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Looking good Paul.
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took off from Cartagena as a six pack
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3381-XL.jpg rode by all the Ant eater signs...no ants around so i guess they are good at what they do :lol3 http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3382-XL.jpg thru the banana plantations and into Riohacha http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3385-XL.jpg we had problems finding a hotel for six riders so with a little help from the Policia, and then an escort we eventally got some where...the cop sitting on the bike wouldn't let me take the photo until he had his cap on...:huh http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3393-XL.jpg took a stroll at night down to the 1.2km long pier where there is a statue of Fatima that all the locals have there photo taken with or just stand and admire...to me she looked like she was in a Ma Bell phone booth http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3394-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3396-XL.jpg left in the morning and got some street gas at 50% on the side of the road from the locals and headed to the border http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3400-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3402-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3406-XL.jpg plan was to leave CO and ride into VZ but there were elections on and the VZ border was closed because we were told a lot of columbians have a VZ ID number which allows them to vote and guess what...those votes can be bought, so no one was allowed over, we did try the "but we're gringo's approach" no go, hasta manana http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3409-XL.jpg kedgi (dwight) was supposed to the on the steel rat but missed it, he made time out to come to Cartagena and ride with some of us, super nice guy, he was stoked about leaving Columbia and heading to VZ, as the photo shows, right up to the point when we were told no! so he headed south and doesn't get to enjoy free gas http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3410-XL.jpg so we headed back to Maicao to get a hotel now as four riders, when we stopped for a drink Bubbletron (alison) was an instant hit with the locals http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3411-XL.jpg and this is the place we found...hotel frontera...$15 a bed, 12 kms from the border...SOLD http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3412-XL.jpg took a walk into town and found a small bakery open at night, watched a motorcycle wreck happen right outside and three body fly (no photos) when they eventually got up lots of shouting and pushing was happening, so at a border town this is the time to disappear while doing the paperwork (not doing details on SA borders as there are way to many and they are so easy) me and President Chavez had a chat http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3416-XL.jpg and then somehow bubbetron talked into giving her a head massage http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3418-XL.jpg the migration on both sides was a breeze, no fees, ten minutes for both, aduana a little more involved, they didn't officially open until ten am. we were there at 9 am...now get this...they opened the door, let us into the AC, preprocessed all the paperwork and copies, but could do anything until their system was on, then again no fees, super friendly and real easy, no insurance required, didn't check the bikes out of Columbia, we told them we are coming back and they said OK...central america take notes :rofl:rofl so into VZ http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3420-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3427-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3424-XL.jpg a little late but here, destination was Carora, we had to ride thru Maricaibo and this was the first place we hit a gas station, it was packed, everyone in a car and truck told us to go to the front of the line so we did, four bikes all on fumes, all were filled and then we were told... felix navidad, bien viaje y via con dios - happy christmas, good travels and go with God, a hand shake and we left with free gas...liking VZ already http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3429-XL.jpg stopped grabbed some food, then found a hotel for $6 with four beds, looked like something from goldilocks and the three bears, we all laughed when we walked in...hers momma bear (bubbletron) moving to fast, try ing the firmness of all the beds http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3434-XL.jpg so as John Downs would say...todays expenses on gas (a 300 mile day) food, border fees and lodging $9.03...beat that John!!! |
Hi Paul keep the pictures and write up going nice one.:newspaper: Safe riding.
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i was sent this...a mexican cop leading a parade, he sees a speed bump (topes) to late and hits his front brake perfectly to push his front wheel in the the bump and not go over it, talk about perfect (bad) timing, guess we are not the only ones who hate topes, hey officer???...will this slow down the building of new ones????
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leaving Carora in the morning the plan was for some back roads out of town, nice easy day riding and roll into Valencia or Maracay late afternoon...that idea kind of happened but not exactly as planned
Still in Carora on a road leading to the outskirts we were stopped by the military, he picked me as the person to speak to, initially he seemed agressive and as soon as i showed on my tank bag where we were going he tone changed and perfect english started, "no you can't do that" i questioned why and showed him the roads were looking to take heading east on a map and also on the GPS. once he saw the GPS he moved it around like he had be trained on it at Garmins headquarters, switching screens, zooming in and out, then another soldier came over and he did the same. they pointed to multiple roads and and said very clearly "there are guerrillas here, here, here, here and here, avoid this area, don't take this road, this road, this road, this road, this road...for you gringos go back to town and exit from the west get on the auto pista and stay on it until Valencia, if you don't you will be in a lot of danger" ok so off we head, on a basically boring ride down a freeway for the day, not much to see as expected, minimal photo ops, one of the minute highlights was seeing who had the most kitchenware for sale at the side of the road!!! http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3437-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3438-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3443-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3444-XL.jpg in the afternoon we stopped to fill the bikes ups, all of them at once and used almost 51 liters that cost 4.93 bolivianos, or 33 cents US http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3448-XL.jpg heading thru VAlencia the traffic was absolutely nuts, no one gives and inch so we lane split for about 10 miles, a real good place to get side swiped and then crushed by another driver by the afternoon the mountians appeared but it was too late to head out there http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3450-XL.jpg smile moment of the day riding by a truck full of pigs, the truck hit a major pot hole and all the pigs bounced up about 2 or 3 feet in the air...glad i wasn't behind the truck :puke1 http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3452-XL.jpg the going thru a tunnel there was this...hopefully not a VZ version of Mt Rushmore, if i was one of these guys i would be pissed at the likeness and i don't even know what they look like, if that makes sense http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3455-XL.jpg we ended the day in Maracay, a guy stopped called salvador who spoke English and wanted to tell us about his 1000cc Honda he has at home, Ryans eyes lit up hearing about a big bike, "so big bikes means big rear tires, right?" he said i'll show the shop with the best selection, get on...and off they went into rush hour traffic http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3457-XL.jpg we ended the day in the second best hotel in town for $11.75 a person and went for a Chinese dinner!!! Chinese speaking Spanish was just a little weird but a good way to end a basically boring day |
it was strange leaving maracay and its crazy traffic, we expected to have the same for the rest of the day, but no, in minutes we were riding thru banana plantations and down a quiet country road with virtually no other traffic
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3459-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3462-XL.jpg even though there seems to be a lot less mopeds and motorcycles here, probably due to the low cost of gas most we saw were new...hence the delivery trucks full http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3466-XL.jpg within an hour or so the mountains were on our right, the very northern end of the Andes, but no way to get up there yet http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3468-XL.jpg skipping in and out of little towns you are always reminded that things are just done differently south of the border http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3469-XL.jpg our last big town for a while would be San Juan De Los Morros, then it was into the Savannah's and the heat of midday http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3473-XL.jpg a short break at a road side bar in the middle of no where and the owner served us with honey dew melon juice, very refreshing...it didn't last long enough to take a photo of, a big glass full was 90 cents http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3474-XL.jpg then back to more Savannah's, it was very similar to scenery of places near where i used to live in Kenya http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3480-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3487-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3495-XL.jpg as we closed in on a big town the trucks started to appear but when they are 1960's Mack trucks thats kind of cool especially when they are in this condition...the driver was looking at me strange wonder why i would want a photo of his truck - dude its *****in, that why...:clap http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3492-XL.jpg riding down a steep hill we spotted a great view thru the trees of the Savannah's below, stopped the bikes and ran back up the road to get the shot http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4406-XL.jpg traffic was coming down the hill at crazy speeds as seems to be the way everywhere in Venezuela, and then we saw these, we were on a deadly bend where more than one driver had missed the turn and plummeted to there death down to the valley below...time to get out of the way before there's a monument with name my on it http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4410-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4411-XL.jpg |
Hi PAUL have a MERRY CHRISTMAS:redwine:.Safe riding.:028:
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...and to the rest of the very silent readers, yes i know there are a lot of you who never comment and thats OK, have a great christmas and lots more to come in the new year |
Merry Xmas from a "silent reader"
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I'm normally part of those "very silent readers" for fear of polluting quality ride reports, especially this one that is filled with excellent photos and backed up with an enjoyable story! So, I'll have a :beer[1]: and toast you a Merry Xmas and look forward to more coming in the new year when I will go back to being "silent" :) Cheers, Dale |
Happy Xmas dude. Enjoy the sun. Its miserable here in the UK.
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the real thing and the bronze thing
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3615-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3630-XL.jpg the occasional custom truck, that looked so out of place http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3617-XL.jpg health and safety...whats that? http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3619-XL.jpg cowboy boots with rubber color matched soles http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3621-XL.jpg golden retrievers for sale from the trunk of a car for $80 http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3642-XL.jpg graffiti, but its more art like, political or propaganda, look at the last one, statue of liberty holding a missle and the stars in the flag are skulls...:huh http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3616-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3643-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3626-XL.jpg scooby doo and the VZ version of the mystery machine http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3639-XL.jpg ...and last of all, Merida has a very famous ice cream shop in the Guiness book of records for having the most flavors, 836 of them http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3602-XL.jpg and here they all are...on the wall but not in stock, not surprised! http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3609-XL.jpg so bubbletron and i ventured in and ordered, can i have a...no, no, no, no, no, no so this is what we ended up with, on the left strawberry, which was supposed to be black cherry but almost ended up being beer flavor :lol3 and on the right is avacado and i think chocolate, (she'll correct me if i'm wrong) http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3610-XL.jpg and i know you are thinking beer flavored ice...WTF, well when you have to come up with 836 flavors you end up with things like: crab/ mushroom/ tomato/ salmon/ beef/ rice/ ham and cheese/ black russian/ beer/ sangria and what the hell tostones is??? http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3606-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3607-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3608-XL.jpg so in a few days normal service will be resumed and it'll be time to get back on the bike once everything has opened back up, like shops, gas stations and border crossings in the mean time to all you riders and readers out there if you are stuck in the snow Merry Christmas . |
so not too much going on here in Venezuela today so as a drunken thought last night maybe i should put a video together about the last two years worth of photos...but first here is the trailer
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Hi Paul hope you had a good CHRISTMAS .The video pictures looks good have a Happy New Year.:respeck:
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The trailer whets the appitite nicely, look forward to the main feature!
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us this year, always been an inspiring and captivating thread. Here's to a safe and succesful journey through 2013 :beer[1]: |
The last 60,000 miles in photos...
i decided to put this together, for me and for you of course - its kind of a review of some of my favorite photos of the last 60,000 miles or .......march 21st 2011 to december 25th 2012 i'll now do this once a year as i thought it would be easy but it isn't, i have taken over 50,000 photos during this period (hell of a lot got deleted BTW) - thought i could get it done in an hour or two and it took over 8 hours :huh to get the timing right just as an advanced warning, get a beer or two as its 14 minutes long go to full screen and turn the volume up |
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Extremely
Mean
Ignorants
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i am going to remake a 'silent movie version' when i get a good connection...in the mean time humor me as someone suggested if you change your home location to USA it should work????
LMK |
Bloody EMI who do they think they are.:smilies0134:
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Ok for now here is a silent version and i will look for some music to dub over it from the way capt moto suggested
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That�s better! :icon_thumleft:
Brilliant montage of images. 13.05 minutes went very quickly � no beer required! :signthankspin: |
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i tried to add sound thru the youtube library but for some reason it would only let me add one song, and it should let me add as many as i want, if you or anyone else knows how to add multiples let me know glad you enjoyed the images Paul |
leaving Merida behind in the valley we head of into the Andes
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3670-XL.jpg great mountain roads with minimal traffic and amazing views, but it was strange to feel very cold for the first time in months http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3675-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3677-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3681-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3684-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3685-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3686-XL.jpg this was in avery small town in the middle of nowhere... http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3688-XL.jpg over time the road climbs and the sky cleared, the air got thinner, and the cold...well it got colder :wink: http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3699-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3703-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3706-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3709-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3713-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3717-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3721-XL.jpg most of the roads we were riding were like this heading up and down, we stuck to paved roads due to heavy rain over the last few days, and paved roads means about 80% paved in these areas http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3725-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3727-XL.jpg and in GPS world it looked like this... http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...56%20AM-X3.png |
finally reaching the summit at around 12,000 feet just as the sun was dropping below the peaks of the mountain behind us, i have kind of lost track how many times i have crossed the Andes over the last two years, i think its in double figures for sure and each crossing is different and an amazing sight
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heading thru small rose farms that lined the hillsides and back down into the valley where political slogans lined walls
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3750-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4433-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4438-XL.jpg we ended up in a small town called la grita which on my map and GPS had two streets, a little bigger when we got there, four main squares running up a hill side, we ended up finding a secure hotel with parking for $6 a night :clap http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4449-XL.jpg and then decided to stay a couple of days and relax and wander around and do some people watching http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4451-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4455-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4492-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4501-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4504-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4517-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4520-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4541-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4564-XL.jpg and of course there are dogs... http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4477-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4502-XL.jpg |
the town felt safe and secure with a large military presence who were very friendly and smiled and said hello on whole
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4462-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4463-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4465-XL.jpg if you have a sweet tooth do they have snacks for you for pennies http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4472-XL.jpg as always main squares here seem to have a church and palms trees http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4489-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4508-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4491-XL.jpg and now christmas was done they had it locked away, guess you will have to come here next year to find out who wears this as we missed it...:rofl:rofl:rofl http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4498-XL.jpg |
leaving la grita Ryan got knocked off his bike in a gas station - no photos - he is sitting off to one side when a big ford truck with a fat guy driving and a fat women in the passenger seat are next inline for the pump after us, he has NO WHERE to go but starts his truck and drives about one foot forward for no reason, his bumper hits ryan panniers and knocks him over...he then says he didn't do it!!!
a guy comes out and screams a bunch of spanish at him and he drives off...i got the translation from the guy (gas station owner i think) i told to get the **** out of here, he complained that he had been in line for over an hour, the response "you are a fat ****ing Chavez loving mother ****ing ******* and you will never buy gas here again for the rest of your life!!!" we got an apology from everyone in the gas station and got our gas all 18 cents of it to fill up both the bikes and rode off...not a good start to the day but it got better in minutes the ride out to San Cristobel thru the mountains is spectacular http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3756-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3758-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3762-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3764-XL.jpg loads of little farms dotting the hillsides, mainly growing roses http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3771-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3780-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3781-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3783-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3786-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3788-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3798-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3801-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3803-XL.jpg the day ended in this biker owned hotel just a short distance for a run to the border in the morning http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3814-XL.jpg |
leaving the hotel in the morning there was a good selection of bikes, cruisers, tourers, small bikes and big bikes
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3815-XL.jpg first order of business get some gas - easy right? wrong! the closer you get to the border the gas is regulated, you cannot just pull and fill your bike, the country/ state issues a sticker that is read at the pump so it won't turn on if there's nothing to read...screwed, right? wrong! there is always a away, gas on the west side of the country is even cheaper, never thought it was possible, but its around 6 cents a liter, YES 6 CENTS A LITER....so what you do is wait for a car to pull up, there sticker activates the pump, he fills his car and then the attendent pull the nossle out of the car, gas still pouring out all over the floor and drags it over to you bike and then fills your bike, oh and covers whatever is in the way with gas!!! no photos of this but it is funny to that gas has no value at all really and the guy who's sticker i used paid for my gas and his and all the gas all over the floor and smiled and shook my hand and wished me farewell...:clap:clap:clap:clap onto the border to columbia, you need 90 VZ bolivars ($6) to leave the country, easy, then head over the bridge....no photos here either so picture this the bridge is four lanes wide, traffic standing still in both directions, bikes alternating directions in the middle playing chicken with each other for the 300 yards or so to cross the bridge, absolute chaos!!! immigration is on the right as you cross the bridge on the road to Cucuta, you could ride straight thru no one tried to stop me at all, no barriers, guards...nothing...:huh as soon as i get off the bike a VZ guy comes up and starts talking in English to us, first thought, FIXER, nope just a fellow bike rider, he points out where we need to go and the line has about 1000 people in it, we park the bikes while he went back to the line, as we walk back he is inline with his girlfriend near the back, we join them, he asks people all around if they mind, he tells them we are friends and shows people photos of his bike as proof. :deal we stand in line for about one hour and when we get to the front one of the immigration guys comes out and tells us to go to the back of the line, we argue and refuse, he shouts at me in spanish, i shout at him in English, (what for he doesn't understand, but it felt good) then one person inline realizes i know he is saying we pushed in line, and they speak good English, he said let me translate and starts screaming at the immigration guy that we had been inline for at least one hour and tourists should not be treated like this they are here to spend money in our country...with that every person in the line starts shouting at this one guy to stamp our passports, about 1000 people shouting at the top of there voices, can you picture that??? it was outrageously loud and two minutes later he had to back down as people were now refusing to get there columbian passports stamped so the whole place was at a stand still, once he agreed to stamp us in everyone started cheering and wanted to shake our hands, even him the little fat immigration guy...:lol3:lol3:lol3 mob justice prevails so when we leave the columbian welcome sign appeared almost too soon for me to photo...welcome to Columbia and what a welcome is was, craziest border i have ever done, and according to lots of people this is a quiet border on most days. MISSED!!! http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3818-XL.jpg so is it different once you cross? no they still have big packages on the bikes, crossing from country to country and back, depends on who has the cheapest price!!! http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3817-XL.jpg we got away from the border and the border town of Cucuta, coming up a hill BBQ smells filled the air and we stopped for pork ribs, all of them that the guy had on his fire, he was very happy, and so were we...but he was so happy he wanted a photo of his baby on my bike to show his friends that two gringos just rode up and bought him out!!! the baby seemed very happy about it too :lol3:lol3:lol3:lol3 http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3820-XL.jpg so after being at the border and eating it was already afternoon we rode some more mountain roads and saw a town called Pamplona, like the running of the bulls town in Spain, we headed there http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3821-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3823-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3824-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3832-XL.jpg it had a good vibe so we decided to stay here for new years...everyone seems very friendly the dogs pose for photos as well what more could you need to end the year...we'll find out http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3867-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3866-XL.jpg |
i was a little late grabbing the camera here...super hot chick with a poodle between her legs on a moped, life is certainly different here
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3850-XL.jpg they hide my bike with the laundry http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3871-XL.jpg some people should know they make scary shadows at night...kids were running and she couldn't work out why! :eek1 http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3869-XL.jpg the next morning for breakfast we head to the local pasterie shop and see this, mood cakes http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3842-XL.jpg translated into English and XT660 carino - affection - :shsgging: delicia - delight - :family: emocion - emotion - :hahaha[1]: felicidad - happiness - :rofl[1]: tentacion - temptation - :hidesbehindsofa[1]: pureza - purity - :massage[1]: sensacion - sensation - :porn: imaginaci�n - immagination - :SoBored_YGAAH7: . |
pamplona was strange for New Years, people were walking around but not many of them, the main square was dead and there was no signs that anything was going to happen, no vendors, no people partying, the few bars in town were literally empty...very strange so it was a non event, we expected fireworks going off all night and it didn't happen....
anyhow here is how the square looked in the morning, no a single sign of life or a crazy party from the night before http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3873-XL.jpg within minutes of leaving we we high in the Andes again at 11,000 feet, it was freezing, multiple layers required then the worst thing happened, on a bend Ryan was behind me his rear wheel let go on black ice, BLACK ICE in columbia...what was to blame besides the black ice, i would say the Heideneau tires, they have such a hard compound, i know he is not the first to go down in a situation like this, i saw him go in my mirror, as i turn my bike around he was already up surrounded by a group of locals who had a tienda on the corner he was taking they ran to help but sometimes this isn't the best thing, they grab whatever to lift the bike and can cause more damage unknowingly just trying to help, same goes for being picked up by them, luckily it was not a bad fall for him, around 30 mph and the hard cases took most of the fall, his left ankle took the rest, so now he is the own of a nice big bruise and a limp for a week or so :huh http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3874-XL.jpg not more than 5 miles later the road was bone dry, and ran in and out of villages and up and down mountainsides, the fog came and went a few times due to elevation http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3880-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3881-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3887-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3894-XL.jpg heading down thru the mountain valley we spot Bucaramanaga, one of Columbias biggest cities and we are hading into it around midday :huh http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3901-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3908-XL.jpg times of doing this in Columbia are short lived, overtaking over a double yellow, no overtaking sign and a cop car right there, Ryan was lucky he was looking the other way...columbian police are very sharp nowadays and have no problems issuing tickets at all http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3909-XL.jpg we had been told about a little town called Cepita, as Ryan was having problems with his ankle swelling he could only stand up on the pegs for very short times so it seemed our original destination of El Cocuy national park was off, we had been told there was a hostal down in the valley but we struggled to find the road to get down there http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3911-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3916-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3924-XL.jpg after talking to a local, he told me the original road had been washed away and there was a new road, it was not on garmin maps, OSM maps, paper maps, we got directions and headed out to find it in the direction we had come from twice already some 15km's from where we thought it was we found the sign http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3939-XL.jpg the next sign showed 12 km to the town down a steep dirt road with a 2000 foot drop to the left, very similar to death raod kind of drop, very sheer, no barriers, but nowhere near as much traffic as the town only has 361 inhabitants http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3951-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3965-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3966-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3975-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3980-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...M_39841-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3991-XL.jpg |
the ride down is nothing short of spectacular, one of the deepest canyons on the planet you can drive to the bottom of it is a must see if you are near here and can find the road :deal
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4597-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4590-XL.jpg we found a place to stay - Hostal Cepita, for $8 http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_3999-XL.jpg the town had had its annual celebration a few days before, missed again :cry http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_4001-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_4039-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_4038-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_4036-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_4028-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_4026-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...AM_4025-XL.jpg |
Ryan had his helmet camera on for once so i dicked around with my new favorite toy imovies and here is a video of the ride down last night
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riding out fo Cepita, the sun was on the other side of the canyon so again fantastic views
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4604-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4606-XL.jpg took a very short ride to San Gil, Ryan was struggling with his ankle so when we got here we just decided to stay for a couple of days and take in this bustling town, full of Columbians on there annual vacation, enjoying the sun and people watching http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4613-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4614-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4616-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4618-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4673-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4687-XL.jpg Ryan says..."i don't have my phone turned on so who is she calling?" http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4689-XL.jpg |
the town is set in a very steep valley and some of the side roads are just crazy how steep they are, some have been blocked off because they are simply too dangerous to even try and stop on
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4625-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4628-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4629-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4634-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4639-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4640-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4651-XL.jpg very busy moto town, crazy things go by, unless they are stopped in the free bike parking areas around town http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4672-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4685-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4690-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4698-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4711-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/2...MG_4719-XL.jpg |
Theirs certainly lots of motorcycles and looking how steep the streets are you need one..I see you have spotted the local beauties:icon_thumleft:.
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