First News From My Adventure

I love Mexico. There's something about this country that makes it rich, unique and absolutely fantastic. I can't really explain why, but this place is home to me.

After a short flight but a layover that took in excess of 8 hours, I boarded one last plane in Mexico for Mazatlan, late in the evening. Not sure when I would reach the seaside resort city, I decided that I would either spend one night there or hop straight on the bus to Los Mochis and sleep on the road. I'm cheap like that; traveling at night makes me save on hostel nightstays.

So I got to Mazatlan about 1:00 in the morning and headed straight for the bus terminal. Lucky strike; there was a bus leaving for Los Mochis 40 minutes later. Sweet! Paid my dues, left my gigantic backpack under the bus' belly and climbed aboard, to find an old mexican farmer half-slouched over my seat, snoring happily.

I somehow escaladed him and slithered through to my seat without touching him, which seemed to impress a mama sitting over on the other aisle with a baby on her lap. I grinned and winked, she smiled back.

Since my bus buddy was so comfy being all over the place, I thought he wouldn't mind if I used him as a pillow, so I layed against his shoulder and quickly fell asleep. What felt like 15 minutes later, I heard "something something pasajeros, something something Los Mochis". What?!? Already?

I jumped off the bus. It was dark. 6:15 am. I sat on a bench to try and recompose a little, just long enough to realize I'd just missed the Bahuichivo train, El Chepe, by 15 minutes. Bummer. Next one is Tuesday morning. Ah well.

So I found a little hotel in town that lets me stay for 25$ a night and I spend long days walking around the pretty bland town of Los Mochis. I guess I needed the rest, because after 24 hours of straight travel, I went to bed yesterday at 6:00pm for a nap... and woke up at 10:00 this morning!

So that's it for now, I'm just wondering around town, enjoying 1,70$ taco meals and fresh fruit. I'm also told they have awesome seafood in here, so I might just give that a try, too.

I don't know if I'll be able to keep you guys posted from the Canyons. But if I can find an Internet connection in Urique, I will.

Before I head out, I just wanted to tell you that relief efforts are well underway for our Raramuri friends. Aside from people like us who gathered donations for food, I heard that last year's CCUM champion Will Harlan and Caballo himself have started projects to build cisterns to gather water for the raramuri gardens, so that next time there's a drought, the impact won't be so dire. I can't wait to be there myself and lend a hand.

Until then, happy Monday!

Korima

In the middle of a logistics storm, I want to take time to thank many wonderful people who have lead, inspired or helped me realize one of my greatest dreams; running with the Great Raramuri of the Copper Canyons.

Three days from now, I will board a plane to Mexico, then another one to Mazatlan, then a bus to Los Mochis, then a train to Bauichivo, then whatever ride I can find to Urique. I will soak in the magnificent scenery of the Barrancas de Cobre, live with the People, run the trails and meditate.

I will marvel at this sacred place, and also be witness to the hardships its people endure. Whenever I can, I will smile and make myself available to cultural exchange, yearning to connect with a People that inspires not only my running, but my soul.

Along this journey, many people have played a role. Allow me to introduce them.

• Louise Lessard, ma Belle, ma femme. Celle qui partage ma vie, m’enrichit et m’encourage à être moi-même, à vivre à plein et à me réaliser. Quand je pense à l’avenir, je vois de nombreuses autres aventures, où je suis à tes côtés.
  
  
• André, Ti-Q, my best friend and brother. You teach me every day to never let anyone dictate my life. You are bold, stubborn and a true free thinker. You are awesome.
  
  
• Daniel Roy, my brother and best friend. No wonder your name shares so many letters with the word determination. You have the will of a mountain and the gentlest soul I have ever seen. You are the best expression of what being human means. You are family.
  
  
• Dany, Carlos, Vez, Jay, Fat, Paquet, Suj, Erin. You, too, are my family.
  
  
• Yves Daigneault, mon coach, mon ami. J’aurais jamais osé te remercier en anglais! Tu m’as fait progresser bien plus que tu t’en doutes. J’apporte avec moi ta force et le regard que tu portes sur moi. Merci.
  
  
• Pierre Lequient, Max, Donald, Jocelyn, I’ll never be half the runner each of you guys is. You inspire me beyond words.
  
  
• Gen, Josée, Lolo, Nico-Alex , Gillezz, Bruno, Chantal, Thierry, Redj, Danick, and all the EDLC mentors. You run with your heart. I love you all.
  
  
• Sammy, Achaymaa, Juan Pablo. I know we’re only supposed to be running buddies. But I can’t resist you. If I had kids of my own, I wish they would be you.
  
  
• To my own personal shaman, my Medicine Woman, Karen O’Reilly and her blonde-haired accomplice Linda. There’s an entire paragraph here I don’t even need to write :)
  
  
• To every person who brought good omens to my adventure. Anne-Marie the Firefly, my reiki girl from The Running Room, Maryse Couture, Marie-Claude Lemelin, 3othman. Thank you.
  
  
• To every generous donator for the “Contribute To The Dream Campaign”. You have brought in excess of 1,5 tons of seeds and food to a people in great need. It’s called korima. It’s a circle.
  
  Alexandre Cusson, Anne-Marie Lacroix, Audrey Laroquette, Bruno St-Pierre, Carl Boudreault, Daniel Roy, Dany Boudreault, Élisabeth Lavergne, Geneviève Dupont, Geneviève Guité, Humberto Valencia, Jerôme Gagnon, Jocelyn Saurini, Karine Lessard, Kaya Verville, Kevin Leclerc, Laurence Hurtel, Marie-Josée Coutu, Mathieu Vanier, Max Lajoie, Micheline Marion, Mick Gaudette, Mireille Gagnon, Nathalie Gemme, Pierre Lequient, Seret Lafferty, Steve Lévesque, Stephanie Rose, Sylvain Durocher, T & C Wellness, Ysabelle Yelle, Yves Daigneault.

• And finally, I want to thank Benoît Deshayes at In-Sport Fashions for his great support and sponsorhips from VIVOBAREFOOT, Nathan Hydration and Balega.

Each and every one of you has a part in this dream. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I wish I can contribute to yours as you have for mine.

Kuira Ba,

Flint