DAN BLACK REPORT #7 31 JAN-17 FEB
Hi Tynda. Back again
Jan 31
Bumped and rattled my way 50km to a Ferry. A bit of a shortcut, being very careful
not to stall and only stopping on a hill as my battery is fried. I had to shut
it down in the ferry line to go in and get my ticket. When it was time to board
I got out of line running up and down trying to push start it but had to push
it on to the ferry. Everyone was well entertained. Pushed it off the ferry at
the other side and around the block a couple of times (5-600lbs in 30 cel trying
to run beside it fast enough then climb on over all my junk and pop the
clutch) by
myself, then with 2 guys, then with 3, finally got it going. Came to San Jose
where there is a BMW bike shop, and am getting a bunch of needed repairs.
Feb 1
I had to follow one of the local bikers across town to get some parts, and
learned
how to weave in and out of traffic, up the centre line or anywhere else that
is more than a foot wide,but you have to do it at full speed.
I got my bike with a lot of work done on it, and thought my bill would be about
$500, but it was $125US.
Feb 2
Heading over Costa Rica's highest mountain was really cold, especially going
through the clouds. I wish my jacket wasn't in my knapsack. On the other side
it hot with a really lush forest.
It started to rain so I pulled into a bus shelter and took a little nap on a
bench. I could hear people talking around me, but don't know what they were
saying.
Crossed into Panama, not bad at all at the border. Met Oliver from Germany going
the other way. He bought a 800 BMW in San Fransisco and is doing the same trip.
Finally found a hotel about 8:30, it is another pay by the hour deal.10hr-15us
Feb 3
Panama's road was good long and mostly straight. I was pulled over for passing
3 cars on a solid yellow line. I guess that´s not allowed here. The cop said
I would have to get a ticket, but when he took my info on the back of an
envelope,
I knew what roadside court I would be attending. He asked me how much my ticket
should be, and I said $5. He said $20. so we agreed on $10. He shook my hand
and told me to watch out for the radar up the road. I stopped for lunch and
a swim at a nice sea side resort, I was way overcharged, and I think the cook
pissed in my soup.
Have made it to the Panama canal as far as the road goes, the end of the line,
so far so good. Got lost in the slums for a while but the cops escorted me to
a hotel.
Feb 4
Panama city reminds me of Detroit. I was hopping to ship my bike back as far
as Guatemala and skip the boarders, but everybody was trying to scam me (some
did). I washed my bike for the first time. Payed a guy $2, lookes great. Am on
my way back and am in a small town that could fit right in the States, a modern
mall, KFC, Pizza Pizza and 2 pool halls
Feb 5
Back in Costa Rica and took the one other road that runs north south, it was
a rough dusty gravel road with about 20 single lane bridges, all in need of
various major repairs. 2 were gone all together and I had to drive through the
river. I was following the coast and saw some nice beach towns, but as it was
Sat again I could not find a room. Although it would be late I thought I would
head directly to a small city called Puntarenas. Turned out they were having
some annual celebration
and the hotels were literally overflowing. I was fortunate enough to get a spot
in a hotel back yard, laying on my towel in the dirt $5us.
The next day I was stopped for speeding and payed my fine with a souvenir
Toronto T-shirt
Feb 6
Am now back in Nicaragua, and am taking the northern route to avoid going
through El salvidor. I stopped this afternoon in a town called Tipytapa. The damn had
broken and there was a river running through town. Went into a bar to ask
directions and stayed the night.
Feb 7
San Lorenzo, Honduras
Feb 8
What a crap day, left at 6:00 to take a short cut over the mountains to
Guatemala.
It kept getting colder and rainer and winder and still colder. The road turned
into one of those rutted dirt, rock roads. The way I found to keep the jarring
down a bit is to ride on the high edge of the road. Doing this is very dangerous
as one slip and you go over the edge. I hit a really sandy spot and slowly
dropped my bike, no damage, but I could not pick it up without help. Then it would not
start. I was on a big hill, but the wind was blowing upwards and I could not
get any speed to try to jump start it. I was then towed behind a truck untill
the wire broke, then it started. I kept telling the trucker to just leave me,
I am glad he did not speak English. I finally got to a hotel in Gracias 14 hours
later.
Feb 9
I would be very greatful if the Temp. would get above freezing.
Crossed a few more mountains and am now back in Guatemala. Chiquimula.
Feb 10
My bike was making a clunking noise, so went to a BMW dealer in Guatemala City,
then the noise stopped. I ran into a guy with the exact same bike as mine. He
was getting his 20,000 km service done . I realized I was at 20,000 km also and
left my bike until tomorrow
Feb 11
My bike is washed and looks great. I paid about 1/4 the price, but I am not
sure what they did. I am now in a town called Panajachel, it is very touristy
with people here from all over the world
Feb 12
Panajachel is a lake 350m deep surrounded by volcanoes and mountains. The town
has tons of bars and restaurants and stalls that sell everything.
Feb 13
Had supper of soup, salad, lazaguna, vege´s bread and juice for 16g. Beer is
anywhere from 5-12g ($1us-780g)
Feb 14
Alan, who I met with the same bike is from the States but lives here now. He
and I took a ride around the lake, about 100km.
Took about 5 hrs and every bit of riding skill.
Feb 15
Met Aleks, who is an excellent mechanic. He has been on vacation from London
for 14 years. Turns out they did a crap job on my bike in the city. Aleks worked
on it for a few hours and got it running better than it ever has.
The thing about riding through the mountains is, you don,t know whether to
go fast, and enjoy the fantastic ride, or go slow and enjoy the unbelievable
scenery. I am now on the coast just having passed the Mexican border. No problem
at the boarder, but I still have to find some other office 50km away somewhere
for a bike permit
Feb 16
It sure is a lot hotter on the coast. I am in a nice beach town, there are about
25 hotels and 100 restaurants, all empty. It was a hot afternoon when I got here
and I had the beach and the ocean to myself.
My bike has never run so well. I got 300 km instead of 200 on a tank of gas.
I opened it up to see what it could do on the coast highway (165km) It cost
me about $30 for Aleks to fix it properly and $1000s to dealers for I don´t
know what.
Feb 17
Swam in the surf, hung in the hammock
or Return to DAN BLACK HOMEPAGE