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I am Dave Hensleigh, a traveler, runner, creative type who just loves Mexico. I started Authentic Mexico Travel in 2008 with a vision to give curious travelers a vivid experience in the true life of Mexico and its people. All through my youth, the trails, mountains, grasslands, forests and wild places of the Midwest and West were my haunt and my cumulative travel experience is varied and vast. I backpacked all over. In my “Third Third”, I have become a Mexico specialist. With great joy and satisfaction, I have created a unique flex travel model to insure the best in experiences for true travelers who want to know and be immersed in authentic Mexico. I just love the sound, the smell, the vibe of a little Mexican town. And I want to hand it on.
Life change. Debbie, my good wife of 50 years died in December, 2023. This is of course sad, but she died well and life goes on. To get a sip of her impactful life, take a look at YourBestThirdThird.com. I am now, day by day, better and better. Life alone is good. Kind of like Seabiscuit- she made me better. And now she is gone and the kids and I and all of her friends are better for having been close to her.
Age: I am a card carrying boomer—born in Leavenworth (really) in 1949. People think I look act much younger than that. I always have looked younger than my age. Perhaps being an avid ultra runner, eating broccoli, and sipping good whiskey in the evening keeps me that way. Not sure on that, but it seems to work.
Grew Up: On a farm near Winchester, KS, population 450 and High School class of 17 students. My nickname in college was “Hick”. It fit. Debbie (smart, talkative, consummate sales person from old Austin) and I began to piece life together in Lubbock Tx during grad school. Still figuring stuff out.
Under my Skin: I am loved, I am created just right, I am the light of the world…I think.
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The Path: I am a traveler, runner, builder/creative type who just loves Mexico. After resigning from the career roller coaster in 2007, I started this south of the border deal with a vision to give curious travelers a vivid experience in the true life of Mexico and its people. All through my youth, the trails, mountains, grasslands and wild places of the Midwest and West were my haunt –I am an outdoor guy. I did Math in undergrad and Biology in grad school. I was enthusiastic on the first Earth Day, I care about living things. I am deeply concerned over the degradation of the environment and wildlife and soil, especially in the last 20 years.
How did I get into travel? My family was filled with travelers and I was taken on and sent on trips from my youth. In college I worked in Yosemite (my ancestors built some hotels there—Camp Curry, The Ahwahnee,etc.) and the former Disney people there in 1968 drilled hospitality deeply into me. Like they insisted that the target was a “WOW” from each guest—not just a “Well this is nice”. And they taught me to listen. Life changing. And I use that stuff i learned there every day in this business.
What am I up to these days? Running, keeping up with Mexico, Planting native shrubs and trees, supporting my guides – who are really family, caring for our two AirBnBs, and walking in our woods along the Middlefork River in Illinois.
Favorite travel spots? Mexico—duh! Also Streeterville neighborhood in Chicago.