El Salvador - Part 2

 There was no camping in the end. The rain continued to fall in San Salvador and motivation to sleep under canvas disappeared down the drain along with the rainwater. Friday night saw us frequenting a local bar instead. There we came across some interesting characters. First there was the lady dancing around with a beer bottle balanced on her head - much to the security guards dismay! He tried to stop her several times but the fact that he had a Mossberg (a big gun) strapped around his neck did not put her off. She actually did extremely well considering her obvious inebriated condition. I was quietly impressed, although I made the mistake of making eye contact at one point and found her dancing in front of me demanding my full attention and approval. She was gently moved on by the barman, who was now beginning to lose his patience.

El Salvador - Part 1

Most overlanders race through El Salvador and Hondures, and quite honestly, who can blame them. 

El Salvador is tiny. It's about the size of Wales and yet it has more than twice the population - currently at 6.3 million. This year (2015), it earned the ignoble status of highest murder rate in the world (not including current war zones like Syria). Compared to the UK as a whole (with a population of 64 million), you are 40% more likely to be murdered in El Salvador, 3 times more likely to have aids and chances are you would earn 80% less income. 

The highs and lows of a solo rider.

Wonderful memories from Costa Rica

Times can be tough on the road just as they can be at home. Nick Sanders wrote about 'the loneliness of the long distance biker'. Nathan Millward wrote about his 'black periods'. I have had my fair share of both and I am sure that most solo riders find themselves here at some stage or another. I think most will agree that it's no fairy tale - but it IS worth it. Its a roller coaster ride and as long as you can accept these down times as being part of the ride - well then you are half way there. It's what makes the good times special. The longer you travel, the more chance you have of experiencing them. It's not realistic to expect anything less. This is where your endurance comes in.

Turtle Rancho

Rancho Burica Turtle Project was set up 18 years ago. It's mission - To give a helping hand to the Olive Ridley Turtle...
Posted by One woman, one motorbike, one world trip on Monday, September 14, 2015

What bad roads?

Arriving at Rancho Burica

The Costa Rican Border was fairly quiet. The queues were low but the humidity was high. Staying still for longer than a few seconds, without the breeze working through my jacket was uncomfortable. I’m used to this now but with each border, rather than getting easier, I find it more and more difficult not to show my frustration with ridiculous processes. Go to window 1 - show your paperwork -  get your stamp - get sent to window 2 - get sent away as you dont have photocopy of stamp from window one! Cross busy road - find place with photocopier (despite the fact there is a perfectly good photocopier right next to the official in window 2) - go back to window 2. Now there is a big queue. Mutter under breath - wait in line and feel the drips of sweat building up and trickling down your back, neck and forehead. Get to front of queue only to be told you need insurance paperwork. Why did they not tell me this the first time around? Find insurance office - pay money - go back - wait in line - get stamp…..it goes on for about 2 hours before someone comes out and checks your bike. If you’re lucky, they just check the reg and vin. If you’re not, they take your bags apart. Patience is wearing thin. These days I feel like making suggestions on a smarter system. I don’t. I mutter occasionally, then catch myself and remember that my life could be a lot more difficult if they feel my intolerance! All I’m saying is that sometimes it’s hard to smile at red taped incompetence! There is probably a wise Dalai Lama quote for just this instance, but a fan and an ice tea would work far better. Common sense would be another option!

It’s like they WANT to make it as long-winded as possible. 

Onwards to Costa Rica

Well the good news is, I think it's my battery that's dead and not the camera. The bad news is Pentax do not distribute...
Posted by One woman, one motorbike, one world trip on Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Just nipping out for a test ride!

I'm not one for the big bike v small bike argument. We all have our reasons for riding whatever we ride. I guess the only question for me is - Has MY choice of bike served me well?