..i finally hit the road at the beginning of october, with a weeping petrol tank (27ltr), a bald back tyre and throw ov.....i finally hit the road at the beginning of october, with er panniers.....I finally hit the road at the beginning of october, with a weeping petrol tank (27ltr), a bald back tyre and throw over panniers.
"...a woman alone? - on a moto! - that only makes it worse."..."...a woman alone? - on a moto! - that only makes it worse."....
I crossed into Mexico at the end of october through Nogales. Vehicles had to go 21km past the actual border to be processed. The paperwork only took 10mins but i had to wait in a queque for two hours!! Managed 150km before sunset on such a shitty road.
I did some hard miles to get over to the Pacific, just making over-night stops, until i found a secluded campsite near Mazatlan and relaxed for a few days.
I drove right by the Mexican migration! Before i knew it the bike was being fumegated at the Guate border.I drove right by the Mexican migration! Before i knew it the bike was being fumegated at the Guate border.I drove right by the Mexican migration! Before i knew it the bike was being fumegated at the Guate border. I was in two minds to go back or not. Never say never.... I went back. After seeing the chaos that is La Mesilla, I had a quite lunch to spend up the last clanky pesos in Mexico.
It's strange how accustomed you get to buses and trucks coming head-on at you. ....The border crossing, El Florido, is in the mountains. Rain was drizzling and the money changer approached as i crossed the road. It is such a quiet border, we stood in the middle of the road to do business. Paperwork was the usual one hour. Expensive for the bike: $30, even though the sign on the wall said $0.50-- that is only for entertainment.
The rain was waiting for me in the mountains, and a string of bad luck started in Esteli...The rain was waiting for me in the mountains, and a string of bad luck started in Esteli...Las Manos crossing. The confusion continues over the border. It took nearly 2hrs, even though i used a "paper jockey". The most difficult thing to do on your own would be, to find the roving inspector wandering in the lines of lorries.
$10 for the bike and $7 for me.
The rain was waiting for me in the mountains and a string of bad luck started for me in Esteli.
Good move! Good groove...."rum and beer, i would never have thought they'd go together"...Good move! Good groove.
I did what almost everyone does on arrival in Leon.....went to the movies! Except unlike everyone else i didn't go to 007. Lord of the Rings.
If you come here you must visit the museo de insurrecion; a personal collection of Sandanista memorabilia. Check out the mural beside the cathederal. Eat at Taqueztal Bar Cafe.
Settled into the campsite and crossed my fingers against theiving bastards...what else can you do?Settled into the campsite and crossed my fingers against theiving bastards...what else can you do?$11 for the bike and 200 Colones for photocopies. A free spray thrown in as well!
The hwy started out as a smooth, multicoloured patchwork. That didn't last, quite surprisingly Costa Rica's roads are littered with potholes!
Got to Liberia by dusk and took an airless box of a room; but the moto had good parking. The sacrifices i make!!
We went for lunch at a place along Av. Balboa...the 'Bar Club' of restaurants...Las Cascadas...a classic; the "Bar Club" of restaurants...The customs clerk wouldn't let me use the UK passport because my CR exit stamp was in the Cdn. So, $5 please. Brits go free.
Cheapest border yet for the bike - $4.
The hwy was white concrete, flet like the USA, ca thunk, ca thunk, ca thunk.
Up to Boquete and the cool highlands. Another windy isthmus. The closer i got to Boquete, the worse it got, blasting down the volcano.
but really you'll stop for anyone in uniform with a gun...It's not a long walk from the terminal to the carga area, less than 1km, it just feels like more when you've got a canoe-bag on your shoulder. Not to mention the jacket and helmet in the other arm.
A taxi stopped and insisted i take a free ride!
Welcome to Colombia. "con mucho gusto".
I had the advantage of knowing where to go; Mark (1150Gs) came through a few days ahead of me. He told me about the walk across the field to the customs offices.
There were 4 young 'boys' standing guard on a balcony; i didn't waste my breath on them....things didn't improve by my going into the office, although the entertainment value sored!There were 4 young 'boys' standing guard on a balcony; i didn't waste my breath on them....things didn't improve by my going into the office, although the entertainment value sored!Passport stamped for 90days. But the guy at the window for vehiculos couldn't deal with the bike. He said i'd have to go 7km into Tulcan.
...On the ride down to Lima i was stopped by the police; first time since Nicaragua. I had heard stories about the police in Peru and wasn't looking forward......On the ride down to Lima i was stopped by the police; first time since Nicaragua. I had heard stories about the police in Peru and wasn't looking forward...La Tina is a very tranquil frontera, just me and a van load of nuns.
I was welcomed into the Aduana office and sat behind their desk filling in the paperwork. I find the Aduana lads are usually cheerier than their migracion counter parts.
...when i was invited into the back office i knew the answer would be yes; but how much?!...when i was invited into the back office i knew the answer would be yes; but how much?!The barrier was open, just a crack, so i nudged through and parked in front the Aduana office.
First, as usual, to Migracion. Filled in the form and handed over the UK passport.
....where are the Peru stamps?
In here --the canadian pp.
....you can't use this one then.
Porque no?! i whined.
Begging clearly wasn't going to do it.
Only 130 bridges to cross..the note on the map says..*majority in very bad state of conservation*It was sunday the border post was deserted. Even the vaccination caravan, for those in need of a yellow fever jab, was unmanned.
There was asphalt... ooooh.... after nearly a week of dirt and standing on the pegs it was very strange to be sitting on the bike - so low, so smooth.
My welcome to Brasil came in Caceres when a man and his son gave me a scooter escort to the Policia Federal. Much easier than directions in portugese!
Just as i thought! I didn't go north.
.."Brasil has so many fine beaches why make a 1500km return trip to Natal?"...
hmm it was a decision i would come to regret.
WORK!?! .... crikey what the heck is that?In an ideal world i would have waited in South America for the third attempt at going to Ushuaia but the bank account was desperate. $1,500- Cdn doesn't get you far for long.
So my cunning plan ....go to England. I had a summer job lined up working for a "newsagent".
This was no regular 9 to 5 job it was like joining a traveling circus. The "RingMaster" was Glynn ''kumansukme'' Roberts = Slave Driver and Juggler Extrodinaire able to be 3 places at once; why double-book when you can triple-book!?
How happy standing on the pegs singing....The morning i left Canada it was -25C (yes..BELOW zero). I was dressed in layers and would leave a trail of 'thrift store' clothes in the airports from Calgary to Toronto to Miami to Buenos Aires.
