Riding partner USA to TDF, 2008
 

Hey riders,
I'm planning a TDF ride from California in 2008. I have a trusty KLR650 and I'm looking for a riding partner for some or all of the trip. I hope to meet up with fellow HU members along the way. I have a lot of contacts in latin america from companies I do business with. I plan on riding at least 6 months and chilling out for another 6. Reply to this thread if your interested.

Oh yeah, I have a place to stay in San Diego for as long as we need to get the bikes prepared and to get the logistics solved.

Mike Callahan
Burlington, Vermont

When do you plan to start for TDF ??

Hey Z,
I'm thinking sometime next summer. Are you interested in a similar trip? What are you riding?

Mike

Hey Mike,

I am riding an R 1200GSA and I'll be going on a Eurotrip with my buddies to Nordkapp this summer.

Hopefully all goes smooth and by the end of September I'll be shipping my bike to Mexico City or LA, and from there to TDF.

Z :mchappy::mchappy::mchappy: Drive safe and happy

P.S.: Warming up to hit the trails up there?? Can't wait

Hey Z,
I'm in comunication with Nickthedesigner and Peer about this trip also, if you want to ship to LA, let me now. I can be of assistance I'm sure. See you on the road.

Mike

Hi Mike,
Maybe see you on the road, Debra and I plan to ride from Pudhoe Bay to TDF 2008. Should kick off mid May from Toronto, still making plans.

Steve

Hi mike !

I prepare similar trip from the end of july to ...(the time it will take) but I have a compagny that i need to be back for the snow season (need to be back around christmas) , I live in Québec city (not far from you I think). If I can, I want to spend few week in guatamala to ameliorate my spanish.

Do you have similar planing ?

(sorry my english isn't perfect , yes I'm a french Canadian)

you can write me; beaumontfrancois@hotmail.com

FranK

Hey Mike -

I'm planning on striking out from San Francisco in March. My understanding is that it will be raining in Central America for May through Sept. I live in NY and will be shipping my bike out - riding through CA as a shake-down leg.

I'm planning on spending 6 months touring through Central and South America, and may keep going after that. I'll be riding a new Vstrom. I have no connections but some experience - I travelled through Central America in the 90s with a friend in 93, and an 82 Yamaha Seca. Also planning on spending 2-4 weeks in a Spanish immersion program along the way, maybe Guatemala or Quito.

I'd love some company.

Update
 

Hey all -

After reading some posts and doing a little re-plannning, I've decided to reschedule my trip to start south in Oct/Nov 2008 to hit TDF in Jan/Feb. I'd like to hear from anyone with similar plans.

Andy

Hey Andy

I am going to fly my bike to LA or Mexico probably the end of September and then ride my way to TDF.
Until what stage of planning you are??

Drive Safe and Happy :mchappy::mchappy::mchappy:

Z

Z -

That could work! I'm planning about the same. The only catch is that it's rainy season in Central America through October, so may be better to spend October in Mexico, Nov in Central America, then Dec/Jan/Feb riding to TDF.

Also I'm planning on riding from NY to Cali cross the US in Aug/Sept.

Looks like you're also in New York?

Andy

Gone for two weeks
 

Hey Andy, Frank and Z,
It looks like we are all thinking that Sep/Oct looks like the best time to set out. That will give us some good time in California and Mexico to work out the bugs. I'm not opposed to riding in a group of three, any more than that, it would be hard to get decisions made. I also want to take a spanish refresher, I speak understandable spanish now, but I can always use a tune up. Nic. or Guat. would work for me.

I'm going to Peru next week for some R & R on the Amazon for two weeks. If you get a chance, check out Iquitos Peru, very cool place to chill. I will be in touch with all of you when I return. I would like to maybe chat with you off line, good idea to get to know someone you'll be riding with south of the border.

Andy, what part of NY are you, I'm in Burlington Vermont, perhaps not to far from you.

Frank, I know Montreal well as I only live 1:30 from there, maybe it will be possible to set up a meeting over the winter.

Z, where are you located??

If you folks are all planning the same trip as me, the I can only assume that you all must be in the same mindset. This is a big deal, it requires some planning and a lot of trust. I would feel comfortable, if you are serious, that we try to meet over the winter and see about starting some solid plans. I'm pretty good with logstics and trip planning as I travel extensively for work. My email is mcallahan@ttiglobal.com. Think about this and get back to me...Talk to you all soon.

Steve, we'll see you and Debra on the road.

I live in Astoria, NY and by the end of May i will finish my thesis, and eventually completing all my studies here in the US, having an incredible amount of time to plan for the US to TDF trip. :clap::clap:

I will travel with my buddies to Nordkapp from Athens starting August 01 until mid September, back to Athens, prep my bike, probability of riding to Italy for the airplane, and off to LA. :mchappy:

Drive happy and safe

Z

Hi Mike & Co.

I'm on board for this! I'm 80% prepped to go now, and have been doing some route planning. I'm also inerested in doing a Spanish immersion course along the way. I live in Brooklyn, NY, but would be interested in meeting.

This is a big deal to me, and honestly if things go well, I may keep going - Africa, India, Southeast Asia....

Talk to y'all soon.

Andy

Hi All,

Read your discussion. I'm looking to do a similar trip. I plan on heading South from California starting sometime between March and May 2008. I want to get at least as far as Panama before I have to head back to the US (need to be back by August/Sept). I will be taking a Spanish course somewhere along the way. Will ride a KLR650. I'm 27, like outdoor stuff (beaches, mountains etc) and not opposed to knocking back a few beers from time to time.

Let me know if my timing would work with any of you guys. Otherwise, see ya on the road!

-Clutch

Try it again
 

In the fall of 2006 I made it to Panama. It took 19 days from Missouri (4200 miles) That was too quick for me. I was worn out mentally and physically. We were in CA in early Nov. and it was still quite rainy which made for treacherous riding in the mountains a number of time. Of course thats part of the adventure. I would like to try again in 2008. This time I would leave closer to the end of October and take about 30-35 days to get to Panama. I'm not a camper but there were pretty reasonable hotels along the way. For those that enjoy reading blogs of other travelers my web-site (journal 6) is logging e-mails from Ben Holland, an Aussie, that bought my KLR and is now in Peru and heading south.
Bob

Bob's Adventure

Hi there...
 

I'm doing the pan american in July 2008... if you feel like bolting on that section let me know...
would be great to hook up for some of the journey..

bike trip 2008
 

Hi Mike,

I hope you got great time in Peru !!

I agree It could be fine if we meet somewhere in Montreal. I got 2 weeks of vacation in january (from Jan 3-15... I think ) ( if we didn't have snowstorm) after that, the week-ends are good for me.

Will it be possible for you to go in Montréal on one thoses dates ?


FranK

I am 19 years old from Long Island NY. I am looking to do a trip down to TDF with a departure date in the next 18 -20 months. I was just wondering if any of those who have done the trip or are planning a trip could give some sort of breakdown on their budget. Any input would be appreciated.

budget
 

Hi Guys,

I am also doing the same trip. Heading through Mexico in October 2008 and down to TDF by Jan. I would be keen to start off from LA with others or meet up along the way.

Mike who just finished doing the trip kindly put some budget figures in this post
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...1-2#post158171

Annette

It is interesting to see this thread. While I have no questions of my personal sanity for wanting to ride to TDF, my family thinks I'm nuts. Fortunately, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

Anyway...

I'm going to leave Houston in Nov for TDF, hopefully getting there around March. Early in the trip, I plan on taking a language class in Guatemala for 3-4 weeks before continueing south so I can go beyond ordering from a menu in Spanish :cool4:.

It would be cool to split a room/flat with someone somewhere while taking a langauge class. Anyone interested?

Guatemala. . .Spanish lessons
 

Antiqua is a most wonderful town. Lots of fun and spanish schools as well. I recommend one of the two hotels owned by Darryl Hicks a bike enthusiast who has "Casa Rustica" and a second hotel near by in the center of town. The second (smaller) hotel has a Spanish school adjacent to the hotel.
casarusticagt(at)hotmail.com.

Budget
 

The question of expenses is extremely hard to answer but knowing what someone actually spent and what the conditions were might be helpful. Last year myself and another fellow rode to Panama. I returned home from there and Harold continued to TDF. We choose to stay in hotels and only 5-6 times did we share a room. The following is the average expenses for one person per day. 21 days/4200 miles

Food - 12.00 (we ate pretty well)
Fuel - 10.00
Lodging - 26.00
Toll roads and borders - 9.00
Misc. - 3.00 (less if you don't get a speeding ticket)
Average Total Daily Expense - 60.00 (dollars)
We had no bike expenses

If you camp or share rooms each day lodging will obviously be much less. Border crossing charges ranged from 3.50 to 75.00 (don't ask me why the difference)
Bob
Bob's Adventure

how much are the spanish classes?

Spanish classes
 

I don't know how much the classes cost at the school by our hotel, but there are schools on line if you do a little searching. Antiqua has several schools and I suspect there is a range of prices.

ACADEMIA DE ESPAÑOL GUATEMALA, Spanish Language School Antigua Guatemala courses Education lessons classes
Ixchel Spanish School in Antigua Guatemala

Hey Annette & all -

This is pretty much my timing as well, and a couple of others' also I think. I'll be starting off with a trip across the US from NY to LA. I'm also interested in doing a language course. I've been to Antigua and it's a great town to hang out in.

Andy

Budget
 

I have a spreadsheet linked to my South America Page. It will give you an idea of some costs. South America 2006