Today I experienced my second flat but it feels like my second, third and forth. I was about 30 kilometres from the Honduran border when I felt the rear go limp and wobbly, not another flat I was thinking but I knew full well I'd be able to do it in no time. 

I pull over to the shoulder and see that the tire is clearly flat. I start my removing the ammo boxes, for two reasons, they add a lot of weight and I can use one to support the bike while I take off the rear wheel. I remember to turn the gas flow to off, so when I have to turn the bike on its side gas won't leak all over. I unpack everything I'll need do the repair. Wrenches, tire irons, and pump.  Remove the brake pad. The wheel comes off easily and now it's time to take the tube out so I can examine and patch it. The first time I had instructions to aid me but I wanted to do everything by memory. It wasn't that long ago I did it on one of the worst roads I've ever driven on. Break the bead by stomping on the tire with my boot. Then I started working the tire off with the irons, in no time the tire was on the one side and the tube extracted. I couldn't find a new hole and it looked like my old patch gave out, finally. I can't fault it lasted as long as it did and at the very least got me off that mountain weeks ago. 

I take off the old patch, sand the rubber, apply some rubber cement and a new patch. Insert tube. This is when it gets difficult. Rather than start on one side of the tire and then the opposite I just went around in a circle. I had some police officers come by to see if they could aid. He could see me struggling and suggested taking me to a shop down the road. I told him that it was important I did it myself. He wished me luck and was shortly on his way. Don't do that unless you want it to be more difficult than it has to be. Lesson learned. After getting the tire on the hard way, I started to inflate with my electric pump. 

Five minutes pass and the tire won't inflate. Time to take the tire off again. Do it faster than the first time. Extract the tube again and find a hole on the side. I must have made it by taking the tire off or putting it back on. I know that you can't fix a hole on the side but then again I've never tried. I use my biggest patch and try to do it well. Reinstall the tube and work the bead inside the rim. This time doing it well and it's not nearly as hard as the first time. Inflate, somethings wrong. Turn the pump off and I can hear air. The side patch didn't hold. 

Take the tire off again. With the sun and this being my third time it wasn't easy taking the tire off the third time. I was tired, dehydrated and my frustration level was raising. Luckily I had an extra tube, they were on the bike before I left on the trip. I kept for the just in case reason and it's hard to throw away anything if there is a use for it down the road. I put in the "new" tube and get the bead in the rim right.  Turn the pump on and the bead pops into place. Finally. Lay the bike on its side to get the tire on. It's the fastest way I've figured out. Fuck, I forgot one of the spacers that go inbetween the wheel and the axle. Take the wheel off, put the spacer in place and the bike in almost ready. Stand her back up. Put the brake pad on, wait, where did that other screw go? While standing the bike right up I lost one of the bolts that fasten into the brakes. A kind of important mechanism, and I was lucky to have a passerby witness my tantrum as I start throwing shit around pissed at myself for misplacing something so important. He leaves. I finally find the screw and I'm more content. At this time a boy comes by and starts talking to me. Telling me he saw me three hours ago and wanted to make sure I was ok. By then I was cooled down, even though I was hot, tired and dehydrated. His name was Walter, he lived close by, he was between 14 and 16. Really nice kid. After about a half hour of chatting I was ready to be on the road. The sun was going to be set in about an hour and I needed a place to sleep. I was too tired to camp and I wasn't going to cross into Honduras tonight. When shit like this happens I try to keep in mind that everything is apart of the journey. I was a little embarrassed to have let my frustrations boil over. You can't control what happens only your reaction. That's one of the greatest things the motorcycle has taught me. 

I was back on the road, as I'm climbing one of the hills the engine is dying, what now? I quickly remember that I hadn't turn the gas on. After a moment gas is fed to the engine and I continue until  the first town I could find, La Palma. Went past a couple dodgy hotels. I'm trying to avoid the pay per hour hotels for the simple reason I like having fresh air and windows. I found this little place with cabins, hot water and an internet connection. It was more than I like to pay, 12 dollars but after my little mishap I earned it. Tomorrow it's Honduras.

El Salvador

Yeah it's flat

Making a mess

Fixed or should I think, attempt #1

Walter came to hang out, sweet kid. Finally finished after 3 hours.