I crossed one border 5 days ago and 2 borders yesterday. Yesterday morning I left San Salvador, El Salvador, rode through Honduras, and then arrived in Leon, Nicaragua just before dark. The 3 hours in Honduras was hellish. I have no desire to return to Honduras at any point in the foreseeable future.
Guatemala to El [...]
Category Archives: Motorcycle Diary
3 borders and 3 hours in Honduras
Also posted in Borders, Travels Tagged Borders, CA4, corrupt cops, corruption, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua 4 Comments
Ciudad Cuauhtemoc to La Mesilla
This morning we crossed the border from Mexico into Guatemala. It was painless. I read about a couple of guys who crossed in 20 minutes so I was confident it would be easy.
To start with we needed to leave Mexico. We missed the exit point which is about 3km from the border. It looked like [...]
Also posted in Borders, Travels Tagged border crossing, Ciudad Cuauhtemoc, Guatemala, La Mesilla, mexico, Mexico to Guatemala, Pacoc 3 Comments
Roma to Ciudad Miguel Alemán
Yesterday I crossed the border from the United States into the Republic of Mexico. I was slightly apprehensive about the crossing. I’d read that the border region is dangerous due the ongoing drug war in Mexico. I also read that the paperwork process was confusing and might be time consuming.
My apprehension was unjustified. The border [...]
Also posted in Borders, Travels Tagged border crossings, mexico, Roma, Tamps, Texas, usa, USA to Mexico 9 Comments
Elkins to Birmingham
It’s been a while since my last update, about 2′000 miles and 24 days. I’ll try to catch up on the trip since leaving Elkins, West Virginia.
Elkins, WV – Lexintgon, KY – St Louis, MO
My next stop was Lexington, Kentucky which was a halfway stop towards St Louis, Missouri. I discovered ready made, ready rolled [...]
Also posted in Travels Tagged Alabama, Anheuser Busch, Arkansas, Birmingham, Elkins, Fayetteville, Illinois, Indiana, Jackson, Kentucky, Lexington, Louisiana, Memphis, Mississippi, Missouri, Nashville, New Orleans, Pettigrew, St Louis, Tennessee, West Virginia 1 Comment
Philadelphia to Alexandria to Elkins
I arrived in Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon. Phillip had kindly offered me a place to stay. I was in for a treat. Phillip’s Jamaican hospitality was quite spectacular. He cooked, cooked and cooked some more. I was treated to great food, an education on baseball, and hearty conversation.
Sunday afternoon I had assembled a motorcycle gang. [...]
Also posted in Photos, Travels Tagged Alexandria, chain, Elkins, maintenance, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia 1 Comment
Quebec to Prince Edward Island
James asked for more pictures, so more pictures I offer you.
To start with here’s a few scenic shots on the route from Quebec City to Baie Ste Catherine.
The fourth photo in the set was taken from the bike while in motion.
At Baie Ste Catherine the road runs right onto the ferry dock. There [...]
Also posted in Photos, Travels Tagged Baie Ste Catherine, Bruce MacNaughton, Confederation Bridge, Les Escoumins, New Brunswick, PEI Preserve Company, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Tadoussac, Trois Pistoles 9 Comments
A day at Dual Sport Plus
I spent the day with the awesome folks at Dual Sport Plus in Stoney Creek, just outside Toronto. I was told that Les, who owns the shop, is a KLR master. He’s a fellow KLR rider and very knowledgeable. He’s ridden KLRs all over the Americas I understand.
In the afternoon I spotted what I suspected [...]
Also posted in Photos, Travels Tagged Doohickey, Dual Sport Plus, Google, Google streetview, KLR, KLR Doohickey Upgrade, klr650, Streetview Car 1 Comment
The Bondslave Motorcycle Club
I had the privilege of riding with a few members of the Canadian Bondslave Motorcycle Club recently. I met Gerry “Shot Put” and Bill “William Tell” by the side of the road. I had just returned to my motorcycle to fix a puncture. Almost as soon as I arrived, Bill and Gerry pulled over. After [...]
Also posted in Photos, Travels Tagged Bondslave, Jesus, motorcycle clubs, religion, spirituality, Thunder Bay 6 Comments
My first motorcycle puncture
I pulled off the road into a picnic site. It was a beautiful spot. Right on the lakeside, drenched in glorious sunshine.
I was feeling pretty sweet. I ate an apple, used the bathroom, basked in the warmth of the sun for a bit. Feeling pretty pleased with myself, I set off. I blasted out of [...]
Bessy
Today is my greant aunt Bess’s 98th birthday. Ninety eight years old and still going strong. Bess is the eldest of her siblings, and one of only two still living alone. She’s an inspiration to us all.
In honour of Bess’s birthday I’m naming my motorcycle Bessy. She might be a few years old (in motorbike [...]
Motorcycle maintenance issues strike 1
I spent the day shopping in Portland today. More on that later. After leaving REI and heading to a boot shop, I stopped to fill the bike with gas. I looked down to see oil dripping rapidly from the bike. Uh oh. Then on closer inspection I noticed that the counter shaft sprocket nut had [...]
Also posted in Travels Tagged chris vandervoort, cycletune, motorcycle maintenance, motorcycles, oil leaks, Oregon, Portland 1 Comment
Dirt biking
I had my first dirt biking experience today, courtesy of Kevin Anderson at Dirtbike Camp in Orland, California, USA. Here’s a shot of me suited and booted.
Getting into the gear is no mean feat. You start with the shin pads, which cover from the shin to just above the knee. They go on over your [...]
Also posted in Photos, Travels Tagged California, dirt biking, dirtbike, dirtbike camp, Kevin Anderson, Orland Leave a comment
First day on the bike
My luggage took up more space than I thought. Turns out most of my stuff is still in the bag. I picked up some bungee cords at the local bike shop. I lined the boxes with paper bags and filled them. The rest went into my backpack, wrapped in the bike cover, and strapped on. [...]
Also posted in Photos, Travels Tagged California, Route 1, san francisco, San Luis Obispo 3 Comments
Gear colours
I’m buying some motorcycle gear. A triple layer jacket and riding pants from Rev’it. There are a few colour combinations.
I want to look as unintrusive as possible. I don’t want to look too alien to the places I’ll be visiting. I’m trying to look as friendly and approachable as possible.
Which colour scheme do you think [...]
Also posted in Travels 7 Comments
