Thanks, Ted. I will be in Belem in a day or two. I'll take a boat to Manaus, head up into Venezuela, then back over to Colombia I think.

Don's bike was still in Brazil, the last I heard. Some other screw-up by American Airlines, but I don't know the details. I am told that it will all work out okay. Leaving by air or sea is NOT the best way to get your bike out of Brazil, and a rider in Venezuela wrote me that it was no better there.

Bogota to Miami sounds like my plan at this point.

__________________
Done with Prudhoe Bay and Ushuaia.

http://www.errant-ronin.com/PrudhoeBayUshuaia.htm

Thats what my Kansan riding buddy did... Brazil is pretty hard to ship out of so your doing right going to Bogota.

When in Bogota, just head up to the airport and find shippers there.

Tip: before getting into Venezuela, get PLENTY of cash. PAPER MONEY !!

Your debit cards will not work in Venezuela apart from 2% of machines in major cities. You need to have paper money to change with the street vendors.... You get a BETTER rate with the street guys than the bank.

hope you got a pocket full of dollars !

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Hi Marker!

Are you saying that you can ride through Brasil without a TEP? I have a US bike but I am using my Uruguayan cedula (ID). I do have the TEP which was for 30 days and I have extended it for another 30 days. Its true that I have not been asked for it but I have also not been stopped.

The reason I am asking is that I am looking for ways to stay for longer in Brasil. Would I need to go to a border and hand in my TEP so that I do not get fined and then re enter without getting a TEP?

I then have to work out how I can stay longer that the 6 months they give me on a tourist visa?

I also have an Australian passport as I live in Australia
All very interesing......

Thanks
Maurice

Hey guys,

I can see you're a long way from south, but if you don't find any ways to get away, come down to Iguazu|(Brazilian side) and we can get your permits easily, no hassling, no fees, I know the border officers here, policia federal and receita federal as we work on tourism in town and have to cross the borders(Brazil and Argentina) all the time and we face problems like yours every single day, actually your case is quite simple to solutionate.

Dont's feel stupid for this because it's their fault not to tell you to go to receita federal to get your permits, how the hell could you know that you should go to 2 different places to get the permits and passport stamops, but here goes the rule, policia federal takes care of PEOPLE and receita federal is about GOODS, CARS, ETC, ok.

Also I've helped a lot of people sending their bikes from here, Foz do Iguaçu has a international airport and you can send your bike from here to USA for about 1.500 US$ and you get your bikes in Mami in 3 days, there are only a few rules we have to follow as taking the fuel and oil out, etc. I know the prices down in Buenos Aires for shipping and can tell you from here would be much faster and cheaper.

Just a recomendation, when you're riding your bikes, try to get away from federal roads, those called BR 169, BR 369, etc), I say this because the police who takes care of this roads are the "policia rodoviaria federal" and they're more likely to ask for bike permits, if you're in towns don't worry they'll never ask for your permits as the "policia militar" have no idea what a bike permit is.

So, in case you need help, just let me know ok

Good luck

Rod
Bikers Help Desk

Hi Maurice,
Just send you a PM.