not all those who wander are lost | two earthlings ride around the world

Good to hear that you guys are OK.. Sorry for the bike
Wouldn't it be possible to trade in the bake as is for a smaller/older one, and continue the trip with that?

It would be possible, but I think, after the accident, we both would like a trip home. It is also going to be a good idea to work for 6 months at home to save some more money, and try to figure out where to go from there.

>"We're both almost completely unharmed, but the bike suffered a lot of damage. The entire front end has been totaled, and the frame has cracked at the steering column."

Wow... glad to hear you're ok. Take some time and figure out what to do.

I'm also trying to figure out how that would work. If I purchased a bike in another country, how would that work at border crossings? I need to show my registration when we cross borders. Would I register the bike in the country of purchase?

Glad no one was hurt! Shame about the bike!
I think you would have to register it in the country you purchased..... I may be wrong. Its a shame about your bike, but I would look at the next move like this ( if it were me ) ... Had the bike not broke, would you have continued with the funds being what they are, or would you have returned and picked up on it later.... Its hard to get that sort of time off usually and life gets in the way. So, make sure you do what you really want, and dont let all the negative vibes persuade you into doing something else. Just be sure you are making the decission on clear minds. Best wishes, and hope everything works out fantastic, regardless of your choices.

Glad that you are both okay. I've been following along in envy mode. I hope you decide to continue on, but do what you are most comfortable with.

Thanks everyone for all your words and concern.

If it wasn't for the frame cracking, I would have tried to fix the front end fo the bike with our available funds. We were planning on working in Portugal for a year, anyway, so the additional cost to fix the bike wouldn't have ended the trip.

I quit my job when I left Canada, but my boss said that I always had a job to go back to. I'm hoping to be able to go back to work. This will be better for our financial situation and it will also allow us to have more time to think about things and make a better decision.

I think we're going to try to ship the salvageable parts home and, depending on what is practical, and either try to rebuild a bike or just sell off the parts on eBay.

Well, sounds like you have some options available to you, and Im sure you can get another bike and sell/salvage parts.... Since you are there, why not take a week off and enjoy where you are. No rush to come back to the winter... even if its a warm winter thus far. Take some time, relax, strip the bike down in the evenings, get a tan, and then come back and plan a hang out and tell stories. basically make the best out of a bad situation. Who knows maybe within that week some turn of events might pop up for ya, if not, you are only 1 week later and you got to kick back a little!

Thanks for the update, will be waiting for the next chapter!

Sorry about your misfortune , but glad you guys are OK .

I've often wondered about this insurance wise when leaving the country , not only insurance on the bike but insurance for medical care in the event you were hospitalized ? I take it you weren't insured ?

TheReaper!

Glad you are both ok! Best wishes on whatever you decide to do.

Such a bad luck but glad to hear you're fine! Bikes and funds can always be repaired, mended, whatever... one's body is always harder.

On your trip, regardless of useful advices and tips, it's ultimately up to you to decide what to do next. No matter what your option will be, I'll be waiting for you guys and possibly Almeida II here in Portugal If you need something in El Salvador or Colombia, just send me a PM.

Hopefully this is only a see you soon... Até já!!!

Hey guys,

Bummer, don't let this get you down though. They say there are two kinds of riders, those who have been down and those who are going to go down. Yall have put on a LOT of miles, so do not be too frustrated with yourselves.

Would it be possible to have a bike sent to you from Canada? Then you could have your folks register it at home before it goes down there.

Also you will have to forgive me, but there are welders in every city, why not get the frame welded, fix the bike and continue onward? If you need a flight home then fly home for a week or two with the bike in storage and continue onwards. Or... I think you could always stick the bike on a ship and ship it across the gap to Colombia now. I know you would miss a few countries but the money saved from missing a couple countries would perhaps make up for some of the funds to fly home, or fix the bike etc.

Hey if you do decide to go back to Canada I am sure everyone you know will support your choice. (So long as you feel it is the right thing for the both of you. We just all know how much yall have said you enjoy the trip so far, and want to give you hope.)


Best wishes from our family and we will be praying for you both!

About working in Portugal: remember we have a big economical crisis here, with un-employment above 13%. If you don't have a job offer already, it might not be easy to get work here that pays well. So planning on money you'll make in Portugal to continue the trip might not be a good idea.

I'm glad you're both ok, and the bike is the only thing that got seriously damadged. When you feel like it, please tell what happened. I'd sure like to know.

Best of luck to both, thanks for taking us along your trip.

+1. You have ridden a long way and have become an experienced rider - but everyone crashes sometime. Street crashes are scary but you are ok.

You will come to the right decision.

Paula thought she'd be able to get a job, at least. We were thinking about working at a resort in the Algarve. I also thought about doing my old job through the internet since most of my work is done using a computer.

The accident was mostly my fault. I made a dumb-ass move of using the shoulder of the road to go around a guy. We I did, he suddenly pulled off the road, forcing us into a concrete sewage ditch and hitting a stone wall head on.

Thanks, Brian. I'm not letting it get me down, and I am not done with this trip. Paula was a bit shaken, and really wants to go home, for at least a while.

I was thinking that, since we are already way behind schedule, we'll fly home to work for a while instead of taking a work break in Portugal. I have already spoken with my work, and I know I have my job to go back to. This will allow us to make the money we need and have the time to rebuild the bike if it is repairable. After 6-7 months of working, and, if the bike is fixed, we'll decide whether or not to continue the trip. If we do, we'll likely fly down to Colombia and continue from there in November or December. This will put us on schedule to get down to Tierra del Fuego before it gets too cold, which we definitely will not be able to do now.

We are currently arranging shipment of the bike and air tickets home. We haven't told our families yet, so they'll be quite surprised when we show up at their front doors.

Here are a few quick photos of the wreck:

Paula looking usually happy after flying off the back of the bike and dusting herself off


The damage






The scene of the accident


We barely missed this pole

I am very sorry for your mis-fortune! May the trip resume ASAP and of course when you are both ready!

BTW, I have a 2007 ADV just like your's! No, you can't have any parts.

Not just the front fender and two side panels?

I might have to bite the bullet and get these new, unless I can find someone to sell them used.

I am truly sorry to hear you have been stopped in your track, you guys were well on your way, what a bummer.

At least you were able to experience more than many people I know and you are smiling while looking at your wrecked bike, which in itself is quite an achievement. I'm sure you will regroup and start up once again soon

If you think about it you had a fantastic vacation, many dream of making it as far as you have, including myself.

Thanks! Loving your photos of San Cristobal in your Chiapas post. We had an amazing two weeks there, which we will write about and post here when we get caught up on blogging.

We've had such an awesome time on this trip, and done so many things in such a short period of time. We've only been gone less than 5 months, but we both feel that we've lived a lifetime. We want to keep going, but we both think that this is the best option for now.