South America and back on a 250 Super Sherpa Minimalist Adventure

[Cal]

Thanks for the photos of some place green! Its pretty white up here. I have that same rickety bridge photo, if I remember correctly there was a chain accross it which made it private.
Saludos

[JDowns]

Cmnthead relaxing this morning at the breakfast bar:



And here is the pavilion where he does his best thinking:



We hopped on the bikes and went down to collect the other Canadian Phil for a ride around the countryside. Here is a carving that the artistic Canadian Phil does in his spare time:



He is quite talented. But it was time to head to the store:



and up over the mountains to Cambutal beach. Didn't get any shots of the curving winding roads over the mountains. Really fun riding. Ended up at the beach at Anita's place. Here is Cmnthead with Anita:



Drank sodas and went for a walk on the beach:



Cool wrecked boat up the beach:





With a little buffing out maybe this is my ride to Colombia:



Then went up over the hills to Cuanico Beach:



Nice area or Panama down here:



Seems like this rig should be down watching the Dakar in Peru instead of hanging out at the beach down here:



We rode a couple hundred miles all over the place today. On the way home Cmnthead's 1983 XL500R started acting up and finally sputtered to a halt. Artist Phil headed to the next town to find a pickup taxi to pick up the dead bike. Here I am filling the hour we waited on the side of the road with what comes naturally. The ride report must go on:



Kevin stopped by while we were waiting. He is riding from Idaho to South America on his KLR. His blog is mimotorojo.blogspot.com. I'll have to check it out. It was very nice of him to stop and chat. Really great guy:



Here is the moto taxi on the way home:



I followed artist Phil home and headed out to find some wifi. I am at a German man's house down at the beach and he has kindly let me use his internet connection to download photos and upload this ride report. I have to head back to the BBQ at Cmnthead's place pronto.

I spent 5 bucks on gas today. Cmnthead has been feeding me or it would have been a lot more than that. Really great folks these Canadians. I am fortunate to have met them.

I think I'm heading down the road tomorrow.

Hasta mañana,
Juanito

[Chiriqui Charlie]

Looks like you're putting that new camera to good use!
When you were at DiAndrew, did you get to the waterfalls? Is there a practical way to see them without paying 40 bucks for a tour?

[bk brkr baker]

I've been enjoying your ride since before it got on the road, but , tonight is the first time I've ever laughed out loud and clapped my hands at the same time .
Your dealings with the transit cop were exceptional !
Maybe if more people dealt with them in your manor rather than taking the easy way out and lining their wallets they'd give up on fleeceing tourists.
Maybe by the time I get my chance .

Thanks, J.D. and keep up the good work !

[VooDooDaddy]

Originally Posted by JDowns

Wow, that pic gives me WOOD...!!!

Sorry, I couldn't help it......

[JDowns]

Originally Posted by Cal

Thanks for the photos of some place green! Its pretty white up here. I have that same rickety bridge photo, if I remember correctly there was a chain accross it which made it private.
Saludos

Hi Cal,

It's my job to let you know what it looks like so you can remember your last trip and dream up your next one this winter.

And yes I shot that pic of the rickety bridge through the locked gate. It is the way across to the vegetable fields across the river.

Best,
Juan Panama

[JDowns]

Originally Posted by SteverinoB

Thanks for the grand RR John, seriously liking it all. Spent a couple of days on a Sherpa several years ago now and though I was/am a pretty big fella, I enjoyed it immensely. My wife has an XT225 sitting in the corner of the garage and since running across your adventure here I can't help but run my eyes over it as I pass by and imagine the possibilities. Seriously inspirational ride you've got going there.

Oh! The pics are pretty entertaining too!

Ride on....Steve

Hola Esteverino,

I see you sent a paypal donation so your name goes on the tank. Thanks so much!

Glad to have you along for the ride. I have been enjoying the company of many of your fellow Ontarians down here in Panama. Hopefully you'll head this way in the future. Canadians are a fun bunch.

Kindest regards,
Juanerino

[JDowns]

Originally Posted by Noisymilk

Hello there JDowns!

Just wanted to chime in with everyone else and say what an awesome ride report this is. I have dreams of Tierra del Fuego as well, and am pleased to see you doing it on a shoe string budget. My plans include my 03 Royal Enfield in the garage, not something as reliable as your little thumper. But I love seeing how you do things and getting good ideas for my future rides.

Ride on brother. Be safe out there. Thanks for what you do.

Hi Noisymilk,

Glad to have you along for the ride. I look forward to your future ride report, Royal Enfield to South America. Should be fun.

Kindest regards,
John Downs

[JDowns]

Originally Posted by Chiriqui Charlie

Looks like you're putting that new camera to good use!
When you were at DiAndrew, did you get to the waterfalls? Is there a practical way to see them without paying 40 bucks for a tour?

Hi CC,

Yes, the new camera is a plus.

I went to the waterfalls. Access is through private property. If you stay at Rancho Diandrew, you can go down to the river and hike upstream to the waterfalls. No need for a tour. It's a bit of technical climbing and swimming, so nice to have someone show you the way the first time though.

Enjoyed my stay at your place. Give my best to Chiriquiwife.

Saludos,
Juanito

[JDowns]

Originally Posted by bk brkr baker

I've been enjoying your ride since before it got on the road, but , tonight is the first time I've ever laughed out loud and clapped my hands at the same time .
Your dealings with the transit cop were exceptional !
Maybe if more people dealt with them in your manor rather than taking the easy way out and lining their wallets they'd give up on fleeceing tourists.
Maybe by the time I get my chance .

Thanks, J.D. and keep up the good work !

Hi tripleB,

If you ride down here you will get your chance to meet corrupt cops I imagine. If you let them know right off the bat that you're on to them and you aren't paying a bribe and put them on the defensive it can shorten your time with them I have found.

Now if you have broken the law and it is a legitimate stop, that is another story.

Best,
Juan

[Haven't Ben There]

Hello JDowns, just wanted to say thanks for the rr, it truly is inspirational. I do a lot of reading here but very little posting. People thought I was crazy for riding a KE100 over a 100 miles a day. Maybe they where right it burnt the piston but it was still fun. Now I show them your rr and they think we are both nuts One day I will get another small ds. Anyway enjoy the ride and if you are ever in eastern NC let me know and I will buy lunch it is the least I can do.

[Dooga]

Originally Posted by JDowns

He gave up pretty easy. Looked at the signatures on my tank and I told him they were mis amigos de moto and did he want to sign my tank. And that is how I got the signature of a corrupt transit cop on the side of my gas tank. He shook my hand wished me a vaya con dios before heading off.

I'm not advocating this approach. It's just what I do. I don't take shit from corrupt cops. The best way to handle a bully is to punch them in the nose (verbally).

You're my hero.

[JDowns]

Originally Posted by Haven't Ben There

Hello JDowns, just wanted to say thanks for the rr, it truly is inspirational. I do a lot of reading here but very little posting. People thought I was crazy for riding a KE100 over a 100 miles a day. Maybe they where right it burnt the piston but it was still fun. Now I show them your rr and they think we are both nuts One day I will get another small ds. Anyway enjoy the ride and if you are ever in eastern NC let me know and I will buy lunch it is the least I can do.

hi Haven't Ben There,

Glad to have you along. I was in eastern NC last year for the first time. Friendly people and great riding. Small DS is perfect for that area of the country on the back roads.

And yes, we are both nuts.

Kindest regards,
John Downs

[JDowns]

I'm having a hard time leaving the Azuero peninsula here in Panama. So many fun back roads, beach riding and things to see.

I am typing this on cmnthead's iPad on a sketchy cellular connection so pictures will come later. Rode around with artistic Canadian Phil today. Rode on the beach looking for good looking driftwood for carving, but mostly looking for his good looking Colombiana friends. Visited some of his friends around the area and generally goofed off.

Didn't spend anything today. Might head to Panama City tomorrow. Of course that's what I said yesterday.

Hasta Luego,
Juan de Azuero

[RayAlazzurra]

Hi John:

If there is one thing I have learned from your trip reports it is that a huge pocketbook and a fancy bike are not necessary to have fun. The one thing that does seem necessary is an ability to understand some Spanish.

So here is a link to one the free US foreign service language programs.

http://www.fsi-language-courses.org/...atin%20America

This works good on an Apple since you can open the workbook in preview while following the lessons on Itunes simultaneously. The class is a bit tedious, but the price is right. There are a few other free classes too.

Learning Spanish is now my designated snowy day activity. Thanks for the inspiration.