THE WAIT IS OVER!!!!

DAY- 148-149

3/29-30/2012

I had to stick close to the hostel the last few days waiting for the package so I could sign for it. I was pretty bummed when Nick got his package so quick and it left after mine. I have come to the realization that someone or something is trying to tell me to SLOW DOWN AND STOP TRYING TO PLAN AND RUSH THROUGH. So with that said I have decided to play and slow roll my way to Bolivia, where I will hopefully be taking 2 weeks to learn a new hobby that has something to do with flying like a bird! I now know for sure I will not be making it to TDF Argentina before winter, so I will pick up some staging/ volunteer work when I get to Argentina or somewhere in between and wait out the winter before finishing up SA and heading to South Africa. No reason to rush my trip of a life time!

        So after waiting for five extra days from when my package was supposed to arrive I had lost hope. I was sitting outside with a British couple who is riding a F800GS, who was also waiting on a package. They got theirs around 4:30pm Friday, 5pm came and went and I was straight bummed. I walked up stairs pretty sad for the first time of this whole trip. Right when I had lost hope, I hear what I think is someone butchering my name. I peak over the railing, yup there is a delivery guy holding my last package. Yup you guessed it; to his surprise I ran up and gave him a hug we all started to laugh. I signed for it and was off running down the street praying the moto shop was still open. The owner knew I had been waiting for this package so he let me in and I started working on my bike as they cleaned up, he assigned one of his mechanics to help me out. We changed the chain and sprockets, riser links on the suspension, and a 500lb coil spring. The coil spring they didn’t have anything that would fit over to decompress to change it. So they ran it to a friend and had him change it for us. We got her back together, without the help of the mechanic I would have been there double the time. They only charged me for the other shops work on the suspension, so I tipped out the mechanic who saved my day. Oh yeah the shop that lets you work in and use their tools is closing for a week starting tomorrow. Yup lucked out!

        So after hanging out in Cali, Colombia for three weeks I am ready to go, it was a mixture of reasons. From companies being slow to send things or not telling me they didn’t have them to ship, custom taking packages, and just flukes.

        I am living on a high right now, going to crack a beer and go get my pelican cases back on and have her all ready to shred tomorrow morning. ITS ON LIKE DONKEY KONG, ECUADOR HERE I COME!!!

STILL WAITING IN CALI......

DAY 138-145

3/21-28/2012

A lot of waiting around, worked on my website, making a movie, working with Photoshop, and of course working on the bike as parts come in. It was nice to have Nick around all week; we worked on his bike changing the sprockets and chain. I got my doohickey in and took it over to the Kawasaki shop, he replaced my Doohickey and adjusted my valves (although he said my Valves looked brand new), and I did not have the doohickey tool so I needed him to change it for me. I got the bike back did a lap around the block and the bike was backfiring some, I noticed this when I arrived in Cali a few weeks ago, after looking over it I decided it was a exhaust leak near the header. I ordered a gasket and they got it here with in 24hrs, I replaced it myself in less than 20minutes and now she is purring like a kitten. We got flag stickers made for our bikes for cheap like 2 bucks for 14 flags.

A few new bikers have passed through making their way South and North, I am starting to get very over of waiting, and I must plan this much better next time. I just received my cold weather gear from Kyle, thanks bub. My package was sent the day before Nicks via same company, but he got his yesterday and mine is now stuck in customs! Once I get my Coil, sprockets, and chain, I will slap them on and rage for Ecuador. My fingers are crossed for package today, slap them on, and rage tomorrow Thursday. I have been learning a lot about myself and what this trip means to me, these weeks have been very interesting to say the least. Well fingers crossed and I shall be raging soon.

Nick left today and we will meet up again in Ecuador. Right after we said goodbye he started his bike and started to back off the sidewalk, when all of a sudden a taxi freaking hauling down the road locked up his brakes and went sliding past us. Nope no chance he smashed into a van running a stop sign, it was like the movies with the van going up on two wheels for a second and spinning a 180. I thought the van was flipping but it didn’t, the crash was loud and was all but 5-10ft from us; so crazy. A guy from the hostel who was about to ride up to a mechanic shop went back inside grabbed his boots and jacket and then made his way to get his bike worked on. Nick headed out shaking his head very happy he hadn’t left 35 seconds earlier.

HE HAS RIDDEN FROM BC, CANADA AND IS HEADED FOR TDF, ARGENTINA...GNARLY!

NICK IN OUR OWN PERSONSAL GARAGE

CHANGING THE EXHAUST GASKET

OUR GARAGE, ANOTHER CANADIAN NICK ON A KLR FROM TORONTO

TOP RIGHT FAIL, EXHAUST GASKET

NICK FROM TORONTO, CANADA KLR

NICK WHO I HAVE BEEN HANGING OUT WITH FROM BC CANADA DR 650

T-BONING RIGHT NEXT TO US

COUNTRIES I HAVE VISITED SO FAR, MANY MORE TO COME!!!

FIRST OF MANY EPIDOSDES TO COME...ENJOY!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9ySWoUbSKE&feature=youtube_gdata

PLEASE CLICK ON LINK TO SEE EPISODE 1-
COLORADO TO COLOMBIA- MOVIE
FLETCH

CATCHING UP- TIME WAITING IN CALI, COLOMBIA- ZOO

DAY 132-137

3/15-20/2012

        I spent this past week catching up with family on Skype, working out better and cheaper insurance (thank you HCC), Spanish, and working on Carnet. I also realized that someone nicked one of my bags off of my bike as I was organizing my stuff. I don’t think they were too happy when they realized it was just long underwear, but it sucks for me no more warm clothes. So I quickly called my brother in-law who is in the snowboard business and saved the day again for me. (Thanks Skinner) He sent me a Ninja suit under layer, a top/ bottom under layer, two warm socks, and glove liners. I walked all over Cali this week a few times. Nic came back to Cali this week and we have been hanging out figuring out fun routes down south. Nothing to crazy this past week, just waiting for packages and then it’s on like donkey Kong.

        We went to the Cali Zoo today.

                We caught a cheap taxi across town and paid a 6 dollar gate charge to get in. We walked around the 9 Hectare zoo. It was pretty rad some really cool animals, although I am pretty sure that 90% of the animals will die in the next year all very unhealthy. After a few hours we caught a taxi to another part of town for lunch. We went to a casino on a whim and I won 12 bucks on roulette. We walked back to hostel, stopping in a sticker shop for Nic he is making sticker for his website. I got a new Red bull sticker and Colombian flag.

THE ZOOOOOOOOO!!!

CHILLING OUT ONE LEG STYLE

I CAUGHT A FISH THIS BIG YESTERDAY

FLAMINGO'S EVERYWHERE

WANNA RIDE BIKES!!!

MONKEYING AROUND

NAP TIME

WHAT YA LOOKING AT!!!

I'M COMING FOR YOU!!! I BET YOU TASTE LIKE BIG MAC

MAMA PACING FOR FOOD

OVER SEEING THE ZOO

ON THE HUNT

HOLY MONKEY'S BATMAN

THE RARE CANADIAN MOTO TURTLE

CALI AND FOOTBALL MATCH

DAY-129-131
3/12,13,14/2012

Had to quickly scramble around fixing a shipping screw up, they never emailed me to tell me they did not have one of my parts I needed so I canceled the order. I called the direct machinist for a doohickey and riser links, and then ordered spring and chain set from another website. After sitting around on a rainy day I decided to order a pressure suit, a few crowbar lenses, and solid raingear. Everything shipped quickly and should be in Florida ready to ship to me cheaply by Friday morning, except my order from Happy-Trails which is taking forever and I am not impressed with them. I went through my luggage and organized and got rid of everything I didn’t need. I met up with a friend Dave from OZ, we ran around the city a little bit together. I have just been taking it easy doing research for everything I need to do for a carnet and trying to change my travel insurance.

The 14^th was a pretty relaxing day ran around with Dave, I woke up from a nap around 7pm or so just in time to meet Marc and his friend from Brazil who were headed out to a huge rival football match between Cali A team and Cali’s B team (America “Red Devils”) The taxi driver was not willing to take us right to the stadium to dangerous he said…ugh what did you just say? Okay... he then went on to give us detail directions on what to do and where to sit and so on so we wouldn’t get our asses kicked…. Ugh maybe this is not the best idea... haha We then got out of the cab and headed for the madness; there were cops and riot police everywhere. We bought some fake tickets off of the street for 13 bucks each and headed for the “Red Devils” side. We had to wait in line for 10 minutes while everyone got patted down; I was worried about my camera second thought on that one. As I got into get patted he gave a horrible not comforting pat down and told me to give up my belt! Oh well it’s just a belt sucks that I have had this Volcom belt for 8 years but I can always get another one. I walked into the stadium heart pounding not knowing what to expect. We were all nervous getting out of the taxi, tickets, line up, pat down, but all relaxed and started getting into the mood once we grabbed our seats.

We were on the second level; behind each of the goals sat all of the fans. I mean they were packed into three levels thousands of them all in Red or Green, they are so loud and crazy they separate them with the length of the field. They sung and battled back and forth the whole game singing louder and louder, dropping huge flags and so on. The first half to be honest was sloppy and crappy football. The second half was faster pace and the Red Devils scored a beauty of a header. The crowd went mad so loud and amazing. With ten minutes to go in the game and looking like the Red Devils had won it was time to get the hell out of there. We had been instructed by locals to leave ten minutes early safer and get in a cab and get out of there. I also realize we are the only gringos in these tens of thousands of fans. As we leave tons of locals who do not want any trouble are running out of the stadium and down the streets. We get to the streets and there are cops and riot patrol everywhere. We quickly find a cab and get going, there are mass amount of people strolling around getting rowdier and rowdier as we leave the area.

It was truly an awesome experience to have, the atmosphere and vibe at and around the game was tremendous. I am so stoked that I went and that we had no problems. Such a great night, got back had a few beers with the Brazilians and talked about riding around Brazil… (Hmmm maybe I should take an extra month and ride though Brazil at least the south).

GETTING CLOSE

LINE UP

"RED DEVILS CROWD"

CALI'S CROWD...BOOOO

THE FIELD.. TP GETTING THROWN

FRIENDS FROM BRAZIL

DAVE FROM AUSIE

FOOTBALL YIPPPPEEEEEEE!

(THEY DON'T SERVE BEER, I SEE WHY)

THEY WERE WEARING HELMETS TAKING THE ATHLETE OFF THE FIELD.. HAHA

CALI CALI CALI

QUICKLY LEAVING THE STADIUM

GETTING READY FOR A RIOT, COP ON LEFT WEARING ALL PLASTIC!

CATCHING UP CALI, COLOMBIA

DAY 126-127

3/9-10/2012

        I ran around and talked to a few shops making sure they had the right tools and knowledge to help me do a valve check and a Doohickey change (I know I know I should of done that before leaving, but my local shop said the 2009 model did not need to change (wrong) haha). I went back to the hostel got my shipping information sorted out and went online to figure out what I wanted. I got a doohickey, 550lb rear coil, and riser kit for the rear suspension (this will stop the sagging and give me back my suspension haha, just look at the pictures if you don’t think my bike needs this haha). I ordered the parts and then talked with Mike the hostel owner for awhile. Nic and I just walked around town checking out a few things getting small nicnacs for the bikes. Pretty chill evening, had a few beers with the people at the hostel and past out.

        We got up early and headed to the shop where we can work on bikes, and started taking Nic’s bike apart. We replaced his back tire with a fresh knobbie and took off his skidplate so it could be modified to fit the headers better. We finished pretty fast between us and headed back to the hostel. I had a lot of catching up to do between my RR and my Blog so I work on that stuff for nearly 5+ hours uploading photos and writings to the sites. Had a few more beers and hung out in the movie room.

DAY-128

3/11/2012

        Nic headed toward Bogota today hoping his passport was figured out. I met up with an Irish Couple and an Ausie mate and went for a hike. We were going to hike the hill behind Cali up to the three crosses overlooking the city. We headed off and grabbed water on the way, after getting lost for a little bit finally found the small trail up. It was easy going trail up the hill, at the top starting breathing a little heavy and sweating like a fat kid. Finally came to the top, syke nope halfway crap… haha lady selling water stopped bought a bag and kept moving I took a swing and spit it out. Looked at the Irish couple they just laughed because the fresh bag of water tasted like it had been filtered through trash so nasty tasting. The last 400 meters or so was straight up rock crawling to the top (my buddy Jason would of loved it for his Jeep). We made it to the top sweaty and breathing heavy as we get there we realize there is a freaking work out area with weights, pull up bars, the whole nine. I just started to laugh at how out of shape I have become...hahaha the views were jaw dropping, Cali is a big city. The crosses were sweet to see up close huge structures. We headed back down, skidding our way. We came out at a different area then started but figured it out pretty quickly.

        After getting back relaxed for a few decided on what to do tomorrow and got in touch with family and friends via skype and caught up with them. It was a great day and cannot wait to see what tomorrow holds, I have to do at least a few lessons on my Rosetta stone that a friend just gave me!!

YUM YUM YUM EMPANAD'S GET IN MY BELLY

FINALLY FOUND THE TRAIL/WAY TOO THE CROSSES

WERE HEADING UP TOP TOWARD THE CROSSES

GETTING THERE

TRAIL TO THE TOP

GETTING THERE, FAT KID SWEATING NOW

MADE IT, CROSSES ON THE TOP

PHOTOSHOP FUN

CALI CALI CALI!!!!

                                                           NICE NICE TRIPLE CROSSES

WELCOME TO CALI, COLOMBIA

POPAYAN-CALI

DAY 124-125
3/7-8/2012
        I had a pretty relaxed day walked around and took in the town. I met a few nice guys from Australia and England and had fresh potato empanadas. I caught up on a lot of uploading pictures and writing. Nothing to crazy just a well needed do nothing kind of day. I got in contact with Nic from Canada who is on a DR650 and found out he was in Cali at a rad moto guy Mikes Hostel Casa Blanca. I will head there tomorrow and work on my bike; I notice some gnarly sounds coming from the engine when it is in 1^st or second climbing. Had a relaxed night and went to bed early.

        I got up and took a nice slow morning, coffee and empanada breakfast. I worked on the bike, tightened up the chain which had become loose, hoping that has caused my problems. I loaded up the bike and headed out, sweet no noises it was just the chain, being too loose. I made it with in 20km and the noise started again. I got into town and gave a mototaxi the hostel card and followed him. Nope the guy was an idiot and took of leaving me in the dust with my hostel card. Sweet I see him in the distance but he can weave through the cars without problem, because he doesn’t have huge panniers. I ride around lost as hell for about an hour starting to get very frustrated, alright Fletch relax not that big of deal you have been lost plenty of times. After asking over and over for directions a guy on a moped rides up and ask if I need help, he takes me to a Kawasaki dealer (Nic had told me the hostel was near a Kawi shop”. Wrong one but a guy on a bicycle and his friend on a moped asks if I need help. A shot in the dark I ask if they know Hostel Casa Blanca and by some miracle they do they try and tell me direction I just look at them blankly, they just laugh and tell me to follow them. I ride off the sidewalk and chase after them, the traffic was thick and the bicycle was in the lead the whole time. They take me on a sidewalk/ bike path through the city, ugh okay. We pop out at an intersection right in front on three cops, cool no problem I follow them right to the doorstep of the hostel. They shake my hand and ride off into the city. People keep surprising! So lucky.
Mike is at the hostel; and we sit and talk about riding, where to work on my bike, and how to ship stuff cheaply from the states. I am going to take this time to hang out for a week here and order a few things for the bike. I met up with Nic and we headed out for a huge chicken dinner for 3bucks. To bed early and then up to order parts and get help with the bike.

AGUSTIN-POPAYAN

DAY-123

3/6/2012

        Got a move on pretty quickly, ran around coffee and got on the ride. I headed out the bike sounded fine so I decided to head for Popayan. I stopped and made sure I was headed in the right direction; I asked again and then headed for the dirt. It didn’t seem right so I asked another moto rider; nope wrong way go back through town and then take the next dirt road.  The road turned into a nice paved road and we rallied it hard climbing up, all of a sudden it turned into a gnarly dirt road. Bouncing around splashing through some pretty good mud holes, just laughing and ripping. I passed a bunch of trucks and cars, just having fun. I head into the first and only military check point; the first guy gave me thumbs up. The rest walked out into the road and stopped me, first time getting stopped in Colombia. Turned off the bike and the first guy put his hand out and we shook. One guy wanted me to take my helmet off; once I did they told me I had mud in my beard. We all just laughed and talked about what I was up too and where I was headed. They were very intrigued and could not be nicer.

        I rallied through the dirt for over 120km, lost of construction and potholes. It was nice to get muddy again, warms the soul.

I made it to Popayan, after running circles for a bit I found a Moto taxi and gave him a dollar to take me to my hostel. I got into the hostel parked my bike down the street in a parking area and took a well needed shower. Walked around town looking for some food and just taking in my surroundings. I went out for coffee with a really cool group of people from all over the world and just traded stories for about an hour. I made some dinner and crashed out for the night in the DVD room.

VIEWS FROM THE RIDE

RIDE ANYONE

CHURCH!!!