South America and back on a 250 Super Sherpa Minimalist Adventure

John

You are such a good writer. Your description of the freedom you feel riding across the vastness of earth is excellent. I have had the same thoughts when riding. I think at one point in one of my ride reports i mentioned a moment when it all came together and I had this wonderful feeling of being "back on the road"

You describe it very well!


Kedgi

Don Juan,

Interesting bike being advertised along side the Dakar coverage showing in Colombia this morning.

Looks like Honda Argentina are the source http://motos.honda.com.ar/motos/XRE300-RALLY

Seeing as we are headed that way, its seem almost rude not to have a look when we get there.

Wobbly.

Good Morning JD,

Been following your RR since the beginning. Earlier you mentioned trying to get into Venezuela. What are your thoughts on heading east, before you head south? Thanks for the dedication you show the community and your report.

Ride on, whiskymike

The text reads like an auto-translate. And, yet another nice bike we won't see in the US.

Juan, pesos are in the ether. Would make me happy to see Cattmando emblazened on the Sherpa's tank.

Hola George 99,
Cattmando is emblazoned on the Sherpa tank. I went up and wrote it down. I have no idea who Cattmando is but I will ride like the wind with that name emblazoned on the gas tank. Muchas gracias amigo!

Saludos,
Juan Cattmondo

whiskeymike!

I am so glad to have you out of the nebulous cloud and posting on ADV. I see that this is your first post, so welcome amigo!

I certainly appreciate your generous donation to the
get the Sherpa out of jail fund. I will be carrying the whiskymike name down south as far as i can this year. At least your name is in South America. Soon I hope to see you down here as well amigo.

As far as Venezuela goes, I have given my map and Bolivaros to Andrew UK. They wouldn't let me across the border last year, because they thought the Hugo Chavez death was a US plot. I happened on the border the next day. Oh lordy. But now I hear it is cake, although the news media would have you thinking different. No matter, I will head south to Ecuador and see what happens. Just to give you an idea of how out-of-control `the Venezulan Bolivar is, I traded a 100 dollar bill for 2000 boliviaros last spring and today it is worth $30.00;

Ay carrumba!

But I still think Venezuela is the place I should go. No other overlanders go there. That is reason enough!












Saludos,
Tio Juanito

John,

Just stumbled across your ride report a few days ago, and have been reading it non-stop to catch up.

To say the least I am blown away by your adventure, pictures, writing, and way of life. I'm young with a family, so nothing like this for me anytime soon... But it has always been my dream to ride South America. My goal for the near future is to pay everything off, ride a lot on weekends, and start saving for my future adventure.

People think I'm nuts when I tell them I WILL retire before 40 and ride a motorcycle around the world. Just wait and see.

This report is so amazing for those of us who have the dream to do what you are currently doing. I hope you keep it up, and I will send a donation your way in the near future. Thanks again!

-David

ps. I know everyone has offered you a place to stay in the states, but I haven't seen a Montana offer yet! If you are ever in the central Montana (Billings) area don't hesitate to get ahold of me. I have a nice couch and love to eat, so come on by!

Hey David,

The next time I am cruising across 90 through Billings I will give you a call. It will probably be in July since January sucks in your neck of the woods. (Unless you are into snowboarding).

And yes, when you're in your 30S-40S with kids and a job it is almost impossible to get away. But I am here to encourage you.

Your ADVpal,
Tio Juanito

I don't really want to dissapoint anyone but I been told that the altough the XRE is basically the same as the Tornado with a bigger bore, FI, and different fairings/headlight, it has some problems with valve cleareance and the FI... Just have been told, I've seen a few of them in my town, but I don't know anyone who had bough one yet... I've been offered one, and the dealer would take my Tornado, but I'm not interested at all, I'm really happy with my bike at the moment..

Hola Leo,

The Tornado is such a fine bike. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I have an XR250 at home and it is an amazing bike.

But yes, there is no perfect bike. I imagine the XRE300 will have it's share of problems. But it is nice to see Honda bringing out smaller bore bikes for the touring crowd.

Kindest regards,
Tio Juanito

Oops, didn't think about that. Cattmando@gmail.com. It's the closest I've ever had to a nickname. My last name is Catt.

Hope to see you on the road sometime.

When in Tel Aviv, Israel a few years ago, I saw a a guy wearing flip flpos and shorts, with a coffee and mini boardI in his hand walk to his skooter, plu his coffee in its holder, get the scooter going, take off... One hand on the handle bar and the other holding the mini board.



Dennis
Go Seahawks.

I'm glad you got your bike back John! Being in Mexico myself I don't know what took me so long to get south of the border, even if I am only a tiny bit south. Can't wait to see where you end up next.

:eek1

Hello John, I left you a little something on your blogspot.
I have been following along from the start. Great ride report.
KEEP ON KEEPING ON!!

Hello John,

Left you and Matt both a little on your blogspots as well. I've been reading up on the Chachapoya. In your travels keep an eye out for some of their sites such as Kuelap.

Cheers

Hi ex_MGB,

I signed your name on the tank again. Along with all the others that have sent gas money. Thanks so much. And I'm sure Matt appreciates it as well. He is living on the edge even more than me.

The internet has been down so have been incognito this weekend. I think it's back up now so will upload more pics and stories.

Saludos,
Tio Juanito

I was looking at this photo and wondered, why would he mount the board on the left side of the bike (same as the side stand)? Wouldn't it be easier if he had mounted board on the other side? Would it be too close to the exhaust on the left side? Seems like it would be hard to mount and dismount, with the board on this side? Just a question, not a judgement.