Into Venezuela, horror stories of rip-offs and attacks are all you hear. We pull into the fuel station to fill the bikes and the extra tanks – just in case. Gareth is yelling at me, “What is a 100 worth?” “Only $NZ 20” I tell him “Are we being ripped off he wants more I […]
We have had quite a few borders to cross this trip, and it never amazes us how some borders devise procedures that are so inefficient and frustrating. We were getting along pretty well and feeling pretty smug ,, just waiting for a fall. On the early ferry into Suriname, we had our exit stamp from […]
We were waiting for the tropical down-pour to finish, under a verandah of a gracious wooden house in Paramaribo when a man joined us. He wasn’t very well dressed and looked a bit the worse for wear. He unfolded a sign and was asking for money (I think). The sign said “Help me , my […]
Well, getting to the top of Brazil felt great. Not many travel this way and I understand why – distance and temperatures are just a couple. We were hassled, as soon as we got to the border town of Oiapoque, by boat guys wanting to put the bikes into little tin boats. Down a steep […]
We set off early for 220 km to the top of Brazil. The road might be impassable is the rumour, a bridge in the Indian reservation area has been burnt. My tummy rumbles as a bread roll with butter and coffee is not quite enough. Sweat rolls into my eyes and drips off my nose. […]
We left Macapa dripping sweat in 30 degrees, humidity must be near 100%. We have a dinner date in Calcoene about 350 km away and pleasantly surprised by the road having seal all the way, with only occasional works throwing us into the red dust. Our host Mickie, seems to be community central in this town […]
It is a big haul to get across the Amaxon. We managed to find the one room office of our email booking contact and hand over R$1200 “Cash Only” (about $900 NZ) on faith and get a receipt. We will be collected 20 hours before embarkation to bring the bikes […]
We have left Belem and flown to Manaus and on to Tefe. Then a motorised canoe to Mamiraua an eco-lodge in the flooded forest area. Our cabin floats in a bend in the river and we are constantly seeing the huge caiman (crocs) cruising passed our abode. The area is at the end of the […]
We are in a wonderful French guest house as they have offered to mind the bikes when we go into the jungle for a week. Le Massilia is a haven among hot broken streets and big city bustle. Great french cuisine has been a treat after beans and tough meat of country Brazil. Gareth´s abrasions […]
Riding out of the little country town we stayed in, lots of traffic, mainly trucks and suddenly Gareth and his bike are sliding down the road. Sparks are everywhere, he is rolling over and over, tumbling, rolling just like Aaron Slight used to at the Superbikes. Suddenly he’s up on his feet – again like […]
