With great excitement and anticipation I checked out of the Sur Inn and headed over to Bridgestone to pick up Torch having been promised she would be ready to go at 3:30 pm. Upon arrival she was out front and moving and I was ecstatic that my traveling companion and the one who did all the work looked like she was ready to get back on the road. I saw her moving in the morning and in the evening but sadly she was not yet 100%. They would need another day to get her fully repaired.
CLICK here for a Highlight Video on Torch.
I was patient and productive, what else could I do? They had internet so I worked on uploading some videos, writing and posting some of the Journey to date. I also decided to explore the Olympic Village and see some of the remaining artwork from the 1968 Cultural Olympics. I am glad I did as there were also some nearby Mayan ruins which would turn out to be the closest I got to any during my time in Mexico. I could sense the vibrant Olympic Village from 48 years ago. There was a track, tennis courts and a gymnasium for the athletes to train and warm up at before heading out to the Olympic competitive venues. There was even a small auditorium where I would think the various Olympic teams had meetings or might have even watched a movie to get their minds off the competition.
Afterwards, late in the afternoon I headed back to check on Torch and then check back into the Sur Inn for hopefully only one more night. I did write down my options just in case Torch wasn’t ready or would ever be ready again. The main question was is she driveable? If yes, should I try to return to the USA or continue on with the Journey? If no, do I fly home or search for international buses to continue the Journey? I did price tickets back to Jacksonville and forward to Rio de Janeiro. After all that was the end game, to see the Olympic Golf Course being constructed. Torch and I did have an understanding that if she ever found a place she liked that she could stay there. I would be sad to leave her but was prepared to travel light and leave Torch behind and walk or take a bus. In the end the mental decision was to go onward, one way or another. JTOG and Andy does not know the word ‘defeat.’
I was making some progress networking beyond Mexico and had a promising lead in Guatemala. But Guatemala City was almost 900 miles and another 18 hours of driving away. All I could do is get a good night’s rest, say a prayer for Torch’s full or driveable recovery and see what tomorrow brings.
There are some more stories in the pictures below this request to make a donation to The First Tee…
I am looking for 100 new friends in the next 100 days to make a $100 donation (or any amount that you are able to make) to The First Tee. Each day I will be reliving the original “Journey to Olympic Golf” and hope to find a new friend in golf. Is that you? Please join me in giving back to the game we all love.
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Please select ‘Andy Reistetter’s Journey to Olympic Golf’ on the drop-down menu for the question ‘What inspired you to make a gift today? This is for tracking purposes only, Andy does not receive any part of your donation or anything financially from The First Tee organization.
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