Road trip
Recent Penn State grad to embark on 18-month motorcycle journey across the Americas

By MELISSA DUGAN
Collegian Staff Writer

As the night drains away, conversations drain of logic.

Usually it's at a bar or a friend's apartment -- everybody's intoxicated and well into that everybody-and-everything-is-wonderful stage of drunkenness when dreams don't seem so far fetched.

"I've always wanted to sail around the world," one friend muses. She gazes glassy-eyed at the pastel-drenched painting of a maritime sunset hanging above the 10-inch television. "But I'd need a boat. That could be a problem. I only have $6.23 left in my account."

Another comrade, the one who's in his fifth year and still doesn't have a major, suggests, "We could open our own club together, in California or New York City maybe -- like Studio 54, only without that weird guy Mike Myers played in the movie."

And maybe someone says something like this:

"I'd like to ride through Central and South America on my motorcycle and write a book about it."

But nobody really takes it all seriously, do they? Once dawn and reality smash their way back into our lives, not many of these dreams can survive.

Andres Carlstein's did.

In a motorcycle helmet with Albert Einstein's picture on it and a coat with enough zippers, pockets, padding and doodads to confuse Einstein himself, Carlstein will depart our country today to begin his year-and-a-half-long motorcycle odyssey across Central and South America.

"It's something I've always wanted to do," said Carlstein, a recent Penn State liberal arts graduate. "It's one of those things most people think about doing but never do. So I thought, I'd better do it now or never."

A motorcycle fan since the age of 4, Carlstein learned his love for bikes from his father, a motorcycling doctor who passed away when Carlstein was 10.

Although he is greatly influenced by his father (Carlstein will attend medical school in Missouri when he returns), his passion for motorcycles comes from his own experiences.

"In the car, the world is almost like a television screen, and you're strapped in. I know it's cliché to talk about the freedom of riding a motorcycle, but it's true. Everything's open -- at intersections, people will stop and talk to you," Carlstein said.

Carlstein won't be trekking alone, to his mother's relief. Two men he met over the Internet -- a businessman in his 50s and a man in his 20s and originally from Columbia -- will join him for most of the adventure.

"My motherly instinct led me to one condition about his trip: that he wouldn't ride alone," said Ann Furlong, Carlstein's mother.

The three men will ride down through Central America and then down the coast of South America. After traveling most of the continent together, the cyclists will separate and Carlstein will visit with relatives in Argentina before driving down the continent on his own and eventually catching his plane home.

The itinerary for the trip is loosely organized -- where and when he'll leave for home still is not definite.

The realization of Carlstein's dream required a lot of preparation. He had to find a publisher, seek out sponsors, purchase a bike and buy supplies for his venture.

Carlstein sent out 38 proposals describing his trip to various publishing companies. Of the 38, less than half responded, but three of those expressed interest in the plan.

The advance from the book helped finance the journey, but Carlstein still had to rely on sponsors to pay for supplies.

Choosing the best bike for the trip involved money and research. Carlstein needed an affordable bike that could stand up to the diverse conditions and hectic traveling schedule he had in mind. After a thorough search he found the KLR motorcycle he will ride on his trek -- but his work wasn't over yet.

Carlstein had to rack up the miles on his bike to test its reliability.

"You don't want the bike breaking down on you, especially when you're not prepared for it," Carlstein said.

The headlight died, but otherwise the bike held up very well, as was expected. To prepare further, he had a new suspension put in by Carl Williamson, owner of Williamson Honda-Suzuki, a motorcycle repair shop in Mill Hall.

Williamson has made trips to Central and South America for the past nine years, and he used his experience in preparing Carlstein and his bike for the journey.

"In all the years I've been going down there, I've experienced no trouble, except for one flat tire. That's why (Carlstein) has a set of backup tires with him," Williamson said.

Williamson said for the most part, the trip is safe and inexpensive. It will be a learning experience for Carlstein, even though he has been to Argentina, among other countries, to visit relatives several times.

Carlstein's mother, who grew up in Argentina, finds reassurance in the roots their family has there.

"I have a sense of the people of the area," Furlong said. "They are hospitable and excited by adventurers. It will be a wonderful experience."

Carlstein said he hopes it will be an experience to tell stories about for a lifetime.

"If it's not an adventure, I'll be pissed," he said.

Interested people can reach Carlstein during his odyssey by e-mail at carlstein007@hotmail.com.