Los Angeles - Rio de Janiero (coming soon)

[The Big J]

OK you motley bunch. Some of you are aware that I'm heading off overseas to go on a big bloody bike trip but I thought I'd make it common knowledge.

www.locokiwi.com

My friend Jon and I fly in early January to San Francisco. We will be buying bikes - KLRs or DRs and riding down to Rio de Janiero. It's a pretty major trip and probably the biggest thing we've done so far in our lives. You may enjoy following our journey.

I would appreciate your comments on the website. Jon has put a lot of effort into getting it well detailed so your criticism is welcome. Basically we hope to get a lot of people checking the site and if it's a more clear interesting spot, better for everyone. Also, I have got two sorts of posts, journals and articles. I intend the journal to be a paragraph of 'hello, heading to this city' whereas articles will have a bit more guts. Do you think this works? Is there any way to make it clear in the page content? Should I just merge the two?

So yeah, comment away. Things are going pretty good so far with amazing support from a group of dirt riders in San Francisco. Also if anyone is planning a major motorcycle tour I can not stress highly enough how valuable Horizons Unlimited has been. Also thanks to Toddy for his advice.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

you haven't up dated your ride home yet... anyway... stay safe on your OE

[The Big J]

yeah I've been slack with the website. I've been a bit under the weather and had to prioritise the important (get you into the USA) stuff over the important (cater to your millions of adoring fans) stuff. I wonder how the Hoff manages it...

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

(cater to your millions of adoring fans) stuff. I wonder how the Hoff manages it...

a tui moment.... yeah right...


Though I do understand about getting into the states...

[Blairos]

I wonder how the Hoff manages it...

Like this...

[car]

My friend Jon and I fly in early January to San Francisco. We will be buying bikes - KLRs or DRs and riding down to Rio de Janiero. It's a pretty major trip and probably the biggest thing we've done so far in our lives. You may enjoy following our journey.

I certainly will. Are you riding the whole way? I was under the impression that the Darien Gap was impassable to all but the seriously insane.

I *do* hope you're going to take in the PCH on the way down.

Anyway, good fortune, and good on you, hope it brings you what you want.

Chris.

[Zukin]

Hey there

I will be following your progress and look forward to your trip reports
Safe travels to you both

Cheers Scott

[The Big J]

I certainly will. Are you riding the whole way? I was under the impression that the Darien Gap was impassable to all but the seriously insane.

The Darien Gap has no road and the only trails are well worn by military/guerilla. I have read one account of someone doing this on foot but it seemed exceptionally hairy.
Generally motorcyclists fly from Panama City. I am tempted to try a boat down to Cartagena Colombia which has also been done.
cheers

[car]

Generally motorcyclists fly from Panama City. I am tempted to try a boat down to Cartagena Colombia which has also been done.
cheers

Yeah, I think Chris Scott mentions that somewhere in the AMH. One of my favourite books, that, especially when I'm laid up with a broken motorcycle or a broken me. Ah, to dream.

And then someone well-meaning bought me The Long Way Round, and my overlanding dreams were forever tainted. But that's just me.

One day...

Have fun.

[The Big J]

The Long Way Round, and my overlanding dreams were forever tainted. But that's just me.

agreed. If you want to learn how to bitch and whine your way around the world that's a good place to start.

[car]

agreed. If you want to learn how to bitch and whine your way around the world that's a good place to start.

O, me, o my! It's so darned hard having thousands of pounds worth of sponsorship at our fingertips, and a staffed office to sort out all of our visas, carnets and fixers for us!

My heart fairly bled, so it did.

Funnily enough, "bitch" and "whine" were two of the words I used. In honesty, there's probably a fair wedge of jealousy in there, that these two guys get to go and do things I'd love to do and not really think twice about the time, the energy, the cost. But I was still left thinking "spoiled bastards."

[The Big J]

yes I suppose it could've been worse as a production. I briefly comment on the website about it. Bitching and whining were present but they did do some interesting things. I guess I see it as more 'not my cup of tea' and a disappointment at the loss of what potentially could have been great film. A little hard to be balanced on a one liner.

Maybe the influence of American producers in the filming focused on the characters rather than journey and amazing experiences with people? I much preferred the Des Molloy DVD. Much more 'real'. I like stories where the protaganist isn't supposed to be a hero in everything they do, but by the journey they travel and things they learn along the way and by their attitude to persevering through what is difficult.

hmmm, I'm hijacking my own thread!

[car]

[QUOTE=The Big J;872514]Maybe the influence of American producers in the filming focused on the characters rather than journey and amazing experiences with people?

Ah. The missus threatened me with the film, but I've yet to see it. I've only read the book. I'm assuming that one or both of them wrote it, or at least dictated it, because it certainly doesn't smell of professional writer. Maybe there's a double bluff in there somewhere -- ghosted so well that it could have been written by an amateur.

I much preferred the Des Molloy DVD. Much more 'real'. I like stories where the protaganist isn't supposed to be a hero in everything they do, but by the journey they travel and things they learn along the way and by their attitude to persevering through what is difficult.

I'll have to look out for that. I still haven't read Jupiter's Travels.

hmmm, I'm hijacking my own thread!

Ach, bollocks; that's what threads are for.

I'll go one tenuous step further: I bumped into Tim Hanna last month -- he was pushing an old Norton along SH1, southbound before the turn for Geraldine. I stopped to see if I could help, and it transpired that he'd run out of petrol -- the direction he was pushing, he'd a whole day to go before the next gas station. I got him some gas, he bought me the can in return. What a pleasant chap.

There, now someone can post a picture of some boobs and we're done.

[Terminated]

My friend Jon and I fly in early January to San Francisco. We will be buying bikes - KLRs or DRs and riding down to Rio de Janiero. It's a pretty major trip and probably the biggest thing we've done so far in our lives. You may enjoy following our journey.

I would appreciate your comments on the website. Jon has put a lot of effort into getting it well detailed so your criticism is welcome.

Big J and Jon, all the very best on your journey, have saved the website and will read with interest.

I am currently reading 'Giant Steps' by Karl Bushby and his 'American odyssey from Punta Arenas to the Edge of Alaska, all on foot. His ambition is to continue over the Berring Sea through Russia and Europe back to UK by 2011.
The book is in journal format. ISBN 0 316 72958 2

Heads Up and Enjoy

[The Big J]

thanks Buck

that is the account I read of the guy through Darien Gap. I came back to buy the book (as had browsed in bookstore but it was gone and I couldn't remember the name).

Just amazing story that one if (when) he makes it.