Cuban National, Luis Grass, Makes It to American in a Buick Boat.
I remember this story of a group of Cubans almost making it to America in and old Chevy truck. I was amazed at the ingenuity and dedication to leaving a communist country.
Obviously, these immigrants were a notch above those coming here seeking the freebies that we hand out to illegals. They were not seeking the easy life and I can just imagine what it took to accomplish this. They were not going to settle for a gamble of some flimsy rowboat, they put some thought into getting a craft together that could make the trip. They used resourcefulness and intelligence to make they’re dream come true.
Unfortunately, the first attempt was a failure. They just missed making it to land where we would have taken them in. I thought this was the end of the story. I was telling a friend about how these people did this and looked up a link to show him. I found out that Mr. Grass and his family made another attempt in a Buick and they made it! I was really happy that they made it here. I would love to know what he is doing now and I hope that he’s doing well. With his skills, I fear that many companies in America would not want him. This would really redefine that “out of the box” crap they’re always talking about. That’ll get you canned quick at many places.
Imagine this guy at many companies that we endure today.
- 1951 Chevy’s are not “green” enough. How dare this guy do this. What if it leaked oil into the ocean?
- His equipment couldn’t pass inspection! Cubans have been using Russian engines and transmissions to keep their treasured vintage cars going for years.
- He was risking his family’s life with this craft. I don’t even see life jackets in the photo. This is endangerment.
- He didn’t follow any procedures.
- His actions could damage Cuba’s reputation. What if the other communist countries like France find out of about this? Do you want the ocean littered with Renault’s and also have the French authorities all over all of us?
- He never ok’d this with authorites.
- He wasn’t a licensed Captain. Not even a temporary permit.
My point is, if we’re going to let immigrants in, these are the ones we want. Other countries, like New Zealand, have a very detailed list of requirements concerning your skills and abilities, why can’t we? We need folks like this to lead the way. If you look at how our current CEO’s are handling things, I think we’re ready for some new leaders who know how to get things done and how to take some risks.
Here is another post from cubasource.org
February 12: A family of three Cubans will be sent to the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, where their requests for political asylum will be reviewed. An asylum officer with the Department of Homeland Security said in court papers that Luis Grass Rodriguez, who pushed off Cuba’s shores in a 1959 tail-finned Buick with his wife, Isora Hernandez Hernandez, and their 4-year-old son, Angel Luis, has demonstrated a “credible fear of persecution” in Cuba. (Sun Sentinel, 12/2/04)
Good luck to you Mr. Grass. I bet you’re journey is going to get even more challenging now that you’ve made it here.
First Motorcycle Ride of 2009
First off, my apoligies for the photo. I used the junk camera for obvious reasons. It’s enough to get the point across though. It was cold.
It hit over 50 degrees today in Ohio, so I hit the road on the Honda Shadow. It felt good to get it out for a few reasons including:
- I don’t winterize them, so I have to keep them running occasionally.
- It was just enough of a break in the cold to let me know that there is hope, and we can all ride again soon.
- Winter riding is a challenge, which makes it more fun.
My gear allows for a comfortable ride at about 50 degress for about an hour without warming up in Ohio. It’s all a matter of how much you want to spend that dictates your riding tolerances. I don’t want to spend much, so 50 it is. A pair of winter boots, riding jacket with a liner, full face shield helmet, neck warmer, winter boots, coveralls, and leather Thinsulate gloves will get a rider to the 50 degree mark.
I live in Central Ohio where the winters are unpredictable. Winterizing a motorcycle surely means missing riding days. I put a few ounces of Sea Foam fuel stabilizer in them, check the antifreeze level, and that’s about it. A quick check of the tire’s air pressure and I’m off and riding at the first break of weather. If I go more than a month of not starting one, I’ll do as much as the weather allows to warm them up. Many riders will tell you that this is foolhardy, but I’ve done it for many years without a problem. Usually, these are the same guys that will argue about what type of oil to use. I like to ride instead of squabble over details, so I take the so-called risks.
I took about an hour ride on state routes. There is still ice on the secondary roads and streets. The state routes were bad enough with all of winter’s slime and gravel on them. It makes for a challenge I wouldn’t recommend to the inexperienced. If you haven’t had a motorcycle slide around at least a little bit, wait until there are a few good rains to wash the grit away.
The first ride is a little sacred to me. Kind of like a miniature New Year where I seem to be the only one celebrating. It’s a time to figure out what if anything is wrong with the motorcycle so you can make repairs before good weather. It’s a time to get the thrill of riding on the inherent danger of sliding on the winter slime. It’s a chance to forget about the problems that the Winter of 2009 has brought to me, at least for an hour.
One last note… As much as I rib Harley Riders for dressing like a pirate to go 3 miles to the bar, the only bikes I seen out today were Harley-Davidsons. Maybe it’s a new start for them too. 
