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waking up to heavier rain than you feel asleep to is not the best way to start the ride, most of the remainder of Honduras was wet almost the whole way to the border...the plan was to stop in Danli but we got there at noon and decided to head for the border after getting thru Tegucigalpa with no problems beside a cop wanting to stop us just to say hello :D
the clouds broke up just before the border at el parisio/ los manos http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2837-XL.jpg the border here is easy just a lot of BS as usual checking out of Honduras head up the hill past the hundreds of parked semis and the building to your left is where you do the migration and pay 60 Limperas and cancel the bike import this photos is looking back down the hill, so left as you come up http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2846-XL.jpg jump back on the bike ride about 50 yards or so more to the right and get disinfected, BIKES DO NOT HAVE TO PAY, then park over to the left outside the insurance building, which you will do three things at...get your insurance 'Seguros' (guy in a white polo shirt), get your immigration paper (guy in white shirt leaning on the post) to fill out and later come back to have your bike inspected so leave it hear for the rest of the time this is where you get get your mandatory insurance for 290 cordobas, you will be asked for it so don't skip this first step http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2845-XL.jpg behind the billboard (couldn't get a good photo) is a building, go to the far end (right as you look at it) to do you migration for Nica and pay 300 Cordobas http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2844-XL.jpg next go to the aduana on the far left of the building and do your import, show title, insurance, license and passport, they didn't want any copies once thats done go back here and a guy in a light blue shirt will do a VIN or tag inspection, same place again http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2845-XL.jpg then take that paper back to the Aduana window again and they enter some number in their computer and give you your paperwork back now get on your bike and ride almost out of the gate but stop at the police check point on the left for him to see your paperwork http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2847-XL.jpg then head to the gate/ rope where you will be stopped again and have to pay $1 or 24 cordobas road tax/ province fee now you are free to go :eek1:eek1:eek1:eek1:eek1 like i said lots of BS, both border took 1 hour 45 minutes for two bikes we headed down the road and not five minutes later there was a stopped bus, Dylan went around it and crossed the yellow line and four cops jumped out to stop him...its shakedown time :clap:clap:clap:clap:clap of course no spanish came out of either of our mouths from this point forward, but between we understand more than enough so it went like this... them - you crossed the line us - no i didn't them - do you speak spanish us - no fumar espanol them - que!!!! us - no fumar espanol them - gringos es stupido them - whats in that bag us - stuff them - let me see, OK close the bag them - (turning to his superior) how are we going to get money out of them if they don't understand us us - at this point i'm laughing at them and telling Dylan to enjoy his first shakedown, put his helmet back on as this isn't going any further Dylan gets his paperwork back the four cops lean back against the car to wait for the next sucker who speaks spanish and has a full wallet us - seeya!!! as we ride off the roads in Nica are way better than Honduras, better scenery, cleaner everywhere so we stop in Esteli and find a small hotel that Sjoerd Bakker recommended for $18 with secure parking http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2853-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2856-XL.jpg |
rolling thru Nicaragua from Esteli heading to Leon the altitude dropped and the heat rose, farming looked very organized
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2870-XL.jpg the land flattened out besides the few volcanoes dotting the horizon http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2874-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2881-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2891-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2892-XL.jpg dylan got a bug up his ass to do some off road when we had some of the best pavement i had seen in weeks http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2875-XL.jpg we rolled into Leon just in time for the big screw cap checkers game http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2905-XL.jpg and spotted the biggest single cylinder ever (maybe, well fins for sure) http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2906-XL.jpg Dylan was working hard to impress the local ladies http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2909-XL.jpg and i found a clock that tells time perfectly for an adventure rider... http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2916-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2918-XL.jpg sadly they are working on the main square so no real good photos of the Cathedral, or as it is also known Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Le�n...sadly it was closed and appears to be having work done around it, the main square was closed off...what we didn't get to see inside under its arches, in their crypts designed to withstand earthquakes , lie the remains of 27 people, including 10 bishops, five priests, a hero of independence, three poets, a musician, six notables and a slave. http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2923-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...MG_3401-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...emapped-XL.jpg there is a Russian influence in some of the buildings, what looked like it could just have been a balcony could also double as a watch tower for some with a Kalashnikov rifle? http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2928-XL.jpg and how about this for a complete architectural failure... http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2929-XL.jpg the real Leon is quaint but seedy, old signs fr building that not longer remain are still firmly planted http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2935-XL.jpg life here seems to run at a very relaxed pace which is perfect for us that don't know the day or the time and honestly really care http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2937-XL.jpg ...but what Leon does have is probably one of the largest populations of manequins per capita that i have ever seen http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2938-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2939-XL.jpg just couldn't seem to find the real life version anywhere in town :cry |
It's cold and miserable here so keep these great updates coming..
Ride safe and enjoy the warmth.. |
no problem, difficult decision today....which shorts and t shirt to wear so i'm not too hot :sweat:
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had an extra day in leon and went to eat with the locals
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2942-XL.jpg all this for about $1.50 and hows this for surroundings???? http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2943-XL.jpg and here's the kitchen http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2947-XL.jpg decided to do a little James Bond language lesson in the afternoon, English with Spanish subtitles...now i'm really confused, as i read along as listened and they were totally different :huh http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2949-XL.jpg the following morning it was time to roll out of this secure area http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2950-XL.jpg |
riding out of Leon and deeper into Nicaragua, the roads to this point had been perfect, the weather was getting a little warmer, actually doesn't bother me at all after living in Vegas for 12 years but Dylan was looking for shade every time we stopped but with this temporary roadblock the was none
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2951-XL.jpg right after the cows the road turned and it was pothole city for about 40 miles http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2956-XL.jpg we had a riding debate which side gave the best traction as the pavement just plain sucked http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2957-XL.jpg cresting a hill gave a good view of the **** road to ride on for miles and miles more... http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...MG_3437-XL.jpg did a quick stop at the Volcano in Masaya, i guess i have been spoiled by other volcanoes in the past, i was off the coast of Monseratt, in the caribbean in the late 90's when it was erupting whilst a total eclipse of the sun was happening and it went dark at midday as the volcano was going off in the background...also i was in Hawaii watching molten magma roll into the ocean and make Hawaii bigger so into Masaya volcano, it had gone off quite recently so it was still smoking so most areas were off limits, shame http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2972-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...MG_3452-XL.jpg on the ride back thru managua Dylan spotted a cash wash and suggested we was our dirty bikes, mine really needed it, we had four guys working on two bikes for over an hour and were charged $1.60, when the bikes were done they looked new, i was amazed how much they seemed to care about what they were doing, they certainly did a much better job than i would have done. To give you an idea if this means anything to you, bikes would have passed inspection to get into Australia http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2975-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2977-XL.jpg on what looked like new shiny bikes we headed off to inmate 'Salcar' to stay at his place...now get this, he is not even in the country and he let us stay at his place...cannot thank you enough for that, it was perfect, happy travels in the Bali, Salvador |
from Salcars house rode to Granada because i haven't been there before...wrong...as soon as i got there in the main square i recognized the place, doh!
when you've been to about 70 countries sometimes you forget a place or two :huh anyhow its still a cool place for a second visit http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2983-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2986-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2991-XL.jpg riding out of there it was time to play avoid the falling sugar cane all over the roads, and this beast was the reason why http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2993-XL.jpg then down a side road that turned to dirt almost straight away http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2995-XL.jpg |
so looking at map, the idea was to head to San Juan Del Sur, as it was close to the border to be able to arrive really early, you know the Nica/ Costa Rica Pan American crossing the one everyone hates the most, as basically its the only real crossing for vehicles (more on that in the next post)
so anyhow looking at the google map i click a little above (read north) of SJDS and it zooms into here if you get close enough up pops camping matildas, about 6 bays up from SJDS http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...56%20PM-XL.jpg so the theory here is if its no good then there are loads of places a few km's south just of here to try, lets head down that sandy road http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_2997-XL.jpg go along with a tall yellow wall along your right side http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3053-XL.jpg when it looks like it dead ends make a right, down here http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3052-XL.jpg then it looks like it dead ends again now make a left and you'll see this, park your bike by the gate on the right and walk onto the beach, thats where the entrance is http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3051-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3049-XL.jpg but before you go thru this gate you will look at the view for quiet a while, and this was the busiest i ever saw this beach except at sunset http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3004-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3032-XL.jpg this is the real coordinates, there is no address http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...SAM_3038-L.jpg if bird watching or surfing (5 minute walk to the next bay) is your thing this could be your place http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3002-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3057-XL.jpg the sunsets here are amazing, even the local dogs come out to see them every night, seriously :yahoo: http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3015-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3016-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...MG_3457-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...MG_3464-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...MG_3504-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...MG_3506-XL.jpg this place was so relaxing, secure parking behind a locked gate...no wifi..$6, $8 or $15 a night depending how much privacy you want... i stayed a week, and for sure will come back :deal Sjoerd Bakker if your are reading add it to the list for next years book bigwink |
Hi PAUL sure looks a cool place to hag out classic sun set wonderful pictures.Ride safe.:shave[1]:
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Wow - great pics - keep them coming please.
So if you more or less follow the PanAmerican Highway this is the kind of trip you'd expect then? Seems far less volatile than other potential bike adventures. Ride safe. |
to be honest i try and stay of the Pan Am as much as possible as it basically sucks but it does get you from A to B quicker if need be, try some back roads, personally i have not had any problems, a few cop shakedowns, just say 'no fumar espanol' no more no less as say that to anything they say, the cops will laugh at you and send you on your way unless they have you bangto rights
the pan american sounds very cool but basically it is the main trucking route thru central and south america, if you like roads with big truck loads of over taking in bad situations then this is your road any other questions let me know, i'm sitting in a hotel in Costa Rica today and it pours with rain outside and it fricking freezing, kind of reminds me of England but the girls have better shaped arses :098:
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there are two crossings from Nicaragua to Costa Rica, the main one is on the Pan American, i'll cover this one in this post
but first a word about the other i just got from two riders who used it but don't post on ADV, so it is very current, it crosses San Carlos (nica) to Los Chiles (CR), it is a boat crossing, if you are heading from south to north and going into Nica yes you need insurance but they are not too concerned and will let you ride to the next town and pick it up along the way and not have to return to prove it Going into CR not the same, you need insurance, it is mandatory for your bike to leave the customs area, they may or may not be someone there selling insurance, most of the time not, if this is the case then you need to get a bus $5 for about a 3-4 trip to the next town to get it, if you miss that bus for some reason you either have to stay the night or pay a taxi $100 to take you so if you are going to use this head to the NICA/ CR on the pan am, get it there and the ride around the lake about 300 km +/- and load your bike then you'll have no problems if you have that much time OK, on to the pan am crossing, i was kind of dreading this, last year i spent nearly 14 here mainly because of the BS that is getting into NICA - (i have used Dan and Lisas photos again as there was to much traffic blocking good views of the buildings, thanks again guys) i read a suggestion of coming here on a Sunday would be a lot easier, less traffic...no such luck on that count but the rest is positive as you approach the frontera the road splits, to the right is a lot of shacks, to the left is a barrier and that where you go, hand over your import papers and passport to be checked, they will sign your paper and hand it back to you, now head straight and look for buildings on your left, ride around them and park behind this building http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...1050848-XL.jpg look for a policeman in a blue polo shirt that says tourista polica on it, he needs to stamp that paper as well, now or after you do migration, but before aduana so head to the building to the right side as this photo shows, in an entrance way there is a both that charges a municipal fee of $1, pay this and go to the window for a form, if someone approaches you with one then they will expect money then or later, they are free from the window, if there is a line go to the front and ask for one then fill it in while you wait in line hand in the paper and you passport and $2 to get stamped out of NICA if you need dollars there is an ATM across the parking lot, look for a HUGE sign http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...1050843-XL.jpg now got thru the glass doors to export your bike, you need the import paper with the signature from the front gate and the cops stamp on it, then hand it over with your passport and drivers license - there is no fee for this hop on your bike and ride back around the building to the left of it, at the T make a left and ride thru the area where they are spraying the trucks, you don't need to do this...head straight and pass the immigration building to your left and aduana on your right and park, i parked behind this white bus http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...1050861-XL.jpg so looking back immigration on your right (left as you ride past it) and aduana across the street go to immigration and if there is people standing in line behind orange bollards thats where the line begins, if no one is there go inside, there should be a cop there handing out immigration papers to fill out. when you go inside hand over your passport and the form, i was asked how i was leaving the country, i showed my helmet and the officer smiled, and said OK, other people were showing bus/ plane tickets now leave this building - DO NOT go to aduana, look across the street to your left as you exit the building and you will see a chain link fence, walk to the end of it where cops are probably standing and walk thru the gap on the very well worn path, trees with white bases should be on your left, follow this to the building, climb the steps and walk the far end of the building and look for a sign hanging above the walkway that says seguros (insurance) - this is the place http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...1050865-XL.jpg there is a window open to the outside, this is the first insurance step, you need your passport, DL, Title/ Reg and $17 or colones if you have them (500 to $1) she will fill out the forms for you and hand you all your stuff back. from here take a right and go down to the copy place http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...1050866-XL.jpg you NEED copies of the insurance, your passport front and back pages, and the CR stamp page, your title and your DL now go to Aduana, he will fill some papers out for you and hand you a paper to fill out as well, he will need all the copies and want to see the originals as well, when he is done he will hand everything back that is yours and keep the copies, he will also give you a small piece of paper with your plate number on it and a stamp DO NOT lose this now go back to the insurance place, use the other door and go inside, this is where you get your insurance completed, once you leave here you are done, go get on your bike have your papers and passport handy, you will need to hand in that little piece of paper before you leave and hand it in at the final barrier, also you may need to show you passport when you do this you are now free to ride off into Costa Rica and pay a lot more for everythig that you did in NICA!!! a word of advice of how i do these borders, is i find info, if i can print it off, if not then take a photo of the computer screen and i use my phone as a PDA, no helpers required ...and a final note, this last year was easily the worst border coming north from argentina and crossing multiple border, yesterday this was the most organized, a lot of walking around but it is now very organized heading south, total time at both borders one hour 20 minutes |
left the beach in Nicaragua early to head to the border, had a real easy crossing and the plan was to grab some gas before crossing but i didn't see a place so in CR i filled up on super at 688 colons a liter or $5.05 a gallon
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...068-001-XL.jpg moments later i was stopped by the cops, i was struggling to hold my bike upright in a crazy strong side wind and they wanted to tell me the wind was blowing and be careful, behind them in the distance there were dozens of wind turbines, blurring with the speed they were spinning :huh http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3067-XL.jpg you notice straight away Costa Rica has more money just by simple things like massive rolls of bundled hay plastic wrapped in fields, more organized than its neighbors to the north http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3069-XL.jpg my plan was to head to Bijagua to the Vista Point B&B (from Sjoerds book on CA) it looked like a good distance from the border and was heading in the right direction, so out towards the volcanoes away from the coast and towards the looming black clouds http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3072-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3075-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3077-XL.jpg sadly this place is closed down, so i had to flip a U turn and back track towards Lake Arenal and look for a new place, i found a dirt track short cut http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3079-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3081-XL.jpg the dirt track ended up being a road to a wind farm http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...MG_3509-XL.jpg eventually it got me back towards the lake where the rain clouds were a few feet above the water and the rain came...time to find a cheap, sadly not Nicaragua cheap, hotel http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3088-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3089-XL.jpg |
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I'm off to Italy for three days of boredom by corporate conference so I'll keep a sneaky eye on my iPhone at your pic's. Enjoy the vista(s), but mind you don't squint too much!! |
stuck in the middle of Costa Rica due to heavy rains, so no riding today but between rain showers went for a walk and spotted this crazy advertisement
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3094-XL.jpg so it reads basically...you do not dare reveal their taste...what the fu@k does that have to do with a wrestler and two ostriches? any one from Costa Rica wish to answer that one? and walking along the street i see this... http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3113-XL.jpg so if you are slightly bothered about big bugs just letting you know they live here :huh and are in the middle of a big building development :lol3 OK, normal ADV service will be resumed as soon as all this water stops falling out of the sky from this storm that was the size of the whole country, this just before it hit...hopefully tomorrow http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...40%20PM-XL.jpg |
Alex and Andreea (anjinsan) which he tells me is Japanese for mister pilot....they met up in La Fortuna and we rode to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica today
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3116-XL.jpg it was a day full of rain and one of the only dry moments was when we pulled into a little 'soda' road side restaurant full with truck drivers, the owner came over and gave us a shot of some kind of chocolate liquor which when we looked around everyone had a shot...then the cops arrived...for there lunch and the shot glasses disappeared and the cook went to work over her open flame http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3121-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3125-XL.jpg heading out towards Puerto Limon where some of your bananas come from after being grown in blue plastic bags on the trees http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3126-XL.jpg not too much to see all day in the rain, riding in the cloud forest was just like riding in fog with zero views, until getting close to the container port, not great scenery http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3130-XL.jpg and some very poor areas over this side, a lot different from around the lake http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3131-XL.jpg finally the rain stopped on the last leg to Cahuita http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3132-XL.jpg hopefully some better photos tomorrow heading into Panama via Sixola |
Hi Paul good pics as usual i don't like the look of them ants.:digging:Looks like most of the vehicles are Toyota's.The rear disc on the tenere looks a bit worse for wear.:laughing7:Ride safe
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does anyone know if there is rotors from other bikes that fit the XT660Z as yes i will be needing some sooner rather than later |
Left Cahuita in the rain all the way to the frontera, stood in line there in the rain and most of the way to David it rained off and on, had the camera in the tank bag and pulled it out to take this totally below average riding shots...of some small indigenous houses/ plots, a little cloud forest etc
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Costa Rica to Panama border crossing at Sixola
relatively simple quiet border in northeast Costa Rica - the infamous train bridge crossing is no more on your bike. :cry enter the border are in Sixola, ride thru the fumigation area, you do nothing here http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3141-XL.jpg once you go thru park your bike to the left on the gravel small parking lot, you will be looking at the bridge http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3143-XL.jpg migracion and aduana are in the same building to your right http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3144-XL.jpg go to migracion first, if there is a line go straight to the front and ask for a paper, just like the locals do...no exit fee, once this is done go thru the glass door to your right to export your bike http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3140-XL.jpg you will be given a form to fill out, the agent will cut it in half keep your import, stamp your half and you are done to leave Costa Rica on your bike ride over the bridge to the left, NOT the railroad bridge anymore :cry:cry:cry http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3139-XL.jpg ride over and there is a gravel covered parking lot to your left, take all your stuff that could be stolen, you are going to be way out of site of your bike for an hour or two and there were lots of kids hanging around when i was there walk across the road and towards the old bridge, there is a building on your left, do immigration first http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3148-XL.jpg once you have a stamp now go to the end of the buildings and look left, the are some shops, head down the stairs and up the stairs into the shoe shop for insurance (it'll make sense once you see it)...yes i did say that right the shoe shop upstairs, and it cost $15 for a month, she will give you two copies http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3146-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3145-XL.jpg now return to the buildings, go in the first door and get a stamp, like a postage stamp put in your passport and pay $3 then come out of there and go to the window right next to it and hand in your passport, copy of your title, license and insurance once you get this back...make sure you check it thoroughly, i found two errors on mine, they tried to laugh it off and say it was OK, it is not, correct is correct and wrong is wrong when it comes to import papers http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3149-XL.jpg once you have your papers then go back into the previous office to the right and you will get a stamp from an officer at the desk to the left thats its you are done...time to go riding in Panama, watch out for speed traps in little towns heading to David, i counted 5 in about 140 km's, speed limits are 40 kph in the towns, period |
so living in England for the early part of my life i know about rain...if its not raining just wait 15 minutes :lol3
but down in central america and parts of south america there are definite rainy seasons, i did a quick video riding on the Ruta Americana (pan american highway) the other day, it was so heavy i rode into a bus stop, nice of them to make them so big here in Panama. Generally its about 10-15 minutes of real heavy rain and then you continue and normally its around 10-11am and again around 2-4pm <iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_A0jr3RNeO0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> |
took off from David and the Bambu Hostal, my plan was to stay there a few days and chill out, but having one of the worst beds i have EVER slept in allocated to me made me head out sooner rather than later
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3186-XL.jpg there were some other overlanders there, the four wheels type heading north from Argentina http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3187-XL.jpg sleeping in the back of this as they went http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3189-XL.jpg heading out of town down the Pan Am http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3191-XL.jpg i was warned about cops in Panama this year, they have a new toy, the speed gun, i saw 14 of them riding south, i got stopped 3 times...and also 7 unmarked police cars chasing drivers down, watch the speed limits if you are heading down this way seriously, one overlander in a mitsubishi told me he got 3 tickets in one day, no options they have the ticket printed when he opened his window...i was luckier, zero tickets as the inevitable rains come once or twice a day places to get under cover must be found http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3198-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3200-XL.jpg so after a day in the rain off and on i just decided to keep on riding until i hit Panama City and Panama House hostal, real nice place and a great meeting spot for riders heading out to the stahlratte, about 80km's away http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3201-XL.jpg |
rolled into Panama City and would like to say it was like this, but it wasn't this is from when i was here last year, blue skies not too much traffic...this year pissing down with rain road works everywhere and bumper to bumper
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/c...1030533-XL.jpg went to the store to grab some supplies and this chica was in front of me, it looked like she had gone by the fruit and stuffed a couple of water melons down the back of her pants :lol3:lol3 http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3204-XL.jpg having been here quite a few times before i'm doing the tourist thing this time, but i have noticed panama has become expensive like costa rica, this wasn't the case a few years back. its obviously christmas time but it still seems weird to see a tree in the tropics http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3206-XL.jpg ...but this beats a fat hairy guy with a beard in my opinion for a christmas wish :evil http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...207-001-XL.jpg so the last few days have been spent just hanging out waiting for the rain that arrives twice a day on schedule http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3209-XL.jpg doing a few odd minor things with the maintenance of the bike and watching bull fighting on TV:eek1 when was the last time you saw that????? i'm thinking if you never left the states, then, errr, never http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/n...AM_3232-XL.jpg |
Hi Paul looks a vibe-rent city and good looking girls.:computer:Have a merry Christmas.:ytiller:
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bikes are rolling into panama, the figure looks like 13 bikes heading south, but a few seem to be leaving it a little late for the boarding which starts at 9 am tomorrow morning
have heard from the girls, deb or alison and their blogs haven't been updated for about a week so hopefully they are in town at another hostal...the biggest distance with the shortest time to get here is Dwight aka inmate "kedgi" his RR , he emailed me last night and told me where he was, after a quick calculation he looks like he is 770KM from Panama City and also has to do the CR/ PAN border crossing too, he left at around 6am, he looses one hour at the border (time change) then add 90 KM so doing a quick bit of math, he has 860 KM's to do minimum and a border crossing, with 26 hours to do it all in, if the border goes well at two hours then he has 24 hours which is a 35kph average, doable for sure but he will be one tired puppy when he gets here :deal one rider has been here for a while and is getting all the overland riders he meets to sign his luggage instead of getting stickers http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3524-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3525-XL.jpg so had a quick walk around to see if any other bikes were riding around looking lost as panama city traffic is like a zoo and the chicken buses here drive just like they do out in the small towns http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3563-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3565-XL.jpg the skyline here is pretty unique from lots of different angle, but it is difficult not to get the same buildings in more than once http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3529-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3531-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3535-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3555-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3561-XL.jpg found a little shop selling tiny moped with the perfet name for driving in this city http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3567-XL.jpg when its not raining here it is just real hot and humid and even the guard dogs can't be bothered to lift their heads never mind bark at you http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3538-XL.jpg so no new riders showed so it was time to go back and pack for the morning ride out and to head out to sea on the stahlratte, and see how many cops we can salute to :thefinger: on our way out of the city . |
Left the hostel early to try and beat traffic, got out of the city without to many problems and we were due to be at the Carti dock at the requested time of 9am�right up to the point when we came across backed up traffic about 1km before the turn to Carti.
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3253-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3258-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3259-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3260-XL.jpg There was a demonstration and the road was blocked due to flooding a few years ago and the government not paying to help the locals and some major damage to house, which all related back to a company who owns and runs the dams, the locals felt they need to pay The irony was they press arrived and the TV cameras, the cameras went straight to the demonstration, the press came straight to us asking how we were involved, once they realized we had nothing to do with it they went to the demonstration. even during demonstrations there is some tail wandering thru the crowds :huh http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3263-XL.jpg About a 45 minute delay and then the road opened and we headed to Carti, there is a barrier across the road about half way to the dock, and there is a toll, $6 for locals and $9 for international visitors. this is 3 of the riders, Ryan, Dylan and phil http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3265-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3266-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3269-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3272-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3280-XL.jpg |
the Kuna ladies wear very tiny beads around their legs, and it appears it keeps them slim, not unlike the bound feet of latter year Chinese
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so we headed into the island for an unknown night of what????
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3690-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3693-XL.jpg well it was simply walking around the very small island that sits maybe 8 - 10 inches above sea level, talking with the locals and taking in the sights, like the following http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3702-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3710-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3713-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3714-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3715-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3720-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3724-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3733-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_3755-XL.jpg |
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Day 2 was back on the Stahlratte and off to a smaller island in Carti for a BBQ and some chilling out for the rest of the day
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3290-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3291-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3297-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3294-X2.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4134-XL.jpg Day 3 a sea day, it was slow going with swells ranging from 10 to 20 feet, the Stahlratte was getting thrown all over the place, people were getting very sick, the Captain FiFi, (LULU is on vacation) said it was the worst he can remember...lucky us :puke1 http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4170-XL.jpg Day 4 the sea was still very rough, but to make things worse the engine failed, it burned up an exhaust valve when we were 60 miles from Cartagena, I was called over and asked if it would be possible for me to weld up the problem, I did this the first time but the pressure from the motor blew another hole in the valve, two hours later I re-welded the valve and this time the engine could build enough pressure to run but only at about 50% power so we sailed very slowly towards Cartagena and arrived one day late, (new engine parts were ordered once we reached the dock) and of course just late enough to miss customs for clearance, so an extra day is now scheduled in Cartagena |
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http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...-air%29-XL.jpg Long day starting at 5.15 am to get up and be at the dock by 6 am�it was unloading day from the Stahlratte http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3348-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3350-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...th_3096-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...th_3097-XL.jpg photo below is not me...but you get the idea http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3346-XL.jpg this also means sitting in Columbian Aduana almost the whole day whilst they clear all the paperwork and get you thru I�m not sure if the process from the Columbian authorities is more difficult when you arrive by boat compared to arriving by land or air but if time is the judge and having personally done all the other options it must be very difficult because once the bikes were at the Aduana building at 8 am sharp as requested it wasn�t until 4.30pm when we were all cleared and officially entered into Columbia, including the insurance as well With a full day like that I finished it off with a tire at the hostal surrounded by 17 other bikes (that i'd been carrying since Antigua) chain and sprocket change and basically was done for the day http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3369-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3371-XL.jpg the next day was spent walking the streets of old Cartagena http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4193-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...AM_3331-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4194-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4207-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4208-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4210-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4211-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4214-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/d...MG_4220-XL.jpg |
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Hi Paul you gave me a idea when the flood water gets deep here. Tenere in a boat.. :blob1:Safe Rideing.
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More fantastic pictures - keep 'em coming!
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