Hi Everybody,
Sorry for another long delay but internet access has been rather sparse in some of the areas I have been in lately.
Since my last blog post I have been travelling through Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama and Columbia.
I had to get a boat around an impassable part by road South of Panama called the Darien Gap to reach Columbia so the bike was craned from the canoe on to the ‘Stahlratte’ a beautiful old Dutch boat which is the only boat I would recommend for bike transportation along that stretch. I have heard horror stories of other overloaded boats, stoned captains, drinking water running out and bikes lost over the side.
I travelled separately on another boat called ‘Twyla’ and met some great people from various corners of the globe all on their own adventures (Hi everyone, thanks for a great trip).
Central America was beautiful and a little 'hairy' in places .I am now in Columbia which has a completely different feel and is one of my favourite places so far. The people are incredibly helpful and genuinely delighted to meet you. The scenery is stunning.
I have had a bit of a hold up in Columbia due to having to ride my bike through a deep river as the bridge had been washed away and water got into the engine. After a river side oil change and bike strip down a lift on the back of a pickup was still required to get to a ‘real’ mechanic. I took it to a BMW dealer called ‘Ruta 40’ in Medellin who are undoubtedly the best dealers I have come across anywhere in the Americas. They spent the whole day with me explaining everything, doing the service and charged me almost nothing. (Thank you very much ‘Ruta 40’ and especially Carlos who did everything possible to help definitely recommended).
I’m staying with an old friend, Salvatore, from way back who now lives in Bogota and is giving me a real taste of Columbian life.
So I’ll post some more photos and try to keep blog up to date in future...
Next stop Ecuador and the Galapagos, then on to Peru, Chile, Argentina.....
Lots of love to all...x,