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Mexico

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-- From 2013/02/11 to 2013/02/22
-- From Ensenada, Baja California to Newport Beach, California and back
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The GPS road tacklog
From Ensenada to Newport Beach
From 2013/02/11 au 2013/02/22

Report of stage of the training of Spanish

Where am I after four weeks of Spanish crash courses at Ensenada following the study of the hundred lessons and four audio CD of the Assimil method?

The Assimil method of Spanish, is dense and humorous, but the progression is very even too fast, personal judgment. The most important reproach that I make it relate to the repetition of the lessons, only the first 13 are recorded twice, saving of space! Moreover it is impossible to copy the CD's. Then the lessons accelerates for sometimes being not easily comprehensible. Admittedly elocution is representative of the rate of the current speech.

But for a advanced age and a audio-phonic wearing of prosthesis one, the challenge becomes real. I tried it and, as I am been obstinate, I persisted with crash courses.

The Center of Languages in Ensenada is one of the many schools of languages in the city. It is specialized in the training of Spanish intended for the English-speaking North-Americans. The method of the school is founded on the principle of repetition of grammatical structures, exercises and ludic games for relaxation. The professor was very professional. At the end of four hours I was exhausted, I returned to California RV-Park to have rest and take again Spanish in the end of the day.

Far from the self-mockery but I specify, if need be, that I speak broken English. For exonerating me I came to listen to a video of the weekly magazine “L'Express” on the Net: “The French presidents and English, a exercise of style”, matched comment, “the result is exotic”. French has a real problem with the training of the foreign languages. For the analysis of causes I return surfer to the Net to the Tomatis Method.

But finally what does it remain about it? Difficult to say, in fine the training of a language can be summarized by the formula: to practice, practice, practice. All the methods recall it to satiety. It is besides the intuitive or congenital method of young children with the listening to the parents, one needs to Communicate.

En route towards Irvine, California, USA

Newport Beach

On Monday, February 11 at 06:00 am I left California RV-Park, Ensenada, Baja California. Thus I returned to the USA to try find Michelin tires new and/or occasion or substitutes. After an army control then three tolls I arrived at Tijuana around 08:00 am. Alas it took more than two hours to traverse the last two kilometers to reach the border, where US controls are meticulous. I paid the six dollars for the visa after having left my digital fingerprints, the ten fingers, and my portrait. I left the frontier zone around 11:00 am.

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US border

I entered the TCI #866 enclosure, Michelin tires dealer , in Irvine, CA, around 02:00 pm, that is to say eight hours for 300 km. Divine surprised expected me, there were eight Michelin tires 14.00R20XZL at Lancaster store, TX. The devil had been exorcized. Thus, one of variations of the Murphy's law is checked: “The worst is never certain”. Consequently I threw the last three tires 14.00R20XL ex-military to the nettles and I reserved six new Michelin tires 14.00R20XZL, four goes up and two in spare. Indeed the two current spare tires have +51.000km and are very worn. Thus I could go as far as South America and buy two other tires to supplement both spare, if necessary. I took go for the next morning in order to ensure me of their real availability and to know the delivery date. I established my bivouac in Newport Dunes RV-Park as previously.

On Tuesday morning I met Michael, the “territory account to manage” TCI, after discussion he promised to send an e-mail in the morning to give me the date of arrival of the tires at the Irvine TCI store. Waiting started again, it is a question usual… Indeed the experiment of Beasley in Houston in July 2012 and TCI#866 in January 2013 encourages me with circumspection. As long as I will not have the delivery date and the tracking number I will not be sure of their real availability. Of course the day occurred without I received a message from TCI #866.

On Thursday, February 14 I received an e-mail from Michael announcing that the tires would be delivered on Tuesday the 19th, to follow... But on Monday 18th an new e-mail told me: "the delivery of the tires has been delayed" to follow... A new e-mail on Thursday 21st told me the tires will be delivered & installed on Friday 22th to follow...

TCI #866, tires installation

I had appointment at 2 pm on Friday, February 22 to install the six Michelin new tires 14.00R20XZL.

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Story of tire R20" vs R22.5", continuation in North AM & to follow in South AM

The rims R20" pose a real problem to find Michelin tires or others. I slaved away in India and especially in North America where the American army reserves all the tires XZL/XML and Michelin of course privileges such a customer to the detriment of the rare private customers. I used ex-military used  tires XL with detrimental incidents. I misadvise it although it is an worse-with-outward journey in the event of urgency.

In the Michelin Truck Tire catalog, data book March 2012, I discovered that there exists a kind of tire XZA 4 for rim R20" and a kind XZL for rim "conventional 22.5" commercial size", 425/65/R22.5 XZL & 445/65R22.5 XZL. Alas I nowhere did find information concerning the use of these sizes and the Michelin salesman TCI #866 at Irvine, CA, was not of any help.

At all events the rims R20″ with of Michelin XZL are not the best choice to go round the world both for mileage & cost. My experiment in solo on the bad roads in Asia as well on the gravel-roads in Australia and North America does not justify to in no case off-road tires. Moreover road-trains as well Australian as North-American use conventional 22.5" tires. Finally the rims R20" and tires XZL are to play leapfrog in the sand dunes, cf the Rallye Paris-Dakar.

A solution would be to have two sizes of rim R20" & R22.5" and to organize the world trip by continent with return to the base camp to change the size of the wheels. But it would be necessary to make the dead end on the deserts in S.AM and Asia which are not however advisable in solo. Another solution would be to remain in R20" and to make tires send by Vrakking when necessary. Finally it is necessary to keep in mind that the approval of the truck is made with a size of rim and tires, cf “Le barré rouge” form.

All is question of personal appreciation, organization and financial choice.

This reflection is part of a future document “Of the use of a truck for a round world tour in solo and uninterrupted”.

Some time ago I had sent an e-mail to Michelin Mexico. I received on February 14th, 2013 an answer of the type, I love you neither am I. Here the original to be translated by the Net surfer using Google or other:

"...Hola Guy,

Gracias por su correo electrónico e interés en los neumáticos Michelin, con gran placer recibimos la oportunidad de servirle.

Lamentablemente las llantas Michelin XZL 14.00R20 no son distribuidas en México. Sin embargo, le recomendamos contactar a un distribuidor autorizado Michelin en USA para asistencia y disponibilidad de las llantas que usted requiere.

Por favor visite nuestra página web www.michelintruck.com y le sugerimos utilizar la herramienta distribuidores para asistencia con las llantas que usted requiere.

Nuestro objetivo es asegurar que su problema se ha resuelto o le hemos respondido satisfactoriamente a la pregunta que nos realizó. Si desea obtener más ayuda, por favor, responda a este mensaje o llámenos al 001-800-487-0427 (llamada sin costo para México) o 1-800-847-3435 (llamada sin costo para EE.UU.) horarios de 7 a.m. a 3:30 p.m. lunes a viernes hora Central.

Atentamente,

Roberto
Departamento de Atención al Consumidor
Experto Certificado en Productos Michelin..."

This answer justified a posteriori my decision to go back to the USA to try & find Michelin tires 14.00R20XZL. Phew, honor was intact.