Hola from Bolivia [Archive] - Kiwi Biker forums

Shewolf

2nd October 2012, 10:15

After a couple of days travel we finally got out on the bikes today - yeeha, I´m in love with a DRZ400 :love:

There´ll be a ride report over here (http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=829617) eventually - just a few piccies for now

1. Flying to La Paz and looking down at the country we´re riding through
2. Weirdness in the sky at Cochabamba
3. Yummy lunch at Cory´s and then we were falling over ourselves to get to the bikes
4. Just a short ride today to shake out bikes and riders

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ADVGD

2nd October 2012, 10:36

I had no idea you were embarking on a trip, let alone an epic one! Looking forward to all the updates, have a blast!

Rosie

2nd October 2012, 11:01

¡Buen viaje!
Looking forward to more photos :yes:

young1

2nd October 2012, 15:01

Awesome, I am looking forward to the report

Night Falcon

2nd October 2012, 16:52

hostalavista Shewolf :2thumbsup

DR Girl

5th October 2012, 21:29

AWESOME GIRL !!!!!:yes::woohoo::yes::woohoo:
Have a great riding holiday. I know it won't be easy but you are a tuff one.
Keep safe & look forward to hearing more.:yes::yes:

Crasherfromwayback

5th October 2012, 21:47

How cool! Can't wait to see/hear more! Ride safe!

Shewolf

6th October 2012, 14:27

A surreal few days of stunning landscapes, scrapes and adventure. A slight change of itinerary due to these but we're going onto Copacabana, Lake Titicaca tomorrow for 2 days still.

The Yungas Death Road was pretty cool, although the North Yungas Road is now the most dangerous road due to billowing clouds of dust and oncoming traffic in it. :shit:

Right - now that I'm suitably fortified from quesidillas and a couple of black russians, time to sort several hundred photos. :blink:

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/Shewolfnz/P1030539gskb.jpg

ducatijim

6th October 2012, 15:08

You go girl!!!:yes:

Crasherfromwayback

6th October 2012, 15:12

Choice! Honda have a new bike for you too...271166

Shewolf

6th October 2012, 16:45

here are some scenery shots...

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NordieBoy

6th October 2012, 17:52

Looks a lot like the Clarence in some of those shots.

Except the really steep ones :shit:

Padmei

6th October 2012, 18:05

Just remember music & passion are always the fashion ...

You prob aren't old enough to understand that:facepalm:

It's a Manilow thing

Shewolf

6th October 2012, 20:27

Except the really steep ones :shit:

Er no.

So what you don't want to see is bikes pulled over ahead looking down one of these right... .:shit::shit:

You think the worst....
http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/Shewolfnz/P1030465kb.jpg

Fortunately rider and bike were ok. But here's how far the bike went from the top
http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/Shewolfnz/P1030464.jpg

The rider clipped the edge of a washout too close and lost the bike under him. He fell 2 metres but the bike was about 20m down the slope. Which at times was nearly vertical.

Phew, he's ok and bloody lucky truth be told. When you mess up here you usually don't get off lightly.

So began the exercise of bringing the bike up. The support truck duly arrived (4x4 Nissan, which later had issues of it's own but thats another story) and we fashioned a long enough rope out of some strops, tie downs and whatever else we could lay our hands on.

We were still short. The three of us ladies then did the decent thing and offered over our bras for that extra length required. Did I mention the 'muscle' of the group were either ahead already, or down the bank trying to right the bike? At the top were 3 women, an older chap, the support truck driver and an asthmatic lawyer.

We were soon surrounded by locals who happened upon the scene and avidly offered to help. So with their muscle we hauled the bike and people below to the top. I say we, but someone had to video the event right :devil2:

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/Shewolfnz/P1030468kb.jpg

And yes, its a Honda...of course it ran just fine afterwards. :Punk:

Later, in a faaaairly accurate reconstruction by the rider he claimed to have ridden the batbike back up the sheer cliff face from which he plummeted to save a small kitten.

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af144/Shewolfnz/P1030502btman.jpg

The Yamaha dealer from Ashburton shall remain nameless to protect his identity :shifty:
The lawyer is still taking depositions from the event. :facepalm:
Bras were returned in nearly new condition. :clap:

bart

6th October 2012, 21:29

Nice one Shewolf. It wouldn't be an adventure without a wee bit of hardship. :laugh:

Go hard

Shewolf

6th October 2012, 23:02

I can do this for hours

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Right, must pack up and off to the Witches Market for a new broomstick and a Llama fetus to festoon the bike with...catch you on the other side of wifi

Crasherfromwayback

7th October 2012, 08:16

Loving the pics!

Woodman

7th October 2012, 08:51

Great fun, keep em coming.

Horney1

7th October 2012, 13:07

Er no.

So what you don't want to see is bikes pulled over ahead looking down one of these right... .:shit::shit:

You think the worst....

f***n awesome R. ! :yes: Keep 'em comin.

Adventures, motorcycling, beautiful interesting and new lands, nature, decent bikes AND drama. You'd be lovin it! I think you'd have many jealous KBers here!:yes:
:yes::yes::yes::yes::yes::yes:

tri boy

7th October 2012, 13:18

How much for a gram of marching powder over there?

Shewolf

7th October 2012, 14:40

How much for a gram of marching powder over there?

I tried chewing coca tonight, but I didn't have the alkaline you need to release the buzz. :facepalm: The gas stations are careful about selling petrol only to vehicles with number plates (half our bikes don't), as it's all recorded and on CCTV because of drug production. We've been able to fill up several at a time against one plate but one guy today was a right bastid and wouldn't fill the un-numbered bikes. So we used our initiative and swapped the plates over and took them back through. :rolleyes:

Speaking of illegal activities, whilst wandering the stores Robert purchased a catapult for several cents. I can't wait to follow him through customs :Police:

It kept us amused at the Gasolina above the Death Road while we waited for the support truck to arrive. It's onboard computer passed out due to the altitude. :laugh:

1. Robert and Scotty discuss technique
2. The guys tried for about half an hour. Me, took only about 4 attempts :woohoo:
3. at the top of La Cumbre, the highest we've been is 4732m
4. Shameless tagging
5. BMW suffered a bolt through the entire wheel and at last count...3 puncture repairs
6. Lunch stop at a cemetery/church

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tri boy

7th October 2012, 14:47

:Punk:
4.7000mtrs is getting up there. Best you play some socer with the locals, and skull some local wine.
That should sort out any runs or altitude sickness.:sunny:

Shewolf

7th October 2012, 15:08

Where are my manners, I haven't introduced you, in the group is

1. Scott
2. Ian and Cory (Cory owns Bolivia Bound (http://endurotours.net/))
3. John and Alison (Scotts wife)
4. Angela and Mike (all round good sorts!)
5. Bryan, Robert, Ian and John
6. Canadian John on the truck at a fuel stop
7. Giff (Brian) I ran out of attachment allowance :facepalm: but I have a good shot of Giff I'll post later

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They're a great bunch of people to get to know, we're having a lot of laughs and someone usually cocks up during the day so drinks at night have been on the culprit :laugh:

Awesome organising from Mike and Angela as usual - those two are unflappable, although I think Angela is suffering neck strain having to keep looking down banks for us! And with Cory and John tag teaming leading the rides and running support, repairs, bag cartage, translating - they are such affable and obliging guys. I think Angela is secretly dishing out patience pills!

Right enough shameless plugs, back to sorting photos. :Punk:

Shewolf

7th October 2012, 15:13

:Punk:
4.7000mtrs is getting up there. Best you play some socer with the locals, and skull some local wine.
That should sort out any runs or altitude sickness.:sunny:

We flew into La Paz and spent 4 hours there. I threw up in the van :facepalm: and again today actually, but I blame the fried trout for lunch. Delicious going down, not so much in reverse.

We went to Cochabamba and have been climbing steadily so hopefully now acclimatised as now at high altitude for most of the rest of the trip. Buzzy feeling in the fingers and toes at times. Or that could be the coca :laugh:

Horney1

7th October 2012, 15:31

We flew into La Paz and spent 4 hours there. I threw up in the van :facepalm: and again today actually, but I blame the fried trout for lunch. Delicious going down, not so much in reverse.

We went to Cochabamba and have been climbing steadily so hopefully now acclimatised as now at high altitude for most of the rest of the trip. Buzzy feeling in the fingers and toes at times. Or that could be the coca :laugh:

4.5km is a long way up! Not ... much ... oxygen ... up .... there (slower decisions etc... - guess that the reason for cocoa!!:laugh:) Geez, & I thought I was doing well getting to 2.7km

Big Col

7th October 2012, 20:34

Great stuff, keep the pictures coming.

Shewolf

7th October 2012, 22:44

1. Group shot at La Paz - in front of the presidential palace
2. Giff in front of...
3. A castle!
4. I'm moving in
5. El Castillo
6. er, whats in the ravine below

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Shewolf

8th October 2012, 13:15

1. A bit of scenary
2. Hostal Colibri, Quime. Whatever you do - spurn the multimillion hotel being built here and stay with Marko the alaskan hermit...its an experience you'll never forget.
3. The bike lockup at Quime
4. Think this needs tweaking?
5. A lunch stop
6. It gets real hot at times. Naturally I went for the Procycle upgrade :yes:

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Shewolf

8th October 2012, 13:40

Not too many pics, too busy hanging on! Vid should be good though. It was creepy and cool with heart stopping drop offs. You have to keep left on this road (the side next to the edge!) unlike the rest of Bolivia, but its always a raffle which side the oncoming traffic take - not that there's much these days :Punk:

1. Just before heading up to the Death Road we spotted this and were invited to participate
2. Political dissidents shall be chucked to their death or words to that effect
3-4 The Yungas Road, I hope the guys have shots of me here!
5. The guys wait for others to catch up, looking towards Coroico
6. Tsk tsk, a spill in front of the camera is always good TV :laugh:

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Usarka

8th October 2012, 13:50

Man I'm jealous. Is this an organised tour or a bunch of mates....?

How much for a gram of marching powder over there?
Around $10. So I've been told.....

Shewolf

8th October 2012, 14:19

Man I'm jealous. Is this an organised tour or a bunch of mates....?

hey there, this is an organised tour with Britton Adventures / Bolivia Bound.

Usarka

8th October 2012, 18:17

hey there, this is an organised tour with Britton Adventures / Bolivia Bound.

Nice cheers. I'mm a seasoned traveller but more with a backpack than a bike so have been thinking about doing a tour for something different. I look forward to a review/conclusion when you're done!

And I'm still well jealous!

Shewolf

10th October 2012, 10:37

1. Settling in at El Consulado - previously the Panamanian Consulates residence. Angela and Giff.
2. Off to market! Found some hideous things to festoon the bikes with
3. Market in La Paz
4. Lots of political demonstrations, graffiti and murals around the place
5. Found something even more hideous to festoon the bike with.
I've great plans for Barbie at the Salt Plains tomorrow :girlfight:
6. Delicious fried trout. Not so delicious several hours later :sick:

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Shewolf

10th October 2012, 10:49

We were stopped in our tracks, literally, by a parade in a small town.

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Shewolf

10th October 2012, 13:07

Lake Titicaca, Andes in the background and catching the ferry from San Pablo to San Pedro

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Shewolf

10th October 2012, 13:19

Yep, nothing to do but sleep, eat and shop. Hey, someones gotta do it :yes:

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Shewolf

10th October 2012, 13:35

When riding back from Copacabana we had to cross through El Alto, a region or neighbourhood next to La Paz. Petrol was nowhere to be found north of the city so we continued on through El Alto stopping at each Gasolina along the way.

We discovered the problem when we came across a blockade on the main drag through El Alto to La Paz stretching several kilometres. People, rocks and bonfire remains littered the main thoroughfare and bands of people and barricades were blocking the way.

Trusting in John (renamed Hone as we have two Johns) who is fluent in spanish - we left the truck to find it's own way and crossed the barricade cautiously and drove along the side of the road for about 3km. There was no overt aggression - but things were tense nontheless.

Hone queried some locals and the blockade was due to the entire neighbourhood having no water. Fair reason to block the main thoroughfare if you ask me. Hone decided to leave the main route and divert around some dusty roads as he felt we were pushing our luck. A few 4WDs also had the same idea, and eventually we came across a couple of small groups that did look a bit more agitated than we'd previously encountered.

A taxi thought better of taking them on and hightailed it back the way it came - chased by a few guys!. I was right behind Hone and he was continuing on so there was nothing for it but to twist throttle and not stop. One of the guys tried to grab my bike but I ignored him. They did manage to stop another bike and were holding onto the bars - while a few of us that got through waved the others to go around this group Hone read them their pedigree (foreign touristas that need to get to their plane....[riding dirt bikes????]) heh, well it seemed to work as we were able to move on.

But not far along another group had a digger they were digging up more of the road to prevent thoroughfare. Hone and Bryan went around one side of it and the rest of us around the other side. Bryan had a rock thrown at him and wants to get a t-shirt 'I got stoned in Bolivia'.

We eventually wound our way back to the main highway and found several kilometres of trucks lined up. Wonder how long it will go on for.

And the caption? I'm sure if I sent the video footage of 'Bikers encounter blockade' to CNN it would be twisted somehow to us running them down!

Something to tell the grandchild anyway. :yes:

Shewolf

10th October 2012, 13:45

Stunning ride through extreme landscapes today, feels like we're riding through a Western movie. We had a picnic in the desert where I found a snake in a hole, but everyone was so eager to have a look I think it burrowed further in.

Everyone has had a touch of bad tummy or heatstroke so far, Ian seen prone on the ground? This ones a hangover :laugh:

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DR Girl

12th October 2012, 22:55

Fab fotos Ronda, can wait for the vids when you get back.
A few scary moments here and there :shit: & quick decisions make for a great adventure and awesome memories.:wari::wari:
Only complaint . . . . we would like to see more pics of you girl. :yeah: What do you say fellow bikers ?

Shewolf

13th October 2012, 00:59

heh Robin will see what I can scrounge up - we're all swapping photos at the end of the trip. I'm glad of that as my DRZ has been steadily ailing and only starts with a bump now so I've been unable to stop willy nilly and take photos other than at rest stops.

Yesterday riding from Uyuni to Tupiza was the best scenery so far, and I couldn't stop anywhere to take photos but could only ride through dumbfounded (with my vid camera going though!).

It's a desert of rainbow colours and moonscapes - hopefully the footage portrays how incredible it is.

Here's a few pics from the Salt Plains...

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ajturbo

13th October 2012, 06:58

Woo hoo..!!!!

Shewolf

13th October 2012, 12:22

Me, Bryan, Ian and Giff went for a 3 hour trek up into the canyons, it was hot and we expected varmits to descend the hills at any moment.

We'd hoped to have a day trip to San Vicente where Butch and Sundance apparently met their demise, but for a 3 hour trip to get there to visit a dusty shack we decided on watching the movie tonight instead.

When I got back from the ride a nice surprise in the form of a Honda pony awaited me. Yay no more bump starts and it goes like a pocket rocket :banana:

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Night Falcon

13th October 2012, 17:38

way cool trip :clap:

DR Girl

14th October 2012, 13:04

Thanks, Barbie & Action Man pics a hoot. Great write ups :2thumbsup

Maybe when you are back, recovered & ready to put your leg over a bike again you could head down to the Bay for a long weekend & join us HB Riders for a ride. Love to have you & hear more about your travels.
Accommodation with me.:drinknsin. Extended an invite on the MMMMM to Nic also to come ride with us :grouphug:

Shewolf

14th October 2012, 21:05

Maybe when you are back, recovered & ready to put your leg over a bike again you could head down to the Bay for a long weekend & join us HB Riders for a ride. Love to have you & hear more about your travels.
Accommodation with me.:drinknsin. Extended an invite on the MMMMM to Nic also to come ride with us :grouphug:

Cool! Havent done a load of gravel riding down there and overdue for a visit to my bro. Yep I'm sure I can pick up Nic on the way through and theres another lady coming to India with us who'd love a weekend down there :headbang:

Shumba

14th October 2012, 21:15

Good to see you havin fun, kep the pics comin

Shewolf

14th October 2012, 21:59

Riding into the highest mining city in the world 4060m we dumped the bikes in the hotel - literally - before heading to the Royal Mint for a tour.

1. Cerro Rica dominates the town and once produced enough silver to underwrite the spanish economy for over two centuries, making Potosi the wealthiest city in latin america.
2. Never ridden into a hotel before!
3-5 the Royal Mint Museum

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Shewolf

16th October 2012, 00:27

Lovely city, splendid in white and terracotta tiled roofs, wish we could stay an extra day to explore here.

1. Riding to Sucre
2. The policia pulled over the group for not wearing the helmets around the corner from the hotel to the lockup.
3. More old doors
4. At the Grande Hotel, Che Guavera slept here
5. Revolutionary plotting over breakfast
6. Hone and Cory tuck into a Macho Pique, basically chips topped with meat and garnished with meat. Sadly we farewell Hone today who is off to Canada, he's been a great member of the support crew.

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DR Girl

16th October 2012, 15:02

Cool! Havent done a load of gravel riding down there and overdue for a visit to my bro. Yep I'm sure I can pick up Nic on the way through and theres another lady coming to India with us who'd love a weekend down there :headbang:

That would be great :2thumbsup :first::2thumbsup

NordieBoy

16th October 2012, 15:19

Lovely city, splendid in white and terracotta tiled roofs, wish we could stay an extra day to explore here.

Awww, sweet...

Shewolf

17th October 2012, 13:36

Second to last riding day proved eventful from Sucre to Mizque

1. Dinosaur tracks have been excavated in a hillside (...or tourist gotcha?)
2. Rain in the night made for interesting river crossings
3. Barbie and GI Joe were caught in a compromising position
4. So we blew them up, as you do
5-6 We came across 3 lads on a scooter that had just spat them onto the gravel. Looks like it had thrown a chain and with no helmets or protective gear you can imagine the gravel rash. The rider who was about 14 was worst affected and had a lot of injuries, the other two boys who could only have been 6-7 were more fortunate. We cleaned and patched them up as best we could and a passing truck took them and their sorry scooter into town.

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Shewolf

19th October 2012, 15:28

A few pics from our whistle-stop tour of the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu.

Driving through the Sacred Valley we had a couple of stop offs on the way to Ollantaytambo Inca Fortress.

1. This fortification served as in immigration point to keep the riff raff from the Amazon out of Cuzco
2. Vicuna, prized for it's soft wool and can only be caught in the wild and shorn about every 3 years
3-4 Feeding the local tamelife
5. Weaving display
6. Spuds, they like spuds

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Shewolf

19th October 2012, 15:46

A dramatic Inca fortress with the town below inhabited for 700 years.

While we were climbing a condor soared overhead, unseen in these parts for 12 years!

Nice of Peru to go all out for the Kiwis :Punk:

1. The Urubamba River
2. Trying to blend in with the locals
3. Inca home decorating
4-6 Ollantaytambo Fortress

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DR Girl

20th October 2012, 22:07

Just loving your photo's & travel log :clap:
When does your journey finish?

Shewolf

21st October 2012, 10:22

Just loving your photo's & travel log :clap:
When does your journey finish?

on the way back now, 2 flights down 1x13 hour one to go :woohoo:

Hope the weather picks up - I need to take a bike for a vroom!

Shewolf

23rd October 2012, 05:04

Back in the land of the living - 3 hours into the 13 hr flight food poisoning struck and wiped me out for a couple of days.

Heres a few pics from Machu Picchu which was all I'd hoped for and a biggie on my bucket list :banana:

First pic is km82, starting point of the Inca Trail. 4 day trek to the site looks awesome, lots of old folks getting off the train to do it. How hard can it be?

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Now to edit the ton of footage :drool:

DR Girl

23rd October 2012, 08:11

Welcome back Ronda :wari:
You poor thing, must have been awful on the plane :puke: :facepalm: :(

Night Falcon

23rd October 2012, 09:42

thanks for sharing the pics & stories Shewolf :clap: food poisoning on a long haul fight must be the pits!

Waipukbiker

24th October 2012, 05:32

Thanks for an awesome thread, thats one trip you wont forget in a hurry. Hope to see you down in the Bay some time.

Shewolf

26th October 2012, 08:08

I've started to update the thread over here (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=829617), here's a bit of vid...

http://youtu.be/h6zWaBmckP8

DR Girl

26th October 2012, 16:11

:2thumbsup:2thumbsup:clap::clap::clap:

GSers

26th October 2012, 18:47

Bl--dy Awesome well done that lady. :2thumbsup:2thumbsup
GSers

Shewolf

27th October 2012, 07:55

http://youtu.be/4GNZOAHoOZ4

Shewolf

30th October 2012, 22:57

Here's some photos from sightseeing we did at the Santa Teresa Convent and Cristo de la Concordia

http://youtu.be/Rvw71BUnnOc

and a bit of vid of a short loop on the first day...

http://youtu.be/Hq9pFehMNpw

Shewolf

1st November 2012, 06:40

http://youtu.be/Cdy4CJPS_Fw

Crasherfromwayback

1st November 2012, 14:27

What an awesome thread. I've been loving it!

Shewolf

4th November 2012, 08:05

a bit of vid and some footage of the aftermath of the bike-and-rider-down-hill incident

http://youtu.be/USYfWn6PQ9g

Shewolf

4th November 2012, 17:49

A compilation of some of the faces we encountered, with a few shots from Alison and Ian as well

http://youtu.be/f4jKRvezm3U

Hinny

5th November 2012, 00:56

Impressive photos.

Steelie

5th November 2012, 05:36

Damit, you make me late for work with your cool videos

Shewolf

10th November 2012, 14:48

A bit of vid from the Yungas..

http://youtu.be/c2QG52jUoZQ

Shewolf

11th November 2012, 06:40

Spooky possum

http://youtu.be/sJim2_b9pS0

Horney1

11th November 2012, 09:11

Spooky possum

Great footage & cool edits R! :) went well with my lazy Sunday coffee! What was the coffee there like? Must have had some decent cups there, eh

What do you use to wipe the lens? Leather? Or did you have a dedicated cloth?

Shewolf

11th November 2012, 18:50

Great footage & cool edits R! :) went well with my lazy Sunday coffee! What was the coffee there like? Must have had some decent cups there, eh

What do you use to wipe the lens? Leather? Or did you have a dedicated cloth?

Hey Chris...can't comment on the coffee as I only drink instant, if at all! In the bigger cities there were coffee opportunities - so the others didn't miss out.

I use the waterproof case all the time due to dust - it's easier just to swipe the front with my glove and saves the lens. Also keeps the wind noise down but sadly, also the bike sound.

Horney1

11th November 2012, 22:28

Hey Chris...can't comment on the coffee as I only drink instant, if at all! In the bigger cities there were coffee opportunities - so the others didn't miss out.

I use the waterproof case all the time due to dust - it's easier just to swipe the front with my glove and saves the lens. Also keeps the wind noise down but sadly, also the bike sound.

To decrease the wind noise & increase exhaust note volume I've used a mic on a wire down my back. I works great! Two problems though: having a wire attached to helmet &can't use with w/proof case. The mic is an old one I got for my first mobile phone.