South America 2006

South America

Ride 2006/2007

January 7
We're in Pasto, Columbia for the night at 8000 feet. Today went really well, but there were a lot of twisty roads. Can you get tired of riding in the mountains? Yes, but it was nice and the people were nice. Everyone that we've met has given us their personal phone number in case we need them for anything in their country. We've met the nicest people and ridden some of the nicest roads so far on our journey. I'm quite surprised. The only bad thing has been the high number of traffic as a result of a large holiday that is taking place. They call it Blanco y Negra. Some days they wipe black powder on each other and other days they throw white powder on each other. it's a little different. It lasts for four days.

So far, South America has been much better than Central America. The roads have been better, There is not near as much poverty. The facilities are much nicer. Food is much more plentiful and you feel better about the places you eat at. There hasn't been near as much begging or hustling for money. We'll see how things continue.

We started the day with a little bit of gravel

Fruit Stand

Countryside

Those Brahman's are acting like goats

Nice Road

Wonder if Columbia has a length law?

typical Columbian street

Dick is talking to the Columbian National Policia and I'm pretty sure they checked everything Dick has.

For all you Gold Wing riders who pull a trailer, try this.

This is a rare piece of machinery and it's used with Sugar Cane. This is the first farming equipment I've noticed. A lot of things are done by hand.

These tires get constant air pressure

A juggling act to entertain is at the stop light

Downtown Market in Cali. If I had the ability to write good enough to describe the smell in this area, you would have to shut down your computer and leave the room.

Kids spraying water on cars as a part of the celebration they are having. It was going-on all over this section of road today.

Another open-air restaurant for lunch

Tree lined street

This car appeared to have at least fifteen familiy members in it.

Trucks crowding through a small town

We met Jorge from Bogata out on the Road. He gave us his phone number in case we needed anything. He had the same type of bike as we did. It is very rare to see anything larger than a 125cc.

Scenery

Tunnel

There's people working up the hill

Scenery

Highway carved out along the mountain

This little girl's husband is cleaning out a spot for my motorcycle

This is the spot that he is cleaning out below the hotel. That is a festivity character he is moving.

ok, we're in, safe and sound

Victor and his family took us out to eat. The town was booked up because of the celebration and Victor happened to have an extra reservation for a hotel room. Victor lives in Bogata, but he was educated in North Carlolina as a geologist. He works for British Petroleum. Thanks Victor and family

South America Ride 2006/2007
January 7 We're in Pasto, Columbia for the night at 8000 feet. Today went really well, but there were a lot of twisty roads. Can you get tired of riding in the mountains? Yes, but it was nice and the people were nice. Everyone that we've met has given us their personal phone number in case we need them for anything in their country. We've met the nicest people and ridden some of the nicest roads so far on our journey. I'm quite surprised. The only bad thing has been the high number of traffic as a result of a large holiday that is taking place. They call it Blanco y Negra. Some days they wipe black powder on each other and other days they throw white powder on each other. it's a little different. It lasts for four days. So far, South America has been much better than Central America. The roads have been better, There is not near as much poverty. The facilities are much nicer. Food is much more plentiful and you feel better about the places you eat at. There hasn't been near as much begging or hustling for money. We'll see how things continue.


We started the day with a little bit of gravel		Fruit Stand

Countryside		Those Brahman's are acting like goats

Nice Road		Wonder if Columbia has a length law?

typical Columbian street		Dick is talking to the Columbian National Policia and I'm pretty sure they checked everything Dick has.

For all you Gold Wing riders who pull a trailer, try this.		This is a rare piece of machinery and it's used with Sugar Cane. This is the first farming equipment I've noticed. A lot of things are done by hand.

These tires get constant air pressure		A juggling act to entertain is at the stop light

Downtown Market in Cali. If I had the ability to write good enough to describe the smell in this area, you would have to shut down your computer and leave the room.		Kids spraying water on cars as a part of the celebration they are having. It was going-on all over this section of road today.

Another open-air restaurant for lunch		Tree lined street

This car appeared to have at least fifteen familiy members in it.		Trucks crowding through a small town

We met Jorge from Bogata out on the Road. He gave us his phone number in case we needed anything. He had the same type of bike as we did. It is very rare to see anything larger than a 125cc.		Scenery

Scenery		Tunnel

There's people working up the hill		Scenery

Highway carved out along the mountain		This little girl's husband is cleaning out a spot for my motorcycle

This is the spot that he is cleaning out below the hotel. That is a festivity character he is moving.		ok, we're in, safe and sound

Victor and his family took us out to eat. The town was booked up because of the celebration and Victor happened to have an extra reservation for a hotel room. Victor lives in Bogata, but he was educated in North Carlolina as a geologist. He works for British Petroleum. Thanks Victor and family