RTW on a thumper...KTM - LC4 Round the World ADVenturization

[DRRambler]

Originally Posted by rtwpaul

the ride down is nothing short of spectacular, one of the deepest canyons on the planet you can drive to the bottom of it is a must see if you are near here and can find the road

You wouldn't happen to have the coords for that road would ya?

[rtwpaul]

Originally Posted by AlbertaStrom

I don't want to turn your wonderful thread into a debate about Malaria because there are plenty of those around. I have done my research and will make my own decision.

But as a rider planning a South America trip I'm curious from the perspective of one who is traveling as much as you.
Have you or are you planning to take Malaria meds prophylactically? I have read ride reports from others who took insect precautions only. Just trying to get a feel for what other riders are doing.

Oh, and Happy New Year!
Loving the Venezuela stuff

there are positives and negatives about malaria tablets, personally i took them last year down here, and this year i didn't, i listren to local knowledge nowadays they are very expensive and generally not needed everywhere, i have read ride reports from RTW riders in Africa who took them everyday as described and still got malaria, but when they did they were given a medication and told the tablets were virtually useless.

not unlike my response above - so the long and the short of it is - i think it is personal preference and where you are riding, the only definite place is think down hee are in the Amazon basin for sure and also if there are reports of Dengy fever then Malaria is usually close by too

you might want to read this ride report, John a fellow xt660z rider, his girlfriend got malaria and he details it all very well, not sure where in the report, but the whole thing is good reading - http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=710660

[DRRambler]

Thanks for that.
If I follow the traveler's health clinic advice I'd be on it almost every day for 6 months. Real world practice varies considerably and as you say it's a personal decision. I'm in sponge mode so I'll read everything I can get my eyes on. thanks for the link

D

[rtwpaul]

Originally Posted by SS in Vzla.

The asshole immigration officer was on the Venezuelan side or the Colombian side? (the first I would expect, the second would be a first for me).



Glad your buddie's tip-over was just that and no harm was really done...

he was on the Columbian side...everyone was amazed how he was acting...Ryan just had an off in the mountains outside of Pamplona.. he's not having too much good luck right now

[rtwpaul]

Originally Posted by AlbertaStrom

You wouldn't happen to have the coords for that road would ya?

as i said the road doesn't show on a map, on OSM it shows maybe 100 meters then ends, thats the road,

here's the coord's for the town, if you zoom out it will show you another road going in, that DOES NOT exist anymore, its now a foot path which starts/ ends with a bridge that a bike can't go over as it ends up in a private property



and the start of the road down, the one i used

[LethPhaos]

It seems you can (barely) see the new road on Maps already:
http://goo.gl/maps/R7K28

[rtwpaul]

Originally Posted by LethPhaos

It seems you can (barely) see the new road on Maps already:
http://goo.gl/maps/R7K28

thats it though, some is dirt/ gravel and lower down it is concrete and then back to gravel and then tarmac, then cobblestones...but you do show the correct entry point...

[rtwpaul]

riding out fo Cepita, the sun was on the other side of the canyon so again fantastic views




took a very short ride to San Gil, Ryan was struggling with his ankle so when we got here we just decided to stay for a couple of days and take in this bustling town, full of Columbians on there annual vacation, enjoying the sun and people watching








Ryan says..."i don't have my phone turned on so who is she calling?"



the town is set in a very steep valley and some of the side roads are just crazy how steep they are, some have been blocked off because they are simply too dangerous to even try and stop on









very busy moto town, crazy things go by, unless they are stopped in the free bike parking areas around town

[Merlin III]

That looks like a typical American town in many ways.

[rtwpaul]

Originally Posted by Merlin III

That looks like a typical American town in many ways.

i lived in Maine where you are years ago...which town are we talking about here, not one in your state, 95 degrees, hot chicks everywhere...i'll be back in the states in a few months, let me know so i can make a detour though there...:: wink:

[Merlin III]

Originally Posted by rtwpaul

i lived in Maine where you are years ago...which town are we talking about here, not one in your state, 95 degrees, hot chicks everywhere...i'll be back in the states in a few months, let me know so i can make a detour though there...:: wink:

It is all in the mind, Grasshopper!

[MeinMotorrad]

Those pics showing kids on bikes remind me of when I was working in Paris in the 1990's. Every morning rush hour a guy on a Vmax would trundle past, where I worked, taking his son to school - he was sitting on the fuel tank facing his dad so they could talk - no helmet or anything either

[pdedse]

>>......and starts screaming at the immigration guy that we had been inline for at least one hour and tourists should not be treated like this they are here to spend money in our country...with that every person in the line starts shouting at this one guy to stamp our passports, about 1000 people shouting at the top of there voices, can you picture that???<<

That's one of the funniest border crossing stories. Surreal.

In this photo, you have the police, you have the double yellow, the bike passing the car crossing the double yellow, AND the "no passing sign". That's pretty amazing! Question: was he speeding, going over 50kph as well?



And in this shot, is that the road cut into the mountain on the right?


I know it can't alway be easy to post photos and write-ups, but it's greatly appreciated!

[Smithee]

Originally Posted by rtwpaul

so after a day in the rain off and on i just decided to keep on riding until i hit Panama City and Panama House hostal, real nice place and a great meeting spot for riders heading out to the stahlratte, about 80km's away

Great "beware of the dog" sign. Did they have a vicioso perro on premises?

I picked up your RR a while back and have been catching up. Love the photos.

What do you use for the HDR shots? Does the camera bracket them or do you use software?

[Smithee]

Originally Posted by rtwpaul

its obviously christmas time but it still seems weird to see a tree in the tropics

Was in Costa Rica - La Fortuna and Mal Pais - couple weeks ago. Seemed like a lot of Ticos like to put their trees out on the porch. It's even more jarring to me to see a big Santa Claus down there.