Darren and Erik's Excellent Adventure! ==San Francisco to Tierra del Fuego==

[einnocent]

The first half of our tour through Guatemala:

https://stompersboots.com/2012/07/er...temala-part-1/

And it was a pleasure to meet you, too, Chris!

[einnocent]

The second half of our tour through Guatemala!

https://stompersboots.com/2012/08/er...temala-part-2/

[Incredulous]

Originally Posted by einnocent

The second half of our tour through Guatemala!

https://stompersboots.com/2012/08/er...temala-part-2/

Part 2 is F-ing hysterical. You are really hitting your stride with the writing. Keep up the good work!




Tyler

P.S. I rarely use this many smilies--its THAT GOOD.
P.P.S. It is good to see the Cloyne Contingent still out there getting it done.

[einnocent]

Originally Posted by Incredulous

Part 2 is F-ing hysterical. You are really hitting your stride with the writing. Keep up the good work!




Tyler

P.S. I rarely use this many smilies--its THAT GOOD.
P.P.S. It is good to see the Cloyne Contingent still out there getting it done.

Where's the "like" button on your post...?

Thanks, Tyler, getting positive feedback makes these posts that much more fun to write.

[einnocent]

Nicaragua!

https://stompersboots.com/2012/09/er...vel-nicaragua/

[duitswes]

Originally Posted by einnocent

The first half of our tour through Guatemala:

https://stompersboots.com/2012/07/er...temala-part-1/

And it was a pleasure to meet you, too, Chris!

"It occured to me that this may be a problem"

[charliemike]

Nicaragua - Judging by the time between posts, you guys must have lived it up in Nicaragua quite a bit? Or are you just behind on posts?

So...I may have missed the obligatory gear post somewhere....but what I really want to know is.... What kind of a hat is that and how do you keep it from getting crushed on the road?

[einnocent]

Feel free to ask for more details or about how well any of this stuff has worked out for me

==Luggage==
--The North Face Base Camp duffel: for items I'll need in the hotel (clothes, toiletries, electronics). Pros: tough outer shell and zipper, compression straps, shoulder straps. Cons: no hip support, water tends to get in through the zipper.
--Two Metal Mule UTE aluminum panniers (38L) and frame: for infrequently-used items (tools, spare parts, fluids, winter clothes, camping gear). Pros: tough, lockable, easily removable, provide a platform for more stuff. Cons: expensive. Mods: added handles and tie-down loops
--Caribou 34L rear top case: for commonly-accessed items that stay with the bike (communication gear, gloves, locks, water). Pros: four years old and still working; spacious; watertight. Cons: ugly; requires removing most items to remove.
--No tank bag or brush-guard bags

==Ride Clothing==
--Carhartts canvas pants
--Aerostich Darien Light pants w/ hip pads
--Nolan N85 helmet
--Dainese Zen perforated leather jacket
--Wesco Highliner boots (https://stompersboots.com/products-p...ram-sole-9716/)
--Klim rain shell
--Aerostich heated bib

==Bike Mods==
--688cc upgrade by Wyman Winn (bored cylinder, lighter piston, revised piston rings)--Doohickey upgrade
--Gravity-only petcock
--Windshield
--Seat Concepts seat
--Custom pegs
--SW-Motech Brush Guards w/ hi-way pegs
--EBC front brake rotor (w/ Eagle Mike caliper bracket)
--Eagle Mike drill-through rear subframe bolt upgrade
--Galfer stainless-steel front brake line
--Twisted Throttle Denali LED lamps (1st gen)
--Continental TKC-80's (front and rear)
--Autocom Logic comm unit
--*Brass fuel filter
--*EK X-ring chain
--16-tooth front sprocket
--Touratech headlamp cover
--Center stand
--Bashplate
--Metal Mule pannier racks
--Ricor Intiminators
--Crampbuster
--Barkbusters w/ Storm covers and low-profile weights
--SW-Motech 12v outlet
--Rox handlebar risers
--Metal radiator grille
--Removed main fairings
--De-Cal operation
--Aluminum rear brake cylinder cover

* = coming up

[einnocent]

Originally Posted by charliemike

Nicaragua - Judging by the time between posts, you guys must have lived it up in Nicaragua quite a bit? Or are you just behind on posts?

So...I may have missed the obligatory gear post somewhere....but what I really want to know is.... What kind of a hat is that and how do you keep it from getting crushed on the road?

Behind on posts, it's hard to keep up with all the stuff were doing! Plus I put a lot of thought into the posts, they usually take a day, which is a day I'm not riding or maintaining the bike or maintaining myself or doing the actual business of being adventurey

The hat I got years ago at the Gilroy Garlic Festival from these guys:

http://www.headnhome.com/

It's the plastic mesh one, has great ventilation and keeps the sun off my head and neck, plus it gets a lot of attention -- people keep asking if I'm from Texas! It can squish flat for packing, so I just squish it flat and tuck it into my jacket so it's ready as soon as the helmet comes off. I wore it while surfing, as pictured in the Nicaragua post

[einnocent]

Wanted to mention this before I forget. Ever have a problem where you ride with an iPod but some songs are louder than others? So you either turn it down low and can't hear most songs, or you turn it up and some songs are deafening. Well, I used MacMP3Gain on all my songs and now they are all the same volume! It works quite well. Now if only I could get the volume to adjust automatically based on speed

[einnocent]

Wherein I develop a new technique for riding down slick hills.

https://stompersboots.com/2012/09/erik-travel-panama/

[einnocent]

Wherein we get some Quality Time with Captain Ludwig.

https://stompersboots.com/2012/10/er...he-stahlratte/

[einnocent]

I'd like to give a special thanks to Arcadia Hostel in Medellín. If you are riding a moto and looking for a moto-friendly spot, it's a great place to stay because:

--I had moto parts and electronic stuff sent there before I arrived, three packages in all, and they held on to my items diligently.
--They have a large garage you can use to work on your bike.
--They are situated within walking distance of a number of moto stores, including Triumph, Kawasaki, and KTM, and the stores nearby seem to specialize in adventure accessories.

Also, the owner of the enterprise, Spyros, is passionate about his business and works hard to make you comfortable. When they were all out of fans and I wanted one in my room, he purchased one for us to use within an hour. And one of the receptionists helped us with a tax issue for an hour, really going above and beyond in service for us.

And most importantly, try the brownies =)

Their website is:
https://sites.google.com/a/arcadiahostel.net/opcion1/

And the mailing address to put on your precious international packages is:

Arcadia Hostel
CALLE 11a No 31a - 188
Poblado, Medellín, Antioquia
COLOMBIA

Just be sure to say that the shipped items are not worth too much -- the tax applied is 16% (or 26%, if package is express) of the sum of the value on the customs form plus shipping cost plus something else I forget but that probably isn't relevant. (How do I know? I paid $200 in taxes on a phone that we paid $175 for because my dad insured it for unrealistic replacement cost plus shipping, and then he shipped it with too-high a priority.)

Buen suerte!

[einnocent]

You know that a city structured around defending itself from piracy is going to be fun.

https://stompersboots.com/2012/10/er...gena-colombia/

[charliemike]

Next time: It turns out that I’m not coming home.......

What???? Really???? You can't end something like that!