Working breakfast… networking my way to Rio!
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.
This piece of artwork was part of the 1968 Cultural Olympics.
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.
Mayan Ruins near the Olympic Village.
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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Thank You!
The Olympic Village in Mexico City is now private residences.
More Olympic artwork in the first ever Cultural Olympiad.
Olympians of the United States of America, Estados Unidos de América, were here in 1968.
