South America and back on a 250 Super Sherpa Minimalist Adventure

[JDowns]

Another day hanging out at Rancho Diandrew helping out. Love this diesel Landcruiser pickup. Adds a kind of an Indiana Jones feel to the place:



My job this morning was riding the Sherpa down the chunky steep road to a parking place above the swimming hole and escorting the mothers with a helping hand down the steep slippery path to the river:







as well as upstream over these boulders:



and swimming up this canyon:



to jump off cliffs. My camera isn't waterproof so here is a video of the canyon where the cliff diving goes on:



Later there was a big party up at the big house with dinner and New Years Eve festivities:



I didn't leave the valley again so didn't spend any money today.

Feliz Año Nuevo!!!!
Juanito

[Hawk62cj5]

looks like a little slice of heaven to me .

[JDowns]

Originally Posted by Paratrout

Happy New Year John! Thanks again for this awesome ride report!

Hi Paratrout,

Happy New Year to you amigo.

Glad to have you along for the ride.

Originally Posted by Hektoglider

Thanks for posting your report. Its good reading.

Hi Hektoglider,

Glad you are enjoying it. That Sherpa in the photo looks so clean. I think my bike looked like that 31,000 miles ago but it's hard to remember.

Originally Posted by Hawk62cj5

looks like a little slice of heaven to me .

Hi Hawk62cj5,

I think you'd like it down here. Heaven is calling. All you need to do is get on your bike and twist your right wrist.

Saludos,
Juanito

[JDowns]

Andrew held a video camera as he did a backflip off the 40 foot cliff yesterday:



more later….

[aDave]

That looks like quite the swimming hole. I liked the videos. Thanks for your extra effort in bringing us along. Wishing you a safe and peaceful new year.

Dave

[AussieAlexS]

Originally Posted by JDowns

Hi AussieAlexS,

Thanks so much!

I'll go sign your name on the gas tank. Glad to have you along as Chief Executive in charge of Oceania Travel Relations.

If you ever get to the states you have a free place to stay in Northern Nebraska as well. Glad to have you along for the ride.

Cheers,
Juan

I pledge to carry out the duties of my office to the best of my abilities. Would love to get a closeup of the tank to see all the names on it.

Also, I would like to encourage everybody reading this to make a small donation to the ADV Rider organisers to make sure this forum is kept going. I know I have spent so much time reading something I like and it is free .There is a link on the home page.

[JDowns]

Originally Posted by aDave

That looks like quite the swimming hole. I liked the videos. Thanks for your extra effort in bringing us along. Wishing you a safe and peaceful new year.

Dave

Hi Dave,

Glad you are enjoying the ride. I sure enjoyed my time in the Ozarks. It seems like forever since I was up that way.

Kindest regards,
John Downs

[JDowns]

Originally Posted by AussieAlexS

I pledge to carry out the duties of my office to the best of my abilities. Would love to get a closeup of the tank to see all the names on it.

Also, I would like to encourage everybody reading this to make a small donation to the ADV Rider organisers to make sure this forum is kept going. I know I have spent so much time reading something I like and it is free .There is a link on the home page.

Hi AussieAlexS,

The gas tank is covered with signatures so kind of hard to photograph now. I'll take some pics tomorrow when it's light out. I donate ten percent of everything people paypal my way to ADVrider. If it wasn't for this website I would be writing these stories for myself and emailing them home to friends like I used to. It's way more fun having input from all the ADVriders who have given such great riding suggestions and offered a place to camp along the way. I highly encourage others to write a live ride report. It is a lot of fun and you meet some great people along the way.

Best,
Juan Rica

[JDowns]

Quite a nice break in the action here in Costa Rica for the past week, but my job is done here in Uvita. The wedding party has gone and life is back to normal here at Rancho Diandrew.

It was nice speaking French and Spanish with the guests, but it's time to hit the road to Panama. So far, my week in Costa Rica has been the cheapest country to travel in throughout Centroamerica. But that was a fluke due to the hospitality of GRinCR and the free camping and meals here in southern Costa Rica, In actual fact, the prices for groceries and gas here are higher than Nebraska.

I will be hitting the western highlands of Panama later this morning when the sun comes up. It should be fun.

Time to pack it up and move on. South America is calling. One more country and the Darien and I'll be camping on a new continent.

Since food and lodging is free here, I didn't spend anything yesterday.

Saludos,
Juanito

[Dracula]

Hi John,

You have enriched our daily life through this beautiful ride report; between reading yours and other reports here my days are never dull.
Riding and writing must be satisfying work, I know finding Internet connection, uploading pictures and especially videos could be challenging as I was trying my best with that in my last Alaska trip - camping most of the time without Internet for days, I now realize what it takes and appreciate it even more.
You Sir are truly a world citizen!

All the best to you, happy and safe travels in 2013!
Vic

[JDowns]

My camping spot for the last few days:



Hotels are relatively expensive in Costa Rica, so camping can keep your costs down. It's a beautiful country and I'll be back, but for now it is time to saddle up and head to Panama.

Here is the tank with the latest sponsors drdubb76, Texasmeyer, UKchazz and AussieAlexS towards the bottom. It is pretty much full on this side as I can't sign names where my knees rub them off:



and the flip side:



If it wasn't for you guys sending gas money I would only have another month maybe. As it is I will keep riding south until I'm broke. Might be a few months. It will be interesting to see where this ride ends up.

more later……

[drdubb]

I've been watching some YouTube vids about a young man who took off on a RTW without a plan. He maintained a blog and used input and help from online viewers to choose places to go and things to see. It is well documented across Russia and a little in the US, but then it drops off. Interesting concept and amazing response. He chooses a KTM 990 and seems to have expensive tastes in equipment, which works against the minimalist ethos. Still, an interesting concept.
http://www.andersaroundtheworld.com/. He also returns to Denmark with large debt. I think you've captured the spirit of anyman(woman) exploration. My hat is off to you and to revert to my youth..."Keep on trucking!"

[AussieAlexS]

Originally Posted by JDowns

My camping spot for the last few days:



Hotels are relatively expensive in Costa Rica, so camping can keep your costs down. It's a beautiful country and I'll be back, but for now it is time to saddle up and head to Panama.

Here is the tank with the latest sponsors drdubb76, Texasmeyer, UKchazz and AussieAlexS towards the bottom. It is pretty much full on this side as I can't sign names where my knees rub them off:



and the flip side:



If it wasn't for you guys sending gas money I would only have another month maybe. As it is I will keep riding south until I'm broke. Might be a few months. It will be interesting to see where this ride ends up.

more later……

Thanks John, Your discipline and writing style will keep you going for some time I think. Too long if you ask my wife and all the time I spend reading yours and others reports.

[NitroRoo]

I fell behind over the holidays but was able to catch back up today, awesome stuff as usual! I'm really looking forward to the South American chapter as I'm sure you are also. Thanks for the closeup of the tank - cool to see all the names on there Good to see you haven't spilled any gas on me

[Max Wedge]

Inspiring report. Now I want a Super Sherpa too. Let's see.....craigslist....