San Francisco - Rio de Janiero

[The Big J]

Hi all,

Just wanted to start a thread I'll update periodically with our progress on The Road To Rio.

Having told people I'd stay in touch this seems a good way to do it.

Am in SF now. One of two bikes has been purchased and second to be negotiated by Tuesday. Tough call between two bikes, one brand new but with an owner who doesn't seem organised enough for me to look at the bike arousing some suspicion. Second more expensive but extremely well broken in/cared for option. Am leaning towards the latter but will be making offers tonight so we'll see.

All luggage has been ordered. Today I am ordering my riding jacket, First Gear Kilimanjaro Air for the trip, a mesh front jacket, seeming a good compromise for the tropics with the odd mountain pass.

Time is running out and I am keen to get on the road. Only delay will be getting a couple of KLR mods ordered and delivered once bike picked up. Am looking to get to Baja California and out of USA as soon as possible as everything costs more and is too easy where they speak english. As an aside, temperatures are below freezing overnight. Currently about 2-5 celcius at 9am. All these Californians are shocked, it's a record low that yesterday was about -5.

More details on the site.

Josh

[86GSXR]

Hi guys. What a great thing you're doing, totally know where you're coming from. I'm thinking of a similiar trip myself sometime and looking forward to your updates. All the very best!!!

[Freakshow]

Great to see you have started the trip and look forward to the updates, Ride safe!

[Hitcher]

Now THAT is a ride! I will be following your progress with great interest.

Ride safe.

[The Big J]

OK we are now moving at last. I have a couple of photos of the bikes up. Looking pretty good I think. I forgot to get any All Blacks stickers though - bugger!

[Ruralman]

Good to hear your on the way Josh and great you are using this site to keep us posted. Ride safe and enjoy the trip.

[xknuts]

Hey Josh, I'll be watchin your progress with interest. Stay safe!

[The Big J]

Hi everyone

We are now in Mazatlan, mainland Mexico. All going pretty well and we´ve been blown away by Carnaval. People think carnaval is all Brazil and that´s the biggest party but actually all through Latin America they have some good events.

Mazatlan is the biggest Carnaval party in Mexico so we´ve let our hair down a bit. That said after successive liver abuse I am also looking forward to moving on with the trip. Take care

Josh

[Nonbeliever]

Great part of the world. Take your time if you can and enjoy it.

[xknuts]

Hey Josh, Will you be passin through Puerta Vallarta on the West Coast of Mexico??? Always wanted to go there. A beautiful part of the country.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Hey Josh,
Great to see all is ok and you are on your way... keep us updated. Ride Safe

[The Big J]

Hey Josh, Will you be passin through Puerta Vallarta on the West Coast of Mexico??? Always wanted to go there. A beautiful part of the country.

We crossed the Sierra from about 200 kms north of Tepic which is about a day´s ride from Vallarta. if you want to google a map the state is Nayarit. Mexico is full of great beaches but I think Vallarta is well developed. We instead will head to Acapulco or Oaxaca depending on how we feel.

In Zacatecas now and all good. Just had the most amazing adventure ride I hope to write up tonight. Well out of the developed road including indigineous people and drug runners (really). The straps on my soft luggage broke so I´m having a bike day trying to get her in shape. Jon is walking around taking photos.

[The Big J]

Now in Guatemala.

Chiapas is definitely the most beautiful and amazing part of Mexico and I´m gutted we had to race through it. Amazing riding, from 500 metres above sea level to 2300 in an hour´s riding and then the same to get back down to 500. Makes your ears pop. I got the shock of my life when I scraped my toe going around those bends on the KLR.

Guatemala is crazy. The people are poorer but friendlier. The roads are good condition. The drivers are murderous.

I had about as close a call as you get coming around a blind corner (thank god not on full lean). On my side, overtaking a truck were one car, one schoolbus coloured purple, four more cars. I toot, brake, shit my pants and they just keep overtaking - they don´t give a shit. I got as far over i my lane as I could and they shot straight past. Repeated to a lesser degree 3 more times today within a 2 hour period we were on the main roads.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Now in Guatemala.

You're not in Guatemala now Dr Rupatta

[jahmin]

You guys are doing awesome!

I'd thoroughly recommend that everyone reads the articles on the website. Very well written with a lot of laughs, and a huuuge amount of awesome photos.

Keep up the good work cuz!

Ben