Dec.5th

Miles for today: 234
Miles from Bellingham WA:

Oat meal breakfast, not the fare we are use to from Essense, however good coffee helps. Hard rain most of the night.


Our luxury digs last night

Border crossing.4.5 hours We go it on our own till we get lost then we found a good fair handler to direct us. No matter what, there is no sense in being in a hurry, it just takes time to get through.


Panama customs and immigration station

Met Paul Donahue, he runs a moto shop in David Panama, he's from the US riding a Sazuki RS 650 down, his choice of bikes. Finding it's always good to have a contact just in case.
Finally we're done, bikes are disinfected as was Jim as he rolled through the semi truck disinfection tunnel which worked out as we rolled out into the pouring tropical rain.
Max and I get turn around at the final check point, an unsigned form,crap, because the first import agent mixed our plate numbers up. Crap, back to the customs inspector, he laughs, such is life was his message, I think. Fortunately we were on a long hill for the KLR to get started on. Talked to some truckers. Usually 24 hours for them to get through, same story you can't hurry just sit back, wait and be happy when you finally get to go.
On the highway I notice a lot more people driving and less walking or on scoters. Different from the other countries we've past through. Farms and houses are mostly well kept. Good looking pastures and grass crops, lots of sugar cane and pineapple farms. Sugar harvest is going on so more trucks on the road hauling cane. The roads are about the same as CR although we were told they would be great in Panama.


From the land of sky blue waters

Anxious to make miles we night ride again, The KTM has no tail light so I follow whatever reflecives I can see
Border crossing take it out of us. We make it to Santiago and find the first hotels we've seen in a couple of hours. Dinner and to bed.


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Location:Evita CR to Santiago Panama

Dec 4th

Miles today:150
Total miles since Bellingham: 5416

Woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of rain on the roof, yeah, this is the first rain I've heard since leaving Skagway Oct. 10th.


Soon after the sound of the rain the Howler Monkeys started in calling to one a other, best guess 3:00, not much sleep till sunrise.
Packed up, email to Knikki, as Jim says my "Knikki fix", yes I agree. Coffee, navigation meeting, another great meal.


Jimi, master navigator.

We say good byes to Nicko, Kelly, Martin, Heather and Christian, the owners and staff at Essense and we are on our way.
The KTM doesn't kick start, good thing that we're parked on a mountain. Max bump starts her and we are on our way in the rain. Cloud forest, rain forest what did we expect.
First half of the ride stayed in the rain and fog temps in the 70's. After lunch down out of the mountains to the Pacific coast. Loving my riding gear, staying dry. Now if someone finds the cure for face shield fogging.
Lot's of traffic, mountain bikes with race numbers on and a ton of cars with surf boards on the roof. Turns out there was a surf competition in the area over the weekend. No one was very sure about a bike race.
KTM runs better however we now have to bump start it or tow start it. A pain either way.


KTM devotions for mid day.

For whatever reason the KTM is now in control of the trip. It dictates wether we move or not, where we stop (on a hill preferably) and how quickly move. Hopefully the new starter and carb part will cure the problems.


Todays lunch stop with a view.

Jimi found a great place for the night, great shower, ahhhh, cooked in some kinda for backpacker freeze dried something.
We are all tired and in need a good night sleep.
Tomorrow another border crossing.



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Location:Essense Aernal to the southern pacific coast of Costa Rica