Hola from Santa Marta Colombia,

thought I tell you what is new on the road between Gorgetown (Guyana) and Boa Vista (Brazil).

Road conditions are very good in the dry, and that was the time I went (mid February 2004)

Gorgetown to Linden, paved. Than a good dirt road all the way to Lethem. There are now regular bus services from Lethem to Gorgetown. Lethem to Boa Vista paved. Ferries are for free. The logging company, and there is a lot of logging, charges about 1 Euro roadtoll. One police post, they only wanted to see my passport and bike import paper. Only fuel for maybe 500kms from Linden to Lethem is at Annai at the Rock View Lodge (expensive)

Leaving at Lethem was no problem, but I could not find the customs in town and left without giving the import permit back to them. Immigration is at the airstrip in Lethem.

And now the problem I had:

Again Brazil. Immigration no problem.

Customs: Refused to issue a temporary bike permit, because I had not visited the brazilian embassy in Gorgetown, and asked there for permision to take bike into Brazil. I was sent back to Gorgetown. Very unfriendly and arogant custom officer.

I did not go back to Gorgetown, I rode into Brazil without a permit and left one day later riding past the customs building in the rain into Venezuela.

Travelling the Guyanas is fun, but prepare for showing some kind of insurance paper to the customs.

Hasta pronto

Mika

------------------

Brazil has many borderposts and at every one the customs (receita federal) works differently... Some just wave you through without asking a thing, others give you more hassle than anywhere else in south america. The permit you get varies too.
Riding without a permit is not a real problem in Brazil though, as no policeofficer knows that you officialy do need one. On sundays and holidays the receita in most places doesn´t even work and you can enter without any problem as immigration also does not know you need a permit for your vehicle.. I was at the same borderpost 4 months ago and did not even see the receita as it was after 1800 h... Great country!

I passed there one month ago in the wet, rain was hidding me 5 times, not a problem at all! It is a very good mixture beetween sand and dirt! Just before Lethem you hav to watch out a little more if you hit the rain!

Georgetown to Linden paved still the same!
Gas only in Annai!
Ferry are for free, but you have to wait till a car is coming or you pay the price for a car to move on straight away!
They build a bridge in Lethem, will be ready in about a year!

Entering Brasil is no problem and no papers for the bike!
I entered Brasil 4 times and only got once papers for the bike!

Insurance is required, i just made my own one!

Watch out if you go to Suriname, nearly all countrys need a VISA there!

Appie!

Thanks Mike! Knowing that part of the road is paved and in February (maybe also March?) the unpaved part is dry dirt and sand is a great comfort. We will be going from Manausa to Georgetown, reversing the way you went. Guess the road doesn't care which direction you go.

again, thank you

joe