RTW 2008-2015

We linked up with Graham and Sue from England in Chetamul, MX. On October 12, 2009, we crossed into Belize. The crossing took about 1 hour. Everything was pretty straight forward. We arrive in Belize City, using the Northern Highway, about noon. The fun started. We decided to stay on a small island called Caye Caulker. Since you cannot take motorized vehicles, we had to find parking. We drove into the terminal with the bikes and then to the dock. The entry was at a 45 degree angle as was the exit to the dock. The length of the exit ramp was 2 l/2 feet before going into the ocean.

It is October 15, 2009, and we are in Coban, Guatemala. After leaving Belize, we went to the Guatemalan border and processed out. No big problems. We went to Tikal, Guatemala. It is a National Park of Mayan ruins. Tikal was the main political, social, military, and economic center for the Mayan civilizations during the classical period ( 700 AD).

Well, we have been in Antigua, Guatemala for a week. Sue and Graham have been taking Spanish classes while Lynn and I have been touring. Antigua was originally the Capital of Guatemala. Guatemala, prior to its independence from Spain in the 1800s, included southern Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
I couldn’t wait to see my first death cap. As you can see the live wires, it is exciting when you take a shower.

We left Antigua for Lake Atitlan, and some very nice people. Great breakfast, medical attention, and even made me a rice bag to heat my sore hip. After the shot wore off from the Obama health care plan, I was in real big pain for 3 days. Actually, I was in such pain we gave thoughts of returning home.

Well Marie, the Reiki healer, did an excellent job. However, the pain continued but at a significantly reduced rate. Therefore, I went to a hard working private doctor . She was supervising a bunch of US nurses working in the surrounding needy villages. So, I met her, in the dark, at her small office in a back alley. After an examination, she gave me a shot to reduce inflammation that was affecting nerves in my leg. The inflammation created nerve blockage. The shot was wicked. Before giving me the shot, she asked me if I wanted it in the arm or butt.

We have not had access to any WIFI for a while. We left Lake Attitlan and headed to El Salvador.

Traffic Guatemala style.

El Goat meets Zuki-El Burro.

Well we left Granada, NIC, for the beach at San Juan Del Sur, NIC, about 60 miles. It was a great ride. We are in a jungle lodge called Adventura Lodge.

Rosita is a pest. Watch out Sue, she bites.

Holy molly, skimming tree tops, and crocks and buzzards looking for dinner-IT’S COSTA RICA. We crossed the border into Costa Rica from Nicaragua without incident.

We ultimately made our way to La Fortuna near Arenal Volcano.
Arenal Valcano is majestic and still very active.

The Ridge of Death. We didn’t realize that CA-1 runs through the 4th ranked deadliest road in the world.

JIM WE ARE HERE!!!
Crossed into Panama. It rained all day. Remember that cow. Well, it was like there was a herd of them. We were advised that after we passed thru the Ridge of Death they had a landslide from the rain.
We drove all the way to Panama City in the rain. Graham got stopped by the police. He was doing 90 kmh in a 40 kmh school zone (55mph in a 25mph). I couldn’t believe the officer let him go. What a story teller he is. Luckily, I was behind far enough that the officer didn’t get me.

Here are a few interesting facts about Bogota the capital of Colombia. It was founded in 1538 by Spanish Conquistores. The average temperature is 55 degrees at an altitude of 8500 feet. This is no nonsense law enforcement in Bogota.

We went back to Church San Francisco to photograph the golden altar. However, mass was being said. Here is the side altar. The main altar is 3 times this size.

Well, we left Panama for Colombia. The bikes flew, like us, over the Darien Gap. Although Panama is connected to Columbia there isn’t a safe viable road connecting the two. This is known as the Darien Gap. Essentially, it is not safe territory.
Here are the bikes setting in the rain.

It has been an amazing and memorable journey. No, there are no issues of any kind. After 8 countries, 8000 miles, 16 borders, rain storms, heat, cold mountain passes, tough driving conditions, and wielding a 1200 pound loaded motorcycle, it's time to come home and rest. We want to have as much enjoyment going through South America as we did in Mexico and Central America. Therefore, we will finish South America a different time This activity requires 100% attention at all times under all types of unforgiving conditions. Zuki has enough battle scares.

We Left Perry, FL for Pensacola, FL. It rained to beat the band.

Well we are on our way to Dusseldorf, Germany. Lynn insisted on taking a picture of the aircraft taking off. I am sure we will connect up soon.

We left the safety of Stefan’s for the big journey. As I approached the turning point on my GPS, I saw a blur and then another. Holy Moley, those are cars on the famed autobahn. I was doing 75 mph and, at times, I felt like I was standing still. As one young man told me, he generally does around 105 mph. I just hid among the trucks. We arrived at Ansbach. It has a small military installation where I immediately received police attention. All I did was purchase gas on the base. Gas on the outside runs between $8 to $9.00 a gallon. On base it is only $4.00 a gallon.

Lynn check the map. We must be at Acapulco Bay, Fort Morgan!!!

No, it's near our hotel outside of Vienna. We drove 300 miles in rain and cold, and this is the first thing we saw.

Our first stop in Vienna was Saint Stephan’s Cathedral. The stone pulpit is from the 16th century. The front of the cathedral had measuring devices used to measure bread and cloth. The coloring you see in the photo was a natural production of the stained glass windows.

We walked Berlin for 8 solid hours. We visited the Fassbender and Rausch chocolate stored. They claim to be the largest chocolate store. They have been in business for 150 years. The Titanic, Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate are chocolate. They average 3 to 4 feet wide and 3 feet high.

We left Berlin for a small country town called Halsenbach. It was very quiet rural community.

We used it as a base to go to Boppard and Saint Goar. These are two popular towns on the Rhine. The first picture is the main square in Boppard. The second photo is a wall that was discovered while excavating for a new structure. The square looking items are tombs that are dated to 700 AD.

We made our way through Baden-Baden, Germany, on the way to Strasbourg, France.

Baden-Baden is a famous bath house resort.