♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

THE IMPACT OF TARIFFS AND STOCK MARKET VOLATILITY ON 401(k)s. >>> ALSO, WHERE AND HOW TO GET REAL IDs REQUIRED FOR ALL U.S. AIR TRAVEL AFTER MAY 7.

>>> AND A "ARIZONA HORIZON" REPORTER TAKES A TRIP THROUGH PERU.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

NVIDIA HAS BEGUN TO PRODUCE A.I.

SUPER COMPUTING CHIPS AT THE PHOENIX PLANT.

COMMISSIONED MORE THAN ONE MILLION MANUFACTURING SPACE AT THE FACILITY TO BUILD AND TEST NEW BLACKWELL A.I.

CHIPS.

NVIDIA PLANS TO USE ADVANCED A.I.

ALONG WITH ROBOTICS AND DIGITAL TWIN TECHNOLOGIES TO OPERATE FACILITIES.

>>> FEDERAL COURT HELD A HEARING THIS AFTERNOON ON THE CASE OF A MARYLAND MAN WRONGLY DEPORTED TO EL SALVADOR.

JUDGE SCOLDED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAYING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE NOTHING IN FOLLOWING HER ORDER TO FACILITATE THE MAN'S RETURN.

THAT SAID, THE JUDGE SAID SHE WILL NOT FOR NOW HOLD THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IN CONTEMPT OF COURT BUT WILL EXPAND HER DEFINITION OF THE WORD FACILITATE.

>>> ALSO TODAY, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALLY FIRED AN IMMIGRATION LAWYER WHO ORIGINALLY ARGUED THIS PARTICULAR DEPORTATION CASE.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACCUSED THE ATTORNEY OF SABOTAGING THE GOVERNMENT'S CASE AFTER THE ATTORNEY SAID THE MAN SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SENT TO EL SALVADOR.

>>> A STATE DEPARTMENT DOCUMENT RECOMMENDS CLOSING TEN EMBASSIES AND 17 CONSULATES MOSTLY IN EUROPE AND AFRICA.

SUGGESTS EMBASSIES IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIESINGLY COVER AREAS IMPACTED BY THE CLOSURES.

>>> NEWS THAT THE IRS IS EXPECTING TO LOSE ROUGHLY 22,000 EMPLOYEES.

THAT'S HOW MANY ARE ACCEPTING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S DEFERRED RESIGNATION OFFER.

TODAY WAS THE DEADLINE TO ACCEPT THE BUYOUT AND RESULTED IN 25% REDUCTION IN WORKFORCE.

CUTS TO THE AGENCY COULD LEAD TO PROBLEMS INCLUDING COLLECTING SIGNIFICANTLY LESS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE.

>>> ON-AGAIN/OFF-AGAIN TARIFFS ARE MAKING FOR VOLATILITY ON WALL STREET MAKING FOR CONCERN AMONG THOSE WATCHING THEIR 401(k)s, ESPECIALLY THOSE PLANNING TO RETIRE SOON.

JOINING US IS JAY SPECTOR CO-OWNER AND PARTNER OF EVERVEST FINANCIAL.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU, TED.

TED: WHAT IS A 401(k)?

>> WHAT A 401(k) IS, EMPLOYER-SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLAN THAT MANY OF YOUR VIEWERS MIGHT HAVE AT PLACES OF WORK.

IF THEY'RE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, MIGHT BE CALLED 457 ACCOUNT OR TEACHER 403(B) ACCOUNT BUT DO ALL THE SAME THING FOR THE INVESTOR, SAVE FOR RETIREMENT, PRETAX OR POST TAX FOR THE ROTH IN RETIREMENT.

TED: I'LL GET TO THE ROTH IN A SECOND.

AS FAR AS 401(k)s IN GENERAL, HOW RESILIENT ARE THEY TO MARKET VOLATILITY?

>> DEPENDS WHAT THE INVESTOR IS INVESTING IN.

THINK OF THE 401(k) AS ENVELOPE.

ANYTHING INSIDE THE ENVELOPE IS WHAT THEY'RE INVESTING IN, COULD BE A STOCK MUTUAL FUNDS, BOND MUTUAL FUNDS, MONEY MARKET FUNDS, ON ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT FUNDS SO DEPENDS ON THE INVESTMENT MIX THAT THE INVESTOR IS USING.

TED: SO THAT SAID, THE RECENT TARIFFS AND THE TURMOIL ON WALL STREET, WHAT IS THAT DOING TO 401(k)s?

>> THAT HAS REALLY CAUSED HAVOC FOR THE AVERAGE INVESTOR.

A DEARTH OF VOLATILITY IN THE MARKET BECAUSE OF THE TARIFFS AND OTHER THINGS GOING ON IN THE MARKET WITH RESPECT TO BONDS AND THE TEN-YEAR TREASURY MOVEMENT, BUT CAUSED A LOT OF VOLATILITY FOR INVESTORS AND CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER THEIR FUNDS WILL BE THERE WHEN THEY NEED THEM FOR RETIREMENT.

TED: BEFORE WE GO ON WITH THE 401(k)s, YOU MENTIONED THE TREASURY BONDS, THAT CAUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE'S DIRECTION, YOU DON'T SEE BONDS MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION WHEN STOCKS ARE GOING IN THIS DIRECTION?

>> CORRECT, THEY ARE TYPICALLY MORE STABLE FOR FOLKS.

YOU HAVE THE 10 YEAR U.S. TREASURY MOVE FROM 3.91% UP TO 4.5% AND SETTLING IN THE 4.3% RANGE.

BOND YIELDS, THE 4.3% THEY MENTIONED, THOSE MOVE INADVERSELY TO THE BOND PRICE.

WHEN PRICES GO DOWN, THE YIELD GOES UP AND CONVERSELY, WHEN THE YIELDS GO UP, THE VALUE GOES DOWN.

TED: FROM A DISTANCE, LOOKS LIKE PEOPLE ARE GETTING OUT OF THE STOCK MARKET, A LITTLE BIT, COMING AND GOING, A LOT ARE GOING.

NOT APPARENTLY GOING TO TREASURIES, WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING?

>> PEOPLE ARE STILL INVESTING IN THE STOCK MARKET.

YOU'VE SEEN ON THE AVERAGE RETAIL INVESTOR INCREASE IN FLOWS TO MAJOR EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS AND FUNDS THAT ARE OUT THERE, SO I DON'T BELIEVE THE RETAIL INVESTOR LEFT THE STOCK MARKET OR LEAVING THE STOCK MARKET, THEY'RE BEING MORE CAUTIOUS.

THE SIGNALS THAT THE TEN-YEAR TREASURY ARE THROWING OUT TO INVESTMENT COMMUNITY ARE MORE CONCERNING BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE DRASTIC MOVE IN THE TREASURY BONDS, PEOPLE ARE REQUIRING MORE RETURN, MORE YIELD, IF YOU WILL, FOR THE RISK THAT IS OUT THERE BECAUSE OF THE TARIFFS AND OTHER GLOBAL ISSUES.

TED: AND UNCERTAINTY, A BIG FACTOR AS WELL.

HOW DOES UNCERTAINTY PLAY IN THE WORLD OF 401(k)s. >> REIGNS SUPREME.

WHAT THE STOCK MARKET WANTS IS UNCERTAINTY, YOU SEE A LOT OF VOLATILITY AND MOVEMENT, INTRADAY MOVEMENT IN THE STOCK MARKET WHERE, IT MIGHT BE DOWN 300, UP 500, DOWN 1,000 AND POSITIVE 2,000.

IT IS CAUSING VOLATILITY IN THE MARKET.

TED: THOSE WITH YEARS TO GO UNTIL RETIREMENT, I WOULD IMAGINE TRYING TO TIME THE STOCK MARKET IS A LOSING STRATEGY, AND USUALLY EXITING THE MARKET BY WAY OF 401(k)s CAN BE USUALLY A LOSING STRATEGY.

I GET ALL THAT.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE AT OR NEAR RETIREMENT?

>> AT OR NEAR RETIREMENT.

FOLKS NEED INVENTORY WHAT THE RISK IS, WHAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE TAKING IN TERMS OF RISK AND SHOULD FOCUS ON DIVIDEND AND INTEREST BEARING INVESTMENTS, YOU CAN USE IT TO SMOOTH OUT THE VOLATILITY IN THE MARKET.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOLKS SHOULD STAY THE COURSE, YOU CANNOT TIME THE MARKET, AND YOU CANNOT TIME THE MARKET IN A 401(k) PLAN.

IT'S TIME IN THE MARKET NOT TIMING THE MARKET, SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT DURING VOLATILE TIMES LIKE THIS, TO STAY THE COURSE, FOCUS ON YOUR INVESTMENT PLAN, AND THE RETIREMENT PLAN THAT YOU PUT IN PLACE.

TED: FOR THOSE WHO SAY I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE, GOT TO GET OUT OF THIS THING, ARE THERE SAFE HARBORS FOR THOSE THINKING THE 401(k), I NEED MORE.

IT AIN'T HAPPENING?

>> YEAH, THERE ARE.

PEOPLE CAN GO MONEY MARKET FUNDS, HIGH-YIELD SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, ALL HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE HIGHER INTEREST RATES, THE HIGHER YIELDS AND THE BOND MARKET.

SO THOSE ARE YIELDING TODAY SOMEWHERE AROUND 4%.

SO THAT'S A SAFE HAVEN FOR PEOPLE, IF THEY'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISKS THEY'RE TAKING IN THE STOCK MARKET.

TED: YOU MENTIONED ROTH EARLIER AND WANTED TO GET BACK TO THAT.

WHAT IS A ROTH IRA, FOR WHOM DOES IT MAKE A LOT OF SENSE, AND FOR WHOM DOES IT MEAN EH?

>> ROTH IRA ALLOWS THOSE TO STAVE WITH POST TAX MONEY, AND IT'S IDEAL FOR YOUNGER INVESTORS, I WOULD SAY YOUNGER INVESTORS UP INTO 50s, MAYBE 60s DEPENDING ON WHAT INTENT IS FOR THAT PARTICULAR ACCOUNT.

IT GO IN WITH AFTERTAX MONEY AND ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE TAX FREE GAINS TO USE TOWARDS RETIREMENT.

TED: INTERESTING.

INTERESTING.

WE GOT THE ECONOMY GROWING, LABOR MARKET IS STRONG, INFLATION DOES SEEM TO BE COOLING.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS WERE LOOKING STRONG.

THEY'RE STILL HANGING IN THERE, BUT HOW LONG CAN WE PUT UP WITH THIS VOLATILITY ON WALL STREET, AND THIS UNCERTAINTY AS FAR AS TARIFFS AND THE FUTURE?

WE'RE HEARING RECESSION, JAY.

WE'RE HEARING IT A LOT.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK RIGHT NOW, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THE JOBS NUMBERS ARE STRONG, CORPORATE NUMBERS ARE STRONG IN THE MARKETPLACE, THE UNCERTAINTY IS BEING DRIVEN BY THE TARIFF POLICY THAT IS UNDETERMINED OR YET TO BE DETERMINED OR CHANGES ON A DAILY BASIS.

SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S DRIVING THE MARKET.

NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT FUNDAMENTALS, PRETTY STRONG, THE FEDERAL RESERVE HASN'T MOVED YET TO PRODUCE INTEREST RATES.

THEY'RE GOING TO STAY STEADY FOR A WHILE, MAYBE TWO, MAYBE THREE INTEREST RATE CUTS THIS YEAR.

>> YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> QUITE POSSIBLE.

QUITE POSSIBLE.

DEPENDS WHERE THINGS GO, AND IF THE ECONOMY NEEDS A JOLT TO HELP IT ALONG, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, EVERYTHING IS STATUS QUO, IT'S I BELIEVE THE TARIFFS THAT ARE DRIVING WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MARKET.

TED: LAST QUESTION, AND WE'RE FOCUSING ON THOSE AT OR NEAR RETIREMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE MOST AT RISK AND HAVE THE MOST CONCERN.

IS IT WISE TO HOLD OFF ON RETIREMENT IF YOU'RE SET FOR THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> YOU HAVE TO EVALUATE WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU AS THE INVESTOR.

IF YOU DEVELOPED INVESTMENT OR RETIREMENT PLAN WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT INVESTMENT VEHICLES, WHETHER IT'S SOCIAL SECURITY, IF YOU HAVE ANNUITY INCOME, OTHER PENSION INCOME OR GENERATING DIVIDEND AND INTEREST INCOME FROM THE PORTFOLIO.

THOSE ARE RELIABLE INCOME SOURCES.

IF YOU RELY ON GROWTH FOR RETIREMENT, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE INVENTORY WHAT'S THAT'S GOING TO MEAN FOR RETIREMENT PLAN.

BY AND LARGE, INVESTORS USING A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT INVESTMENT SOURCES THAT ARE MORE STABLE DURING A VOLATILE MARKET, SHOULD BE FINE TO CONTINUE WITH RETIREMENT.

TED: DIVERSIFICATION MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

>> RIGHT.

TED: JAY OF EVERVEST FINANCIAL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> YOU BET.

.

TED: STARTING MAY 7, U.S. CITIZENS NEED A REAL ID COMPLIANT FORM OF IDENTIFICATION FOR AIR TRAVEL WENT COUNTRY.

WHAT'S A REAL ID AND THE PROCESS FOR GETTING ONE?

WE ASK THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: START AT THE BASE LEVEL HERE.

WHAT IS A REAL ID?

>> EXACTLY A FEDERALLY COMPLIANT CREDENTIAL THAT GETS YOU PAST TSA TO FLY DOMESTICALLY AND GETS YOU ACCESS TO FEDERAL FACILITIES THAT MIGHT HAVE MORE OR CONTROLLED ACCESS LIKE THE COURTS OR MILITARY BASES.

TED: MILITARY BASES, FEDERAL BUILDINGS, THESE THINGS.

>> CORRECT.

TED: HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM A DRIVER'S LICENSE?

>> IT IS, IN ARIZONA, REAL COMPLIANT IDENTIFICATION IS THE REAL ID.

IT CAN BE A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR REGULAR ID CARD AS WELL.

TED: IF IT'S A DRIVER'S LICENSE, YOU GOT A STAR OR DOT?

>> CORRECT.

THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION IN ARIZONA, ONE IS STANDARD ARIZONA DRIVER'S LICENSE AND ONE IS THE TRAVEL ID.

IN ORDER TO GET THE TRAVEL ID, IT MATCHES FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS.

ONCE YOU PROVE THE REQUIREMENTS AT THE MVD OFFICE WHEN YOU GET THE NEW LICENSE IN THE MAIL, IT WILL HAVE THE STAR IN THE UPPER RIGHT-HAND CORNER.

TED: HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM A PASSPORT?

>> IT IS USED FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, THE REAL ID IS DOMESTIC FLIGHTS.

TED: HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM A TRIBAL ID?

>> IT DOES NOT, ACTUALLY.

A MYRIAD OF FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS THAT ARE COMPLIANT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE THE ARIZONA TRAVEL ID, YOU CAN USE YOUR PASSPORT, THE TRIBAL CARD, TO FLY DOMESTICALLY.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE A PASSPORT TO GO TO PITTSBURGH OR DENVER OR L.A., YOU CAN USE THE ARIZONA TRAVEL ID AND IT'S ALWAYS IN YOUR PURSE OR WALLET.

TED: WHO DOES NEED A REAL ID AND WHO DOESN'T NEED A REAL ID?

>> IF YOU DON'T NEED A FEDERAL CREDENTIAL, THE ARIZONA ID IS FOR YOU.

THE REAL ID IS THE ARIZONA VERSION.

TED: ON MAY 7, WHAT HAPPENS?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE STANDING AT THE GATE ON MAY 7 OR MAY 8?

>> WHEN THE TSA COMES IN AND ARE GOING TO ASK FOR THE CREDENTIAL, AND YOU MAY HAVE DELAYS, YOU MAY NOT PASS.

WE'LL SEE COME MAY 7.

TED: NOW, IF YOU HAVE A MILITARY ID, IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH?

>> CORRECT, YES.

SO BASICALLY A LONG LIST OF FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS THAT COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS.

THE ARIZONA TRAVEL ID IS FOR THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE AND DO KNOW YOU'RE FLYING.

YOU NEED TO GET ONE.

TED: THE PASSPORT IS FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, DOMESTIC, NO?

>> IT WOULD WORK.

A LOT OF FOLKS GET THE PASSPORT AND FOR AN EXTRA FEE GET THE PASSPORT CARD, YOU CAN DO THAT INSTEAD OF THE TRAVEL ID.

IT IS A GREAT WAY TO KEEP IT IN YOUR PURSE OR WALLET AND GREAT WAY TO GO.

TED: WHAT'S THE PROCESS?

>> WE HAVE A CONVENIENT WAY TO DO IT.

BOOK APPOINTMENT AT MVD OFFICE CONVENIENT FOR YOU, FOR A DAY AND TIME THAT IS CONVENIENT FOR YOU AND MAKE SURE BEFORE YOU COME INTO THE APPOINTMENT, THAT YOU'VE GOT THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION, BIRTH CERTIFICATE, WHICH NEEDS TO BE THE AUTHENTIC ONE FROM THE STATE YOU ARE BORN, IN CERTIFIED COPY OR THE ORIGINAL.

CAN'T BE THE HOSPITAL VERSION.

YOU HAVE TO BRING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND TWO FORMS OF MAIL WITH CURRENT ADDRESS AND PROPER NAME TO VERIFY.

TED: BACK TO THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

IS A COPY OF THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE ENOUGH?

>> IT HAS TO BE A CERTIFIED COPY.

CAN'T BE ONE YOU SCANNED AT XEROX, I HAVE THE ORIGINAL.

TED: IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE ORIGINAL, WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> CAN YOU WORK WITH THE STATE YOU ARE BORN IN TO GET THE CERTIFICATE OR BRING IN YOUR PASSPORT, IF YOU HAVE A VALID U.S. PASSPORT, THAT WOULD WORK AS WELL.

TED: THAT IS REQUIRED OF THE THINGS NEEDED, THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED.

>> EITHER THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR THE PASSPORT.

TED: AND YOU NEED TO GO TO MVD, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FIRST?

>> YOU CAN, IN ARIZONA YOU CAN DO WALK-INS AS WELL.

I LOVE THE FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE WHAT THE APPOINTMENT DOES, IT GETS YOU IN FRONT OF THE WALK-IN CROWDS SO IT SKIRTS YOU TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE, IF YOU COME IN TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS ARE THE BETTER DAYS TO COME INTO MVD, I CAN TELL YOU THAT NOW.

MONDAYS AND FRIDAYS ARE BUSIER.

BOOK THE APPOINTMENT FOR THE DAY AND TIME CONVENIENT FOR YOU.

IF MONDAY AND FRIDAY AREN'T GOOD FOR YOUR SCHEDULE, THERE ARE AUTHORIZED THIRD PARTY LOCATIONS OPEN LATER, OR ALSO OPEN ON SATURDAYS.

>> AND BECAUSE OF THE AUTHENTICATION THAT'S NEEDED, YOU CAN'T GO ONLINE AND DO THIS, CORRECT?

>> SOME FOLKS CAN.

THERE'S A COUPLE REQUIREMENTS.

IN ARIZONA YOU HAVE TO HAVE PHOTO TAKEN EVERY 12 YEARS, NOW WITH THE TRAVEL ID, THAT EXPIRATION BUMPS TO EIGHT YEARS, IF YOU'VE GOT A PHOTO NEWER THAN EIGHT YEARS AND SHOWN A LOT OF IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION TO THE MVD AND IT'S ON FILE, YOU COULD SAVE YOURSELF A TRIP TO THE MVD.

TED: IS THAT INFORMATION ONLINE, YOU CAN FIND OUT IF THEY CAN USE ONLINE?

>> IF YOU GO TO AZDOT.GOV, THERE IS A LIVE CHAT, WHERE YOU CAN CHAT WITH A PROFESSIONAL CSR AND THEY CAN TELL YOU IF YOU CAN DO IT HERE AND THERE.

TED: NOT ONE OF THE A.I.

THINGS?

>> NO, THEY'RE LIVE EMPLOYEES.

TED: QUICKLY, HOW LONG DOES THE PROCESS TAKE.

WE'VE BEEN IN MVD WHEN IT TAKES LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED.

HOW LONG IS THE PROCESS?

>> ARIZONA MVD IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE NATION.

AVERAGE WAIT TIME IS 25, 30 MINUTES DOOR-TO-DOOR.

IF YOU BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT, COULD BE LESS THAN THAT.

TED: YOU TALKING ABOUT THE PROCESS OR THE WAIT TIME.

>> THE ENTIRE WAIT TIME, FROM DOOR-TO-DOOR, 25 TO 30 MINUTES.

THE OTHER THING I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IS BE PHOTO READY, WHEN YOU COME IN, WE WILL BE TAKING A PHOTO OF YOU.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SMILE, BUT BE PHOTO READY.

TED: HOW LONG BEFORE IT ARRIVES?

>> 10 TO 14 DAYS BUT MINE CAME IN FOUR.

TED: AND IT'S GOOD FOR EIGHT YEARS?

>> EIGHT YEARS, $25 AT INITIAL AND RENEWAL.

TED: WHERE DO YOU GET THIS STUFF ONLINE.

>> AZMVD.DOT.

.

TED: REPORTER RAY STERN COVERS POLITICAL AND LEGAL MATTERS FOR "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC."

STERN COVERED A LOT OF MILES IN PERU, BY WAY OF A MOTORCYCLE TRIP THROUGH SACRED VALUE INCLUDING A STOP AT MACHUPICCHU.

RAY JOINS US NOW.

SO WHY?

WHY DID YOU DO THIS?

>> WELL, TED, I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE NEXT ADVENTURE, AND MOTORCYCLING FOR ME IS PART OF THAT.

I HAVE RIDDEN IN ITALY AND SPAIN BEFORE AS WELL, AND TRYING TO CONVINCE MY MOTORCYCLING BUDDY MIKE, HE NEEDS TO RIDE OUT OF COUNTRY.

WE PLANNED A TRIP FOR 2020.

THE PANDEMIC RUINED THAT, AND LAST YEAR WE'RE LIKE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING SOON, WE DECIDED ON SOUTH AMERICA, IT WAS SPRING, EXOTIC, AND WHEN I LOOKED AT PERU AS A PLACE TO GO FOR MOTORCYCLES, IT'S A PLACE THAT DRAWS MOTORCYCLISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WAS A DESTINATION SPOT FOR MOTORCYCLE TOURISTS?

>> IT REALLY IS.

IN FACT, CUSCO, THE CAPITAL OF THE INCAN EMPIRE HAS A DOZEN MOTORCYCLE RENTAL PLACES.

YOU NEED AN ENDORSEMENT, THERE'S LOTS OF PLACES TO GO SEE.

TED: HOW DID YOU PICK OUT WHERE YOU WERE GOING TO GO?

DID YOU MAP IT OUT?

HOW DID IT WORK?

>> NO PLANS WHATSOEVER.

OUR PLAN WAS TO RIDE A MOTORCYCLE IN PERU IN THE SACRED VALLEY OF INCAS, WHERE THERE'S A LOT TO SEE.

WE DIDN'T MAKE OUR RESERVATION FOR MACHUPICCHU BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO LOCK OURSELVES IN, WE WANTED TO EXPERIENCE THE LANDSCAPE AND SEE IT ON MOTORCYCLE WITH NO PLANS AND GO WHEREVER THE WIND TOOK US.

TED: YOU USED RENTED BIKES?

>> WE DID.

TED: WHAT ABOUT GAS?

YOU CAN'T JUST STOP AT THE CORNER FOR A GAS STATION.

>> YOU CAN.

TED: YOU CAN?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF MODERNITY, IT'S MODERN IN A LOT OF WAYS.

DON'T GET ME WRONG, I FELT LIKE I WAS 100 YEARS IN THE PAST A LOT ON THIS TRIP.

THERE'S CERTAIN -- IT'S DUSTY THERE, A DEVELOPING NATION, THERE'S A LOT OF POVERTY THERE THAT YOU WOULDN'T SEE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, SO IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE YOU'RE AT HOME, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF MODERN THINGS THERE.

TED: WHAT WERE THE CONDITIONS LIKE?

SEEMS LIKE THERE WAS A LOT OF MUD.

>> THERE WAS.

AS I WAS READING UP BEFORE WE WENT THERE.

ONLY 65% OF THE TRIP IS ON PAVED ROADS, AND YOU KNOW JUST TRYING TO IMAGINE WHAT THAT WOULD BE LIKE BEFORE I LEFT, I COULDN'T REALLY FIGURE IT OUT, BUT WHEN WE GOT THERE, WE LEARNED THAT THERE IS ADVERSITIES THERE, IT WAS GOOD WE HAD THE HYBRID MOTORCYCLES THAT ARE MADE FOR ON AND OFF-ROAD RIDING BECAUSE THERE WAS MUD, FOG, FRESH LANDSLIDE US THAT TO GO OVER, AND YOU NEEDED A BIKE THAT WAS PRETTY STURDY.

TED: AND SOME OF THE ROADS YOU DESCRIBED, CLIFFSIDE ROADS, SWITCHBACKS, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S AROUND THE NEXT TURN.

IT WAS EXCITING STUFF.

>> IT WAS EXCITING.

EVERYTHING WE THOUGHT MOTORCYCLE RIDING IN PERU COULD HAVE BEEN.

EVEN THE PAVED ROADS, WHEN YOU GET INTO THE ANDES, WE WENT OVER A 14,000 FOOT PASS TWICE COMING AND GOING.

IT WAS EXTREMELY COLD.

THERE WAS FOG AND A LOT OF RAIN AS WELL.

THERE WERE ALSO THESE STREAM CROSSINGS.

SO THE STREAMS WOULD COME DOWN OFF THE MOUNTAIN AND CROSS THE ROAD, AFTER THE THIRD OR FOURTH ONE, I STARTED COUNTING THEM, THESE ARE EPIC, EACH ONE, SO I COUNTED 17 IN TOTAL, AND THREE WERE ACTUALLY SO INTENSE THEY COULD FEEL MY MOTORCYCLE LEANING OVER BECAUSE OF THE RUSH OF WATER, AND THERE WAS ONE THAT CARS WOULDN'T GO THROUGH.

THEY WERE WAITING AS THIS GUY WAS LIKE PICKING UP THE BOULDERS AND MOVING THEM.

TED: YES.

>> AND I WAS KIND OF LIKE HESITANT UNTIL I SAW MY FRIEND PLOW THROUGH IT AND I HAD TO DO IT AS WELL.

TED: THE CRAZY AMERICANS WENT THROUGH WHILE EVERYONE WAS CAREFUL.

>> PRETTY MUCH.

TED: THAT MAKES SENSE.

HOW WERE THE PEOPLE DOWN THERE?

>> THIS IS A PLACE VERY WELCOMING TO TOURISTS.

WHETHER YOU ARE MOTORCYCLING OR WHATEVER, PEOPLE ARE VERY HOSPITABLE DOWN THERE.

ON THE MOTORCYCLE, THEY KNOW YOU ARE COLD AND WET, AND WANT TO WARM YOU UP BY THE FIRE.

THE ENTIRE AREA BY THE MACHUPICCHU SITE AND THE SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS IS A TOURIST DESTINATION, THERE IS A TOURIST INFRASTRUCTURE THERE AND THEY ARE HAPPY TO SEE YOU.

>> THE SCENERY, I IMAGINE THE PHOTOGRAPHS DON'T DO JUSTICE TO THE SCENERY.

PEOPLE DO PILGRIMAGES DOWN THERE BECAUSE IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SITE.

WHEN YOU SAW IT, WAS IT LIKE SEEING THE GRAND CANYON FOR THE FIRST TIME?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE MOST DRAMATIC AND INCREDIBLE SITES I'VE EVER SEEN.

WE'VE ALL SEEN THE PICTURESES OF IT.

IT HAD BEEN RAINING, AND THE SUN CAME OUT, LIKE THE INCA GODS WERE SMILING ON IT.

IT WAS SO MUCH MORE MASSIVE THAN WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

TED: IT LOOKS LIKE THAT?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE THAT.

YOU'RE STANDING ON A POST CARD FOR THE VIEW, AND YOU GET TO WALK AROUND IT, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN PARTS OF IT THAT MAKE IT OBVIOUS THAT THEY ENGINEERED ENTIRE LANDSCAPES AND HILLS FOR THE PURPOSES.

TED: WOW, WAS THAT THE BEST MEMORY OF THE TRIP?

WHAT WAS THE BEST MEMORY OF ALL THIS?

>> SO MANY GOOD MEMORIES.

HARD TO SAY.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES IS COMING UP OVER THIS HILL IN THE ANDES, MASSIVE FOG, COULD BARELY SEE IN FRONT OF ME, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I SAW WHAT WERE TWO LITTLE CHILDREN, AND THEY WERE KASHON INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, AND PROBABLY NINE OR TEN YEARS OLD AND LITERALLY LAUGHING AND DANCING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ONCOMING LABEL.

I'M WORRIED AS HECK FOR THEM.

WHY ARE THESE KIDS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'M ENTRANSED BY THEM.

BUT THERE WERE ALPACAS AS WELL, THEY WERE MAYBE HERDING THE ALPACAS AND IN THE STREET TO PROTECT THE ALPACAS, WHAT A SITE.

>> I THINK WE HAVE A SHOT THERE.

THAT'S AN ALPACA?

>> THAT'S AN ALPACA.

A COMMON SIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY OUT THERE ARE ALPACAS, AND I MENTION THAT DOGS WERE ALSO A BIG CONSIDERATION.

WE HAD MANY OF THEM RUN UP TRYING TO NIP OUR HEELS AND YOU HAD TO WATCH OUT FOR THEM.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE A TRIP OF A LIFETIME UNTIL THE NEXT TRIP, WHEREVER THAT IS GOING TO BE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THIS MUST HAVE BEEN A HOOT AND A LOT OF THINGS TO THINK ABOUT AND REMEMBER.

>> IT REALLY WAS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME TALK ABOUT IT.

TED: YOU BETCHA.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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