez, y de ahi saliamos en grupo de motoras hacia Añasco a curarnos la fiebre de la velocidad. Ver la foto y leer personas comentando sobre la Pista de Añasco de aquellos años, me trajo tremendos buenos recuerdos.