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Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road Recent News, political or military events, which may affect trip plans or routes. Personal and vehicle security, tips and questions.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

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


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 3 Dec 2006
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Exclamation un-expected danger
This morning I toke the bike for a ride.... so I picked up my helmet, took the gloves out of it and (luckily) glanced in it just before I wanted to put it on my head.
Inside was a small (5 cm) scorpion. Not deadly, you don,t even get sick from it... but when it stings it hurts like hell for about 15 minutes, then it goes numb.

Now imagine what would hapen if you ride 100 km/hour and the little guy decides to sting you? I think now the sting could be lethal.

We all know to shake out your shoes (or boots), jacket, pants.... but also keep your helmet in a "insekt safe" place (how about a musquito-mesh bag with a zipper).
Since my helmet has many small air-vents (shubert) I still did not recover the little bastard.... (I know he is still in there somewhere)

Maarten
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Old 3 Dec 2006
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Smoke...
You could smoke the little b***** out. Then you'll be sure.
You could use one of the mosquito coil thingys. Keep the visor closed, vents open
Last edited by a1arn; 3 Dec 2006 at 16:35.
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  #3  
Old 3 Dec 2006
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Yeah, or drown it. How about throwing your helmet in the freezer? That should get it!
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  #4  
Old 3 Dec 2006
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Not sure if freezing wiil work i`m pretty sure they can survive minus temperatures. Try putting helmet in a cardboard box and seal up with tape then spray inside of box with with fly spray before folding top of box, this should keep the spray mist inside for long enough to kill the scorpion. The thought of one of those as a traveling companion is quite scary ! Remember to give the helmet a good airing before you ware it again.........marty
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Old 3 Dec 2006
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Use bug spray & it'll probably die hidden away in one of the vents just so you DONT know its actually dead.....a little paranoia goes a long way.

Put your helmet in a bucket of water and put the bucket inside a cardboard box. That way when it decides to stop holding its breath and escapes you'll know (ie: in the box but not in the helmet).

Or....you could take some ideas from the 'cockroach in my helmet thread' - luring it out with a girlie scorpion dressed in something small & slinky ;-)
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Old 3 Dec 2006
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Scorpions are purported to commit suicide so if you make conditions really bad for it, it might take its own life…

On the other hand, dead bees can still sting as the venom remains active for some time. It’s bound to be much worse with a scorpion so you’d better coax it out with that cockroach in a scorpion dress…
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Old 3 Dec 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephano
Scorpions are purported to commit suicide so if you make conditions really bad for it, it might take its own life…
Try singing to it, or maybe read it some of that poetry you think up while riding - it'll kill itself in no time ;-)

(sorry Maarten - only kidding)
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  #8  
Old 3 Dec 2006
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Do you really want to put your crash hat in a bucket of water ? this could cause damage to the helmet internals,glues etc, and you still dont know it`s dead, and if you use smoke to get it out your helmet will reek of smoke for ever more. I quite like the roach in a girlie scorpian dress idea though ! you could place the helmet in some sort of container that the scorpion canot climb, like glass,a fish tank for example, and suspend it so that when the scorpion needs to feed it will exit the helmet but not be able to climb back in to the helmet, a bit like a spider in your bath tub. That way you know for sure the little f***er is out. Could take a while though.
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Old 4 Dec 2006
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Smile my poetry did the job.
I decided to attack from two side's. It's a clasical battle-move... (and if it's not, it should be).

I put the helmet in a large bucket with water... and then started to read poetry.
First a moth came out one of the vents... but I think he liked the poetry... he settled down on the visor.
After I persuaded him to leave with a sharp knife (it was for the scorpion) I continued to read my poetry.
Just when I was sure there was no sign of life in there anymore..... the little bastard came crawling out.... it had tears in it's little eyes (and earplugs).
Again i used the knife... this time to give swimming lessons.

Now I am drying the helmet in the sun.... I put up a sign "no squaters"

I also found a solution for the future..... the little net my wife uses to wash her bra and panty's etc in the washing machine..... it's made of fine mesh and has a zipper......
And it even smeels nice

Thanks for the advice.

Maarten
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Old 4 Dec 2006
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Nice move! BTW: For those in the know, Vogon poetry is supposed to be lethal...
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Old 4 Dec 2006
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Talking don't loose your towel !
And if the universe was filled with ping-pong balls..... there would be no more space for us.... and for our digital watch.
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Old 4 Dec 2006
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Micheal Jackon?
If your helmet has speakers, try bombarding it with an old "Micheal Jackson" tune. Just before he goes mad he will flee the helmet in search of the "off" button. Then you can squash him with a "Glitter Glove". Remember to wear earplugs so you don't go mad before he does.
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Old 5 Dec 2006
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Exclamation Don't forget to check your..................
When I woke up in the morning I too found a lethal enemy but not in my helmet, it was in one of my pockets of my pants.....It was the infamous" black naranya", one of the most venomous spiders in the world....so always check your pockets as well.
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Old 5 Dec 2006
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Not quite the same...

but I was in Bahir dar in Ethiopia, camping. LEft my glovres in the helmet in the tent vestibule... Went on a lovely cruise on the lake, chilled for 2 days.

When I went to pick up the helmet, a next of ternites had moved in. Into the helmet, gloves (right into the fingers). It was a pain to get rid of them as there was mud everywhere and they really seemed to like those fingers...
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  #15  
Old 5 Dec 2006
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Talking
Well, I woke up one morning - and I felt my blues was gone...
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