We feel naked.

After kicking our heels for a week, the bikes have been handed to the air freight company in Panama, along with $1800USD.

Now we just need to get our flight to Colombia in the morning, and play the 'get the bikes out of storage' game.

The Cargo company did worry us a bit though

Note the "This Way Up" arrows on the "fragile" cargo he has just dropped. For the 2nd time.

The hotel we have stayed in has been like a bikers magnet

In all we have seen 9 people pass through, some flying North, some South and some taking a slow boat to Colombia.

So, Central America. Observations:

Mexico
Normally accepted as part of North America, not really Central (until past Mexico City).

A beautiful country with really nice people, but why so much rubbish ? Someone needs to organise a national clean up.

Belize
An eclectic mix, its not Spanish, or English or Caribbean, its starting to look like Taiwan. With lots of palm trees.

Guatemala
Green, mountainous, kind hearted. But why do they have to start celebrating birthdays at 05:30 with fireworks, every morning ?

Also the first place we had to ride the bikes with no insurance, no believes in it, we couldn't find anywhere to buy it. As they do not have any, they know you will not have any and will try to make sure they do not hit you. Except for the chicken buses.

El Salvador
Low cost beach bum heaven.

Peaceful until the Honduras border and the unbelievably persistent "helpers" hassle you.

Honduras
Much maligned, a lot of people we have met had to deal with corrupt officials and pay bribes at the borders or police checkpoints.

Our experience was the opposite, every one was helpful and assisted us, it may have had something to do with the Tourist Agency doing a survey as you exited the country that week.

Nicaragua
Best surfaced roads in Central America, and stunning scenery to pass the time as well.

Costa Rica
Here, it started to no longer feel like Central America, the USA had come to it, and prices had rocketed. Pristine jungle and lots of exotic birds.

Panama
The USA influence to the max, the Dollar is the official currency, and the country feels like it is split in two. Once we got near to Panama City, the Americanisation of the country was complete.

It has a canal, and some boats are designed to just fit it.

Boy, was that an ugly one.

Driving
Since Mexico, hazard warning lights have become a new game.

Cars will switch them on to show they are going slow, err.... we can see that.

They will use them to let you know they are about to make a maneuverer, like maybe a left or right turn. And then perform the turn without any other indication. Or they will just stop in the road.

Or they may be letting you know they are about to reverse the wrong way up a one way street, while texting. If you don't realise it, that is your problem.

And then there are the warning triangles, more commonly know as leaves and branches. If you see some branches in the middle of the road, you can then be sure you will see some rocks, followed by a car or truck broken down around the bend.

I think the branches are to warn you about the rocks, which are to warn you about the truck.

Coke and straws
Buying coke (the cola variety) these last few months has been great, because it comes in the good old fashioned chilled glass bottles..

With straws. But the straws are too short for the bottle, and you end up spending much of your drinking time fishing it out. Someone, somewhere is missing a great marketing opportunity.

As a 2nd part to that mini-rant, as soon as I realised it was annoying me they went back to cans again, so I could not get a picture.

Numbers
For those that are interested

Miles - 11400
Days - 118
Tyres - 1 set after 9753 miles
Oil - 2 changes
Filters - 1
Bolts replaced - 3
Gaffa Tape - lots
Clothes - I (Bruce) now have more than I started with. The reverse of what usually happens