October 11th, Sitka AK
Hitched to town, picked up by Fred Anderson a friend of Knikki's, he's going through some tough times, reminds me of how good my life is. Sushi, saki and conversation for lunch. Shopping, a new travel mug, coffee and AK flags to plant or gift. Too soon it's time to get the shuttle back to the boat. In the soft Sitka rain I melt.
Back on the boat I met up with Joey Jacobson, we go for a beer and meet up with Mariah,Tracey, a friend of Knikki's, Ed and Fred from the AK RR.
Oct 13th
Pre load on the car deck, I think it's all going to fit.
Getting excited. Beautiful days and night on the ferry. Watching the moon come up over the mountains, checking out anchorages. So so stunning and moving.
Tomorrow on the road to Kurt and Deb's in Bow, on the road.
Oct 14
Bow, PO to mail everything that Columbus Day prevented me from mailing in Skagway. Off to Kurt and Deb's. Shopping at REI. Unbelievably they still had my membership on record from 1968 , very cool. Kurt turned me on to Skagit Motorsports for all those last minute things I'm sure I need for the trip. Kurt smoked up some great meat, great camp fire, and a wine induced coma.
Oct 15
On the road to Seattle. Met Knikki at Pike Street market so I could practice my big city riding. A nice afternoon with Knikki and Clover, good bye was to soon as always.
Down to Camas to stay at Marcel and Cathy's awesome. Great talk with Marcel about his writing.
Oct 16
On the road. Coffee with Knikki's sister Dawn Renee and her wife Mary Ellen. Interesting conversation about dementia and the perception of time to those effected.
Beautiful ride down the coast. Camping just S of Florence OR, cool.
Oct 17
Sometime I think I can ride other times I know I ride like a noob. I hope it's just time and miles. Checked out wifi at the Longolis public library all went well except my spelling. Rode through the Red Woods today, they are impressive, kept wonder how many board feet in one of the big ones. I liked the coast ride down from OR to CA the best so far. Even though. I've seen pictures being here takes it to a whole different level.
Camping tonight at Big Lagoon State Park in CA. Sound of the surf as opposed to last nights sounds of truck traffic on 101.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
October 10, 2011
Everything is done that needs to be done. Knikki flew over yesterday, we spent the last night in the house together. She's taking the ferry with me as far as Sitka then back home to Haines. As I ride to the ferry terminal I'm struck, as I often am, by what a beautiful place I live and by depth of the friendships I have.
Picked up my ticket, a goodbye from Denny Bousson, ride onto the Malispina. Bike is tied down, Knikki is waiting by the door off the car deck smiling, a text from Jimmy, a call from Nicki Bunting and we're underway.
Picked up my ticket, a goodbye from Denny Bousson, ride onto the Malispina. Bike is tied down, Knikki is waiting by the door off the car deck smiling, a text from Jimmy, a call from Nicki Bunting and we're underway.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Preamble to the journey
Blog
I started this blog to keep friends and family in touch during this adventure, already I know It will be more than that.
Committing a motorcycle trip to South America was easy. Sitting at The Bistro in the historic Skagway Inn half way through my first Margarita I simply said "sure". The reasons for the question wasn't all that complex. Jim Jewell's son Max had decided not to join his dad on the trip, and they both thought I'd be a good replacement. Fair enough it may seem. The reality was I hadn't owned or ridden a motorcycle in over 40 years. Jim's reply "no problem, you can ride Max's bike and you'll have plenty of time this summer to get back on a bike." Further into my Margarita I believe my reply was "perfect" and so it seemed. Jim said I could think about it, I didn't need to I was in.
As it all worked out Max decided to join his dad after all and I was still on board. I purchased an 09 Kawasaki KLR 650 set up for touring. Did a couple of memorable and meaningful trips in the Yukon. Booked myself on the ferry leaving Skagway on the 10th of October. Took care of the odds and ends; shots, tools, and the house. Beautifully within all of this I met my lover Knikki. And so I begin.
I started this blog to keep friends and family in touch during this adventure, already I know It will be more than that.
Committing a motorcycle trip to South America was easy. Sitting at The Bistro in the historic Skagway Inn half way through my first Margarita I simply said "sure". The reasons for the question wasn't all that complex. Jim Jewell's son Max had decided not to join his dad on the trip, and they both thought I'd be a good replacement. Fair enough it may seem. The reality was I hadn't owned or ridden a motorcycle in over 40 years. Jim's reply "no problem, you can ride Max's bike and you'll have plenty of time this summer to get back on a bike." Further into my Margarita I believe my reply was "perfect" and so it seemed. Jim said I could think about it, I didn't need to I was in.
As it all worked out Max decided to join his dad after all and I was still on board. I purchased an 09 Kawasaki KLR 650 set up for touring. Did a couple of memorable and meaningful trips in the Yukon. Booked myself on the ferry leaving Skagway on the 10th of October. Took care of the odds and ends; shots, tools, and the house. Beautifully within all of this I met my lover Knikki. And so I begin.
Sunday, December 31, 2000
Dec 15th
Miles today: 240
An early start for a great day of riding. We continue to climb up into the tropical Andes. Very lush, all the creeks and rivers are full, some small mud slides into the road.
Traffic today as it was yesterday Is thick. It dawns on me that everything in most Latin American countries must move by road so lots of truck and bus traffic. Today's road links the Atlantic seaport of Cartagena to the major interior city of Medellin so it's packed, trucks and buses of all descriptions coming and going. The road is two lane or less due to road maintenance and / or mudslides. It's steep enough that the loaded semis have to use their 1st gear most of the way up which leads to a few stalling out or overheating stopping traffic flow. The switch back corners are tight enough that a semi turning a corner takes up the whole road which stops traffic from the other direction. Thankfully motorcycles can lane split so we ride the center line on occasion and can squeeze by slow moving or stalled vehicles. We may not be able to ride as fast as we would like however we ride faster than the trucks and busses.
We are in the occasional downpour part of the world so we all adjust our clothing. I'm dry but a little cool. Will put my jacket and pant liners in for next week, and hook up my heated grips. I love cool weather even in the rain or as I mused riding through the weather.
Another great lunch stop, thatched palm leaf roof with oriental rope work to tie it all together.
Gabriel and Cynthia from Costa Rico ride bye and wave, planning on catching up with them in Cuzco. A couple of soldiers watching a helicopter operation lend a hand with the KTM after lunch launch ritual. As before nice guys curious about the ride and the bikes.
Our ride continues through rain, clouds, hills and beautiful small settlements scattered on the mountain sides.
The roads into Medellin are very different from those leaving Cartagena, these are wide and well marked. We still run into construction and rush hour traffic but all in all easier than leaving Cartagena. Twice while stopped in traffic people on motorcycles stop to chat me up. The usual where are you from, where are you going, each one ended the conversation with a genuine "welcome to Columbia". I think I'll like this place
Through the efforts of the master navigator Jimi and his assistant Max we find the KTM dealer with no problems.
South Africans and Max discussing the finer points of KTM's
Standing in front are two of the South African riders I met in Portobello while loading their bikes. Seems that three out of the four KTM 990 they're riding are in for work, one simply died about three blocks from the dealer and refused to start.
This leads to another people of Medellin story. When the one bike died in traffic someone in a car cuts across three lanes of traffic jumps out of his car and offers to help any way he can, then a woman walks up and ask if they're looking for the KTM dealer, which they didn't know existed. She gives them directions, it's three blocks away. The guy then offers to park his car and help push the bike to the dealer. Winning over tourist one person at a time.
We drop the bikes off at the dealers, the KTM for whatever it takes to get it running better and my KLR for a 15,000 mile service.
Thomas Pickerel from Skagway meets us at the Palm Tree Hostal where he has arranged a room for us.
Making it to the KTM dealer has lowered everyone's stress level. We'll be here for a few days for sure, looks like there is plenty to do.
LUF
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
An early start for a great day of riding. We continue to climb up into the tropical Andes. Very lush, all the creeks and rivers are full, some small mud slides into the road.
Traffic today as it was yesterday Is thick. It dawns on me that everything in most Latin American countries must move by road so lots of truck and bus traffic. Today's road links the Atlantic seaport of Cartagena to the major interior city of Medellin so it's packed, trucks and buses of all descriptions coming and going. The road is two lane or less due to road maintenance and / or mudslides. It's steep enough that the loaded semis have to use their 1st gear most of the way up which leads to a few stalling out or overheating stopping traffic flow. The switch back corners are tight enough that a semi turning a corner takes up the whole road which stops traffic from the other direction. Thankfully motorcycles can lane split so we ride the center line on occasion and can squeeze by slow moving or stalled vehicles. We may not be able to ride as fast as we would like however we ride faster than the trucks and busses.
We are in the occasional downpour part of the world so we all adjust our clothing. I'm dry but a little cool. Will put my jacket and pant liners in for next week, and hook up my heated grips. I love cool weather even in the rain or as I mused riding through the weather.
Another great lunch stop, thatched palm leaf roof with oriental rope work to tie it all together.
Gabriel and Cynthia from Costa Rico ride bye and wave, planning on catching up with them in Cuzco. A couple of soldiers watching a helicopter operation lend a hand with the KTM after lunch launch ritual. As before nice guys curious about the ride and the bikes.
Our ride continues through rain, clouds, hills and beautiful small settlements scattered on the mountain sides.
The roads into Medellin are very different from those leaving Cartagena, these are wide and well marked. We still run into construction and rush hour traffic but all in all easier than leaving Cartagena. Twice while stopped in traffic people on motorcycles stop to chat me up. The usual where are you from, where are you going, each one ended the conversation with a genuine "welcome to Columbia". I think I'll like this place
Through the efforts of the master navigator Jimi and his assistant Max we find the KTM dealer with no problems.
South Africans and Max discussing the finer points of KTM's
Standing in front are two of the South African riders I met in Portobello while loading their bikes. Seems that three out of the four KTM 990 they're riding are in for work, one simply died about three blocks from the dealer and refused to start.
This leads to another people of Medellin story. When the one bike died in traffic someone in a car cuts across three lanes of traffic jumps out of his car and offers to help any way he can, then a woman walks up and ask if they're looking for the KTM dealer, which they didn't know existed. She gives them directions, it's three blocks away. The guy then offers to park his car and help push the bike to the dealer. Winning over tourist one person at a time.
We drop the bikes off at the dealers, the KTM for whatever it takes to get it running better and my KLR for a 15,000 mile service.
Thomas Pickerel from Skagway meets us at the Palm Tree Hostal where he has arranged a room for us.
Making it to the KTM dealer has lowered everyone's stress level. We'll be here for a few days for sure, looks like there is plenty to do.
LUF
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Planatarioz to Medellin, Columbia
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