PICS OF SAILING FROM PANAMA TO COLOMBIA VIA SAN BLAS ISLANDS!!

YUP WE HAD A RIGHTING ROOSTER ON BOARD, 5AM WAKE UPS!!

ONE OF HUNSDREDS OF ISLANDS

DUGOUT BOATS EVERYONE

MY BOAT

SELLING FISH

SUNSET SECOND NIGHT

THE KUNA'S SAILING AROUND SELLING FISH

 

HORRIBLE BEACHS

NO COOL PICTURES AT ALL!!!

THESE VIEWS ARE GETTING OLD..HAHA 

BORING!!! 

WHAT CAN I SAY...SPEECHLESS

HOW THE KUNA PEOPLE GET AROUND

NICE LITTLE STARFISH NEAR THE BEACH

REEF

REEF

MADE IT, CARTAGENA-COLOMBIA

SAFE PARKING IN THE HOSTEL

PAPA IN COLOMBIA

INSIDE THE WALLS

AT THE FORT

THUMBS UP FOR CARTAGENA

NICE SUNSET OVER CARTAGENA

WELCOME TO COLOMBIA!!!!

CATCHING UP!!!

DAY-102

2/14/2012



Woke up in time to jump on the bus to Colon for last minute things for the boat, and just for something to do. I have been introduced to “Mate”, it is a southern South American Drink with is a plant ground up. They pack a tiny cup full of it and with a straw that is flat at the end with lots of little holes sitting at the bottom of the cup. They pour a small amount of water into one side of it and you drink it until it’s gone, then pass it and fill it up again, and so on and so on. At first taste very bitter and not good, but after two days of sharing it with my friends from Uruguay I am becoming fond of it. We drank it all the way to Colon. Colon is kind of a dump of a port town, ran down and seemed a little sketchy. We ran errands, got groceries for a few days, playing cards, Pina Juice for our rum, and lunch. Was very strange and didn’t really like being in a bus for two hours each way, MISS MY BIKE. If all goes well we will board the sailboat tomorrow night and leave early Thursday arriving in Cartagena on Monday.

DAY-103

2/15/12

A lot of sitting around and waiting all day. Played a lot of pool, walked around stretching the legs. My feet have been getting worse and worse, so I stopped taking the Uric Acid medicine a day ago and my feet are hurting less. Who knows, I stopped eating red meat, beans, and drinking beer (which was the HARDEST!!) We had dinner and were told we would get on the boat around 7pm, 7 came and went, then we heard 8, 8 came and went. They showed up and they sat around and waited finally talking to the owners of the boat, we were told it was time so we grabbed our stuff and headed for the gate. Nope we waited another hour and asked again only 10 more minutes, about another hour and then they said ok let’s go!! We got on the boat around 11:30pm. Hung out for a little bit and figured out where we were slipping. The sleeping arrangements were two double beds (for the couples) a bed for three which we had 2 girls at the last moment that were going to meet us on the boat, and a single bed. On the way to the dock I was hoping for two beautiful women to join us. We arrived at the dock to meet the last two people; they were a very manly lesbian couple.. Haha couldn’t have written it better. The two girls who were a couple were not happy about having to share a bed with a guy, the captain gave up his bed to Matt and everyone was happy. Oh I am pumped I get to sleep in a Coffin, I just fit in and there are high boards all around making a nice tight coffin.  So we are off, three couple, Matt, and myself.

Oh and arriving in the night I notice they did the worst possible plastic jobs on our bikes. They just laid a tarp on the top the engine and all was exposed to the salt elements. Nothing we could do till tomorrow morning.

        Shane an English guy made a bet with his girlfriend and me that five bucks to the last to puke from sea sickness.

THREE BOATS AND DELAYS..

Good morning I will add lots of pictures and stories today, but just checking in. I made it to Cartagena Colombia yesterday. Cannot wait to get riding.
Fletch

ONE MORE DAY!!! SO CLOSE

Just got word that the boat is delayed one more day so we will leave the morning of the 15th. Five other travelers who also have been waiting since the 10th for this boat, are flipping out, getting heated, and changing boats.. Waste of energy.. its called travelling.. crap happens, smile and realize where you are! AND OF COURSE HAVE A DRINK!!

Our boat went from 9 people to 4 people, we get a free night in the hostel tonight and will sleep on the boat tomorrow and then get 4 nights 5 days sailing through San Blas Islands to Cartangena Colombia.

It's gonna be epic!!!

LOADING UP.. I WANT COLOMBIA!!!!

DAY-100!!!!!

2/12/2012

        I think it suits very well that today is day 100!!! I have been away from home for 100 days and honestly do not miss it and thank my lucky stars everyday that I am so lucky to do an adventure like this. Walked around for a little while this morning getting the blood flowing, as well as being anxious for the day…. (Boat loading day for the bike)

        At just before noon the captain showed up and said it was game time, strip down the bikes throw all of our gear into his truck and pack a small bag for the boat trip. I started to run, I emptied my Panniers to unbolt them repacked them and threw them into truck, took off windshield, mirrors, gas tank holder, packed all my stuff up, and made a small back for carry on. Holy crap that was fast, okay okay now follow them through the village to a small pier. Wait wait!!, the first mate jumps onto my bike and we chase after the truck. We get there and I stop behind the truck. Ugh what the heck!!! The trucks backing up and the guys still on the back, I’m on a weird pitch and cannot move quickly. I blow my horn and all of the locals yell he stops within inches of me. Okay close one; they all point for me to drive out onto the pier, I ride out to the middle and stop.

 We load up the boat with gear and a stove, batteries, water, and crew for the boat. They come back and grab Matt and his bike, seems very hard they aren’t used to cruisers. I wait for about 20 minutes and they come back for me. Okay heart’s pumping a little I kiss her good bye just in case and line her up with the boat. The boat is about 4 feet below the pier, we grab on lifting her up and then dropping her slowly into the boat. They point for me to sit on the bike and keep her up right as they drive out into the harbor. They want my feet on either side of the boat on the top part doing a split, legs to short… A very big man steps in I get off and he sits down and just ride my bike in the boat with me laughing out into the harbor. We get out and position the boat correctly to hook up the ropes to the bike; they tie one to the handlebars. (I wasn’t to STOKED on) and then the other to the back rack. Hoisted her up and swung her onto the boat with a little stuckage but making it. Then they slam the poor suspension down and tie her tight to the boat. The guy in charge looks up and tells me when in Colombia before riding tighten handlebars they are loose. (I really hope they didn’t strip them and I need new bars) But sweet we are on the boat done finished. There is nothing like the feeling of handing over your permit, passport, all of your gear, your bike, and 750 cash... ugh what!!! I really hope the boats there tomorrow. And they won’t let us stay with the bikes overnight. Trust is the word…. Haha Now we wait till tomorrow for more adventures.

TO COLOMBIA WE GO.. ROUND TWO

2/9-10/2012

I ran around getting the last few things done before departure. I figured out everything I need for the Carnet for Africa which I will send in all of my information and pictures next week once I arrive in Colombia. Feet still bothering me but at least I know what’s going on and have meds for it now. I ran all over Panama looking for a Post Office to send a package home (too much crap shaving weight and crap as I go). I finally found one but it ended up being a pain in the arse so I headed to FedEx… NOPE not a chance they wanted 200 bucks for me to ship with them… Oh well I will figure it out.

 Just relaxed and walked around basically all week, doc’s orders. I heard from Clay he made it to Colombia with out to much problem and got all his bike stuff figured out and is on his way to Ecuador today. He told me that he had not gotten insurance because the permit office told him not needed, but I swear I have read on ADVRIDER that I do need it to ride in Colombia. Does anyone have first hand experience with this?





2/11/2012

I walked around one last time through Panama with a cup of coffee and stopped by a hostel where I knew another moto rider was staying who is on my boat. We talked for awhile and decided to meet back up and ride out to Puerto Lindo together. I headed back to the hostel paid my bill, packed the bike, ate some Bfast, checked over the bike, and headed out. We met up, his name is Matt and he is riding a Honda shadow 750. He is on a riding mission, rode from Florida to Panama City in a month!

        He told me he didn’t know how to get out of here, no worries I got it. NOT!!! Yup I got us lost, going the opposite way, and went back over the bridge headed north!! Hahaha Finally got it figured out and made our way toward Colon. We turned off of the highway and road the coast without too much problems, people holding up sheets trying to stop us so we could give them money. But we just gassed it around them and down the road. Stopping for lunch about 15km away from our hostel, due to knowing there is nothing there to eat. As we were finishing up I saw the hostel owner riding by on his sportster. We headed out and made our way down the road, I was leading and came over this hill and blind turn. There was the owner standing next to his bike bloody… He was alright but had been coming around the turn when I bus was coming the other way in his lane; he tried to miss it but ended up locking it up and going off the road. Luckily he missed the barbwire and just hit the dirt. His bike wasn’t too bad just a little bent here and there. His knee was swollen bloody, elbows were bloody, and split his nose.  Mainly he was just straight pissed swearing and yelling. We made sure he was good; he started up his bike and took off to the hostel. We met our captain and will load our bikes tomorrow afternoon.

DOCTORS DOCTORS DOCTORS

DAY 95-96

2/7-8/2012

Woke up and headed to the clinic for blood test. Walked in paid 12 bucks for two test sat down 3 minutes later got blood drawn and out the door. I walked around and exercised the legs. I met a nice German girl Nikki who needed to go to the mall so we split a taxi and headed to the mall. I walked around picked up those knee and elbow pads, low end Shift gear but they will do the trick. Also found a small tiny solo travel speaker for cheap, a new earpiece/ mic for skyping with the fam and friends, and I found air filter oil and cleaner. Not too bad, same price as home. Nikki got everything she needed and we headed home.

I had a pretty mellow day, just been taking it easy and researching places I want to go once I hit South America. I messed around on the computer made a quick dinner of tuna and pasta; then I went to bed.

As soon as I awoke on Wednesday morning I went directly to the clinic. Sat and waited for 30 minutes paid .50 cents and saw the doctor. All of my tests came back PERFECT!!!! She said I seemed very healthy, other than my Uric Acid level she thought it was a little high and could come down some. So I got once a day pills for the next 30 days, no red meat, beans, BEER, or raw Tomatoes; I also need to get off my bike more often stretch and walk around. I can start fully exercising (running, working out) in a week. I was so relieved when she said I was fine and good to go on my way. I celebrated by making myself a rice, veggies, and lobster dinner. I was walking around near the water met a nice girl from Boston (Jodi) who has been traveling for 4 years and is on her way back to Australia to live with her boyfriend. We talked for over 3 hours and just hung out and then I headed back to the hostel and past out.

I also paid my Deposit for my boat ride on the 13^th so I am set to go!!

I still have not heard from my friend Clay who should have gotten to Colombia on the 8^th so hope all was good and easy for him. This past week as taught me a lot about my trip and myself, very happy that it happened and made me open up my eyes!!!



Thanks for riding along.