EGrider,
I found a lot of interesting information on the gap here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dari%C3%A9n_Gap It lists the various attempts and successes to cross it in various ways over the years. Cheers, Dennis Christchurch, New Zealand From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of EGrider Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 8:41 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Re: I must be even crazier A friend of mine from high school told me of his adventurous Belgian friend who rode his Transalp 650 from Belgium to South Africa, had it shipped to Buenos Aires, and then rode it from there to where my friend lives in Maine. Now that man has an iron butt. I wrote my friend last night and asked him, "How did Luc get across the Darien Gap?," and he asked Luc and cc'd me on the response. This is what Luc said: "As for the Darien gap, the number of people on this planet that have ever navigated it on a motorbike can still be counted on the fingers of one hand, even if that would be the hand of a sawmill's worker... As you know there is no navigable road between the north of Colombia and the south of Panama, so there are only two options left: by sea or by air. I investigated both options and decided to fly, sending the bike from Bogota to Panama City and then flying myself. An alternative would have been to take a boat from the north coast of Colombia. Maybe I'll do that next time. :-) If your friend wants more details, he is of course most welcome to contact me." So it sounds like there will be some down time in Panama, but this thing is still doable. Will I have the guts to try it, or take the regret to my grave? On Sunday, November 11, 2012 11:05:19 AM UTC-5, EGrider wrote: OK, you iron butts. I might have mentioned this before, but ever since I watched "The Motorcycle Diaries" I've been dying to ride across South America. Well last May I did a 3-day trip in Peru (that's me in the blue helmet) and this Christmas I'm doing two rides in Bolivia. But as for the grand tour, I've checked out companies that arrange bike tours, considered buying a bike down there, and considered having one shipped. These are all pricey options. Then I got the idea of just riding something south as far as it would take me and leaving it there. Disposable bike! That's the answer. Surely there should be something that runs on regular gas, has a comfortable riding position, on-off road tires, a big gas tank, could take some ammo boxes on the sides, and has 7-8,000 miles left in it to make it to Buenos Aires? I'm serious about this. I have also driven cars across Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, so I know a little about what I'm getting into. I'm pushing 60 and I want to do this ride while I still can. Any suggestions as to a suitable disposable bike? Craigslist's winter pricing is setting in. Thanks. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en-US. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en-US.
