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

[wdeTA]

Originally Posted by SchizzMan

Hey Paul,

Orvar, from Sweden, should be crossing into Mexico tomorrow on his way to TDF. I heard there was a freighter taking bikes from Panama to Colombia but have no info to give him. Have you heard about this? StahlRat is booked during his trip so he'll have to air ship or try this freighter.

Thanks,

Schizz

Not sure about any freighter, but if you are thinking of the ferry, it's still wishful thinking.

http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...colombia+ferry

[rtwpaul]

Originally Posted by SchizzMan

Hey Paul,

Orvar, from Sweden, should be crossing into Mexico tomorrow on his way to TDF. I heard there was a freighter taking bikes from Panama to Colombia but have no info to give him. Have you heard about this? StahlRat is booked during his trip so he'll have to air ship or try this freighter.

Thanks,

Schizz

i met an English guy about a week back who caught a freighter from Turbo (Col) to Colon (Pan), he said the captain had no problems carrying bikes but had nothing to do with the clearing at either end, it was $320 inclusive and south to north it was ten days, and north to south it would be at least 20 days...the guy said he found out about it on a thread, so i'm guessing its buried somewhere in HU's 60,000 thread pages

he did say that there were plenty of ships in the port that when questioned seemed OK to carry a bike but not many to also allowing you on as a passenger


one thing that people might want to know is the Stahlratte will not be around forever, the foundation that owns it is considering a move, they were very open about talking about the subject of the move, so i guess they will make an official announcement about it when the decision is made, but that would mean no more motorcycles as the 150 people in the foundation struggle to get on the Rat right now and they want to sail to new places

[rtwpaul]

so as the readers of my ride report seem to like photos and NOT comment too much, only a select few seem to do that for some reason - then here is the mother load of photos for you...after 110,000 views to this point there are just that select few that have dared to come out of the darkness...lets see if this lot will lure the lurkers to make their first scary post and be known to the world




the Kuna ladies wear very tiny beads around their legs, and it appears it keeps them slim, not unlike the bound feet of latter year Chinese








so we headed into the island for an unknown night of what????





well it was simply walking around the very small island that sits maybe 8 - 10 inches above sea level, talking with the locals and taking in the sights, like the following

[SavannahCapt]

[QUOTE=rtwpaul;20250236]so as the readers of my ride report seem to like photos and NOT comment too much, only a select few seem to do that for some reason - then here is the mother load of photos for you...after 110,000 views to this point there are just that select few that have dared to come out of the darkness...lets see if this lot will lure the lurkers to make their first scary post and be known to the world







Great pics. They look poor, but well fed and happy.

[rtwpaul]

Day 2 was back on the Stahlratte and off to a smaller island in Carti for a BBQ and some chilling out for the rest of the day








Day 3 a sea day, it was slow going with swells ranging from 10 to 20 feet, the Stahlratte was getting thrown all over the place, people were getting very sick, the Captain FiFi, (LULU is on vacation) said it was the worst he can remember...lucky us



Day 4 the sea was still very rough, but to make things worse the engine failed, it burned up an exhaust valve when we were 60 miles from Cartagena, I was called over and asked if it would be possible for me to weld up the problem, I did this the first time but the pressure from the motor blew another hole in the valve, two hours later I re-welded the valve and this time the engine could build enough pressure to run but only at about 50% power so we sailed very slowly towards Cartagena and arrived one day late, (new engine parts were ordered once we reached the dock) and of course just late enough to miss customs for clearance, so an extra day is now scheduled in Cartagena

[rtwpaul]

Long day starting at 5.15 am to get up and be at the dock by 6 am…it was unloading day from the Stahlratte






photo below is not me...but you get the idea




this also means sitting in Columbian Aduana almost the whole day whilst they clear all the paperwork and get you thru

I’m not sure if the process from the Columbian authorities is more difficult when you arrive by boat compared to arriving by land or air but if time is the judge and having personally done all the other options it must be very difficult because once the bikes were at the Aduana building at 8 am sharp as requested it wasn’t until 4.30pm when we were all cleared and officially entered into Columbia, including the insurance as well

With a full day like that I finished it off with a tire at the hostal surrounded by 17 other bikes (that i'd been carrying since Antigua) chain and sprocket change and basically was done for the day




the next day was spent walking the streets of old Cartagena

[Merlin III]

nice!

[bubbletron]

[Kiwi Canuck]

this is 3 of the riders, Ryan, Dylan and phil




Hola Paul, if you see Phil again, (Yellow 2012 V Strom) pass on my regards from me, (David from Vancouver BC), do you know if he has a blog?
BTW awesome RR and the photos are spectacular, nice job.

Cheers,

Kiwi Canuck

[rtwpaul]

Originally Posted by Kiwi Canuck

Hola Paul, if you see Phil again, (Yellow 2012 V Strom) pass on my regards from me, (David from Vancouver BC), do you know if he has a blog?
BTW awesome RR and the photos are spectacular, nice job.

Cheers,

Kiwi Canuck

sending you a PM with the info, he is leaving cartagena tomorrow heading south

[dave6253]

Still enjoying the awesome photographs! Keep up the great work.

[rtwpaul]

Originally Posted by SavannahCapt

Great pics. They look poor, but well fed and happy.

outrageously poor, but all very happy, almost everyone was smiling until i pointed a camera at them, the kids love it to see their photo, they smiled at everything

[rtwpaul]

Originally Posted by dave6253

Still enjoying the awesome photographs! Keep up the great work.

thanks man, glad to see you are still enjoying the images

[davesupreme]

yeah, man.... you gotta great eye, take some great pics.... please keep it up!...

[achesley]

Lovin the report Paul. Check it everyday to see what's new with you. Thanks for all the time and work to share your awesome journey with us. The only way most of us will ever see and learn about these countries is though people like you. Thanks.