ColOmbia, S. America

[greenhorn]

I've been planning a trip to the "bottom-of-the-earth", ETD Oct. 1, 2005. I like to think I'm the sort of person who is not a "cowboy", ie, not prone to taking unnecessary risk. However, it's impossible to ride the length of S.A. w/out taking some calculated risks ie, crime, weather, injury, etc. It's the kidnapping of "rich" Americans that's most disconcerting to me. I'm having problems ascertaing what the risk level is. <1% 5% 50/50 100%? The problem is that with all other risks, if (actually when, not if) they occur, there's a tomorrow. With the kidnapping, well, that's like running out of gas in an airplane after dark with your family aboard...you just cannot let that happen. Period.

Everybody seems to have differing opinions, the problem is, it's a zero sum game, you can't afford to be wrong. And I can't drive a moto the length of S.A. WITHOUT driving the length of S.A.! (If you're going to fly over Columbia, to Quito, I'm for just flying all the way, screw the bike part).

Anyway, just rambling. That's my concern though, opinions about, real information, I've concluded, is harder to assess.

Ride safe people..