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The Americas 2013

A Motorcycle Diary
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7 January 2013

07 Jan

The Big day has arrived.

What started with a lot of trepidation associated to the unknowns of getting the bikes out of customs turned out to be a breeze. In the run up to this day, there was a lot of talk about the corruption of the Argentine customs process with a lot of “brown envelope” type negotiations taking place. These rumours couldn’t have been further from the truth. Sandra and Javier from Dakar Motos were incredible. Their costs to run this gauntlet are reasonable and Sandra got us in and out of there within a few hours. There are NO bribes or “under the table” type processes contrary to what the rumour mill has to say. Each cost is properly invoiced and receipted and the costs associated with getting the bikes out of customs are no more and no less than what one would pay anywhere in the world for an exercise of this nature.

That’s the good news. On the downside (and I suppose to be expected from a BMW), once we had uncratered, the bikes, ripped off the plastics, put the screens and mirrors on and donned our riding gear, the KTM fired up and raring to go (as she ALWAYS does) and little fatty (the BMW) let out something akin to a burp and just stood there with that blank expression that BMW designers have ingeniously managed to engineer into the GS1200!! Battery flat…courtesy of the 3 million electronic gizmos that can even tell you your sphincter pressure for when the going gets tough!! So, the guys at customs helped us out by sourcing jumpers and we managed to fire her up with the help of a forklift and rode straight to BMW Buenos Aires to replace the darned thing. Riding in 34C is bad enough, but getting to BMW and being ripped R4,350 for a battery was just adding insult to injury.

All of this aside, Enrico and I are both in high spirits about the fact that the bikes are out and we are ready to go. We are going to use tomorrow to do final packing and checks and will leave for Mar Del Plata (about 415km away) at 6:30am on Wednesday the 9th.

IMG_2762   IMG_2764

Little Fatty and the Supermodel in the crates.

IMG_2765

Sandra from Dakar Motos and Enrico

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Where most GS’s spend their life!!

 
Be a sport Many of us have the means and wherewithal to undertake the dreams we want but elect to choose otherwise, many however, do not and that is the purpose of this plea. Afrika Tikkun (http://afrikatikkun.org// ) is a South African non governmental, non profit charity organisation run by the Lubner family that in essence does just that; re-provide the possibility to dream and to create the possibility of turning those dreams into a reality.

Unlike many pleas of this nature, I am not looking for any kind of sponsorship for my trip, but I am looking for your donation, regardless of its size to Afrika Tikkun. Please pledge generously as this is a fantastic cause that will assist them to provide food, care, education, health and social services to those that are desperately in need.
3 Comments

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  1. Sandy Daniels

    January 11, 2013 at 4:52 pm

    Rui, your writing is amazing to read (and I love reading!!)
    Can just about visualise everything you describe.
    Safe travels to you and Enrico

    xxxx

     

  2. Wessels

    January 14, 2013 at 6:11 pm

    Hi Enrico ,
    Belinda and I enjoying your travels .
    Great write ups and pics.
    Ride safe and we trust the BM battery lasts at least the whole trip!
    Regards
    Wessels and Belinda

     

  3. Richard Clark

    January 19, 2013 at 9:35 am

    Hi Rui,
    After reading your first few days of your journey, I only just picked up that the references to little fatty and the supermodel were the bikes!!!
    Whoops Sorry, how silly of me.
    The KTM is way better looking and is by FAR the better bike. I am going to trade my BMW for a KTM after reading this ride report.
    Regards Rich