This is an extract from an email I received when I filled out the online booking form for the Independence,

"Sorry to inform you that The Independence is currently out of bussiness, And*I've been doing the researh and it seems that the captain port in Cartagena have prohibited to yacthies to trasnport bikes, But I can suggest to you send it by container if you have more bikers or even people traveling in cars it will be sharing price for it"

The rest of the email contains names of others looking to ship and a contact email. I can bounce it on to anyone that wants it.

I'm in Kundur hostel just north of Pasto and heading Bogota direction in the next few days. If anyone hears of any yachts willing to take a bike please let me know!

No guarantees, warranties written or implied

San Blas Ferry - Home, Portobelo, Cartagena, San Blas, Panama, Columbien

Just cross posting from another site.


David

Interesting! Very expensive.

Thanks Grant. At the time of my last post I'd seen that and had already sent an email to Veronica Mosquera, the contact he listed in that report. I'm pleased to say she has just now gotten back to me.

So.. for anyone else interested in flying a bike from Panama City to Bogota, I was quoted $USD1250 (cash), plus a $190 customs handling fee (also cash), which brings the total to just shy of $1500. Plus you have to fly yourself. She provided a link to a Colombia-based airline that has reasonable flights (one way at $158).. so.. $1600, not including any extra unanticipated/hidden sh*t. This is via LynCargo.

Regarding the June 15 ferry... I emailed them a few days ago and haven't heard back. If I find out anything specific I'll post it here.

Heather

PS. I'm in Costa Rica near the Sixaola border. Plan on crossing into Panama tomorrow. If anyone is in Panama and would be interested in meeting up, let me know!

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Great Blog Heather!
What's the story with the Needle point of Motorcycle parts?

Heather I arrived in Panama today with viva colombia. US$167 Bogota to Panama. Viva use the airport on the opposite side to tocumen international where your bike will fly from.

My bike is due tomorrow via lyncargo/cargopack. I was intending to write up a shipping report once I have it. US$1450.

For anyone coming the way I did, viva Colombia were reluctant to let me board in Colombia without proof of an onward air ticket but eventually let me board when I produced and they photographed my airways bill and colombian aduana exit.

Was beautiful looking down on the Darien but I wouldn't have minded sailing past it either!

Tadhg

At these prices, Africa is once again looking pretty darn good!

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oh boy.. that's a bit of a long story. the shortened version is that the mc parts are like human body parts, metaphorically speaking.. given that human and bike are one on the road, if you will. the text on each piece describes things I've seen or felt while traveling. so when I leave these things in the landscape, I'm literally leaving pieces of myself behind.

for anyone who wants to know what in god's name I'm talking about, it's best described in this video which I used in a crowdfunding campaign back in the late winter to fund my trip/project:

Very original idea, fascinating art work. Hope you get a chance to hook up and ride a bit with friends a while .. you may go insane riding alone for so long ... all those thoughts banging round in your head!

You'll love the embroidery skills of the Men and Women in Mexico, Guatemala, Bolivia and Peru'. I spent a few years in Guatemala, got to know the work a bit. Incredible weaving skills. (as you've no doubt seen by now as you're in Costa Rica) More to come further South.

You're bike looks very well kept for having over 25K on it. It reminds me of Lois (On The Loose) and her poor dysfunctional and neglected Serow. (yours being a Jewel by comparison)

I'm sure you're having better luck than poor Lois did as well.
Safe riding! Hope you can find a way across the Darien.

* with your little bike you may be able hitch a lift in a "Launcha".

Several bikers have done it. You sort of hitch from island to island on Launchas. No set schedules, pretty uncertain, can take a while. But plenty of small boats out there looking for paying cargo/passengers. Cash Talks.

!Que le via muy bien!

Thanks mollydog,

That method has been suggested to me by others, and believe me, I've thought about it. But if Colombia is now giving the sailboats such a hard time with importing bikes, I'm not sure how I'd pull that part off in such a scenario, especially with my limited Spanish. So, I will likely pony up the cash to fly it and just camp a lot more on the way down.

And yeah.. it gets lonely. Was going to meet up with a friend at some point down the line, but that's not panning out. I'm sure I'll find others to spend time with along the way. Riding alone has its advantages anyway.. no "chaperones"

Cheers
Heather

Tadhg has posted his air shipping story in the HU shipping database at:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/shi...anama-may-2015

Thanks Tadhg!

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Hey folks.. good news.

I managed to get through to Girag today. I was under the impression from the LynCargo folks that they were no longer flying bikes. But this morning Girag emailed me a quote for $985 ($900 + $85 "dangerous goods" handling fee).. which is, um, quite a bit cheaper than $1450.

They've got a flight leaving from Panama to Bogota this Saturday, so - assuming all goes well - I'll do a ship report here next week with the info.

... HELL yes ....

Heather

Glad to hear that everything's as it should be, all reports to the contrary notwithstanding.

Heather, I'm not sure whether you've read any of the old reports about how to do this. Basically, you ride around the airport to the old freight section--couple of miles circling the field clockwise from the passenger terminal area, asking for directions if you feel uncertain. Bring cash for the full amount. Bring a supply of patience, and just muddle along until the deed is done. It's a lot like crossing Central American borders, except more so.

They will probably tell you you don't need to worry about the aduana. Don't believe them. There's a little aduana shack on the access to the cargo area of the airport. Go there, and do whatever it takes to check the bike out of the country. The aduana people might tell you you don't need to do anything, just as the Girag people did. Don't believe them, either. You'll be glad to have it done if you ever come back--which you might, whether or not it's in the plans.

Take photos of the bike before turning it over. Don't leave valuables with the bike. Think about removing mirrors or other vulnerable bits, but don't obsess. Etc. etc. etc. Be philosophical if stuff gets bent or broken. You'll be reunited with your bike on another continent before you know it.

Last piece of advice: try to get a window seat on the plane. Worth it.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Well, my dear virtual friends..

I have some news I think you guys will find interesting.

Quite literally within 20 minutes of confirming my plans to fly my bike to Bogota I got word from the owner of Mamallena Hostel here in Panama City (who knows many of the sailboat captains and whose staff coordinates San Blas sailing trips) that the captain of the Wildcard - a 60-footer that used to take bikes fairly regularly - has agreed to take my bike on a voyage to Colombia scheduled for June 18.

I have not been able to figure out why so many boats have stopped carrying bikes.. so many mixed messages.. but hell.. I think this may be good news for all of us... if of course this works out! Fingers crossed I don't get sent back the way I came once I get to Cartagena..



I will of course keep you all posted. xx

Heather

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I know a Japanese guy who just used Girag recently for $902. Not sure if that included any extra fees. Lower price might be due to the fact he is on a 250 cc bike, however. (Just a wee bit lighter than something like a 1200 GS )

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