Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > South America
South America Topics specific to South America only.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 1 Nov 2002
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Santa Fe, NM , USA
Posts: 21
Pavement from Venezuela to Manuas?

I've heard conflicting reports about this stretch of road. I know for sure the there is blacktop from the border south to about 150 miles n. of Manuas, but I also read recently that the road is now improved all the way to Manuas. Any recent info to share?

Thanks,
NewMexEd
__________________
NewMexEd
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 2 Nov 2002
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Posts: 66
Contact Jeremy Andrews -- he rode this route north back in July. He doesn't talk about the road in the following posting, but you can always send him an email... http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tst...ews/000132.php

My understanding is that the road is paved and you can ride it even in the rainy season. We will ride from Manaus to the Venezuela border in about 3 weeks. If you want to know more, drop us an email after Nov 25th.

Suerte,
Chris & Erin Ratay

------------------
Ride safe, ride far, ride often,

Email: bmw @ ultimate journey .com (no spaces -- wrote to avoid spam mail)
Website: <A HREF="http://www.UltimateJourney.com
" TARGET=_blank>www.UltimateJourney.com
</A> 1999-2003 World Tour
__________________
Ride safe, ride far, ride often!
Chris & Erin Ratay - www.UltimateJourney.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
50 countries, 6 continents, 4 years, 2 motos, and 1 happy couple.


Work 10, Travel 2 - be inspired...
www.AdventureRealtyExperts.com

Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 3 Nov 2002
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Santa Fe, NM , USA
Posts: 21
Thanks! Maybe we can meet up in C. America this winter as I'll be heading South as you're passing north.

Ride Safe,
Edward Sullivan
a.k.a. NewMexEd
__________________
NewMexEd
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 13 Nov 2002
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 95
Yes it is paved all the way .
The road suffers from a few wash outs and potholing , more so in Brasil , so this makes it dangerous at high speed in the dark , but otherwise it is no drama .

There are some road-side restaurants on the Brasilian side beside which you may be allowed to camp at night . Some have shower blocks , ice water dispensers etc - free and very comfortable if it wasn't for the 110% humidity !!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 13 Nov 2002
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Santa Fe, NM , USA
Posts: 21
Sr. Penguino,

When were you there? Jeremy Andrews passed by there this summer and it was not paved...

Thanks,
NewMexEd
__________________
NewMexEd
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 13 Nov 2002
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Samaipata / Bolivia
Posts: 895
hi all,

we traveled from Manaus to Venezuela in August 2002 - the road is paved and very good, but there are some potholes

Mika
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 18 Nov 2002
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Posts: 66
We just arrived in Belem from Fortaleza, and that was paved -- but it might have been better if it was dirt!! The potholes were the size of small swimming pools, and generally hard to spot until you were banging your rims against them! Oh, did I mention the coffin size speed bumps through out all the villages, or the 45C heat and 90% humidity?!?! Other than that, the landscape was quite barren. But hey, at least it was paved!

Getting on some wooden boat tomorrow (Nov 18) and heading up river to Manaus. Should be hitting the above stretch of road the following Sunday/Monday.

Ed, hope to see you in C.A....

-C & E


__________________
Ride safe, ride far, ride often!
Chris & Erin Ratay - www.UltimateJourney.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
50 countries, 6 continents, 4 years, 2 motos, and 1 happy couple.


Work 10, Travel 2 - be inspired...
www.AdventureRealtyExperts.com

Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 19 Nov 2002
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 95
Sr NewMxEd,
I was there a few weeks after Jeremy , and it was paved , I assure you . It is possible to ride from manaus to caracas in 3 1/2 days - I did .

There are some small pieces of washout and damaged paving but otherwise it is OK .

Small note of advice - a document will be issued by the Venezuelan customs for your motorcycle . Make sure the date is written correctly - the officer wrote the wrong month on mine and this created problems to export the bike afterwards .

See you,
Chris
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 21 Nov 2002
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Santa Fe, NM , USA
Posts: 21
Thanks all!

It's T-minus 21 days and counting to lift off!!

NewMexEd
__________________
NewMexEd
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 4 Dec 2002
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Posts: 66
Been there, done that -- just last week! Left Manaus on Dec 25, and crossed the border to Ven on 26th. It is about 1,000km, and 99.9% paved. There are roughly 10 sections of no more than 100 meters of hard packed dirt-rock. No problem on any bike.

The problem is the very well hidden potholes -- sometimes we had to knock it down from 4th gear to 1st very quickly, just to manuever around the Huge Holes.

30km from the border, I was not watching close enough, and hit a long/deep hole. The result, no more dampening oil in the Ohlins shock, and I had to pogo-stick it all the way to Caracas.

Border crossing was fast and efficient; gas stations every 100-125km; and the first 150km of road in Venezuela is filled with spectacular mountains (Gran Sebana).

Gas in Venezuela is US$1 for 13 liters of unleaded 95, or 20 liters if leaded 91 octane.

Have a blast. If you want to see photos of our trip up river from Belem to Manaus, see www.UltimateJourney.com/Amazonas.html

Happy Holidays!

------------------
Ride safe, ride far, ride often,

Email: bmw @ ultimate journey .com (no spaces)
Website: <A HREF="http://www.UltimateJourney.com
" TARGET=_blank>www.UltimateJourney.com
</A> 1999-2003 World Tour
__________________
Ride safe, ride far, ride often!
Chris & Erin Ratay - www.UltimateJourney.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
50 countries, 6 continents, 4 years, 2 motos, and 1 happy couple.


Work 10, Travel 2 - be inspired...
www.AdventureRealtyExperts.com

Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

  • Virginia: April 24-27 2025
  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
  • Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • Switzerland: Date TBC
  • Ecuador: Date TBC
  • Romania: Date TBC
  • Austria: Sept. 11-15
  • California: September 18-21
  • France: September 19-21 2025
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:19.