I decided to post also in HU about my South America adventure. If you want to see how it all started please visit my webpage Sauerkraut & Tofuwurst

The story line...
A long time ago in May2013 a Finnish/German couple started together with their three dogs to ride around the world on their motorbikes. They rode together about 70000km through 38 countries across 4 continents. Tragedy happened when Hertta died late 2014 in the US. A major turning point was Costa Rica where Skippy decided to release Lyra and Ulpu from their anxiety of traveling in the sidecar. Instead we would get a car for the girls in Colombia and they could go on their own. Consequently Skippy sold her Suzi in Costa Rica. Wolfi did not want to go alone and so Peto joined as a travel companion for him. The journey continued for a little while with all being packed and loaded onto the sidecar. In Colombia we found a car for Skippy and Lyra & Ulpu. However a short while later we admitted that Lyra's travel days seemed to be over. Skippy sold the car and went back to Europe.
Wolfi & Peto continue with the sidecar through South America. On this blog and channel you will be able to follow Wolfi & Peto on their adventure, the up's and down's and how they manage now on their own without their cook, without Skippy, Lyra and Ulpu as travel companions.

Stay tuned for the stuff

It was time for Skippy and the girls to leave Colombia. We have traveled a lot but never ever had such trouble. Skippy was devastated and I am still missing words to explain what happened. See for yourself...



If you want to leave Colombia with your pet by plane then you must obtain an export permission from ICA for your pet. This also applies in case you owned your pet before you enter Colombia.

ICA office is in Bogota (I am not sure where else). This was the case with Avianca, maybe other airlines are less strict.

That was one of the easiest, smoothest, cheapest and fastest border crossing for a long long time. No fees, no trouble with the dog, no "helpers" and the customs officer at the Ecuador side even spoke some English. Despite other travel reports, there was no need for any vehicle insurance. Welcome to Ecuador!

Finally I crossed the equator with my bike. One down in my bucket list and many more to go...

Hanging in Riobamba and making new plans for the future.

There I was - somewhat stuck in Ecuador. The big question is what I will do next after I realized that my great plan was rubbish.

Andres, the owner of the hostel, gave us a tour to the local market. Besides waiting for my parts to come, I repaired the leaking oil filter... hopefully.

It is difficult for me to comprehend that I have been on the road for 1000days now. This lifestyle with all its ups and downs has become the normal thing to do and I sometimes forget that I am on the journey of my life - seeing all those places, experiencing new cultures and all that on my motorbike! So much has happened during those 1000days... and when looking at the maps of South America so much is still ahead. And then there is still Asia and Australia



72000km 39 countries 4 continents

I walked through Cuenca and started to work on my next project - getting the required papers for Peto to come to Europe. Meanwhile Andres made vegan pancakes in the morning and I continued to repair my broken rear shock.




Company who did the rear shock work:


Leon Motors

Taller especializado: motor, suspencion, frenos

Christian Leon (he speaks English and his wife speaks German)

Parque Industrial Modulo202

Cornelio Vintimilla y Carlos Tosi

Cuenca, Ecuador

0992832161

crisleonmx@hotmail.com

-2.876990, -78.977967

Vilcabamba - a village where local people are supposed to get very old. I enjoyed a great Finnish sauna and had excellent tasting vegan dishes there. Is this my last video?

I had really mixed feelings about riding this road. Butterflies were roaring in my stomach. The border crossing was one of the fastest ever!



Details on the border crossing

I crossed the border on Sunday 31.Jan2016 around 16o'clock. Customs and immigration on the Ecuador side took about 10min. Then I went to take copies of passport and bike papers for the Peru side. Besides that I changed a few dollars in one of the shops so I had some cash if needed. Nobody cared about Peto and a few locals sponsored my journey. Thank you very much!


I crossed the bridge, drove under the barrier and parked on the right side. I got the feeling of being in the wrong movie. Chickens with their little ones running all over the place. But no I was at the right place. However there was an electric cut and thus immigration guys did not want to do anything.


Then I went to customs because that anyway takes longer. So I filled the papers by hand instead of the guy typing everything into the system and then printing the cards. Now it came REALLY handy that I took some copies on the Ecuador side where they had electricity.


Some time later customs were done, still no electricity and then also immigration people could be moved to give me my stamp manually. This process took less than 30minutes which makes this border crossing one of the fastest - no most likely THE fastest - one I ever had. Only 40 minutes in total! Of course I was honest and said "yes" on the customs form about bringing animals into the country. Meaningless as this question was, nobody cared Peto. Good that I did not invest in any vet's certificate

Peru here I come!


My track through Ecuador:


About 1000km



Ecuador track and waypoints as GPX and GDB files.


Ecuador accommodations

Ibarra - Camping at Finca Sommerwind

Type: camping

Costs: 5USD/person

Dogs: free

Bike parking: besides tent

Contact: Finca-Sommerwind - Ecuador

GPS: N0.38049° W78.08908°

Comment: Clean toilets and hot shower, kitchenette, restaurant, great Wifi, they seem to have also cabins.
Quito - Residence Latitude 0

Type: Room for 6+people (all for me)

Costs: 10USD/person

Dogs: free

Bike parking: free in the one and only garage

Contact: booking.com

GPS: S0.21142° W78.48541°

Comment: Clean, shared warm shower, shared toilet, TV, good Wifi, kitchen
Riobamba - Hotel Royalty

Type: Room with one queen size bed

Costs: 13.50USD/person

Dogs: free

Bike parking: secured in inner yard

Contact:

GPS: S1.65549° W78.66520°

Comment: Clean, warm shower, TV, good Wifi, free breakfast, opposite of shopping mall
Cuenca - Mallki Hostel

Type: Room with one queen size bed

Costs: 25USD

Dogs: free

Bike parking: secured in inner yard

Contact: Mallki Hostel and booking.com

GPS: S2.90413° W79.00713°

Comment: Shower head, common TV, Wifi (from congested and no throughput to superfast), free breakfast, kitchen, first two nights in dorm room (10USD/night).
Vilcabamba - Hosteria Paraiso

Type: Room with multiple beds

Costs: 20USD/room (special price, normally 25USD/room)

Dogs: free

Bike parking: in inner yard

Contact: +593 (0) 72640266, 072640029, 0988448057, www.hosteriaparaiso.com, hosteriaparaiso@hotmail.com

GPS: S4.25516° W79.22341°

Comment: Clean, hot shower, TV, good Wifi at reception, free breakfast, swimming pool, steam sauna, Finnish sauna at weekends

Sit back, watch the video and me struggling

More of Andes and the PE3N. This road is full of of surprises.

Carnival everywhere. See how some people in Peru celebrate it and of course plenty of more nice nature between the villages.

The title says it all. From Santiago de Chuco to Tauca via PE3N. Total ascent 4011m. Total descent 3811m.