Victoria,BC to Buenos Aires- early 2009
 

Hi folks,

First post ever on the Hubb forum.

I am a recent returnee to motorcycling after having taken about 25 years off to raise a family and pursue a career. Over the past 12 months I have logged some wonderful miles and still feel compelled to continue. Perhaps it is a mid-life crisis as I just turned 50 in October. My wife does enjoy riding and participated in the China and Thailand and Alberta-BC tours but it sounds like she has other plans for the new year so I am casting my net to attempt to identify any like minded adventurers that may wish to join me in discovering South America, a place I have not yet been. I have no ability in Spanish and my riding skills are diminishing….therefore the reason to get going soon before they have completely deteriorated.

Riding resume over the past 12 months…

Baja – Ensenada to Cabo – Christmas 2007 – Honda 450 – 2000km
New Zealand – BMW GS1200, February 2008 edelweissbike tour, 3500 km
Victoria, BC to Phoenix Arizona and back, May 2008, BMW 650 Dakar, 7500km
BC Alberta loop – July 2008, KTM 990 Adventure, 2000km
China – Silk Road Tour – October 2008 BMW GS1200 edelweissbike tour, 3000km
Thailand –off road, November 2008 - Suzuki 400 dual sport, 1000km

I have a 2007 KTM 990Adventure that should get the job done if it does not run out of gas. Love the bike but the range is limited. It will probably need a tune-up and some new rubber before getting into Latin America but otherwise I think I am good to go. Prefer to travel as light as possible, without camping equipment and find suitable accommodation along the way.

Lofty Intentions - 800km days max. (less is more) Avoid night riding. Take a rest day every 3 or 4 days and enjoy the sites. Hoping to depart BC in January...weather permitting.

Cheers
Randy
aka Captain Adventure

Hello Randy
I rode my f650 from Calgary to Arizona in Oct. and left my bike there. I will start my Panama ride in Feb. If the dates were to match up we could ride some togeather. I speak decent Spanish and have travelled in Mexico and Guatemala with Habitat for Humanity.

Cheers
Cal

Victoria BC to Buenos Aires-early 2009
 

Hello Calvin,
I have a riding buddy who resides in Phoenix and I will be doing some arm twisting over Christmas (in Edmonton) to get him to join the tour. There is a good chance that I will be routeing thru Phoenix to pick up my buddy late January. I'll update my itinerary after Christmas as the program firms up.

Is your southern most destination Panama?

Ride safe.
Cheers
Randy

Bastards!
 

Greetings from Summerland but I hate you both!
OK - before the PC police clamp down I'm kidding of course - but I AM enviouse as hell.
Good luck!
I'm in the ame boat: no riding for 30 years and just recently back into it. No major BC/Alta trips but 7,000klm from Phoenix to Panama this past Jan and my wife and I are doing 4 weeks in Mexico two-up this coming January. If our paths cross the first round of beer is on me.
And if your plans don't gell this this time around I'm planning the same trip next fall and would love a riding partner.
Cheers

Randy

My southern most destination is indeed just Panama. I retired 1 and a half years ago and with the market the way it is I am lucky to even be going!

I worked for 6 months this year for a contractor at Mable Lake near Vernon and this is helping pay for the trip. Cruised the Okanagan lots .

Maybe next summer when I go back to the Okanagan we could meet and ride some of the good trails around Kettle valley?

Advice
 

Captain
I just re-read your post and see that you're planning on 800klm/day. I haven't done SA but from the US through to Panama 800klm is a VERY long day. When everything was taken into account: breaks, gas, getting lost, etc etc we found that 350klm - 500klm was the best we could do. And there were some tough days that were a lot less. In Nothern Mexico the roads are great if you stick to the Autopista but it's expensive and you don't see much. Stray from these however and the Topes wil really slow you down.
Once you hit CA count on at least 4 hours for each border crossing.
Just food for thought so you give yourself enough time.
Cheers

Victoria,BC to Buenos Aires- early 2009
 

Hey Randy,

I've been planning a trip for a while too. I was planning on leaving in late January or early February however my schedule is very flexible. Pretty much as soon as I'm fed up with the central alberta winter. I'll be riding a new BMW F800 GS, a somewhat untested bike so far but I think it will do fine. I tried to put some miles on it lately but it's now -15 degrees and snowing. I had planned on driving down to Phoenix with the bike in the back of the truck and starting from there ( I have family friends there where I can park the truck). As for a turn around point, I was hoping to get to Panama but again my schedule is flexible. Like you, I speak little to no spanish at all but I have stumbled my way through parts of central america before without too much trouble (Not on a bike however). My motorcycle travelling is pretty much limited to a 1800 km or so trip around Costa Rica on a Honda 250 4 stroke and a little bit of putting around in Thailand but I've been riding motorcylces all my life (farm kid). Anyway, let me know what you think and what your plans are.

Greg Thompson

Victoria,BC - Buenos Aires - early 2009
 

I saw some new gs800s today at the bimmer dealer in Victoria. Very nice.
I'll post an itinerary early in January and let all interested parties know what my plan is.

I hope to sneak past winter down the west coast but trucking the bike to Phoenix might be the smarter way to go.

Cheers
Randy

Yah, I think sneaking down the coast could be pretty risky. Might be alright though. I may be able to arrange a place to park your vehicle if you decided to truck to Phoenix.

Hey Gents

This 51 year old has been considering a Canada-Panama trip for a while now. Timing of early 2009 could very well be good for me. Hell, I might even consider carrying on to Buenos Aires.......

My ride for the trip will be a 2007 Buell Ulysess. I'll keep an eye on this thread for further developments.

Latest....Tentative schedule is to sneak past winter down the west coast leaving Victoria,BC on or before 25 January.

I should be departing for Mexico from San Diego around 1 Feb.

Tentatively now... From there I will re-trace my previous trip down the Baja, ferry from La Paz to Mazatlan and head on down through Central America.

The Darrien Gap in Panama will prevent me from a non-stop ride south into Columbia so will need to ferry or fly my bike to Columbia from either Panama or Costa Rica.

After that it is loop down the west coast (South America) and go until the weather forces me back up the south east coast into Argentina. From there the bike needs to go to Australia or Africa. Haven’t decided yet.

Charging the dead battery today with new charger. Bought an external digital thermometer so I know when it gets close to freezing/death. lol

Cheers
Randy

Randy
Looks like I will miss you by a month! Feb 24 I will be in Tucson changing tires and last minute details. Will most likely ride south around the first of March and plan to hit the Cooper Canyon first.
The ride to Panama should take about a month after that, no real plans as far as timing. I'll keep an eye on this site for riding companions. I have 2 or so months in total.
Cal

L.A. meetup?
 

Randy,

I can't join you but if you have time I'd love to meet up when you pass through L.A. Best of luck!:thumbup1:

Looks like I'll be stuck here in Dubai on work related issue's for the next month at least.

Looks like no bike trip to Panama for me this winter

Have fun you guys

Cheers

hook up to costa rica
 

I may finally continue my interrupted journey the end of January. I made it to Colombia but had to return for a little more dough. Now should jump off in LA - San Diego about the last week of january. Wouldnt mind heading over to Big bend park in Texas though first and down thru Copper canyon to Costa Rica where I live part time. :scooter:
der Zigeuner

Hi Zigeuner53,
Weather is questionable in Washington right now. Flooding everywhere.
If all goes well I'll leave BC on or before 25 Jan.
I'll keep posting as itinerary firms up. I am also hoping to go all the way south to Tierra del Fuego.

Cheers
Randy

Schedule Update 21 Jan 2009
 

Hi folks,
Here is my latest schedule as of 21 Jan

Depart Vancouver Island 22 Jan via Ferry to Tsawassen
Vancouver Motorcycle Show 23 Jan (Tradex at Abbotsford)
Phoenix Arizona - new tires and tune-up Feb 5-10
Puerta Vallarta Mexico - Feb 16-19
San Jose Costa Rica - March 9

Anyone available for any part of this please let me know.
Hoping to be into California by 28 Jan.

Some previous ADV pics now posted at skillride.com
Let the games begin!

Cheers
Randy

Schedule Update
 

Hey Randy,

I'm meeting up with some family just north of Puerto Vallarta in Bucerias from the 19th to the 24 of February then continuing south from there. We'll have to keep in touch around that time.

Thanks,

Greg

Randy, as I always write to those passing this way, if you're passing through Yuma, AZ, let me know.

Day 1 - Alive but cold
 

The heated grips were barely adequate. Tomorrow out comes the heated vest (Widder).

I hope to post some pics of the Vancouver moto show which I will attend tomorrow unless it is snowing!

It is fricking cold at 65 mph.

I will head south with due caution knowing in my heart that a Margarita on the beach awaits me sometime in February.

Trip Progress
 

Hi folks,
I have made it to San Jose California and will depart 30 Jan for Los Angeles.
Expect to tune bike and change tires in Phoenix, Arizona next week.

Expect to depart Phoenix NLT 10 February and to arrive for a couple day visit with my son in Puerto Vallarta 16 Feb. He is on reading week form university.

Planning to do the Baja leg and ferry from La Paz to Mazatlan but could be talked into other routeing.

Let me know if this itinerary/schedule works for anyone?

Would love to have a spanish speaking KTM mechanic as a co-pilot.

Good Afternoon Randy,
Way to go getting down through the cold and wet PNW!:stormy:
We are two BC natives heading south too (Tofino and Vancouver). Our destination: the mountains and ruins in S. MX and Guat. We're two-up on an R100GS and now in the final few days of ironing out wrinkles. My hope (fingers crossed) is a Sunday departure from Reno NV (1st), and then crossing into MX first thing Wednesday morning (4th). Perhaps there is the possibility of a riding some days together... This is my first time riding south of the border, would be nice to have some friends along! :scooter::scooter:

We too have been going back and forth on routing. Thinking about saving Baja for the way home. If the high interior route is anything like the high desert here in Nevada right now, it is cold! So, we're leaning towards the coastal route, but like you, flexible. Our hope is to take about two weeks to get down to Oaxaxa and then to chill out and explore - so we have some miles to cover!!

Anyway, food for thought... Let's talk! Cheers, James

Trip Progress
 

Hey Randy,

Its looking as though I'll be arriving in Phoenix on the 7th or 8th. I'll probably spend 4 or 5 days there and then I too need to be in the Puerto Vallarta area (Bucerias) to meet up with family and girlfriend from the 17-24 of February. I'm afraid I can't help you much with the spanish skills but perhaps we'll join up on our way towards Puerto Vallarta. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Take Care

Greg

Wow..another cool thread!
 

I think I'll be leaving for Rosario, Argentina the beginning of March and would like to meet up with some riders.