Wednesday, September 26, 2012

BIRTHDAY SHREDDING

Laugh Birthday shredding!!!

DAY—318-319
9/16-17/2012
Laid in bed recovering and getting better and staying out of the sun! It has been 100 degrees with 47% Humidity!!!! This Mtn. Kid is dying!! Hahaha

DAY-320
9/18/2012
It’s go time let’s get the hell out of here!!! Wait what Dave you’re in the shower and your craps not packed… haha We finally got on the road and was headed into a gas station, I jumped a curb and made it into the station, Dave joined and said he wasn't supposed to turn there.. We filled up got ready and was there for at least ten minutes, we headed off into traffic, WOOP WOOP crap crap bike cop. He swung around me shaking his head and pulled Dave over I gave her gas and kept on going. While waiting up the road there was a disturbance and like 5 cops showed up, Dave finally showed up and saw me sitting with cops so he blasted past and just kept going haha… We finally caught up and he said the cop had seen him make an illegal turn into the gas station and sat and waited for him to come back out. The cop did not want to confront him in front of people since he wanted cash cash cash… So after some arguing and bringing the cop down from 400 dollars!!! To twenty he handed him a ten and the cop without looking put it in his pocket quickly so no one would see. Haha sucka. We got out of the city; bike is still crushing oil and smoking like a chimney.
The clouds were getting darker and darker… I stopped for some pictures, although they did not come out well but you could see two different storms heading for each other exactly where I was headed. As soon as they met all hell broke loose, started to rain harder and harder, with the wind started blowing hard. I am guessing 60mph or so... Raining sideways and using all my strength to keep the bike on the road. After about 20 minutes of this and it was only getting worse we shot off the road into a guys covered patio on the side of the road. We waited for it to calm... The carport slowly started to fill with water and soon it was over ankle deep. We found out later; that in the area we were riding there were a few tornados, as well as in Paraguay, and Uruguay. haha crazy storms.
I said alright enough waiting around let’s get the hell out of here. Dave was not stoked to go back into the storm but it had chilled out quite a bit and it was getting late and we needed to find a place to camp for the night. We headed into a small town on the river called La Paz, we split up and I skipped the Camping area to head for the water. BADE IDEA!!! The mud was insane not to deep like 6 inches to a foot, but so slick like if you try just to walk it is like ice and you fall. So I made it to the water and the whole parking lot was like this ice mud. I turned around and was heading out when both tires slipped out and I laid her down. I couldn’t pick it up due to every time I tried the bike would just slide one way and my feet would slip out over and over again. I was solo no one in sight and was getting a little frustrated after 30 minutes of this haha. I finally saw a house and walked over, right away a nice guy walked out with his pants rolled up, no shoes, walked, and talked with me back to the bike. We got it up with a lot of slipping and sloshing and headed for grass. I didn’t have any money on me, so I gave him my small 5 dollar watch as a thank you for helping me and getting totally muddy for a stranger haha.
I found Dave and we headed into the Municipal camp ground, to find that the whole camping area was like the beach, crazy slick mud. We road on small strips of grass and decided to sleep under a picnic shelter without tents. We hung up our stuff to try and dry out some. All of my gear and bags worked well and kept everything dry during the gnarly storm. I busted out my little stove and cooked up some pasta and sauce, with some coke. We passed out but not much sleep crazy winds all night long, but the bikes were good and stable.

DAY-321
9/19/2012
We packed up and got on the road we only had 400km’s left to make it to Rosario where Dave’s friend said we could stay with her for a few days. It was windy all day, cold, and threatening to rain all day. It was a pretty straight road with some nice landscapes, massive fields covered in yellow flowers. We chose the most direct route that ran alongside the river all the way there. While I was getting gas and waiting for David to catch up, a guy from Venezuela rode up on a GS 1200 and we talked about where we were going and had been. Nice guy doing a 9 month ride around South America. The last section of the route was a 50km road through the wet lands crossing over the river to Rosario tons of little bridges such nice views and the weather cleared up and was nice and sunny. The last bridge was awesome you could see the whole outline of the city (nowhere to pull over for a pic). The bridge was awesome and huge. The past two days I have been adding oil like crazy like almost 1 quart ever 300km’s. We made our way to his friend’s house with plans to play a joke on her, but unfortunately she was not at home and had left a note for me to go to another address. David’s GPS took us about 15 miles in the wrong direction. We finally arrived just as she was walking out from work and our prank was ruined haha. We headed back to her house unloaded my bike and took Julie for a ride as we headed to her moms house where I could park my bike safely. We grabbed some take out and just relaxed for the night with some good wine.

DAY-322
9/20/2012
My dang ol 28th Birthday today. Woke up headed out to the supermarket to get some eggs for breakfast and it was cold and raining. Damn haha. So I grabbed eggs, cheese, bread, and a 1 liter of Budweiser (my first Bud in at least a year hahaha). The bud tasted weird made in Argentina but still nice to have some water down American beer on my birthday. Hung out for a while skyping friends and family. I headed out to the river and walked for a couple of hours just appreciating a nice relaxing day. I knew I was in for a good party this weekend with my friend Martin in Buenos Aires. We went out to dinner to an American guys place and it was nice, I had his micro brew and a chicken pot pie.


PARKING... BACK IT IN....

BRIDGE OF CORRIENTES



COOL SKY'S

THE FAM THAT TOOK US IN FOR LOOKING LIKE A BUM... HAHAHA

HERE IT COMES

WINDS PICKING UP

HEADING RIGHT INTO IT!!!!

SHEETS OF RAIN

LETTING UP.. LETS RIDE!!!

DAVE NEXT TO HIS LITTLE CHINESE BIKE...

COOL ASS SKY

LOOKING GOOD FOR 28!!!

SLEEPY TIME!!!!!

MESSING WITH THE DOPE COLORING AS WE RODE,

LAST STRETCH UNTIL ROSARIO

GETTING CLOSE

I LOVE MY LIFE.

GOTTA LOVE IT

THUMBS UP FOR THE LIFE WE LIVE

BLURRY BUT STILL A COOL SHOT

LOOKS LIKE A PAINTING

BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD ARE INCREDIBLE WATER VIEWS

DAVE HEADED FOR THE LAST BRIDGE GOING TO ROSARIO

Sunday, September 16, 2012

TO CORRIENTES JUST IN TIME TO GET SICK!!!


Wicked To corrientes.. And just in time to get sick... Haha
DAY-315
9/13/2012
I didn’t sleep much my bike is really on my mind, it is running like crap, very rich, kicking out a lot of black smoke, and crushing through oil. To say the least I am very very worried, because if it is something to do with the big bore I had to do there is no room to fix the bore if it is off. The piston is the largest piston I can go so I will have to get a new cylinder and start over. From my understanding at least. I am not sure what I will do if I have to do something like that.. I need to replace my back bearings as well. For the first time of this trip I am worried as well as a little down in the dumps. But it only lasted for a little while because I stopped worrying over things I cannot control looked around and realized how lucky I am and stoked to be doing this trip. So everything will happen as it happens and everything happens for a reason. I am very excited to see what adventures lay ahead of me.
A new thought has come into play instead of going right for Africa I have been thinking of applying for a work visa for Australia and going over there for 6 months or so and working and making some cash and then flying to Japan, then to Thailand to continue my way to Europe and then finish my travels in Africa. It is so amazing not having any solid plans and truly the world is in front of me as one big adventure and experience.
With a lot of checking the oil I made my way to Resistencia, stocked back up on Oil and then finally made it to Corrientes. We were looking for a place to stay since our host from Coushsurfing.org was not replying to our messages. David made his way to find internet. I sat leg sprawled on the side walk next to my bike; I hadn’t showered for four days or so, covered in dirt from riding, and oil from messing with the bike. As I sat there a few people walking by said hi and asked a few questions. I am guessing I looked quite like a very dirty bum who somehow had a nice big bike. A nice older lady who was 60 walked up started talking to me asking question, and then headed on her way. She was gone for about 30 seconds and came back telling me to come to her house for Food and a shower haha. I told her I was waiting on my amigo; she left and told me she would be back. David came back just in time when Rebecca showed back up and handed me a phone I said hi and there was a guy on the other end who spoke English telling me that his friend wanted to have us to her house for a shower and food. We had no other options so we followed her, and then she insisted that we take our bikes into her house down a hallway into the courtyard. She insisted we unpack and stay the night.
She told me later that she stopped to help because she was once helped out by an older lady when she was in Frankfurt Germany and was homeless. So she wanted to repay the favor and I looked like I could use some help… haha haha
We went for a walked to try and catch the sunset over the river and bridge but were a little too late but still got a few pics.
She invited her friend over who speaks English and we hung out for the Night. She got wind that we were planning on moving tomorrow to find a hostel to stay, because we did not want to over stay the welcome. She was not about to have that, she said no we will stay as long as we want, no questions asked.. Yes maam I am sorry. Haha

DAY-316
9/14/2012
Woke up feeling pretty good not to sick, so I grabbed my laptop and headed for a cafĂ© to do some online banking, picture uploads, and work on some of my writing. I was there for three hours and started to feel quiet shitty again so I headed back to the house. It is very humid here, I met up with David and with Rebecca we headed to the Supermarket to find some lunch. I kept feeling worse and worse so I took a nap and was just sweating and shaking. The family we are staying with were very worried and wanted me to go to the hospital right away. So David and I headed for the hospital, after 30 minutes we finally found the right one and went in. There was pretty good size line but within 5 minutes we were called in. There was a transvestite doctor working and making jokes the whole time, the place was to say the least very ghetto; my doctors couldn’t have been older than 20 years old. They asked a few questions then shoved a piece of wood down my throat and said yup your throats red it is a virus not bacterial; you need a shot in the ass?? Wait what did you just say? They just started to laugh. The best part he was trying to ask if I had a cough which I had already told him I did have, so when he was trying to explain I thought he wanted me to cough so I did and everyone just started laughing I felt like an idiot. Haha
We then were told I needed to get X-rays to see if I had infection in the face?? So now I have two sweet x-rays of my face and skull… Possible new tattoo??? Haha so at the end of it all two hours later, just like I thought it was a bad cold with a small sinus infection, and I kept the x-rays haha. All for free. Now I need sleep and head for the falls on Monday I think I will be up there for my birthday. Nice place to be for your bday I think.

DAY-317
9/15/2012
I woke up feeling a little better, took it easy worked online for a bit and then met up with David. I should have stayed in bed all day but I was restless and hate sitting around doing nothing so we went for a quick walk. Well it turned into a 3 hour walk in 100 degree heat, I had water but it was so hot…. We got back to the house and I went to sleep for awhile I woke up rough my stomach was in knots and I was just feeling really bad. I tried to sleep it off but I was in a lot of pain, I grabbed a bunch of Gatorade because I feel like I got heat stroke. Dave headed out to meet a few couchsurfers and I laid in bed, they family we are staying with are very nice, they are constantly trying to help me. My stomach felt so full even though I hadn’t eaten a lot today and my Gatorade was really hard to drink. I almost threw up a few times during the day and night. Finally around 11pm the gates opened and I puked my brains out all liquid for 5 minutes… haha I was then able to drink Gatorade and water for the night as I slept it off.

PACKED UP READY TO RALLY

AMAZING VIEWS AS WE WALKED AROUND CORRIENTES

SO STOKED ON MY LIFE

DAVE

MYSELF

Still trying to figure out what to do.. Do I go for it to the falls, or head south to B.A. and go to a moto shop I have been told about Dakar Motos to see if they can help me fix my problems and get me back on the road again with out a oil burning smoker....
Oh shit balls. hahaha
Thanks for following Fletch

CORRIENTES WE GO


DAY-313
9/11/2012
I woke up sicker then hell, but it is go time lets ride.
We got a late start due to David trying to figure out some financial problems back home with his flat, something to do with insurance. I had left my bike out locked to the metal cage of the window of the hostel. My first time leaving my bike out on the street, but it worked out. We packed up our gear and filled up with gas. My bike felt pretty good although ever since the rebuild it just hasn’t felt like it’s self, maybe I am crazy but I do know that bike. It is still spitting out black smoke when I give it heavy gas. I am hoping it is just running rich. It is using oil but not a ton about the same as it did from Bolivia to Salta Argentina. David is riding a Chinese 200cc bike that tops out at about 75 kmh not a big deal since I need to take it easy since I am trying to still break in the bike. All day I would ride ahead a little and then stop take pictures and wait, and so on and so on. We rode about 400+ Kilometers which is the most David has ever ridden and by the end of the day I was having to add quite a bit of oil. We neared a small town and were trying to decide where to camp for the night; we ended up at a motel with a huge secure parking lot and asked if we could camp. For a small fee we were allowed to camp and use the facilities, we threw up our tents and walked into town to find some water and juice. We got back and as we were getting ready to make dinner four bikers rolled in from Brazil on a Yamaha FJ6, Bmw 650, Harley super Glide, and a Honda Flacon XR 400. We talked with them for awhile then settled down to use my camping stove and made pasta mixed with Raman noodles for dinner haha… We also met a nice couple who was driving a Toyota Hilux diesel SUV and who had a heck of a night by hitting a Donkey with their car and wrecking the right front end. They were very nice and we talked for awhile he was a rancher, Cattle rancher.
We crashed out early but I was up all night from being sick, dog fights, outside my tent, roosters at all hours, and a generator that would kick on about 10 feet from the tent. We got up and loaded up quickly said our goodbyes and were off.

DAY-314
9/12/2012
We hit to the road quickly staying on Route 16 which is very long, straight, and quiet boring road. We rode only stopping for food, gas, and for me to add oil….. I was riding and doves were just flying off the road in flocks of hundreds at a time. I was cruising down the road when all of a sudden there was a flutter of feathers in front of me and whammmm something smacked me hard in the helmet. Guessing I killed a bird and I kept on going for a few more miles. I stopped on the road to wait for David and to see if there was any markings yup a bird a wedged its self between my visor and helmet and decapitated it’s self, before I could take the helmet of the bird fell to my feet. I of course put it back in place for a nice picture for everyone to see how it died…. Hahira slammed me good, left a nice little head ache. We pressed on and were trying to find the national park of Chaco where there is free camping. We found it but then found out we had to ride and extra 70 kilometers around the park to the entrance. We finally got to the park I had to add more oil and we road 5km into the park to camping area. We got eaten alive by mosquitoes, before setting up camp I made a fire to get rid of some of the skeet’s. We hung out talking about the ride and we had a small dinner of soups and headed to bed early.


ONE LONG STRAIGHT ROAD.....

ENTERTAINING MYSELF

ENCREDIBLE WEATHER, NICE, COOL, AND CLEAR

DAVE COMING DOWN THE ROAD AS DUSK IS CREEPING ON US

THE ENGLISH COULDN'T HANDLE HIS MUSTACHE ANYMORE... HAHA

OUR CAMPSPOT ON THE FIRST NIGHT IN THE PARKING LOT OF A HOTEL... HAHA

RAMAN NOODLE DINNER

YUM YUM YUM.. KIND OF

FRESH GRAPFRUIT FROM A NICE GUYS TREE...

WAY TO MUCH FUN SOLO.... HAHA

LONG, GREEN, AND STRAIGHT ONE WAY

LONG, GREEN, AND STRAIGHT THE OTHER WAY....

FOR A STRAIGHT, PAVED ROAD IT WAS A NICE ONE AT LEAST

SORRY TWEETIE BIRD... I WON!!!

MY PRETTY TWEETIES GOT NO HEAD!!!!

MI CASA AND WIFE.. HAHAHA

THE WORST SLIDE EVER!!! WOOD SLIDE DOWN TO A NICE STUMP.. HAHA

AND HE IS OFF

HOW DID THAT FEEL??? HAHAHA