Just got a call from the trucking company delivering Maya, the truck shat itself 2 miles from where we are

Waiting on another call to either pick her up or they may be getting another truck ... as Bevan said, if we didn't have bad luck we wouldn't have any luck at all

J u s t w a n t t o g e t h e r h e r e..........


She finally arrived ......sort of, she got within 2 miles of here then the truck shat itself and was towed 4o miles away :cry

So we chased across town to get her .... finally tracked her down.

Good clean tomorrow and sort out the stuff we do and don't wan't.

Crammed in



Getting freed



She is tall!!!



Off we go



Bit of cheek off dancing going on set up at full height!!



So we have her home, she needs a good bath to tomorrow will be full TLC day.

F i n a l l y we can start to go forward :clap

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

So how did you come upon the KTM? safe travels.Noel
Note i did not wish you happy Holidays.
we still celebrate Christmas in Oz and NZ.

To all our fello RTWers and riders, have a great Christmas and great travels.

Love to all

Andi & Ellen.

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

Merry Christmas Andi & Ellen!

Hope you guys have a good one, you aint missing much here its -30 C and the ski hills have had nearly 4 metres of snow so far this Winter, Sammy is stuck in the living room until April/May time and he is looking bored! so enjoy riding that lovely KTM!

Feliz Navidad!

Hugs
Grif & Lisa XX

__________________
Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

Heya Grif & Lisa, it is only about 12 -14 deg C here in Phoenix ... still a bit warmer than you though, dropping to 2 degs at night.

Good you bought Sammy in, you don't want her radiator to freeze eh

That lovely KTM has a wee guts ache and is off to the shop tomorrow hopefully for only minor surgery but we won't know until the doctor opens her up ... not good

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

Heya Noel

We bought it through an ad on ADV rider.

Merry Christmas to you you mate, I spent my Christmas day doing repair work to the KTM.

Cheers Andi

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

Phoenix ... Where To Start

Friends of friends helped us when we needed help... not sure what we would have done without them to be fair.

They have become a very large part of our trip and have seen the highs and lows of changing out bikes and equipment to bike and equipment....the very stressful part of RTWing to be honest.

Also seen first hand some jealous people hacking on us about the DRs and blatantly lying as well as using a lot of elastic to better their story without facts then laughing about getting the KTM, thank you to those people and one of these days you will find out the truth if you chose too but don't let the truth stand in the way of a good fabricated story!!.

The lows became very heavy to the point I was ready to pack it in due to being ripped by the seller of Maya which was very low to say the least, nothing that money and time cannot fix.

On a positive note we now have new friends for life, their generosity and warmth when we were down was something they provided us and I know they weren’t prepared for what was to happen with Maya etc.

Post Maya the shitty drama that followed it was 3 steps forward and 10 back daily, one by one we clobbered the problems and issues and finally we are prepared with some minor adjustments to do.

While in Phoenix and wanting to do a shakedown test run on Maya we did a local loop recommended by Dillon at Zen Motorcycle using local knowledge, this was great for shaking the shit out of the bike and testing my two up riding ability on ice .... in Phoenix!!





Snow!! :eek1





Clocked over 2000 miles



The purpose was to do about 180 to 200 miles, combo of shingle and offroad with a blast on the tar as well to check on fuel milage too see indicatively where she is at.

To our surprise Maya did 37 mpg on the small amount offroad and shingle road and 48.75 mpg on the open road, on the motorway we specifically sat around the 60 mphr on the speedo which is our open road cruising speed given we want to look out the window, 60 mphr on Maya is 56-57 mphr corrected on the GPS and this is what we have done all the way down on the rest of the trip on the DRs.

On our return to home base in Phoenix we took the tank off Maya and pulled all the filters and screens to check her heath.

Apart from a few dregs leftover from the sump cleanout they all came up ok, hoping now the new waterpump fitted at Zens has seen the last of issues at least for a good while, period maintenance would be cool now.



Oil filter



Dry sump screen



Sump screen



Next mission was to luggage up, initially we set out to go Wolfman complete however this would mean leaving hiking gear behind and a few big other compromises, one up it would have been fine but two up was leaving too much behind and taking away the hiking aspect of our trip which is a big part of it for us to take the place in and look around.

Given the SE’s are known to have weak subframes this was going to add a lot of extra work to it, enter Al Jesse of Welcome to Jesse Luggage Systems engineer extraordinaire.

We presented our wish to Al, after some sitting around in his workshop sitting on panniers and chewing the fat for a coupla hours Al said no worries .... we can do it, build a separate subframe to transfer the weight to the main frame .... simple.

Al set to and created a bolt on subframe taking up two main frame mounts and connecting to the passenger footpeg mount all within a beautifully fabricated triangle mount, the rest is cantilevered off that thus taking the load totally off the original subframe.





The top case has load dividers transferring the weight again back to the new subframe as well as a wingframe which does the same.





It passed the fat bastid test :evil in this photo there are no top mounts or anything in place, just the front!!:clap



Finished ... looking very poofy



The man himself



The secret location



All in all it worked out very well and we are very happy, so now we have a combo of Jesses with two small Wolfman tank panniers on the top of each pannier.



This has enabled us to retain our hiking gear, we have sent our Hilliberg Keron 4 GT home and bought a smaller Hilliberg Nammatj 3 without the big vestibule but we still have full camping gear complete.

Yesterday 9th January 2013 we finally set off to Ramona, a 350 mile day which was nearly twice what we normally do but we needed to cut the milage, during the day I started feeling crook with sore throat and stuffed nose ... I think the stress and long hours working on the bike(s) finally caught me up and took it out on me.

We took in this Rock garden which was cool!





We did a fuel milage check to see where Maya is at as well, she did 222 miles and used 4.69 US gallons so 47 mpg, or 5L / 100 km for us metricheads we had a combo of flat, hills, rolling, traffic lights and a variable cross and head winds so a reasonable cross section of a slightly easier than average day but we are in the right ballpark of running correctly, HUGE thanks to Spencer for setting her up very well indeed.

On the way to Ramona we climbed to 4000 feet, the temperature dropping down to 3 degs C .... it was just cold enough especially while I was feeling off shade.

Arriving at Ramona we were greeted by fello ADVers Arnie and Christie, originally we were only staying the one night but with me being crook they insisted we stay another night and my arm was easily twisted, for me feeling like shit this was very welcoming, the weather also turned, the road we came over through Julian had 8 inches of snow over night!!

Today 11th January we are heading back to Mexico .... that is for next round.

Just to finish, there are so many people that helped us in Phoenix in one way or another, support when needed was absolutely fantastic and proved although there are some who will blatantly rip you there are also plenty more who will help and go the extra mile to makes things right.

You guys have accidentally become a huge part of trip now and to be honest I am not sure where to start and given my non thinking head cold .... well you guys know who you are, specific mention given to Bevan and Clare who hosted us and helped us get sorted out, Craig and Sharon who constantly gave us shit and some good KTM advice and lifted our spirits, Spencer for first class mechanical work and advice, Dillon at Zens for the repairs to Maya and Mark for map and travel info on a 950 SE.

Thanks to all, onwards and downwards :clap :clap.

__________________
Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

Ride on guys! Good luck

__________________

TBS.com

Great job Andi & Ellen!

Our thoughts are with you guys as TwoMotoKiwis hits phase 2 (it probably feels like your on phase 8 already!)
After all the shennanigans of the last few months get back to the task of enjoying yourselves.....
Ellen are you back close to 100% now after the big off ?

The bike/luggage setup looks sweeeeeet!!!

Suerte!

Grif & Lisa XX

__________________
Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

I am very happy for you that you sorted it all out in the end and can see the positive side of it! I wish you good luck with Maya and everything!Get better soon ( I know exactly how you feel right now, when the tension of the stress disappears). Keep the sunny side up and have fun! I hope I will meet you on the road! I am still in Queretaro and waiting for parts. They shpuld be here by monday. Have not heard from KTM yet who is gonna reassemble the bike. I do not want to do it myself as it was a KTM dealer who messed it up (guarantee) and I guess that KTM Austria will find a solution.
How are your plans? I wonder if I should change mine cause I lost so much time!
Wonder if it makes sense to fly from Panama to Santiago de Chile or so, ride down to the tip and take my time on the way back to the north. Otherwise I would have to stress like an idiot and miss the best part!
Another option would be to go as far as I feel for, park the bike secured, fly home in june, attend my sister´s wedding and come back to finish the trip. Then I have to know which country would make least problems leaving the bike...
Any ideas?

Glad to see things are getting back on track for you

Stay Safe!

__________________
K9DR650SE
Prairies To Penguins 2013

Not an early start as we only had 266 km to cover, well we needed the time as it turned out.

We left Guerrero Negro in stunning weather other than bloody cold again but we rugged up and enjoyed it.

Not even 50 km down the road mum nature got angry with wind and wind gusts that saw us drop to 30 - 40 km/hr at stages and riding far enough over I thought we were gonna get a knee down.

We rode through sandstorm after sandstorm with the road coming alive with swirling sand in an instant then being blown off just as quick, pics never do it justice..





Every truck that came past was new mission in learning to stay upright ... kinda fun for a while however with me still sporting my bad flu this soon wore off to a chore.

It really took it out of me reverse counter steering for upwards of 200km and little reprieve, as luck would have it I was thinking I need a break and we came upon a Military checkpoint, still blowing and cold we got off the bike very carefully as I could see Maya going to ground.

After the cars and truck had cleared it was our turn to explain WTF we were doing out in this weather .... but they just waved us on with the gun and big smile so we carried on with a big smile.

The rest of the trip was uneventful other than big winds, on arrival we looked for a Hotel, couldn’t find one at a reasonable price so we got some lunch instead to get a level head and I was stuffed and needed some hot input for energy.

After that we found a half reasonable place out of the town centre with off street parking as a lady said don’t leave you bike in town!!

A walk back into the town to buy supplies and take a look at the church that was designed by the dude who designed the Eiffel Tower.









Not a hugely impressive lace but kinda cool with its historical background.

On the way back from town we spotted this..



This was the view across the sea of cortez from where we stayed



This was someone moving house Mexican style.



Again, Tacos for Tea, Gin for desserts and early to bed after typing this up, 8.17pm ... I am knackered ..... anyone wonna swap a hangover for the flu???

__________________
Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

The day started out in normal style.

Pack up Maya, first trick was to get her back to the top.



Our plan was to get to Ciudad Constitucion and we made it there in good time by 2.00pm, we decided to carry on to the next town to find there was no accommodation and the wind was fair howling through.

Another 134 km would see us in La Paz so we made a break for it, the wind was an absolute torment making it yet another hard ride and great practice for Patagonia.

We passed some beautiful Cacti gardens of epic proportions



Beautiful bays full of holiday makers



A few washouts to content with but all pretty minor



Cool as twisty roads



With La Paz in our sights we made it prior dark and found a Hotel, it was a very busy place indeed.

The day we accidentally did,



Turns out the El Norte winds is what we had encountered over the last few days that had battered us and froze us, I hadn’t worn my puffy jacket since Alaska and certainly didn’t think I would wear it for three consecutive days in Baja!! :rofl

__________________
Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

Leaving La Paz we headed south to La Ventana to stay with some friends of friends, we were welcomed in which was very nice and nice to have a break while getting better, for the first time in a week we could say it was warm.



Our first day was to relax, go for a walk on the beach, we also took a local ride to Bahia de Los Muetros and out to the lighthouse at Punta Arena.

Us in front of a plant :rofl



A trip out to some hot springs



Turning Maya in a sandpit :eek1



Time to get out of the sand .... gotta love hp!.... just shift that sand behind me...... :evil



Down to the beach to watch kite boarding, some talented people riding them





Photo op .... does my bum make that boat look small?



Getting around here in the sand has its moments and once or twice I left a couple of small swerves and trenches



On the way to the lighthouse





The lighthouse



Some ruins ..... and a knackered concrete structure :evil



More plants



I originally put my helmet and glove there out of the wind ... then I liked the picture :clap



The old structure and old lighthouse base



Next on the plan was to do a ring circuit of the bottom of Baja for as look, total 390 km day return taking in all the sights and places, an uneventful trip was had along with a beautiful lunch from stall beside an industrial area.



No pics of this day tho .. bit slack really but nothing r e a l l y caught my eye.

Saturday night we went to an event called Burning Bush which was the 10th annual event, a small brother event to Burning Man in the Arizona Desert.

This was absolutely fantastic, never seen anything like it, what an effort these guys went too, fire displays lit up the sky with assistance from petrol, diesel and LPG ..... totally cool pyrotechnics with good music and atmosphere.

As it was a rising from the ashes theme the Phoenix was the feature of the night with huge wooden birds with wings able to be flapped with human power.

Here is a multitude of pics, got SO many but you get the story anyway.

Structures awaiting their fate





It started



Our crew from left to right, Jill, John, Brenda, Ellen and I



The burning sphere ..... my fave, this was totally cosmic lying on the sand looking up underneath it, best had with a dooby or whiskey to enhance its effects :evil





Now shot darkening the structure ... check it out!!











The bubble man



Some burning plants



A close up looking into the burning plant



Some Phoenix birds that the wings operated and were fire breathing





The big Phoenix on the beach



The volcano erupts





Finally the hill that goes boom :rofl .... this was REALLY cool and let off quite the boom with a totally cool mushroom to go.



Apart from that it has been boring :huh :rofl.

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

Leaving La Ventana on Baja we headed up to La Paz to the boat, arriving is La Paz we did a drive by look around on the way out to the Ferry terminal.







Arriving at the terminal we paid for our tickets, all went well until we left the ticket office, then they wanted $300 Pesos to park the bike ... port fees..WTF? we just paid our tickets!!!!

So some arguing and phone calls then f i n a l l y an English speaking lady said there is a port fee and it was $70.00 Pesos.

Back over to the $300.00 Peso people and yes that right it is $70 Pesos for motos ... here we go again.

$70.00 Pesos paid and we were good to go again but waiting for someone else to jump out with their hand out.

Getting onto the boat with time up our sleeve I went to tie Maya down, the shipping crew asked me where are my tie downs .... WTF this is your ship which I just paid to use?, so the guys comes up with a rope about 40 mm round..... nup that won’t work, then they bought truck size snig chains and I said very very polity like ****!!.

So they found some rope and started to tie Maya down sensibly, they acted like they had never seen a bike before????



I had to do this all by myself including locking and tying as passengers are not allowed so they go on a separate bus.

After tying and securing Maya I went upstairs, by this time I was dripping wet and hot as, I found our seats and as luck would have my was and auto recliner or in English terms it was fncked.

Anyway leaving the gear there on our seats I went outside, set the socks out in the sun to dry etc ... nice.

Ellen soon appeared and we were reunited so I guess I will have to take her.

Soon as the boat set sail we commandeered some cool window seats that didn’t auto recline, we missed out on a cabin so we saved $500.00 Pesos ... always a bonus.





The sailing was smooth, not much sleep for me tho, maybe an hour over 48 hours so I was a bit dozy ... no one noticed any difference anyway. :huh

Disembarking at 11.30 am we had to the aim of getting back to Lo De Marcos to see our Canadian family of friends, it was 12.40 pm when we exited Mazatlan with a 400 km ride ahead of us.





The traffic was thick with trucks and overloaded utes which slowed us down, luckily with the power of Maya this helped to get ahead.

Arriving at Lo De Marcos just on dusk we were greeted like family which was really really nice, riding through the entry gate I felt I was home again.

Hugs, kisses and smiles from George, Carol, Alexandro and Mabel were had so everything that makes a trip worthwhile, again the next morning catching up with Isy and Rod who were there to help when Ellen was struggling with her feet.

With an invitation to tea we had a quick shower, warmed up and turned into humans and were fed and watered like Kings and Queens.

Next day was a relaxer and reenergizer which was well overdue and needed, a walk along the beach and a bottle Red that night all was good.

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere