October 2006

Brazil
Paraguay
Argentina

This month is an other incredible one.
Many KM/MLS thru fantastic landscapes, to great people, happenings and nature wonders!

After a concert at the opera of Manaus we were ready to go.
100ts of boxes, carriages, fishes, refrigerators and some motorbikes are on board, 100ts of hammocks towed on an ready for the boat trip.

On a side arm of the Amazons river (Rio Madeira) we shipper on the boat with the name ‘Dois Irmaos I’ upstream.
Calm and slow it tuckers the next 5 days towards my destination.

Landscapes change very slow, but still I don’t get enough of looking at it.
On the first deck there is loud music jelling from the huge speakers, card and domino games going on and of course nice talks are any time welcome!

A boat routine is quickly there and all the time something going on. Pink dolphins are joining the boat which has a hard time to reach from one to the next dock.


There it gets busy – loading of people and goods (all by hand of course) and some time later it continues his journey – landscapes, sand dunes, little boats and villages are to watch – awesome!

At the 5th day we reach Porto Velho where there should be a Fusaegood road towards south.

That I have every time hart pain when I watch the guys loading my bike is natural, all by hand and only with the help of one rope..........

On my south I get caught by some rain and I wish my in panama stolen motorcycle jacket back or just some clothes with more rubber on..


The Pantanal is some days later reached.
She wetland are 3 times the size of Austria and offers many opportunities to watch wildlife.

While I am traveling I even do not need to search for the animals – they come to me.
On a nice afternoon I nearly had an accident with Aras while they tried to land close by.
Tucans I also see many times and here and there is something crawling and hushing, even a kind of Emus walk like cows around.
What a place?

At the north end of the Pantanal (and in official geographic center south America) a little national park impressed me heavily!

Sandstone rock formations and views ......... woooow, simply great!!

In the south I went in to the water...
...with neoprene, mask and snorkel!

The crystal clear rivers offer the ultimate possibility to play like in an aquarium.

Beautiful fishes seems to know no fear and let me and an other little group of people glide with them downstream – unbelievable!

Close by there is also a deep blue cave lake to discover.

Brazil is really cool, the nature rich, accommodations good, the people very warm welcoming, only the Portuguese doesn’t fit my ears.
Huge is this country as well and with all this facts an other visit programmed.

For now I say good by and cross the green border to Paraguay.

I love it to ride thru this lovely country side and reach the capitol Asuncion soon.
Here lives poor and rich door on door – incredible.

And on a hot summer afternoon the city park fountain will be ‘turned’ automatically in a pool for the poor one.


The most roads are paved and so I don’t mind at all to ride from north to west and east to south.
Fusae runs just great and I treat and spoil her how she deserves it.
The famous Iguaçu falls didn’t touch me much so I decide to see some Jesuit ruins from the 16th century.

I give it a try and ride back to Iguaçu from the Argentinean side.
Wow, these are the Falls I though of!!

The water masses collapsing 90 meter in to the depth. There should be a total of 275 separate falls. The unbelievable amount of 13.000 m3 water per second at the horse shoe shaped highlight called devils throat impress me even more.

At a tiny, little waterfall my Iguaçu friends and I take a bath. Incredible the power, this power shower peels almost my skin off my scalp!
I am more than happy having returned.

This is right start to get the huge Argentina step by step known.

There is some more space on the KM/mile counter, then he shows me right now ‘only’ 40.000 KM (some 25.000 miles)
:o)

Where, who a.s.o. is for sure – at the end of the month here to read!

Thank you for having a look at my blog and if you excuse me now – the huge playground called WORLD is waiting out there for me!

November 2006

Uruguay
Argentina

Farmland, Capitols &
'the motorcycle diary' !!!

In Zick Zack style south.

First from the Iguazu Waterfalls in the northeast corner of Argentina thru the Pampa a bit further southwest.

Somehow I an not impressed from the city of Corrientes and I ride further thru big, flat, with rivers carved landscapes.

Temperatures start to change a lot from day & night, sun & shadow, dry & rain and the different gets bigger and bigger.

With the border crossing to Uruguay I war all my warm clothes like an onion, one over the other.

These clothes which don’t dry after a laundry day a 100 % I stripe with a bungee cord on the bike and the rest does the wind.
I call this the lazy housewife laundry.

Uruguay feels like an undiscovered jewel in the tourism world.
Fantastic plains, soft rolling hills, trees which lead me in the next town, great cities and over all the great people.

Real Motorbike classics like BSA, Ariel, Universal a.s.o. from the 40s I meet on the road.
Actually I wanted only a little snack break, but 1. It comes different and 2. As you think.

So this little stop became a real late afternoon tee with this local biker.

The with building covered peninsula called ‘Punta del Este’ grows from a 70 glamour to the Acapulco of Uruguay.

The capitol, Montevideo doesn’t need to be scared to loose its famous touch.

Lots of historic buildings, the government, interesting flairs and around 2 mil habitants make it to that what it is.

Close by are immigrant areas like ‘ new Switzerland’ where I have a look at the world thru almost real Swiss cheese.

A nice stop in the pretty Colonia before I return to Argentina.

Unbelievable but true – I reach at the same summer day this Christmas decorated Buenos Aires!!
At Dakar Motos, Fusae, Moses and I get a nice and warm welcome.
Thank you Sandra and Javier – it really feels coming home.

There is place to sleep an to work at the bike (Service and new parts after almost 45.000 km = 26.400 mls).
So, I take Fusae to peaces and have a look.
Once more I knock at the door of Royal Enfield USA.
There awesome guys send me again a great package with all the needs for my bike. Incredible generous and really a support as you can wish – thank you all!

Till I get it out of custom that’s an other story for it self.

That means I have some time to have a look around the city, to by these and that and do what it needs to be done and organized.

There is plenty of time and options to talk with other travelers.
People from all over the world meet here and that fills many afternoons and evenings.

All sorts of bikes, types, stories, motives and background meet here.
Buenos Aires – what a melt pot – from global, motorcycle and traveler sight.
Great buildings seem to be alive like Ché. (Ernesto Ché Guevara)

Have you maybe seen the movie ‘the motorcycle diary’ and remember the Norton Motorcycle which El Ché and his friend road around south america??

Unbelievable but true, I don’t only meet the mechanic of this bike, have a look at the bike it self - he even gives me this famous movie motorcycle for a spin!!!!!

Days later I am still high from this right shifted British bike.

Sir Gustavo (the old-timer specialist) has also a look at Fusae and adjust the timing new – THANKS !

These days there is also an interview for a Car & Motorcycle show where I give Answer and Information about my trip.


So….

Bolts, nuts and studs to control and retighten a second time.

Then it is time to ride the bullet further south.

Yihhaaa!!!!!!!!!!!

December 2006

Argentina

Sold, bought & it goes on!!

Hasta luego Sandra & Javier (Dakar Motos) in Buenos Aires.

Fusae, Moses and myself are going to Azul.
These are only 300km further south.

Monica & Jorge (Pollo) have here the ‚La Posta’ – a 2 wheeler 'must top' in Argenina.
I thought I’ll stay one night, but i stood one week.

Asado, the typical argentinan grill, nice People and and a good look arround.


Hmmmmm my Fusae makes me worry.....
I dont really like her new sound. She sounds somehow different.
Not a surpirise with all these new parts and bits on her?!
This week I decide to sell her!
Gustavo (the Norton specialist) has interested people and ment the bike is in mint condition.
With knowing that much, I ride back to BsAs and the ‚illegal’ deal is quickly done.
Whipe off all the tracks from Fusae.

Soon she is a ‚old’ bike in Buenos Aires.
Diego (yellow shirt) has birthday soon and manage it to get her registert just in time!!

The happiness is big – I do have some cash in my pocket and the Guy’s a new/old bike.
So it is time so say CIAO FUSAE – have a lot of fun with your new dady and show your best side!

I have to get new organized.
That for I cruse the streets of Buenos Aires and cant belive it – I meet supersweet travelers again. Our ways went different in Brasil and today we have a great coffe together – nice how live surprises!

Ready to go with the luxerious night bus to Mendoza.


At the foot of the Andes is this pretty city.

Some visitors also lie to their own feet after some tasty wine of the region.

I instead buy a terrible bicycle, enjoy camping and hike almost every day to the ‘house’mountain ‘Cerro Arco’.

I do arround 800 meters in elevation, have great views and love it to be by my self!


Christmas is for me something unspectacular and very quiet.

In the morning I jump in the pool, afternoon go to the city and at midnight there are all over fireworks.

At new years night I’ll be in the mountains and thats the reason to wish you already;

A very happy & healthy 2007 !
All those which are on the way
- good rideing and keep the shiny side up!

My wish & favour;
When you are complaining in the future,
please think global,
put on a smile and be happy
about your luxurious & good live!!!

.