Kategori: Div. oppdateringer før avreise

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Bolivia Travel Warning

Jeg forsøker etter beste evne å holde meg oppdatert på Travel Warning som gis ut fra offisielle steder. Så samler jeg de her på min side slik at jeg enkelt kan finne de igjen når jeg begynner å nærme meg det aktuelle landet.

Travel Warning for Bolivia var ikke kritisk men siden den bl.a. nevner en spesifikk by kan det jo være greit å i alle fall ha dette i tankene selv om tilstanden kan ha endret seg innen jeg kommer dit.

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We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Bolivia because of ongoing political and social tensions and the risk of serious crime. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times. Monitor the media and other sources about possible new security risks.
Prolonged industrial action and social conflict in the region of Potosí has resulted in road blockades and subsequent shortages of food and water. Roads to and from the city of Potosí are closed. Public transport, including tourist buses, has been disrupted. Banks are closed. Some stores are open, but only for a few hours around noon.
The political situation in Bolivia remains unpredictable. There is an ongoing risk of civil unrest, including roadblocks, violent protests and strikes. We advise you not to cross roadblocks set up by protesters.
Demonstrations, violent protests and strikes can occur at any time and may seriously affect domestic and international travel plans without notice. You should remain alert and avoid large crowds which have the potential to turn violent. Due to ongoing demonstrations, we advise you to seek local advice before travelling to or from Uyuni. See Safety and security.
Travellers who ascend to altitudes greater than 2500metres are at risk of developing altitude sickness. Altitude sickness can be life threatening and can affect anyone, including the physically fit. Many areas of Bolivia, including La Paz, Salar de Uyuni and Lake Titicaca are above 2500metres.

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Ett siste innlegg fra fra Norsk jord

Da er siste kvelden her. I morgen (onsdag) klokken 14.45 letter flyet og klokken 16.20 lokal tid lander jeg i Anchorage. Sykkelen ble sendt fra London den 7., kom frem til Mempihis den 8. og var fremme i Anchorage den 9.

John er allerede fremme i Fairbanks og etter å ha tastet litt i går kveld fikk jeg adressen hvor jeg skal møte han på torsdag kveld eller fredag.

Alle importpapirene til sykkelen er i boks, ESTA visumet, biletter etc er skrevet ut, passet er funnet frem og baggen er pakket.

Island Air
Island Air
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John er fremme i Fairbanks

Da har John unnagjort de første 4000 km og kommet frem til Fairbanks i Alaska.

John Bennett
John Bennett

Planen nå er at han skal vente der til jeg forhåpentligvis dukker opp torsdag ettermiddag eller utpå dagen på fredagen. Distansen fra Anchorage til Fairbanks er på ca 578 km men siden John har ventet der på meg i x antall dager allerede skulle jeg svært gjerne kommet dit så fort som mulig.

For tiden er temperaturen i Anchorage 14C og i Fairbanks skal temperaturen være 17C så begynnelsen av turen blir i alle fall forhåpentligvis i hyggelige temperaturer. Men turen nordover kan nok bli litt kjøligere. I Coldfoot er temperaturen 9C mens i Prudhoe Bay er den 1C .

Det som blir det mest spennende er hvor langt snøsmeltingen har nådd og hvordan natt temperaturen er. Hvis tamperaturen om natten fortsatt er lav og i tillegg telen sitter dypt i bakken kan veiene fortsatt være glatte, men de problemene får vi ta når vi kommer så langt 🙂

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John er i Teslin YT Canada

I følge kartet er John nå i Teslin i Yukon, Canada som ligger langs Alaska Highway.  Teslin er en liten plass med ca. 450 innbyggere og har i følge Teslin sin hjemmeside både informasjons kiosk, utsiktspost,  skateboard park og ett par andre ting. Helt sikkert en kjempekoselig liten plass.

I følge Google map har han nå bare 1122 km igjen til Fairbanks, Alaska hvor jeg egentlig skal møte han så jeg får vell ta kontakt med han å høre hva planene hans er. Om han venter eller begynner på turen videre nordover uten meg.

John Bennett
John Bennett

 

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Ny Travel Warnings for Mexico

Som ett ledd i forberedelsene til turen forsøker jeg også å holde meg litt oppdatert om hva som skjer i de forskjellige landene. Travel State Gov. side sider oppdateres med jevne mellomrom å 13. april 2015 sendte de ut en ny melding om situasjonen i Mexico. Mesteparten av volden skjer selvfølgelig mellom rivaliserende gjenger og mellom gjenger og diverse politi grupper, men noen ganger skjer det selvfølgelig at det går utover uskyldige. F.eks. ble 100 personer fra USA drept i Mexico i løpet av 2014.

Men ran og kidnapping er det største problemet. I 2012 trodde de det hadde vært over 105.000 kidnappinger og tallene er økende. Minibanker/ATM er de mest utsatte stedene og i tillegg bør man passe seg for veisperringer. Ser man en veisperring og klarer å snu i tide tror jeg det kan være vært ett forsøk.

Men ellers så er det ett flott land med masse historie og kultur pluss masse skikkelige mennesker også. Å det er jo disse personene jeg ønsker å treffe. Noen av denne kulturen så jeg i 2011, men håper at denne turen gir meg tid til å se enda mer.

Man kan jo også lure på hvorfor jeg skriver om slike ting her på bloggen, men for meg er bloggen også ett sted hvor jeg samler informasjon slik at jeg under veis kan besøke min egen blogg, finne linker og informasjon slik at jeg kan planlegge de neste dagene/ukene.

 

The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens about the risk of traveling to certain places in Mexico due to threats to safety and security posed by organized criminal groups in the country. U.S. citizens have been the victims of violent crimes, such as kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery by organized criminal groups in various Mexican states. For information on security conditions in specific regions of Mexico, which can vary, travelers should reference the state-by-state assessments further below. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning for Mexico, issued December 24, 2014, to update information about the security situation and to advise the public of additional restrictions on the travel of U.S. government (USG) personnel.

General Conditions: 

Millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year for study, tourism, and business, including more than 150,000 who cross the border every day. The Mexican government dedicates substantial resources to protect visitors to major tourist destinations, and there is no evidence that organized criminal groups have targeted U.S. visitors or residents based on their nationality. Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime that are reported in the border region or in areas along major trafficking routes.

Nevertheless, U.S. travelers should be aware that the Mexican government has been engaged in an extensive effort to counter organized criminal groups that engage in narcotics trafficking and other unlawful activities throughout Mexico. Crime and violence are serious problems and can occur anywhere, and U.S. citizens have fallen victim to criminal activity, including homicide, gun battles, kidnapping, carjacking, and highway robbery. While many of those killed in organized crime-related violence have themselves been involved in criminal activity, innocent persons have also been killed. The number of U.S. citizens reported to the Department of State as murdered in Mexico was 81 in 2013 and 100 in 2014.

Gun battles between rival criminal organizations or with Mexican authorities have taken place in towns and cities in many parts of Mexico, and have occurred in broad daylight on streets and in other public venues, such as restaurants and clubs. During some of these incidents, U.S. citizens have been temporarily prevented from leaving the area. Criminal organizations have used stolen cars, buses, and trucks to create roadblocks on major thoroughfares, preventing the military and police from responding to criminal activity. The location and timing of future armed engagements is unpredictable. We recommend that you defer travel to the areas specifically identified in this Travel Warning and exercise extreme caution when traveling throughout the other areas for which advisories are in effect.

The number of kidnappings throughout Mexico is of particular concern and appears to be on the rise. According to statistics published by the Mexican Secretaria de Gobernacion (SEGOB), in 2013 kidnappings nationwide increased 20 percent over the previous year. While kidnappings can occur anywhere, according to SEGOB, during this timeframe, the states with the highest numbers of kidnappings were Tamaulipas, Guerrero, Michoacán, Estado de Mexico, and Morelos. Additionally, according to a widely publicized study by the agency responsible for national statistics (INEGI, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography), Mexico suffered an estimated 105,682 kidnappings in 2012; only 1,317 were reported to the police. Police have been implicated in some of these incidents. Both local and expatriate communities have been victimized. More than 130 kidnappings of U.S. citizens were reported to the U.S. Embassy and consulates in Mexico between January and November of 2014.

U.S. citizens are encouraged to lower their personal profiles and to avoid displaying indicators of wealth such as expensive-looking jewelry, watches, or cameras. U.S. citizens are encouraged to maintain awareness of their surroundings and avoid situations in which they may be isolated or stand out as potential victims.

Kidnappings in Mexico have included traditional, «express,» and «virtual» kidnappings. Victims of traditional kidnappings are physically abducted and held captive until a ransom is paid for release. «Express» kidnappings are those in which a victim is abducted for a short time and forced to withdraw money, usually from an ATM, then released. A «virtual» kidnapping is an extortion-by-deception scheme wherein a victim is contacted by phone and convinced to isolate themselves from family and friends until a ransom is paid. The victim is coerced (by threat of violence) to remain isolated and to provide phone numbers for the victim’s family or loved ones. The victim’s family is then contacted and a ransom for the «kidnapped» extracted. Recently, some travelers to Mexico staying at hotels as guests have been targets of such «virtual» kidnapping schemes.

Of particular safety concern are casinos, sports books, or other gambling establishments and adult entertainment establishments. U.S. government personnel are specifically prohibited from patronizing these establishments in the states of Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Jalisco, Colima and Nayarit.

Carjacking and highway robbery are serious problems in many parts of the border region, and U.S. citizens have been murdered in such incidents. Most victims who complied with carjackers’ demands have reported that they were not physically harmed. Carjackers have shot at vehicles that have attempted to flee. Incidents have occurred during the day and at night, and carjackers have used a variety of techniques, including roadblocks, bumping/moving vehicles to force them to stop, and running vehicles off the road at high speeds. There are indications that criminals target newer and larger vehicles, especially dark-colored SUVs. However, even drivers of old sedans and buses coming from the United States have been targeted. While violent incidents can occur anywhere and at any time, they most frequently occur at night and on isolated roads. To reduce risk when traveling by road, we strongly urge you to travel between cities throughout Mexico only during daylight hours, to avoid isolated roads, and to use toll roads («cuotas») whenever possible.

The Mexican government has deployed federal police and military personnel throughout the country as part of its efforts to combat organized criminal groups. U.S. citizens traveling on Mexican roads and highways by car or bus may encounter government checkpoints, staffed by military or law enforcement personnel. In some places, criminal organizations have erected their own unauthorized checkpoints, at times wearing police and military uniforms, and have killed or abducted motorists who have failed to stop at them. You should cooperate at all checkpoints.

Demonstrations are common and occur in all parts of the country. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. Protesters in Mexico may block traffic on roads, including major thoroughfares, or take control of toll booths on highways. U.S. citizens are urged to avoid areas of demonstrations, and to exercise caution if in the vicinity of any protests. Travelers who encounter protestors demanding unofficial tolls are generally allowed to pass upon payment. Travelers are urged not to exit from major highways. U.S. Citizens should avoid participating in demonstrations and other activities that might be deemed political by the authorities as the Mexican Constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners; such actions may result in detention and/or deportation.

The Department imposes restrictions on U.S. government employees’ travel in Mexico. Since July 2010, USG employees are prohibited from driving on non-official travel from the U.S.-Mexico border to or from the interior of Mexico or Central America. Personal travel by motor vehicle is permitted during daylight hours on Highway 15 toll road between Hermosillo and Nogales, on Highway 45 between Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua City, and on the main roads between Palomas, Chihuahua and Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua.

U.S. government personnel and their families are prohibited from personal travel to all areas to which it is advised to «defer non-essential travel.” When travel for official purposes is essential, it is conducted with extensive security precautions. U.S. government personnel and their families are allowed to travel for personal reasons to the areas where no advisory is in effect or where the advisory is to exercise caution. While the general public is not forbidden from visiting places categorized under «defer non-essential travel,» U.S. government personnel will not be able to respond quickly to an emergency situation in those areas due to security precautions that must be taken by U.S. government personnel to travel to those areas. Travel at night is prohibited for U.S. government personnel in some states as indicated below.

For more information on road safety and crime along Mexico’s roadways, see the Department of State’s Country Specific Information.

State-by-State Assessment: 

Below is a state-by-state assessment of security conditions throughout Mexico. Travelers should be mindful that even if no advisories are in effect for a given state, crime and violence can still occur. For general information about travel and other conditions in Mexico, see our Country Specific Information.

Aguascalientes: Exercise caution when traveling to the areas of the state that border the state of Zacatecas, as criminal organization activity in that region continues.

Baja California: Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada and Mexicali are major cities/travel destinations in the state of Baja California – Exercise caution in the northern state of Baja California, particularly at night. Criminal activity along highways is a continuing security concern. According to the Baja State Secretariat for Public Security, from January to October 2014 Tijuana and Rosarito experienced increasing homicide rates compared to the same period in the previous year. While most of these homicides appeared to be targeted criminal organization assassinations, turf battles between criminal groups have resulted in violent crime in areas frequented by U.S. citizens. Shooting incidents, in which innocent bystanders have been injured, have occurred during daylight hours.

Baja California Sur: Cabo San Lucas and La Paz are major cities/travel destinations in the state of Southern Baja California – Exercise caution in the state capital of La Paz. According to the Department of Interior of Mexico, in 2013 Baja California Sur registered its highest homicide rate since 1997. Many of these homicides occurred in La Paz, where there has been an increase in organized crime-related violence.

Campeche: No advisory is in effect.

Chiapas: Palenque and San Cristobal de las Casas are major cities/travel destinations in Chiapas – No advisory is in effect.

Chihuahua: Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua City, and Copper Canyon are major cities/travel destinations in Chihuahua – Exercise caution in traveling to: the business and shopping districts in the northeast section of Ciudad Juarez and its major industrial parks, the central downtown section and major industrial parks in the city of Chihuahua, the town of Palomas, the urban area of the city of Ojinaga, and the towns of Nuevo Casas Grandes and Casas Grandes and their immediate environs. Travel to the Nuevo Casas Grandes area should be through the Palomas port of entry (POE) on U.S. Highway 11, continuing south until reaching Mexico Highway 2 west to Nuevo Casas Grandes. Travel to Ojinaga should be on the U.S. side via U.S. Highway 67 through the Presidio POE. Defer non-essential travel to other areas in the state of Chihuahua and travel between cities only on major highways and only during daylight hours. Crime and violence remain serious problems throughout the state of Chihuahua, particularly in the southern portion of the state and in the Sierra Mountains, including Copper Canyon.

Coahuila: Defer non-essential travel to the state of Coahuila except the city of Saltillo, where you should exercise caution. Violence and criminal activity along the highways are continuing security concerns, particularly along the northern border between Piedras Negras and Nuevo Laredo. The state of Coahuila continues to experience high rates of violent crime, including murder, kidnapping, and armed carjacking.

Colima: Manzanillo is a major city/travel destination in Colima – Defer non-essential travel to the areas of the state of Colima that border the state of Michoacán, including the city of Tecoman. The security situation along the Michoacán border continues to be the most unstable in the state, and personal travel by U.S. government personnel is not permitted in this area.

Durango: Exercise caution in the state of Durango. Violence and criminal activity along the highways are a continuing security concern. Several areas in the state continue to experience high rates of violence and remain volatile and unpredictable. U.S. government personnel may travel outside the city of Durango only during daylight hours on toll roads, and must return to the city of Durango to abide by a curfew of 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Estado de Mexico: Toluca and Teotihuacan are major travel destinations in Estado de Mexico – Exercise caution in the State of Mexico. Many areas of the state have seen high levels of crime and insecurity as organized criminal groups have expanded their activities from the states of Guerrero and Michoacán, and have also experienced high levels of street crime. The September 2014 INEGI crime victimization survey indicated that the State of Mexico had the highest incidence of crime in Mexico, with 47,778 victims per 100,000. Due to high rates of crime and insecurity, defer non-essential travel to the municipalities of Coacalco, Ecatepec, Nezahualcoyotl, La Paz, Valle del Chalco, Solidaridad, Chalco, and Ixtapaluca, which are eastern portions of the greater Mexico City metropolitan area, located just to the east of the Federal District of Mexico and Benito Juarez airport, unless traveling directly through the areas on major thoroughfares. Defer non-essential travel to the municipality of Tlatlaya in the southwest portion of the state and non-essential travel on any roads between Santa Marta in the southeast portion of the state and Huitzilac in the state of Morelos, including the Lagunas de Zempoala National Park and surrounding areas, due to high rates of crime and insecurity.

Guanajuato: San Miguel de Allende and Leon are major cities/travel destinations in Guanajuato – No advisory is in effect.

Guerrero: Acapulco, Ixtapa, Taxco and Zihuatanejo are major cities/travel destinations in Guerrero – Defer non-essential travel to all parts of the state, except for the cities of Acapulco, Ixtapa, and Zihuatanejo. Travel to Acapulco and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo only by air or cruise ship, exercise caution, and remain in tourist areas. Travel in and out of Acapulco by air and cruise ship is permitted for U.S. government personnel. U.S. government personnel are prohibited from traveling within Guerrero state by land, including via the 95D toll road (“cuota”) to/from Mexico City and Acapulco, as well as highway 200 between Acapulco and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo. In Acapulco, defer non-essential travel to areas further than two blocks inland of the Costera Miguel Aleman Boulevard, which parallels the popular beach areas. Lodging for U.S. government personnel is limited to the hotel zone (“zona hotelera”) of Acapulco, beginning from the Krystal Beach Acapulco hotel in the north and going south through Puerto Marquez, including the Playa Diamante area and ending at The Resort at Mundo Imperial hotel. In general, the popular tourist area of Diamante, just south of the city, has been less affected by violence. Any activity outside the hotel zone for U.S. government personnel is limited to the coastal area from La Quebrada to the beginning of the hotel zone and only during daylight hours. The state of Guerrero was the most violent state in Mexico in 2013, with 2,087 homicides and 207 reported cases of kidnapping, according to the Mexican Secretariado Ejecutivo Nacional de Seguridad Publica. Self-defense groups operate independently of the government in many areas of Guerrero. Armed members of these groups frequently maintain roadblocks and, although not considered hostile to foreigners or tourists, are suspicious of outsiders and should be considered volatile and unpredictable.

Hidalgo: No advisory is in effect.

Jalisco: Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Lake Chapala are major cities/travel destinations in Jalisco – Defer non-essential travel to areas of the state that border the states of Michoacán and Zacatecas. The security situation along the Michoacán and Zacatecas borders continues to be unstable. Exercise caution in rural areas and when using secondary highways. U.S. government personnel are authorized to use Federal toll road 15D for travel to Mexico City; however, they may not stop in the town of La Barca for any reason. U.S. government personnel are prohibited from personal travel to areas of Jalisco that border Zacatecas, and are prohibited from intercity travel at night.

Mexico City (also known as the Federal District): No advisory is in effect. See also the discussion in the section on Estado de Mexico for areas within the greater Mexico City metropolitan area.

Michoacán: Morelia is a major city/travel destination in Michoacán – Defer non-essential travel to the state of Michoacán except the cities of Morelia and Lázaro Cardenas and the area north of federal toll road 15D, where you should exercise caution. U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling by land in Michoacán except on federal toll road 15D during daylight hours. Flying into Morelia and Lázaro Cardenas is the recommended method of travel. Attacks on Mexican government officials, law enforcement and military personnel, and other incidents of organized crime-related violence, have occurred throughout Michoacán. Armed members of some self-defense groups maintain roadblocks and, although not considered hostile to foreigners or tourists, are suspicious of outsiders and should be considered volatile and unpredictable. Some self-defense groups in Michoacán are reputed to be linked to organized crime.

Morelos: Cuernavaca is a major city/travel destination in Morelos – Exercise caution in the state of Morelos due to the unpredictable nature of organized crime violence. You should also defer non-essential travel on any roads between Huitzilac in the northwest corner of the state and Santa Marta in the state of Mexico, including the Lagunas de Zempoala National Park and surrounding areas. Numerous incidents of organized crime-related violence have also occurred in the city of Cuernavaca.

Nayarit: The Riviera Nayarit coast, including the cities of Tepic, Xalisco, and San Blas, is a major travel destination in Nayarit – Defer non-essential travel to areas of the state of Nayarit that border the states of Sinaloa or Durango, as well as all rural areas and secondary highways.

Nuevo Leon: Monterrey is a major city/travel destination in Nuevo Leon – Exercise caution in the state of Nuevo Leon. Although the level of organized crime-related violence and general insecurity in Monterrey has decreased dramatically within the last two years, sporadic incidents of violence have occurred. Security services in and around Monterrey are robust and have proven responsive and effective in combating violent crimes; however, instances of violence remain a concern in the more remote regions of the state. U.S. government personnel and their dependents may travel outside the city of Monterrey only during daylight hours on toll roads, and must return to the city of San Pedro Garza Garcia municipal boundaries to abide by a curfew of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., except for travel to the airport after 5 a.m.

Oaxaca: Oaxaca, Huatulco and Puerto Escondido are major cities/travel destinations in Oaxaca – No advisory is in effect.

Puebla: No advisory is in effect.

Queretaro: No advisory is in effect.

Quintana Roo: Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya and Tulum are major cities/travel destinations in Quintana Roo – No advisory is in effect.

San Luis Potosi: Exercise caution in the state of San Luis Potosi. U.S. government personnel may travel outside the City of San Luis Potosi only during daylight hours on toll roads, and must return to the city of San Luis Potosi to abide by a curfew of 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Sinaloa: Mazatlan is a major city/travel destination in Sinaloa – Defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan, where you should exercise caution, particularly late at night and in the early morning. One of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations is based in the state of Sinaloa, and violent crime rates remain high in many parts of the state. Travel off the toll roads in remote areas of Sinaloa is especially dangerous and should be avoided. We recommend that any travel in Mazatlan be limited to Zona Dorada and the historic town center, as well as direct routes to/from these locations and the airport.

Sonora: Nogales, Puerto Peñasco, Hermosillo, and San Carlos are major cities/travel destinations in Sonora – Sonora is a key region in the international drug and human trafficking trades and can be extremely dangerous for travelers. Travelers throughout Sonora are encouraged to limit travel to main roads during daylight hours. The region west of Nogales, east of Sonoyta, and from Caborca north, including the towns of Saric, Tubutama, and Altar, and the eastern edge of Sonora bordering Chihuahua, are known centers of illegal activity, and non-essential travel between these cities should be avoided. Travelers should also defer non-essential travel to the eastern edge of the state of Sonora, which borders the state of Chihuahua (all points along that border east of the northern city of Agua Prieta and the southern town of Alamos), and defer non-essential travel within the city of Ciudad Obregon and south of the city of Navojoa. You should exercise caution while transiting Vicam in southern Sonora due to roadblocks that can be instituted ad hoc by local indigenous and environmental groups. U.S. citizens visiting Puerto Peñasco should use the Lukeville, Arizona/Sonoyta, Sonora border crossing, and limit driving to daylight hours.

Tabasco: Villahermosa is a major city/travel destination in Tabasco- No advisory is in effect.

Tamaulipas: Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, and Tampico are major cities in Tamaulipas. Defer all non-essential travel to the state of Tamaulipas. Throughout the state violent crime, including homicide, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, extortion, and sexual assault, pose significant safety risks. State and municipal law enforcement capacity is limited to nonexistent in many parts of Tamaulipas. Violent conflicts between rival criminal elements and/or the Mexican military can occur in all parts of the region and at all times of the day. Violent criminal activity occurs more frequently along the northern border. While no highway routes through Tamaulipas are considered safe, the highways between Matamoros-Ciudad Victoria, Reynosa-Ciudad Victoria, Ciudad Victoria-Tampico, Monterrey-Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros-Reynosa, and Monterrey-Reynosa, are more prone to criminal activity. Organized criminal groups sometimes target public and private passenger buses traveling through Tamaulipas. These groups sometimes take all passengers hostage and demand ransom payments. In Tamaulipas, U.S. government employees are subject to movement restrictions and a curfew between midnight and 6 a.m. Matamoros, Reynosa, Nuevo Laredo, and Ciudad Victoria have experienced numerous gun battles and attacks with explosive devices in the past year. The number of reported kidnappings in Tamaulipas is among the highest in Mexico, and the number of U.S. citizens reported to the consulates in Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo as being kidnapped, abducted, or disappearing involuntarily in 2014 has also increased.

Tlaxcala: No advisory is in effect.

Veracruz: Exercise caution when traveling in the state of Veracruz. The state of Veracruz continues to experience violence among rival criminal organizations.

Yucatan: Merida and Chichen Itza are major cities/travel destinations in Yucatan – No advisory is in effect.

Zacatecas: Exercise caution in the state of Zacatecas. Robberies, carjackings, and organized criminal activity remain a concern. U.S. government personnel may travel outside the city of Zacatecas only during daylight hours on toll roads, and must return to the city of Zacatecas to abide by a curfew of 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.

 

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John har nådd Canada

John som jeg etter planen skal møte i Fairbanks fortsetter sin tur nordover. Ser ut som han tilbragte natten i Vancouver i Canada og fortsatte nord – øst på Trans-Canada Highway langs Fraser River. Det ser ut til at veien snor seg langs elven og Trans-Canada Highway er nok en mye kjekkere mc vei enn British Columbia Highway 5 som går i samme retning litt lenger øst.

Pr. nå har han igjen ca 3087 km til Fairbanks så hvis han kjører 162km pr, dag bør vi være der samtidig.

John Bennett
John Bennett
John Bennett
John Bennett

Lykke til videre John. Ride Safe.

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John er i Portland

Det er ikke så mye som skjer for min del i disse dager siden det meste er gjort. Sykkelen er pakket å det eneste som gjenstår er å fullføre 2 arbeidsdager til, slappe godt av i helgen å så begynne turen til London på mandag.

Derfor kan jeg jo heller vise litt hvordan det går med John som fortsetter ferden nordover. Han er nå i Portland i Oregon som ligger 278 km syd for Seattle og 3734 km syd for Fairbanks hvor vi skal møtes om 22 dager hvis alt går etter planen.

John Bennett
John Bennett

 

Skal bli artig å snakke med han for å sjekke ut hvor han overnattet her i Portland. I følge satellitt bildene kan det se ut til at han overnattet på en parkeringsplass 🙂

John Bennett
John Bennett

 

Publisert

John fortsetter turen nordover

Etter en overnatting i Eureka fortsatte John sin reise nordover. Min blogg burde muligens ikke handle om å beskrive andre sine reiser men siden jeg skal møte John i Fairbanks synes jeg det er morsomt å følge med på hans reise.

Han har nå altså forlatt staten California, og kjørt inn i staten Oregon.

John Dag 2
John Dag 2

 

I følge bildene har han endt opp på en camping plass ved Lost Creek Lake i Jackson County. I følge værmeldingen skal det være 28C og ikke en sky på himmelen så campinglivet er nok topp 🙂

John Dag 2
John Dag 2

 

Det ser ut til at John i løpet av de 2 siste dagene har kjørt ca. 780 km så han holder ett godt tempo. Distansen opp til Fairbanks hvor han skal møte meg er 4156 så hvis han holder en gjennomsnitt på 173 km pr dag er vi i Fairbanks samtidig.

John Dag 2
John Dag 2
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John har startet :-) San Francisco – Eureka

Mens jeg satt på fest i går startet John sine reise nordover fra San Francisco. Det ser ut til at han valgte US-101 nordover og endte til slutt opp i Eureka. Hvis jeg ikke tar feil har han familie som bor her. Første kjøre etappe ble på ca 430km og hvis temperaturen i går var den samme som i dag skal temperaturen ha lagt på 18-20C.

John Bennet
John Bennet

 

For øyeblikket ser det ut som han er godt parkert og har muligens ikke en gang stått opp 🙂

John Bennet
John Bennet

 

Er litt misunnelig på at John allerede har startet, men nå er det i alle fall bare 8 dager til jeg begynner på turen mot London og 24 dager til jeg lander i Anchorage. Så hvis alt går etter planen møter jeg John i Fairbanks om 25 dager.

 

Lykke til John. Ride safe.

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EPA Exemption i orden

Da er ett av de viktigste dokumentet i boks. EPA Exemption er ett 4 siders dokument hvor man lover på tro og ære det ene med det andre. Dokumentet gir meg unntak fra EPA utslippskrav for en periode inntil ett år fra innførselstidspunktet og ved eksport av sykkelen ut av USA igjen må dokumentasjon på dette sendes inn for å unngå bot. Maksimalt kan man vist få en bot på 37.500$

EPA Exemption
EPA Exemption

 

Så hvis jeg har forstått prosessen riktig er det vell bare EPA Form 3520-1 som nå skal fylles ut så kan sykkelen importeres.

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Heidenau K60 Scout bakdekk

Dekk diskusjoner finnes det på samtlige Norske og internasjonale mc forum. Det er gode grunner for å velge det ene eller det andre og jeg har lenge lurt på hva jeg skal velge på min tur i 2015. Veiene i Alaska blir en blanding av asfalt og grus, Canada vil jeg tro blir mest asfalt, men så kommer TAT ruta hvor USA skal krysses på mest mulig grusveier. Continental TKC 80 har vært mine favoritt dekk her hjemme. Jeg føler meg trygg på Continental TKC 80 på grusveier med de fleste typer underlag, og de oppfører seg også fint på asfalten. Ulempen er at kjørelengden ikke er så fryktelig lang med disse dekkene. Jeg tror 6 – 7000km er maks hva man kan forvente.

Continental TKC 80
Continental TKC 80

 

Så nå vurderer jeg sterkt Heidenau K60 Scout. Det jeg har lest på diverse Adv. forumer ser også ut til å stemme med de jeg har snakket med som har vært på tilsvarende turer. Det er ett 50/50 dekk som bør fungere bra både på asfalt og grus og som skal en rekkevidde på 13-20.000km før man trenger å legge om igjen.

Heidenau K60 Scout
Heidenau K60 Scout

 

Midtpartiet i dekket skal være mye hardere enn TKC 80 dekket og derfor tåle flere km før det slites. Ett hardt dekk kan tyde på at det blir glattere på våt asfalt, men da får man heller ta dette med i planen når man kjører på våte veier. K60 Scout dekket er ikke ett knastedekk, men har dype spor i mønsteret så det bør gi godt grep i sand, grus og gjørme å samtidig gi en god mulighet til å kvitte seg med skitten som legger seg i mønsteret. Dekket skal også ha mye hardere kanter så skulle man først være uheldig å punktere vil man nok svette litt mer for å ta dekket av og på.

Heidenau K60 Scout
Heidenau K60 Scout

 

Hvilket fordekk jeg velger vet jeg ikke enda, men er åpen for innspill og hører med glede på hvilke erfaringer andre har gjort.

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Border Crossing Argentina to Uruguay at Fray Bentos

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Argentina to Uruguay at Fray Bentos: Border Crossing

Border name: Gualeguaychu – Fray Bentos Bridge
Closest major cities: Gualeguaychu, Argentina and Fray Bentos, Uruguay
Cost for visas: $0
Cost for vehicle: $0
Total time: 30 minutes
The Steps

  1. Drive over the scenic international bridge. Take photos, but don’t stop. That makes the other drivers angry.
  2. Stop on the other side of the bridge to pay the fat $AR60 bridge toll.
  3. Drive to the booth that has the «turismo» sign out front.
  4. Hand over the passports for everyone in the car. You will be stamped out of Argentina and into Uruguay. (Two officials, one booth, amazing!)
  5. At the same booth hand in your Argentinian temporary vehicle permit. They will cancel it.
  6. The booth people will give you a pink slip of paper. This is your ticket to leave the border area.
  7. Drive forward and park on the right side.
  8. The vehicle owner goes into the building on the left. (Explain you are a tourist not just in transit, it might get you to the front of the line).
  9. Hand in the driver’s license, passport, the vehicle title and the pink ticket. The official will have you complete a vehicle permit and may ask if you have insurance. He will return all documents and stamp your pink ticket.
  10. Return to your car and show the pink ticket to the customs inspectors. They may ask questions about the food you have and/or search your car for meat, dairy products, fruits and vegetables.
  11. Drive ahead a few hundred meters to the check point. The official will inspect your pink slip for the correct number of stamps, and then send you on your way.

The Ferry: You can cross by vehicle ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia. For three of us, plus the car, the cost was approximately AR$1,200. Prices change based on departure hour and day. There are 3-4 ferries per day, but you must arrive at the terminal 2 hours ahead of schedule to sort the border crossing paperwork. See theferry’s website for full details.

One-Year Permits: By default, you should be given a 1-year vehicle permit when you cross at this border. We were issued one without question. However, it seems that if you need one, they may tell you that the permit is only available in Montevideo and you’ll have to drive all of the way to the aduana in the big city to get the permit extended.

Publisert

Border Crossing Argentina to Chile at Los Libertadores

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

 

Argentina to Chile at Los Libertadores: Border Crossing

Border name: Los Libertadores

Closest major cities: Mendoza, Argentina to Santiago, Chile
Cost for visas: $0
Cost for vehicle: $0
Total time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Steps

  1. Drive up the mountain pass and through the tunnel. Don’t stop at any of the random aduana buildings on the side of the road. These are for busses and trucks.
  2. Several kilometers on the other side of the tunnel there will be a big building over the road. This is immigration and aduana for both Chile and Argentina.
  3. Stop at the back of the auto line. Someone will approach your car and give you a paper for your car, and tourist cards and customs declarations for everyone in the vehicle. Fill out the papers while waiting in the line.
  4. When there is an open space in the parking lot, an attendant will instruct you to park.
  5. Take your completed papers inside the building and follow the numbers on the boards above the windows.
  6. Number 1 is Argentinian immigration. Hand over your passport and the tourist card you received when you entered. They will stamp you out and keep the tourist card. The will also stamp the vehicle permit paper you filled out while waiting.
  7. Window number 2, just to the left, is Chilean immigration. They will stamp your passport and take one copy of your Chilean tourist card you, the other copy is yours. They will also stamp the vehicle permit paper.
  8. Window number 3 is Argentinian aduana. They will take your Argentinian vehicle permit and stamp your Chilean vehicle permit.
  9. Window number 4 is Chilean aduana. They will take the vehicle permit paper you filled out at the beginning, explain to you that it is the wrong one, and give you a new, nearly identical form to fill out.
  10. Take the new vehicle import form around to window #2 and get another stamp. Keep the old vehicle permit paper (we needed this to exit).
  11. Return to Chilean aduana (window #4). The official will sign the form and send you outside.
  12. Outside, an aduana officer (in a red coat) will take your permit and verify your license plate. They will sign and stamp the paper.
  13. Find a food and agriculture inspector (in a green shirt with SAG embroidered on it).
  14. The inspector will ask for your customs declaration forms and may search your vehicle. They will likely use dogs. They will confiscate any illegal foods and will stamp your form.
  15. Drive out of the parking area. An official will stop you and check that your vehicle permit has been stamped sufficiently. You may have to present both of the vehicle import permit papers.
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Border Crossing Argentina to Chile at Avanzada Monte Aymond

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Argentina to Chile at Avanzada Monte Aymond: Border Crossing 

Border name: Avanzada Monte Aymond or Paso Integral Austral

Closest major cities: Rio Gallegos, Argentina and Cerro Sombrero, Chile
Cost for visas: $0
Cost for vehicle: $0
Total time: 2 hours 15 minutes
The Steps

  1. Drive past the first Argentinian building, across the actual frontera, and park outside the new combined border building with the huge Chilean shields on it.
  2. If long lines, acquire a Chilean tourist card form and a Chilean SAG customs declaration form to complete while standing in line.
  3. Go to counter #1, Argentinian immigration. Hand over your passport and the tourist card you received on entry. The official will stamp both and return your passport.
  4. This official will also ask to see your vehicle title. He will return it with a vehicle release paper which you need to have stamped 5 times in order to leave the border.
  5. Move down the counter to #2, Chilean immigration. Hand over your passport, the tourist card you filled out in line, and the paper for stamping. Like usual, the official will stamp your passport, tourist card and the vehicle release paper.
  6. Move to #3, the Argentinian aduana counter. Hand over your Argentinian vehicle permit and the vehicle release paper. The official will stamp and return both.
  7. Move to counter #4, Chilean aduana. Hand over your title, driver’s passport, the Argentinian vehicle permit and the release paper. The official enters info in the computer, prints out your permit and stamps the release paper. He returns all papers including your new Chilean permit.
  8. Go to #5, SAG or Chilean Food and Agriculture desk. Hand over your customs declaration forms. The official will ask questions about what type of things you have to declare. He will stamp your vehicle release form and note on the form what types of goods you are declaring.
  9. Return to your vehicle, drive to the SAG checkpoint. An official in the green SAG vest may search your vehicle. They will confiscate fresh produce and fruits, honey, raisins, raw meat and raw eggs.
  10. When the search is complete, the SAG official will keep your vehicle release paper (that should have 5 stamps), and let you through.

CUSTOMS NOTE: As usual when entering Chile, expect to be searched for prohibited items. There is a HUGE list of what must be declared, but declaring doesn’t mean it will be confiscated. However, if you fail to declare and you are searched (which is very likely) you will be charged a big fat fine and they will take absolutely everything on the declare list without mercy. Customs agents will always take fresh fruit and vegetables, raw meat, honey, raisins, cheese and eggs. They occasionally will take other items, but for us it has been rare.

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Border Crossing Argentina to Brasil at Iguazu Falls

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

 

Argentina to Brasil at Iguazu Falls: Border Crossing

Border name: Iguazu Falls

Closest major cities: Puerto Iguazu, Argentina and Foz do Iguaçu, Brasil
Cost for visas: US$160 for US Citizens (must apply in advance) Free for South Africans
Cost for vehicle: $0
Total time: 45 minutes
The Steps

  1. Drive up to the Argentinian immigration booth. Hand over your passports to be stamped out.
  2. Drive up to the random aduana official. Hand him your Argentinian temporary vehicle permit.
  3. Drive over to the Brazilian side. Go past the buildings, park at the back.
  4. Walk to the office labeled immigration. Fill out the tourist card and hand the official your passports and the card. She will check for your visa (if required) stamp and return the passports.
  5. Go across the street to the aduana building. Hand in the driver’s passport and the vehicle title. They will issue a temporary import permit, valid for 90 days.
  6. Live it up, this is Brazil!

Note: Visas for Brazil in Buenos Aires

US Citizens are required to have a visa for Brazil, which must be issued in advance. You can apply from the US to a Brazilian consulate, which we would have done if we had known for sure we would visit Brazil. Instead we applied through the Brazilian consulate in Buenos Aires. Which is here: Carlos Pellegrini 1363 or S34 35.537 W58 22.872

In order to apply, you must present yourself at the consulate at 9am sharp. They do have an online system for scheduling appointments, but this wasn’t working. You will need a copy of the application form, your passport, a passport photo, and a copy of a recent bank statement. You might be required to have a hotel reservation and/or a proof of departure. We had neither of these, and they didn’t ask for them. Note that when you complete the application your address and phone number MUST be in Buenos Aires. Use the ones from your hostel or campground if you need to. Just make sure they are local.

At the consulate they simply took our papers and gave us a bank slip. They told us to go to the ITAU bank and pay the visa fee, and then return between 12 and 1pm the following day. The bad news is that a visa costs US$165. The good news is that you can pay in Argentinian pesos and if you were smart and brought dollars with you and then changed them on the black market, your visa will cost more like US$100. See our Patagonia budget article for more info on this.

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Border Crossing Uruguay to Argentina at Concordia

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

 

Uruguay to Argentina at Concordia : Border Crossing

Border name: Salto or Concordia

Closest major cities: Salto, Uruguay to Concordia, Argentina
Cost for visas: $0 (Not including previously paid reciprocity fees for Argentina, see note below)
Cost for vehicle: $0
Total time: 45 minutes
The Steps

  1. Drive past the out-of-commission Uruguay border buildings, over the bridge and keep going, past the welcome to Argentina signs until you finally see the border buildings across the road. Park wherever.
  2. Go into the building on the left. Get stamped out at the first counter, Uruguay immigration.
  3. Hand over your Uruguayan vehicle permit.
  4. Go to the Argentinian immigration counter. Hand over passports and reciprocity receipts (if required). They will be returned with a small slip of paper that records the number of people in your vehicle. This is your ticket to leave the border area.
  5. Go across the street to Argentinian aduana. Hand in the driver’s passport, license and vehicle title. They may ask for proof of insurance. They may also attempt to call your insurance company to verify it is valid. Eventually aduana will issue a vehicle permit.
  6. Get back in your car and drive under the arch. Hand over your ticket. At this point you may be searched for fresh fruits and vegetables. Many others were. We were not.
  7. Proceed to the nearest YPF and fill up on nice cheap gas.

RECIPROCITY FEE NOTE: Effective January 7, 2013 all US, Canadian and Australian citizen are required to pay a reciprocity fee at all Argentinian border entries, including land crossings. You must pay the fee online and bring the receipt to the border. Pay your fee online at this website.

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Border Crossing Chile to Argentina at San Sebastian

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Chile to Argentina at San Sebastian: Border Crossing

Border name: San Sebastian
Closest major cities: San Sebastian, Chile and Rio Grande, Argentina
Cost for visas: $0
Cost for vehicle: $0
Total time: 20 minutes, plus 20 minutes driving
The Steps

  1. Stop at the Chilean border building just on the other side of San Sebastian.
  2. Go to the immigration counter and hand in your passports and tourist cards. The official will stamp both and return your passports.
  3. Go to Aduana and hand in your temporary vehicle permit.
  4. Buy delicious empanadas from the kiosk (avoid the french fries like the plague).
  5. Drive 15 kilometers to the Argentinian border building.
  6. Hand the immigration official your passport, completed tourist card and reciprocity fee receipts (if required, see note below). The official will stamp and return everything. He will also give you a scrap of paper with a stamp and the number of people in your car written on it. Save this, you need it to exit.
  7. Go to aduana and hand over the vehicle title and driver’s passport.
  8. (For South Africans Only) Explain impatiently that South Africa is not a region, it is actually the name of a country, and that your car is not from there, just the driver, and yes he is white and sketchy looking.
  9. Get your vehicle permit, sign it, and get back to your car.
  10. Drive up to the guard and hand over your stamped scrap of paper.

RECIPROCITY FEE NOTE: Effective January 7, 2013 all US, Canadian and Australian citizen are required to pay a reciprocity fee at all Argentinian border entries, including land crossings. You must pay the fee online and bring the receipt to the border. Pay your fee online at this website.

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Border Crossing Chile to Argentina at Paso Jama

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Chile to Argentina at Paso Jama: Border Crossing

Border name: Paso Jama

Closest major cities: San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, Susques or Salta, Argentina
Cost for visas: $0 (See reciprocity fee update below!)
Cost for vehicle: $0
Total time: 2 hours in Chile, 1 hour 15 minutes in Argentina (on the start of a holiday weekend)
Notes

  • The Chilean border offices are in San Pedro de Atacama, there are no offices near the border. If you entered from Bolivia’s southwest circuit, you are returning to the same offices where you were stamped in.
  • Insurance is mandatory in Argentina and is NOT available for purchase at the border crossing. See below on how we arranged insurance.
  • Chile and Argentina both charge reciprocity fees for US citizens, but ONLY if you are arriving at an airport. Save your cash for steak and wine.
  • RECIPROCITY FEE UPDATE: Effective January 7, 2013 all US, Canadian and Australian citizen are required to pay a reciprocity fee at all Argentinian border entries, including land crossings. You must pay the fee online and bring the receipt to the border. Pay your fee online at this website.

The Steps

  1. Go to the Chilean immigration/aduanda offices in San Pedro de Atacama. S22 54.659 W68 11.626
  2. Go to the immigration window first. Hand in your tourist card you received on entry and get a passport stamp. You MUST get stamped out of Chile, the Argentinian officials will check your passport!
  3. Go to the aduana window and hand in your vehicle import permit. They may ask to see your car, but nothing further.
  4. Drive the 100 miles up the huge mountain over the pass of Jama.
  5. Park your car in the gravel lots on the right or left side, it doesn’t matter.
  6. Go into the office on the left with the sign that says «Entrada».
  7. Stand in line at the first window for immigration. Hand over your passport. The official will stamp you in and either give you a printed tourist card, or will fill out a card for you. It depends if the printer is working.
  8. The immigration official will also give you a slip of paper with three check boxes on it. One for immigration, one for aduana and the other for agriculture inspection. You will get a stamp or a signature when you complete each step. He will stamp the immigration part and send you to aduana.
  9. Move down to the 4th or 5th window (they are helpfully signed as aduana).
  10. Hand over your vehicle title and the driver’s passport and the paper with the three check boxes. The official will enter all your info into a computer, print a vehicle permit and stamp your paper.
  11. Head outside with your paperwork and drive your car up to the border gate.
  12. An inspector will take your paper with the three check boxes. He will then search your car for prohibited food products. Thoroughness of the search depends on the official. Technically meat, fresh fruit and vegetables and some other products are prohibited to carry across the border.
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Border Crossing Chile to Argentina at Chile Chico

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Chile to Argentina at Chile Chico: Border Crossing

Border name: Rio Jeinimeni

Closest major cities: Chile Chico, Chile and Los Antiguos, Argentina
Cost for visas: $160 reciprocity fee for US citizen (pay in advance!)
Cost for vehicle: $0
Total time: 30 minutes
Notes

Reciprocity Fees: Argentina recently changed their rules for collecting reciprocity fees for US, Canadian and Australian citizens. Fees were previously only collected if you entered via a major airport. Now fees must be paid online and in advance for all border crossings, including land borders. Go to this website, pay your fee and print the receipt. Take this with to the border. The current fees are: $160 for the United States (valid for 10 years), $100 for Australians (valid for 1 year) and $75 for Canadians (valid for one entry) or $150 (valid for multiple entries).

Border crossings further south: If coming from the southern part Carretera Austral note that there is another crossing, east of the town of Cochrane, called Paso Roballos. We heard multiple times that this road was in very poor condition and decided to take the easier road to the north. There is also a rumor that there will soon be a border crossing for vehicles just northeast of Villa O’Higgins. At this time the road on the Argentinian side, including one very important bridge over the Rio Mayer, has not been completed.

The Steps

  1. Drive to the Chilean immigration and customs building 3.5 miles outside of the town of Chile Chico.
  2. Go to the immigration counter and hand over your passports with your tourist card that you received upon entry. The official will keep your tourist card and stamp your passport.
  3. Go to the aduana counter and hand over your vehicle permit and vehicle title. The official will enter a few things in the computer, return your title and keep your permit.
  4. Drive two miles to the Argentinian border post.
  5. Go to the immigration counter (on the far left side of the building). Hand over your passport and receipts for reciprocity fees. (Reciprocity fees only apply to US, Canadian and Australian citizens).
  6. The official will give you a tourist card to complete. He will enter info into the computer and will check the code on your reciprocity fee receipt. You can NOT pay the fee at the border.
  7. Go to the signed aduana counter. Hand over your vehicle title and the driver’s passport. The official will enter info in the computer and print a vehicle permit. Sign two copies. You get one, they keep the other.
  8. Someone may inspect your car for food and other items.
Publisert

Border Crossing Bolivia to Chile

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Bolivia to Chile Border Crossing

Border name: Hijo Canjon
Closest major cities: Reserva Nacional Eduardo Avaroa, Bolivia and San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Cost for visas: $0
Cost for vehicle: $0
Total time: 10 minutes in Bolivia, 45 minutes in Chile
Note: This crossing goes through the VERY remote southwest corner of Bolivia. It is at least 300 miles from Uyuni to the border and there are likely no supplies (gas, food or water) for long stretches. Plan accordingly.

The Steps

  1. Go to the Aduana office on the Bolivian side. This is 80km north of the border at an elevation over 5000m. (S22 26.454 W67 48.357) Turn in your vehicle permit.
  2. Enjoy the rest of the national park.
  3. Drive to Bolivian immigration. S22 52.860 W67 47.901
  4. Have your passports stamped. Do NOT pay the Bs15 exit fee. It’s a sham. Unless they find a way to produce a receipt.
  5. Drive 30 miles down the nice paved Chilean hill to the Chilean immigration and customs, it is just outside of San Pedro de Atacama. S22 54.659 W68 11.626
  6. Go to the immigration window and get a tourist card to fill out.
  7. Complete the tourist card and hand it over with your passport. The official may need to see your vehicle title as well. He or she will enter your info into a computer, stamp your passport and tourist card and return both.
  8. Proceed to the aduana office at the other end of the same building. Fill out a customs declaration form. Be sure to check «Yes» on the question if you have anything to declare. Failing to mark this box results in a US$200 fine if you are caught.
  9. Aduana will need to see your vehicle title and the driver’s passport. He does not need any copies.
  10. The official will enter info in the computer and issue a temporary import permit good for 90 days.
  11. Find a food and agriculture inspector. He or she will take your customs declaration forms and may search your car. After the inspection you are free to go. Our car was thoroughly searched, and despite the ridiculous amount of food we had, they only took a few items.
Publisert

Border Crossing Peru to Bolivia

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Peru to Bolivia Border Crossing

Border name: Yunguyo

Closest major cities: Puno, Peru and Copacabana, Bolivia
Cost for Visas: USD$135 for US citizens, Bs360 (USD$51) for South Africans
Cost for vehicle: $0
Total time: 1 hour

 

The Steps

  1. Drive up to the chain across the road, park on the right or left.
  2. Go to the police office just to the right of the immigration building. An official here will stamp your tourist card.
  3. Go to the immigration building and hand over your passport and tourist card. The official will stamp both and keep your tourist card.
  4. Go to the white aduana building across the street and hand in your vehicle permit.
  5. Go to the other police office next to the aduana building. The officer may ask some basic questions and ask to see your insurance for Peru.
  6. Drive across to Bolivia, under the arch, park just before the gate on the right or left.
  7. Go to the immigration building and fill out necessary paper work, hand in documents and pay fees.
    US citizens: Need one passport photo, a completed tourist card, a completed visa form (both available at immigration), a copy of your passport photo page and a whopping $135 in USD.
    South African citizens need: A completed tourist card and Bs360 (USD$51).
  8. The official will place a visa sticker in your passport and take all your money.
  9. Go to the aduana building up the hill (to the left of immigration), hand in the driver’s passport, vehicle title and a copy of each. The official will issue a vehicle permit.
  10. Go to the transito office on the opposite side of immigration. Someone will enter the driver’s information and vehicle information into a ledger and will stamp the back of your vehicle permit paper.
  11. Find a police officer to open the gate.

Note: The Bolivian aduana office closes between 1:00–2:00pm Bolivia time, this is 12:00-1:00 Peru time. Plan accordingly.

Publisert

Border Crossing Ecuador to Peru

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Ecuador to Peru Border Crossing

Border name: Huaquillas or Aguas Verdes

Closest major cities: Machala, Ecuador and Tumbes, Peru
Cost for visas: $0
Cost for vehicle: $8 for insurance, permit was free
Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes

 

The Steps

  1. Stop at the big white building on the left side of the road at least 5km before the border crossing. There is no sign when leaving Ecuador, but there is a big sign in the opposite direction that says “Migracion”.
  2. Hand over your Ecuador vehicle permit to an official person. You may have to wait for them to enter info in the computer. They just took ours and told us to get out of there.
  3. Follow the signs to the Frontera. Note the new border area completely avoids the town of Huaquillas.
  4. You will pass a huge set of blue and white buildings on your left. This is for persons entering Ecuador ONLY. Keep driving.
  5. Eventually you will see an identical set of blue and white building on your right. Drive in and park where instructed.
  6. An official at the door will give you a form for exiting Ecuador (if you didn’t save yours from when you entered the country) and another form for entering Peru.
  7. Go into the building and present your passports at the first desk, this is exit immigration for Ecuador. The official will keep your exit tourist card and stamp you out.
  8. Go to the next desk. This is Peru entry. Hand over your entry form and passport. They keep the form and stamp your passport.
  9. Continuing further into the building there is an aduana desk. The official will need to see the original of your title, driver’s license, and passport for the owner of the vehicle. He will also need a copy of these three things.
  10. Aduana will enter a bunch of info in the computer and issue you a permit.
  11. Go to the small SOAT insurance booth and buy insurance, unless you have a policy from home. The cost was $8 for one month. Check the expiration carefully.
  12. Head to the beach!
Publisert

Border Crossing Colombia to Ecuador

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Colombia to Ecuador Border Crossing 

Border name: Rumichaca
Closest major cities: Ipiales, Colombia and Tulcan, Ecuador
Cost for Visas: $0
Cost for vehicle: $0
Total time: 3 hours

The Steps

  1. Drive past the customs (DIAN) office and the immigration office to the giant parking lot. Park here.
  2. Go to the DIAN office and turn in your temporary permit. No stamps, no copies, just give the paper to the nice official.
  3. Go to the immigration window. Have your passports stamped for exit.
  4. Drive to Ecuador.
  5. Go through a military checkpoint, aduana (customs) and immigration are on your left, but the parking is probably closed off. Drive around to the back of the building and park there.
  6. Go to immigration and get your passport imprinted with a dot matrix printer. Be prepared for a long wait. we were in line for two hours.
  7. Go to the aduana office on the corner of the building.
  8. Hand in your title, the drivers passport and a copy of each.
  9. They will give you a vehicle permit in return.
  10. Drive to the nearest gas station and fill up on $1.50/ gallon gas. Woohoo!

Note: SOAT (Vehicle liability insurance) is NOT required for foreign vehicles. We did not buy it at the border and were never asked for it at police checkpoints.

Publisert

Border Crossing Costa Rica to Panama

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Costa Rica to Panama Border Crossing

Border Name: Paso Canoas
Closest Major Cities: Ciudad Neily, Costa Rica and David, Panama
Cost for Visas: $1 per person for Panama entry
Cost for Vehicle: $15 for insurance, $1.60 for copies
Total Time: 1.25 hours

The Steps

  1. Park next to the Costa Rican immigration office (it’s on the left side of the road when driving towards Panama).
  2. Go to the Salida window, fill out your exit card and hand over the exit form with your passport. The official will stamp and return your passport.
  3. Go around the back of the immigration building to the Aduana office.
  4. Explain that you want to cancel your temporary permit and you will be given a simple form to fill out.
  5. Fill out the form and hand it with the original permit papers and the driver’s passport to the official. He or she will want to go to your car to verify the VIN number.
  6. Back at the office, the official will cancel the permit, keep the original, and return to you the form you filled out with a stamp on it. This is your proof of cancellation.
  7. Get back in your car and drive to the Panama side. Note: If you need to change money, do it at the BCR bank in no-mans-land before you get to Panama. No other banks around will change colones.
  8. Drive under the right side of the dirty white covered building. You can park next to the curb on the left.
  9. Go to the furthest end of the building and you will see the windows for immigration entrada. If the line is short, go here first.
  10. Someone will approach you and ask for you passports, he or she will put a small sticker on a page in your passport. Cost is $1 per sticker. You can pay in colones but the exchange rate is not good.
  11. Give the official behind the window your passports. She/he will type in some stuff, take your photo, stamp and return your passport.
  12. Next, walk across the street to the insurance office. Hand over the vehicle title and drivers passport, a copy of both and $15. You’ll be issued two identical pieces of paper. One will be kept by aduana, the other is for you.
  13. Go back across the street and up the stairs to the Transito office. Hand over your insurance paperwork and the drivers passport. They will stamp the insurance papers and return them.
  14. Go back down stairs to the aduana window. The sign on the window actually reads “Captura y Manifesto”. You should see a piece of paper taped to the window that says “Turismo”, that’s the right line.
  15. The official will need your title, driver’s passport, a copy of both, and the two insurance papers. The official will enter a bunch of stuff in the computer and will return originals and one copy of the insurance. Also they will give you a vehicle import permit.
    NOTE: If you plan to ship your car to Columbia, triple check that EVERYTHING on your permit is correct. Especially that your VIN number is listed for both your chassis and engine number, and that your vehicle type is correct.
  16. Take your new permit to the random official guy with a clipboard who loiters outside the aduana window. (Don’t worry, he’ll probably find you.) He’ll inspect your car and verify the VIN number. He will also stamp your permit.
  17. Head out of the border area, make sure to drive through the fumigation area.
  18. In about 1 km you will be stopped at a military post and will have to show your permit, insurance and passports for everyone in the car.
  19. That’s all. Enjoy the four-lane highway and cheap beer.
Publisert

Border Crossing Nicaragua to Costa Rica

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Nicaragua to Costa Rica Border Crossing

Border name: Peñas Blancas

Closest major cities: San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua and La Cruz, Costa Rica
Cost to exit Nicaragua:  C$67 Cordobas ($3 USD) per person ($1USD tax, $2USD for the stamp)
Cost for vehicle: CR$2175 colones ($4.50 USD) fumigation, CR$8365 colones ($17 USD) insurance
Total time:  2 hours
The steps:

  1. Stop at the small booth on the left side of the road. If it’s busy, park just past the booth.
  2. Give your passports to one of the guards out front. They will look at them, but not do anything.
  3. Give the vehicle permit to another man near the booth, he will scribble something on it and hand it back.
  4. Get back in the car and drive a short ways. Go past the set of buildings ahead and turn left. Then drive past the customs/immigration building and turn left again. Park here.
  5. Walk around the other side of the building to the exit immigration. At the small booth pay the $1 per person exit tax.
  6. Proceed to the immigration window. Fill out your tourist exit card. Pay another $2 fee to the official and he will issue a receipt. Keep all receipts!
  7. Head back to the other side of the building, and find an official in a while shirt with the DGA Logo. Hand over your Nicaraguan vehicle permit. He may want to check your car and/or verify the VIN. He will then stamp/sign/scribble on your permit.
  8. Next stop is to find a police officer, possibly in the building, possibly wandering around outside. The officer will add another signature and stamp to your permit. They may also inspect the car.
  9. Proceed to the small window on the corner of the building. Here another official with a DGA polo shirt will take your permit again. She will enter a few things in the computer and hand your uber stamped-up permit back to you.
  10. Get back in your car and haul it to Costa Rica before they ask for more stamps.
  11. When leaving the border area, an official at a small shack will ask to see all the passports and the vehicle permit. He will keep your uber stamped-up import permit.
  12. Stay to the right and stop at the fumigation booth. Pay the CR$2175 fee, and then proceed through the fumigation station.
  13. Continue to the big white immigration building on the left. Just past it, also on the left, is a good place to park.
  14. Go to immigration, fill out your entry cards and present the card with your passports to the official. Your passport will be stamped and returned. Now for the fun part.
  15. Look across the street at the small yellow building that says “aduana” on front. I know you want to go there. But don’t be fooled. This is not the aduana you are looking for (at least not yet). Get back in your car and drive about 300 meters to the “other” aduana or walk if you can stand the heat.
  16. Go to the insurance window on side at the far end of the building. Hand over the vehicle title, the drivers passport and license. Pay the fee, about CR$8365 ($17 USD)
  17. Go to the copy shop. Make sure you have one copy of the title and insurance paper. You will also need one copy of the passport photo page, immigration stamp, and driver’s license for every person that intends to drive the vehicle in Costa Rica.
  18. Now, get back in your car and drive back to the first aduana booth. The official here will take all of your copies and originals. He’ll ask you to fill out a form, and return your original and your copies with the form on top all neatly stapled together. He may verify your VIN or search your car.
  19. With the paperwork you have from aduana #1, drive back to aduana #2. Go through the doors at the very end of the building. Hand over the pile of paperwork you received at aduana #1. Enjoy the air conditioning.
  20. The official will enter more info into the computer and hand back a new piece of paper, this is your vehicle import permit.
  21. Stop at the small exit booth and show your vehicle permit to the guard. Get out of Dodge.
Publisert

Border Crossing Honduras to Nicaragua

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Honduras to Nicaragua Border Crossing

Border name: Guasaule
Closest major cities: Guasaule, Honduras and Somotillo, Nicaragua
Cost for visas: $12 per person
Cost for vehicle: $3 for fumigation. $12 for insurance. Permit is free.
Total time: 1 hour

The steps

  1. When you see a small shack on the left of the road with a guard. Go to the far left. It will look like a bomb recently went off in the area, and your intuition will be telling you that you are about to be mugged. Welcome to the Guasaule border.
  1. The guard will ask to see your permit and they wave you forward. I repeat, stay to the LEFT. Drive all the way to the back, past the sketchy buildings. In the back of the parking lot you will see two gray buildings.
  2. In the building to the left chances are the official will have moved his desk outside cause it’s too damn hot. That’s immigration. Give the hot grumpy dude your passport. Be nice, this has to be the worst border post on the planet.
  3. He will stamp the passports and return them.
  4. Wander aimlessly around the bombed out wasteland looking for customs. Finally walk to the back side of the building on the left (directly behind where immigration was).
  5. There is no door, just a bunch of windows. Finally, a smiley lady will tell you through the barred window that she is a customs (aduana) official. Hand over your original Honduran vehicle permit and the driver’s passport. She will keep the original permit and scribble on the stamp in the driver’s passport, effectively cancelling the permit.
  6. Then with a smile, she’ll wave you back to your car. Where you should go, immediately, before the bombing starts again (ok, just kidding).
  7. Drive back out of the parking lot, and head to Nicaragua.
  8. When entering the border area, stay to the right. There will be a fumigation area. Roll up your windows and get fumigated.
  9. Go to the window just after fumigation and pay the $3 fumigation fee. Keep the receipt.
  10. At some point you will need to buy mandatory insurance. For us this happened at the fumigation shack. It cost $12, and you can buy it from anyone with a clipboard, providing they don’t try to charge more than $12. He/she needs to see the driver’s passport and title. She will ask for 2 copies of the drivers’ IDs. Our insurance lady didn’t keep the copies, she returned them with the vehicle paperwork.
  11. From there, take a sharp left and park on the left side of the big parking lot. Look for the signs to migracion and aduana.
  12. Go into the long building on the left of the parking lot (hidden behind all the trees). Immigration is in front of the building.
  13. Hand over your passports, pay a $10 tourist card fee, and a $2 tax per person. They do accept USD and have an ATM in the lobby that dispenses USD and Nicaraguan Cordobas. Keep the receipt from the passports.
    NOTE: Be aware that, even though Honduras doesn’t respect the CA-4, all other countries count your time in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua cumulatively. You have 90 days total. No exceptions. We were reminded of this when we entered Nicaragua.
  14. Head over to the aduana counter. Hand over your title, drivers passport and drivers license. The official will want a copy of the driver’s documents but doesn’t need a copy of the title.
  15. The official will ask some random questions about the car and where you are going, then will issue a permit. Check the info on the permit carefully. Ours claimed that Kobus was from Sudan. Not far off from South Africa if you’re in Nicaragua, I suppose. The guard corrected without hassles.
  16. With the vehicle permit, tourist card receipts, fumigation receipt and insurance paperwork in hand, drive to the right past the immigration building.
  17. Just past the building, officers will stop and ask for all of the above paperwork and may verify your VIN. Then they’ll send you on your way to Nicaragua.
  18. Get to hostel, and have a mojito or six. Pass out. Do not repeat.
Publisert

Border Crossing El Salvador to Honduras

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

El Salvador to Honduras Border Crossing

Border name: El Amatillo
Closest major cities: Santa Rosa de Lima, El Salvador and San Andres, Honduras
Cost for visas: $3 per person
Cost for vehicle: $40. + ($3.90 for copies)
Total time: 1.5 hours
The steps:

  1. At least a kilometer before the actual border crossing stop at the white shack on the right, it’s just after the speedbump. The official will cancel your El Salvador vehicle permit. Make sure you have a copy that he can stamp, you will need that later because he keeps the original.
  2. Drive ahead about a kilometer. Take a left at the fork in the road, away from the pretty new bridge.
  3. Park on the right side of the immigration/customs building. Under the awning is fine, but try not to block traffic.
  4. Go to the immigration counter and present your passports. The official will look over your passports and give you a small white piece of paper with the number of passports written on it. Keep the paper. Your passport will not be stamped (just as it wasn’t stamped on entry).
  1. Make copies of your cancelled vehicle permit. You will need one to exit El Salvador and three on the Honduran side.
  2. Get back in your car and drive to the start of the next bridge. An official will likely stop to collect your white slip of paper saying you went through immigration.
  3. At the start of the bridge, another El Salvadorian official will collect a copy of your cancelled El Salvadorian permit. Drive over the bridge.
  4. Just over the bridge you will be stopped by a Honduran official. He will ask for your title and the passport and license of the person driving. If you have any doubt that this guy is an official (and not a tout) ask to see his ID.
  5. He will instruct you where to park, about 150 meters ahead on the right at the aduana (customs) building.
  6. The official will return the driver’s passport and send you to immigration.
  7. Walk over to immigration, pay a $3 entry fee per person, fill out your tourist card. Don’t leave immigration without a passport stamp, a receipt and a tourist card.
  8. Go to the copy shop. You will need three copies of: vehicle title, vehicle registration, driver’s passport (photo page), drivers license, driver’s passport page with the new Honduran stamp, driver’s tourist card and receipt for the tourist card and the cancelled El Salvador vehicle permit
  9. Take your stack of copies back over to the aduana (customs) building. The official will take your pile of copies and spend a good bit of time entering it into a computer.
  10. The official will add a vehicle import stamp to the driver’s passport and then ask for a fee (around $40) and will present a receipt.
  11. If it’s Sunday or a holiday fees are paid in person, otherwise you will be directed to pay at a bank nearby.
  12. You will need to go back to the copy shop and make three more copies of the receipt. The official will keep two copies. You will need the third copy when you leave the border area.
  13. Make sure you have all of your original documents, and the numbers on the permits match the VIN and driver’s IDs. Get back in your car and drive around the immigration building.
  14. You may need to stop for fumigation here. We saw the white sign with green letters, but no one was around, and no one ever questioned us. We drove on.
  15. In about a kilometer a guard will stop and ask to see a pile of paperwork. He will check the numbers and return everything except the copy of the permit receipt.
  16. Drive away slowly, and be prepared for the 14 police checkpoints between El Amatillo and the Nicaraguan border.
Publisert

Border Crossing Guatemala to El Salvador

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Guatemala to El Salvador Border Crossing 

Border name: San Cristóbal
Closest major cities: El Progreso, Guatemala and Santa Ana, El Salvador
Cost for visas: $0.
Cost for vehicle: $0. ($.60 for copies)
Total time: 1 hour 45 minutes

The steps:

  1. Stop at the small booth on the right side of the road and tell the nice officials you need to have your vehicle permit cancelled. They will instruct you where to park.
  2. The SAT (permit officials) will remove the sticker from your car and double check the VIN and paperwork you received when entering.
  3. The official will walk you to the customs counter and present your paperwork to the officer.
  1. Before your paperwork can be cancelled your passport must be stamped. Go to Guatemalan immigration across the street and have your passport stamped.
  2. Return to the customs area and have your permit cancelled.
  3. Drive through to the El Salvador crossing.
  4. Go to the copy shop and make a copy of your Guatemalan cancelled permit. Also, make sure you have copies of your title and the driver’s passport.
  5. Park your car on the far right (not in the lane for immigration)
  6. Go to the customs windows (the first set), and ask for a temporary permit (permiso). They will need your title, drivers passport, and cancelled Guatemalan permit, and copies of all of these.
  7. Fill out a long form for your permit, you will need to know all the details for your car: VIN, CCs, type of car, color, cylinders, etc (in Spanish please).
  8. When you have your permit, go back to the copy stand and make two copies. You will surrender one when you leave the border. The other you will need when you leave the country.
  9. Drive into the main immigration lane. Wait in your car until your car is first in line.
  10. Present your passports. Immigration will stamp and let you drive through.
  11. Drive about 100 meters to the road block. Hand over both the original and a copy of your El Salvador permit. The official will keep the copy and return the original.
Publisert

Border Crossing Belize to Guatemala

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Belize to Guatemala Border Crossing 

Border name: Melchor de Mencos
Between cities: Benque Viejo Del Carmen, Belize and Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala
Cost to exit Belize: BZ37.50 ($18.75 USD)
Cost for visas: Q20 ($2.60 USD) per person (unofficially)
Cost for vehicle: Q18 ($2.34 USD) for fumigation, Q160 ($20.78 USD) for Vehicle Import Permit
Total time: 55 minutes

The steps:

  1. Go to the Belize immigration building.
  2. Pay the exit fee at the first counter.
  3. Have your passport stamped at the second counter.
  1. The driver takes the Belize vehicle permit to a third counter (the customs desk) on the side. Where the permit is cancelled.
  2. Passengers meet the driver on the other side of the customs checkpoint and proceed to Guatemala.
  3. First stop is the huge fumigation area. Your car is sprayed as you drive through. Pay the man upon exit and get a fumigation receipt.
  4. Walk to the open air customs and immigration building.
  5. Stand in the “Entrada” line. Get passports stamped and pay Q20 per person fee. There is no receipt for this fee, it isn’t official. And we probably could have argued our way out of it.
  6. Go to another man on the left side of the long counter. Present vehicle title, drivers passport and copies of both documents. He will give you a printed form with your vehicle information and the amount you have to pay.
  7. Go to the cashier window on the other side of the big building. Present the vehicle paperwork and pay the fee. The cashier will stamp the paperwork and return it to you.
  8. Go back to the vehicle import counter and show the official your stamped receipt from the cashier. He will issue you a permit sticker for your windshield and give you a paper permit and the receipt. He will keep the copies of your title and the drivers ID.
  9. Return to your car and affix the sticker, we were told on the top drivers side corner of the windshield, then drive towards the bridge.
  10. An officer will stop you and ask for your permit paperwork. He may take the paperwork to the side and consult with his gun toting colleagues. Then hopefully, he’ll return the paperwork and wave you through.
Publisert

Border Crossing Mexico to Belize

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Mexico to Belize Border Crossing  

Border name: Santa Elena or simply Chetumal
Between cities: Subteniente López (Chetumal), Mexico and Santa Elena (Corozal), Belize
Cost for visas: $0
Cost for vehicle: $5 USD for fumigation, $23 USD for 2 weeks insurance
Total time: 45 minutes

 

The steps:

  1. Go to the Mexican immigration booth, hand in your tourist cards and have your passport stamped.
  2. Go to the Mexican Banjercito and have your Vehicle Import Permit cancelled and your vehicle deposit ($200-400) refunded.
  3. Drive over the bridge.
  1. Stop at the fumigation area to have your car sprayed.
  2. Park in the marked lot outside the immigration building.
  3. Go to the immigration counter and have your passports stamped or visas issued.
  4. Go to the customs counter, present your vehicle title and get an import permit.
  5. Go back to the car and drive through the gate, an official may inspect the contents of your vehicle, the VIN and the plates to make sure they match the permit.
  6. Go to the Insurance office and buy mandatory insurance for the duration of your stay in Belize.
  7. Put the insurance sticker on your car windshield.
Publisert

Border Crossing USA to Mexico

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely. Border Crossing USA to Mexico Border name: San Ysidro Between cities: Chula Vista, USA and Tijuana, Mexico Cost for visas: $20 USD per tourist card Cost for vehicle: $48 plus $200 USD refundable deposit Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes The steps:

If you’ve imported your motorcycle from Europe to the USA you must get papers on the border of the United States that the motorcycle will be exported from the United States. EPA Nonresident Exemption and copy of export papers must then be submitted to EPA Imports Line Exemption so that it will be deleted from the list.

  1. Drive through the border
  2. Clear Mexican customs (red light, green light)
  3. Find the Banjercito / Migración office
  4. Go to the Migración office and fill out the tourist card paper.
  5. Go to the Banco and pay the tourist card fee. The bank and Banjercito are the same place at this border.
  6. Go back to the Migración office with your receipt and get a stamp on your tourist card.
  7. Go to the copy shop and make copies of your vehicle permit and the vehicle owner’s passport, tourist card and green card (if applicable).
  8. Go back to the Banjercito line. Give them the official copies and originals of vehicle and driver IDs. Pay the vehicle import fee. Give them a credit card for the vehicle deposit.
  9. Affix the registration sticker to your car.
Publisert

Besøkende på bloggen

Jeg er selvfølgelig spent nå før avreise. Det er bare 27 dager til første del av reisen (Mogreina – London) skal gjennomføres, men antall besøkende på siden kan også tyde på at det er flere som er spent på min reise. Juli 2013 var Anja og jeg på en 3 uker mc tur i USA og som man ser på statistikken under var da antall besøkende i snitt i overkant av 90 pr dag, men normalt bruker det være 15-20 stk som besøker min blogg pr dag. Men etter som avgangsdato har begynt å nærme seg stiger også gjennomsnittstallene. Så i slutten av 2014 endte med at tallene steg fra 16-21-35 og begynnelsen av 2015 begynte med 46-46-52. Dette kan jo nesten gi en stakkar prestasjonsangst 🙂 men samtidig er det selvfølgelig inspirerende at andre som enten er interessert min reise, eller som bare er generelt interessert i reiseforberedelser og reiseskildringer velger å besøke denne bloggen som tross alt bare skrives på Norsk. Hadde jeg vært 15 år, vært jente å kunne fortelle om hvilke sminketyper jeg brukte (Rosablogg) hadde nok antall besøkende vært høyere, men antall besøkende er uansett ikke motivasjonen til å skrive. Motivasjonen er å oppdatere familie og venner om status og forhåpentligvis motivere andre motorsyklister til å reise og dele sine opplevelser.

Besøkende på bloggen
Besøkende på bloggen

 

At det er besøkende fra 95 land som har vært innom bloggen så langt er også inspirerende. Det er selvfølgelig flest treff fra Norske brukere, men også USA, Sverige, Russland, UK, Finland, Canada, Tyskland og Danmark er innom med jevne mellomrom. Om det er rene bildesøk som gjør at de dropper innom bloggen eller eller at de bruker web lesere som oversetter tekst slik at de like vell får nytte ut av det som skrives vet jeg ikke så mye om. Flesteparten av de som følger bloggen via e-post varslinger er Norske men det er også en del utenlandske så web lesere som oversetter er nok helt klart ett godt hjelpemiddel.

Besøkende på bloggen
Besøkende på bloggen

 

Jeg kan ikke love noe spektakulære innlegg i løpet av reisen, men jeg skal gjøre ett forsøk på å beskrive positive og negative hendelser som skjer, hvordan været er, hvordan sykkelen, utstyret, humøret, naturen, veiene og folkene man møter gjør inntrykk på en godtroende naiv Nordmann 🙂

Forhåpentligvis får jeg også lastet opp bilder og muligens også video’er. Men dette krever at jeg har gode WiFi forhold på hotellene jeg besøker.

Kartsiden blir selvfølgelig oppdatert hele tiden så lenge jeg har satellitt dekning og den skal være bra så vidt jeg vet hele veien fra Alaska til man kommer halvveis ned i Chile. Dvs. at Chile og Argentina i følge satellitt kartet kan ha litt dårligere dekning.

I tillegg til mine innlegg på bloggen under veis vil også en motorsykkel kamerat her hjemme i Norge hjelpe meg med å legge inn litt informasjon når jeg ikke har WiFi dekning. F.eks. med å legge ut litt informasjon om områdene jeg har beveget meg i de siste dagene.

Publisert

Montering av fender extension, flagg, pluss litt annet

Tok meg en tur ut i garasjen i dag for å montere en fender extension. Vet ikke helt hva BMW tenkte på når de lagde kombinasjonen forskjerm – skid plate, men det fungerer i alle fall dårlig på grisete veier. All dritten spruter opp fra fordekket og legger seg på oljefilteret og oljekjøleren. Når disse tingene er fulle av skitt forhindres oljen å bli nedkjølt.

BMW F800GS Trophy
BMW F800GS Trophy

 

Med fender extension forhindrer jeg selvfølgelig at skitten kastes opp på oljefilter og kjøler men samtidig forhindrer jeg at dekket får kastet skitten ut av mønstret på en skikkelig måte. Så hvis jeg skulle havne i skikkelig våt gjørme kan det forårsake at gjørma legger seg inni skjermen og til slutt forhindrer at dekket går rundt. Med gatedekkene på har jeg 35mm klaring mellom dekk og skjerm, men med f.eks. TKC80 dekkene montert reduseres klaringen litt. Satser på at det går greit 🙂

BMW F800GS Trophy
BMW F800GS Trophy

 

Flagger måtte selvfølgelig også på plass 🙂 Kan ikke kjøre i utlandet uten det Norske flagget på sykelen. Har hatt med meg flagg både til USA og rundt om i Europa tidligere og det har sine fordeler. For det første ser andre trafikanter at de har med en turist å gjøre og det kan f.eks. ende opp med at de slipper deg enklere gjennom bytrafikken i stede for å stå på hornet. I tillegg er det ofte at folk rett og slett kommer bort å snakker med meg når man ser at man kjører med det Norske flagget på sykkelen.

BMW F800GS Trophy
BMW F800GS Trophy

 

Så var det på tide å ta av 4 – 5 lenker på den gamle kjeden pluss kjedelåsen. Skulle man være uheldig å ryke kjeden er det greit å ha lås og lenker pluss verktøy til å fikse det når man står langt ute i bushen.

BMW F800GS Trophy
BMW F800GS Trophy

 

Publisert

Første prøvepakking på selve sykkelen

Med 30 dager igjen til avreise tenkte jeg at det var på tide med en liten prøvepakking på sykkelen. Hverken kofferter eller bagger er fulle så sånn sett er jeg ikke bekymret men visse andre punkter var ikke avklart enda.

Den ene tingen var å montere en drikkeflaske lett tilgjengelig. Siden bare venstre side av sykkelen er aktuelle (kan jo ikke slippe gassen) er det ikke så mange steder å velge mellom. Jeg kunne montert den på 2 forskjellige måter på styret men endte til slutt opp med å montere den til øverste delen av veltebøylen så nærme ramma som mulig. På denne plasseringen er den lett tilgjengelig, men har nok ikke så høye tanker om at den kommer til å bli der på hele turen. Første velt på venstre siden så ødelegges sikkert festet, men den tid den sorg.

BMW F800GS Trophy - Drikkeflaske
BMW F800GS Trophy – Drikkeflaske

 

Resten av pakkingen gikk greit. 1 veske på hver av veltebøylene hvor den ene inneholder trekk til sykkelen og i den andre skal regntøyet legges i når det kommer i uke 15. Greit å slippe å rote i kofferter eller vesker når regnes begynner å øse ned.

Hvis jeg skal ha med meg ett ekstra sett med dekk tror jeg at jeg legger de på denne måten men jeg er fortsatt usikker på om jeg skal ha de med. Det blir mye vekt bak på sykkelen noe som gir demperen ekstra å jobbe med. På den andre siden veier ikke bagasjen i sin helhet mer enn 45kg så det bør gå bra.  Jeg kunne lagt fordekket rundt Rotopax kannen og bakdekket oppå der igjen men det ville forhindret at jeg på en enkel måte kan åpne lokkene på alu. kassene.Så dermed pakket jeg senter baggen på denne måten og la dekkene på skrått oppå Rotopax’en og senter baggen. Stroppene som jeg fikk forlenget med 20cm fungerte greit slik at de både kan brukes til å stroppe baggene og til å bære kassene enkelt i hus.

BMW F800GS Trophy
BMW F800GS Trophy

 

Tankveske fungerer greit der den skal være selv om den er litt i veien når man skal stå å kjøre. Den forhindrer ikke at man kan stå, men den føles litt i veien. Men fordelene med en tankveske er så mange at det er ikke tema å droppe den. Monteringen av Spot’ern gikk også greit å er ikke i veien for instrumentene.

BMW F800GS Trophy
BMW F800GS Trophy

 

Det som ikke gikk etter planen var monteringen av ToolTubene. Jeg hadde sett at disse enkelt kunne monteres på brakkettene til alu. koffertene men det var mest sannsynlig på en annen type alu kasse enn de jeg har. Jeg kunne montert en av de, men den andre fant jeg ingen plassering til. Så jeg bestemte meg for å droppe Tooltuben å heller hive verktøyet i de posene jeg hadde fått syd oppe i den ene alu kassen som like vell har ledig plass.

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Kawasaki KLR 650

 

Terje skal jo være med på turen fra Seattle til Ocala i Florida via Trans America Trail ruten.  Vi snakker altså om å krysse USA på tvers via ett nettverk av grusveier.

Jeg har jo min motorsykkel med meg fra Norge siden jeg skal kjøre hele distansen fra Alaska til sydspissen av Argentina, men Terje må jo nødvendigvis kjøpe/leie sykkel i USA. Det viste seg å leie sykkel som skulle brukes på grusveier og som samtidig godtok en innlevering på andre siden av USA ble en umulig oppgave så dermed begynte jobben med å finne en sykkel å kjøpe. Vi kontaktet Skagitpowersports i Burlington som ligger ca 120km nord for flyplassen i Seattle.

Skagitpowersports hadde en Kawasaki KLR650 2012 med alu kasser til en fornuftig pris. Sykkelen var bare gått ca. 1300 miles, service var utført. Casandra hos Skagitpowersports var ryddig i dialogen og kunne kjapt fortelle hvordan vi skulle gå frem for å kunne gjennomføre handelen. Bl.a. er det en utfordring hvis man ikke har en adresse i samme stat som man kjøper og skal registrere sykkelen, men dette ble ordet i løpet av kvelden.

Sykkelen ser flott ut 🙂

Kawasaki KLR650 2012
Kawasaki KLR650 2012
Kawasaki KLR650 2012
Kawasaki KLR650 2012
Kawasaki KLR650 2012
Kawasaki KLR650 2012

 

Kjekt at den i tillegg har en 3 gallon Rotopax så dermed har vi rikelig med bensin. Litt merkelig plassering av kannen men det går det an å gjøre noe med.

Kawasaki KLR650 2012
Kawasaki KLR650 2012
Kawasaki KLR650 2012
Kawasaki KLR650 2012
Kawasaki KLR650 2012
Kawasaki KLR650 2012

 

Kawasaki’s profilation of this bike
Across sand, dirt, forests, and of course pavement, nothing else adapts like the KLR™650. Built for almost any terrain an adventurous rider could dream up, this dual-sport can go the distance with its rugged single-cylinder engine and incredible fuel efficiency.

 

General information
Model: Kawasaki KLR 650
Year: 2012
Category: Super motard
Rating: 72.7 out of 100. Show full rating and compare with other bikes
Engine and transmission
Displacement: 651.00 ccm (39.72 cubic inches)
Engine type: Single cylinder, four-stroke
Compression: 9.8:1
Bore x stroke: 100.0 x 83.0 mm (3.9 x 3.3 inches)
Valves per cylinder: 4
Fuel system: Carburettor. Keihin CVK40
Fuel control: DOHC
Ignition: Electric CDI
Cooling system: Liquid
Gearbox: 5-speed
Transmission type,
final drive:		 Chain
Chassis, suspension, brakes and wheels
Frame type: Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel
Rake (fork angle): 28.0°
Trail: 112 mm (4.4 inches)
Front suspension: 41mm telescopic fork / 7.9 in.
Rear suspension: Uni-Trak single-shock system with 5-way preload and stepless rebound damping / 7.3 in.
Front tyre: 90/90-21
Rear tyre: 130/80-17
Front brakes: Single disc
Front brakes diameter: 280 mm (11.0 inches)
Rear brakes: Single disc
Rear brakes diameter: 240 mm (9.4 inches)
Physical measures and capacities
Weight incl. oil, gas, etc: 196.0 kg (432.0 pounds)
Seat height: 889 mm (35.0 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting.
Overall height: 1,349 mm (53.1 inches)
Overall length: 2,296 mm (90.4 inches)
Overall width: 960 mm (37.8 inches)
Ground clearance: 211 mm (8.3 inches)
Wheelbase: 1,481 mm (58.3 inches)
Fuel capacity: 23.09 litres (6.10 gallons)
Other specifications
Starter: Electric
Factory warranty: 12 Months
Color options: Red/gray, black/gray, blue/white
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Ca. 2 mnd igjen til avreise :-)

Bilder og tekst fungerer greit på en blogg men her kommer en liten video også. Min Engelsk har aldri vært perfekt, å den lille Engelsken jeg kan er lært mens jeg seilte utenriks eller på mc turer. Men jeg har i alle fall lært nok til at jeg har lært at Engelsktalende personer er happy så lenge man forsøker å gjøre seg forstått. Så langt har det stort sett gått greit 🙂

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Pakkingen går sin gang

Pakklisten består av totalt 211 ting. Av disse 211 tingene gjenstår nå 4 ting å finne frem.

211 ting høres mye ut, å det er muligens mye, men etter første prøvepakking ser det ut til at dette gå helt greit. Foreløpig er det bare en alu koffert som er helt full, pluss baggen som skal være midt på sykkelen. De små veskene på veltebøylene er fulle og det samme blir nok også Tool tube’ene. Men den andre alu kofferten er bare 3/4 full og de 2 andre baggene som skal være oppå alu koffertene er muligens fylt opp med 60%. Dermed er det både plass til mat og hvis det skulle dukke opp noe under veis som blir kjøpt som minne.

Bagasjen inklusiv det bagasjen skal pakkes i veier i underkant av 45kg pluss Rotopax med innhold (bensin).

Blått = OK

Grønn = Må skaffes (ikke overskriftene)

Grå = OK men ikke pakket på plass enda

Pakkliste (1)
Pakkliste (1)
Pakkliste (2)
Pakkliste (2)
Pakkliste (3)
Pakkliste (3)
Publisert

Air Optix linser

Jeg har 2 lister som jeg jobber meg gjennom i forbindelse med forberedelsene. Den ene er en ToDo liste, og den andre listen er «pakkelisten». Punktene med utestående oppgaver reduseres sakte men sikkert og nå som linsene er kommet er 1 ting på ToDo listen fjernet.

Linsene kom i posten i dag. Bruk av briller når man kjører med hjelm har i flere år har vært ett irritasjonsmoment så i høst bestemte jeg meg for å teste ut om linser var noe for meg. Etter å ha testet 2 forskjellige styrker endte jeg opp med 2.75 i styrke og linsetypen ble månedlinser. Bestilte derfor 12 par med linser slik at jeg skal ha for de 12 neste mnd.’ene. I tillegg har jeg selvfølgelig kjøpt linsevann, øyedråper etc. Brillene vil bli pakket ned i bagasjen, men hvis jeg i alle fall kan droppe de når jeg har hjelmen på har jeg oppnådd det jeg ønsket.

Air Optix linser
Air Optix linser
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Reiseforsikringen hos Worldnomads i boks

Forsikring på en slik tur er viktig. Jeg har forsøkt å regne litt på forskjellige alternativer og endte til slutt opp med å bruke Worldnomads. Dette er ett selskap jeg har fått anbefalt av andre som reiser på tilsvarende turer og prisen er til å leve med selv om det selvfølgelig er mye høyere enn en vanlige Norsk reiseforsikring som i følge teksten skal være ett «helårsforsikring». Men en helårsforsikring varer bare i 30, 45 eller 60 dager avhengig av forsikringsselskap.

Så i teorien satt jeg igjen med følgende alternativer:

1: Helårsforsikring (1390kr) for 60 dager  og så kjøpe Worldnomads forsikring for perioden utover disse 60 dagene.

Fungerer ikke siden helårsforsikringen krever at du reiser hjem etter 60 dager.

***

2: Helårsforsikring for 60 dager å så kjøpe en utvidelse. Men utvidelse kan kun kjøpes til max 180 dager.

Kan ikke brukes siden 180 dager ikke er nok for min reise.

***

3: Helårsforsikring (1390kr) for 60 dager og så kjøpe en utvidet reiseforikring hos Gouda Reiseforikringer som da overtar når de første 60 dagene er oppbrukt. Dette skulle de ca. 12.000kr for.

Ble ett for dyrt alternativ.

***

4: Helårsforsikring for 60 dager, kjøpe en utvidelse med 30 dager til (totalt 3.460kr), og så kjøpe en  Worldnomads forsikring som overtar etter de første 90 dagene.

Kan heller ikke brukes pga at de krever at man skal reise hjem etter de første 90 dagene.

***

5: Vurderte også Helårsforsikring for 60 dager, reise i USA i 2-4 uker uten forsikring, for så å ha  Worldnomads forsikring f.o.m. Mexico.

Men problemet med at de forlangt hjemreise etter 60 dager var fortsatt en utfordring.

***

Så jeg endte opp med å kjøpe hele forsikringperioden hos Worldnomads. Dette skulle de ha 833€ (7225kr), men med en coupon codes fikk jeg  58,31€ (505kr) i rabatt så sluttsummen ble 776,69€ (6736kr). Da har jeg en forsikring fra turens begynnelse til turens slutt. Jeg valgte Explorer forsikringen i stede for Standard selv om denne var ca 80€ dyrere men det gjorde jeg pga. de tingene man får ekstra. Eksempelvis:

  • Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses: Unlimited
  • Physiotherapy or chiropractic treatment: €1500
  • Treatment by acupuncturist or osteopath: €350
  • Missed Flight Connection: €700
  • Hijacking: €700

etc etc etc.

Men det er vell med denne forsikring som alle andre forsikringer at den dagen du trenger forsikringen så står det ett eller annet med liten skrift som sørger for at du ikke er dekket like vell 🙂

 

WordNomads.com Certificate og Insurance
WordNomads.com Certificate og Insurance
Publisert

Mandatory reflective vests with printed license plate and license plate sticker on helmet

Guatemala, Colombia og Argentina har så vidt jeg vet nå innført regler om at registreringsnummeret på motorsykkelen skal være synlig både på refleksvesten som man da må kjøre med hele tiden pluss på hjelmen.

 

Reflective vests with printed license plate and license plate sticker on helmet
Reflective vests with printed license plate and license plate sticker on helmet

 

En av årsakene til at denne loven har blitt etablert skal være på grunn av at motorsykler ofte brukes av ‘sicarios, or hitmen’ for enkelt kommer nærme ett offer, for så å skyte offeret, å enkelt forlate stedet igjen.

Teksten under hentet jeg fra en internettside i Colombia. Det er bare ett lite utdrag av en lengre tekst, men disse setningene sier muligens nok.

***************************************************************************************

MEDELLÍN, Colombia — For decades, motorbikes have been the cheapest and most convenient mode of transport on Medellín’s sinuous streets, where they dart and weave nimbly among traffic.

But motorcycles are also a deadly tool here, used by sicarios, or hitmen, to get close to their victims. The sicarios ride in pairs, with the driver and gunman sidling up alongside their targets, disposing of them with a few shots, then racing away.

In recent years, authorities have tried to stem motorcycle hits by requiring all motorcyclists to wear reflective vests and helmets that display their license plate numbers.

However, such measures have been slow to work. During the first 10 months of 2012, Medellín recorded 176 murders on motorcycles — or 15 percent of all homicides.

***************************************************************************************

Så i stede for å få ett problem på grensen kan man vell like godt skaffe seg dette før man reiser, eller i alle fall før man kjører inn i Mellom Amerika. Regner med at de vet å ta seg godt betalt når du står der på grensen å ikke kommer videre, eller man ser politiet står noen hundre meter etter grenseovergangen å bare venter på å kunne gi deg en bot.

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Trans America Trail (TAT)

Etter å ha tilbakelagt i underkant av 6000km (Alaska – Canada) er planen å møte Terje i Seattle. De første planene var at vi sammen skulle kjøre Trans America Trail ruta fra Port Orford i Oregon til Denver i Colorado. Men Terje har utvidet ferieplanene så nå er planen å fortsette på Trans America Trail ruta etter at vi har vært i Denver også. John som etter planen skal møte meg i Anchorage den 13 mai, og som skal kjøre sammen med meg i Alaska og Canada skal også kjøre sammen med Terje og meg på TAT ruta fra Seattle til Denver.

I Denver kommer vi mest sannsynlig til å skulle lag. John kommer muligens til å kjøre sydover i retning Mexico sammen med 2 andre personer som vi har avtalt å møte i Denver, mens Terje og jeg fortsetter videre østover langs TAT ruta. Hvor lenge vi kan fortsette på TAT ruta før vi legger turen sydover i retning Florida er avhengig av hvilken dato vi forlater Denver. Det hadde selvfølgelig vært gøy å kjøre TAT ruta helt ut til østkysten ved Jacksonville i North Carolina men det er tross alt nesten 2900km fra Denver til Summerfield i Florida langs anbefalt kjøreruter så det kan være at vi må droppe litt grusveier de siste dagene å ta noen transport etapper på asfalterte veier.

Terje har satt av i overkant av 4 uker til denne turen og jeg gleder meg masse. 4 uker med ett godt reisefølge på en så spesiell reiserute kommer til å bli kjempebra. TAT ruta fra kyst til kyst i ett strekk er det ikke mange som har gjennomført før oss, så dette blir spennende. Så nå håper jeg inderlig at den gpx filen jeg har klart å skaffe meg som skal inneholde hele ruta faktisk fungerer slik jeg håper. GPX filen skal være ett nettverk av 93% grus og 7% asfalterte veier. «Grusveiene» skal visstnok være alt fra vanlige grusveier til stier, skogsveier og inneholde alt fra fjelloverganger til ‘ørken’ og skoger.

Totalt sett snakker vi om ei rute som går gjennom følgende stater:

  • Oregon
  • California
  • Nevada
  • Utah
  • Colorado
  • New Mexico
  • Oklahoma
  • Arkansas
  • Mississippi
  • Tennessee
  • Kentucky
  • North Carolina
Trans America Trail (TAT)
Trans America Trail (TAT)

 

Etter at Terje reiser hjem fra Orlando i Florida begynner min tur vestover. Hvor jeg velger å kjøre inn i Mexico har jeg ikke bestemt meg for enda. De andre som reiste fra Denver når Terje og jeg kjørte videre på TAT rute har når 3 uker forsprang. Så hvis jeg skal ta de igjen burde jeg ta første avstikkeren inn i Mexico fra Texas, men jeg har ett stort ønske om å kjøre Baja. Hvis jeg skal kjøre Baja må jeg helt bort til San Diego området i California så hvis de andre gutta ikke også velger Baja kommer jeg sikkert ikke til å ta de igjen før jeg kommer ett godt stykke ned i Syd Amerika. Velger de også Baja og tar det litt med ro kan det være at jeg tar de igjen ett eller annet sted før Panama slik at vi kan ta båten sammen over til Colombia.

Publisert

U.S. issues new travel advisory for Mexico as murders and kidnappings

Kidnapping av turister er helt klart noe som foregår både i Mexico, Brazil, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras og mange andre land som jeg skal kjøre gjennom. Bare i løpet av 6 mnd. fikk den Amerikanske ambassade melding om 70 kidnappinger. De fleste tilfelles løses ved at man betaler løsepenger, men dessverre er det ikke alle situasjoner som ender lykkelig av den grunn. Så vidt jeg har klart å finne ut dekker ikke Norske forsikringer kidnapping så hvis man er bekymret bør man vurdere å gå for en utenlandsk forsikring som også dekker dette. De tallene jeg sitter med er at det ble meldt om totalt over 1400 kidnappinger i Mexico i løpet av 2013.

Kidnapping
Kidnapping

Ett annet problem man skal være klar over er landevei tyver. Det sies at det er tryggest på motorveiene, men skal man kjøre motorsykkel i disse landene er det ikke motorveier man oppsøker. En hovedklar oppfordring må være å ikke kjøre etter mørkets frembrudd og at man ikke stopper for å hjelpe folk som ser ut til å trenge hjelp langs veien.

Leste denne teksten på MexicoNewsDaily

*******************************************************************************

The United States government has issued a new travel warning for visitors to Mexico, advising that security threats are posed by organized crime in certain areas.

Travelers should avoid trips that aren’t strictly necessary to the state of Tamaulipas, border areas of Michoacán, apart from the cities of Morelia and Lázaro Cárdenas, and border zones of Piedras Negras and Nuevo Laredo in Coahuila.

The same recommendation is in force for Zacatecas and Nayarit, bordering Sinaloa, where only Mazatlán is deemed safe.

Border zones between Aguascalientes and Zacatecas are also danger areas, as well as commercial areas of Ciudad Juárez and industrial parks in Chihuahua. Sonora being a key area in international drug trafficking, it can be “extremely dangerous” for travelers, the advisory continues, in the area west of Nogales.

The report says 81 Americans were assassinated in Mexico last year, 10 more than in 2012, and an increase in kidnappings was noted in the states of Tamaulipas, Guerrero, Michoacán, Mexico and Morelos.

During the first six months of this year the American embassy and consulates in Mexico received 70 reports of kidnappings of American citizens. Kidnappings were of the traditional kind, in which victims are physically removed from their surroundings, as well as “virtual,” in which the victim is detained in his hotel until payment is received.

The warning also said theft of vehicles using violence and thefts on highways are also “a serious problem” in many border areas, and there are cases in which Americans have lost their lives.

The U.S. government urges travelers in vehicles to travel by day, avoid remote highways and use toll highways where possible.

There is no advisory in effect for the states of Baja California, Campeche, Chiapas, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, Quinta Roo, Tabasco, Tlaxcala, Yucatán and D.F. The warning is the first to be issued since last January.

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Proof of finances eller Letter of introduction

«Proof of Finances» eller «Letter of introduction» blir gjerne krevd hvis man kommer til ett land og man har tenkt å bli der en stund. I Canada f.eks. bør man ha ett Proof of Finances hvis man kommer dit som arbeidssøkende. Dokumentet beviser da at du kan finansiere oppholdet frem til du får deg en jobb. Jeg skal ikke søke om jobb noe sted på denne reisen men i følge hva jeg leser på andre sine reiseblogger kan man faktisk få spørsmål om dette dokumentet ved innreise til noen av de landene jeg skal besøke. Man vil nok komme seg gjennom uten dette dokumentet men hvis jeg kan klare å lette innreisen med  å slippe 2 timer argumentering med en bakfull toller gjør jeg gjerne det.

Tror like vell at hvis man velger å ta med seg ett slik dokument skal man ikke vise det frem hvis man ikke absolutt må. Dokumentet «beviser» at du har penger å det er ikke nødvendigvis positivt i alle sammenhenger.

 

Proof of Finance eller Letter of introduction
Proof of Finance eller Letter of introduction

 

Publisert

IBAR members map

Dette kartet kan være greit å ha tilgjengelig når jeg er på tur. Så da får jeg legge det på bloggen min slik at jeg kan logge meg opp her å sjekke hvis det skulle bli behov. IBAR er forkortelsen for International Brotherhood of Adventure Riders som en Facebook samling av folk som liker å reise og oppleve nye steder på mc. Ved hjelp av kartet kan man kontakte andre personer langs ruten hvis det skulle dukke opp mekaniske problemer, behov for overnatting, eller rett og slett bare trenger tips om severdigheter i nærheten. Man kan sikkert si masse rart om Facebook men noen positive ting finnes det også 🙂

 

Ja, å hvis noen skulle lure så ligger selvfølgelig jeg der også 🙂

Publisert

Fant endelig dødsmerket

Når jeg gikk å la meg i natt fant jeg ut at jeg skulle teste liggeunderlaget og den nyinnkjøpte puta. Det er jo ikke noe vits i å dra med seg masse utstyr hvis det ikke fungerer på gulvet engang. Liggeunderlaget ble pumpet opp, soveposen funnet frem og den selvoppblåsbare puta ble manuelt oppblåst 🙁 ?

I løpet av noen minutter fant jeg ut at dette fungerte ikke. Soveposen er så varm at jeg fant ut at her var det bare å finne frem lakenposen for så å bruke soveposen som dyne. Så da var det bare å sove …………. men nei den gang ei. Puta var umulig å ligge på, så etter å ha tatt ut litt luft, testet, tatt ut litt luft, testet litt ga jeg til slutt opp å gikk å hentet meg en vanlig pute. Men etter å ha brukt en vanlig pute denne nattet testet jeg litt til i dag. Da fjernet jeg 90% av luften og da kunne den brukes uavhengig om jeg lå på ryggen, på siden eller på magen. Puta blir derfor med på tur 🙂

På tide å gå å legge seg
På tide å gå å legge seg

 

Når jeg skulle pakke utstyret ned i baggen igjen fant jeg frem Helsport Komprimeringstrekk str. Medium. Den har følgende mål: Diameter 21 cm – Lengde 52 cm

Dvs. at man får plass til sovepose, liggeunderlag, lakenpose og pute oppe i dette komprimeringstrekket.

Helsport Komprimeringstrekk str. Medium
Helsport Komprimeringstrekk str. Medium

 

Hvis man passer på å kjøpe ting som har lav vekt og små byggemål tar det ikke så stor plass. Så når jeg legger en flaske med munnskyllevann oppå komprimeringstrekket synes jeg ikke volumet er så stort med tanke på at den inneholder sovepose, liggeunderlag, lakenpose og pute. Til høyre ligger tarp’en og helt til venstre ligger teltet.

Camping Gear
Camping Gir

 

Så selv om alt utstyret legges i en bagg er det fortsatt plass. Dette er den største av 3 bagger og planen er å ha denne bak meg på sadlen.

Camping Gear
Camping Gir

 

Det siste jeg fikk gjort var å endelig finne dødsmerket (eller hva det nå heter). Årsake til å jeg har leitet etter dødsmerket er at jeg viste at blodtypen står her. Tenkte nemlig at det kunne være greit å vite hvilken blodtype jeg har 🙂 A+ var svaret 🙂

Nesten 30 år siden jeg brukte det sist så synes ikke det var verst at jeg fant det igjen.

Dødsmerket
Dødsmerket
Publisert

Forsikring for motorsykkelen USA og Canada i boks :-)

Har en ToDo liste som jeg bare må komme meg gjennom og forsikring er helt klart ett viktig punkt på denne listen. Så i dag satte jeg i gang med en liten mailrunde for å finne ut hvem jeg skulle velge. Jeg endte til slutt opp med å bestille forsikringen gjennom Motorcycle Express. Dette er ett selskap jeg også var i kontakt med når det gjaldt shipping av min sykkel til Alaska, men de kunne dessverre ikke frakte min sykkel helt til Anchorage. Men nå går jeg altså gjennom de for å få forsikring til turen gjennom Alaska, Canada og de «lower 48» som de kaller de statene som ligger syd for Canada 🙂

Skal ikke gjenta alt som sto på mailen jeg fikk i kveld med prisen og de viktigste tingene er i alle fall listet opp her:

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We are pleased to provide you with a quote based on the application you submitted for 3  month(s).

Requested Effective Date of the Policy:      May 13, 2015 **

**Date you take possession of your bike in the US/Canada. This policy does not provide coverage while in transit or storage.

Requested Expiration Date of the Policy:    August 13, 2015

 

Premium:                    $417.73   Service Fee:                    60.00

Total:     US Dollars:   $477.73

 

In addition to the liability coverage, our policy INCLUDES AT NO ADDITIONAL COST:

Uninsured & Underinsured Coverage – This provides coverage for bodily injuries caused by a negligent motorist (other party is at fault) who has no insurance or not enough liability insurance to pay for the injuries they caused. This coverage is included in this policy up to the liability limits you selected. Remember… insurance is not mandatory in all states so this will provide coverage if the other party is at fault.

 

Roadside Assistance  –This coverage is available 24/7 and includes battery jumpstart, towing and flat tire towing (up to 35 mi) among other Things.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE THIS COVERAGE, PLEASE REPLY TO THIS EMAIL WITH YOUR APPROVAL.  We will then email you the application to sign and a PayPal invoice under PolicyDogLLC, our parent company. Please check your Spam Email if you do not see it in your Inbox.. Please note: Applications cannot be processed until 90 days prior to effective date. (Premium may change if quote is over 90 days).  Please allow up to 10 business days for processing from the date of your signed application, proof of ownership and payment is received. You will receive proof of insurance by email.

Policies cannot be quoted and issued on the same day. Coverage becomes effective the day after your properly completed application and payment has been received by the company, or at a later date, if specified. Any refunds will be returned by check in US Dollars.

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Så da er i alle fall sykkelen forsikret i perioden USA og Canada pluss at hvis jeg blir skadet dekkes også dette uavhengig av skyld.

Har sjekket litt angående reiseforsikring gjennom Norske forsikringsselskaper med dette er jo egentlig håpløst. Selv om man har en reiseforsikring i polisen sin som betales på årsbasis, dekker denne bare reiser med max varighet i 30. 45 eller i beste fall 60 dager. Ett sted kunne jeg få en utvidet reiseforsikring som varte i 180 dager, men da kostet det rundt 10.000kr. Ett annet sted kunne de overta reiseforsikringen når de vanlig 60 dagene var utgått, å det skulle de ha 11.000kr.

Forsikring for Mexico og noen av landene i Syd Amerika kan kjøpes på nettet men siden jeg ikke vet når jeg er i de forskjellige landene får det enten bli kjøpt på nettet når jeg er on the road, eller jeg får kjøpe på grensen.

Spurte også de Norske selskapene om reiseforsikringen dekke kidnapping men det gjorde de ikke. Utover det å bli skadet i forbindelse med en ulykke er vell dødsfall og kidnapping de 2 neste viktigste forsikringspunktene som burde vært hukket av på listen i tillegg til sykdom.

Publisert

Meguiars Metal Polish

Testet Meguiars Metal Polish på Touratech sine alu. koffertene i kveld.

Meguiars Metal Polish
Meguiars Metal Polish

 

Alu. kassene var i utgangspunktet ikke så ille, men etter å ha smurt utover dette stoffet for så å bruke en fiberduk til å fjerne stoffet igjen kunne man se at duken var helt svart. Så noe skitt må det ha vært like vell 🙂

Fiberdukene ble faktisk så skitne at jeg ikke fikk gjort ferdig jobben så jeg får fortsette i morgen. Men at det hjalp er det ikke tvil om. Stoffet kan helt klart anbefales.

Touratech alu koffert pusset med Meguiars Metal Polish
Touratech alu koffert pusset med Meguiars Metal Polish
Publisert

10 gode råd å tenke på når man skal kjøre Dalton Highway, Alaska

Man kan ikke lære av bare å lese på internett, men man kan i alle fall ta lærdom av de råd som gis av de som har gjort ting før deg. Mange av tingene kan muligens se på som en selvfølge, men det er den samlede mengde med informasjon man må ta inn over seg.

 

 

  1. Don’t: Put Weight Up High Pack your bike with care. On the Dalton, you are going to hit 700 yards of terror. The road is going to be so slick you lose all traction, and every little thing in your favor is precious. Keep your center of gravity low. Anything heavy in your gear should be at the bottom of your panniers, strapped to your bike low, or discarded altogether. A classic example of over packing are the motorcycle campers who have so much stuff, and they need to put it somewhere. Then, the tendency is to pack it high on the bike. Big mistake. For the riders on the BMW 1200 Adventures, this rule also applies. I have talked to a handful of riders on these beastly steeds that have topped off their 9 gallon tanks, only to hit a slippery section on the highway and go down. This usually means parts of the bike and rider get broken. My advice to them is to fill up their tanks with only 7 gallons, instead of topping it off. On the Dalton, no matter how you plan and what the weather, you can always have a mile of terror. Talk to one rider and they breezed up and down it, enjoyed 70 degree temperatures, and the ride was easy. Talk to another with the same weather conditions, and they hit several road construction areas where a grater and a water truck are working together to make your life a sloppy misery. As long as you bank on a greasy mile of muck, you should be prepared for the Dalton. There is a chance you will not encounter muddy conditions, but chances are you will, so come prepared.
  2. Do: Choose your Tires Wisely Long distance tourers have a dilemma: Do I pick a knobby tire or less aggressive tire? Since you are destined to hit a sloppy section on the Dalton Highway, you should be aware that there are two main schools of thought I have come across regarding the Dalton when it comes to tires. Some say knobbies, and some say 70 -30 tires. Both work and have their limitations and to be honest, much of it comes down to rider skill. Knobbies are great for the Dalton Highway. This is the surest way to prepare for the water truck or mother natures over-watering program. The only problem with knobbies is that you will have to plan ahead, since if you are riding up the highway on your own from the continental USA, you will most likely run them down before you get there. Because of this, an outfit called Adventure Cycle Works out of Fairbanks was started. You can send them your tires, have them waiting and put on before you start your run to the Arctic Ocean. Once you are on your way back down, you can have them taken off. So, a little extra time and money spent in Fairbanks will insure that you as much grip as possible for your Arctic Ocean journey. 70-30 tires are not mud tires, but are designed to displace it and keep traction. Both Metzler and Avon put out very good, long lasting tires. I am a real fan of the Avon Distanzia, which is a good street tire, but really shines when the conditions start to go sloppy. And, you can get 6,000 miles out of the rear. There are times on the Dalton when the mud is so thick, especially in a road construction area, that you will lose your grip, no matter what tire you have. Do not be surprised when this happens. Just get on the pegs, drop a gear to gain torque, and put a little throttle on….
  3. Don’t: Go without an Emergency Plan The Dalton Highway runs through the most remote parts of North America. There is no infrastructure up there to deal with accidents. If you get into an emergency situation, chances are, you are going to have to get yourself out of it. There is heavy truck traffic up and down the highway, and they do help riders quite often, but do not rely on it. Bring a Buddy: With a second rider, at least you can formulate a plan of extraction without feeding mosquitos off to the side of the road without a plan! SPOT: bring a spot device, especially if you are riding alone, so at least your friends and loved ones will know where you are and can help you, albeit belatedly. Bring a Sat Phone: This is by far the smartest solution. If anything should happen, you can at least start fixing the problem immediately. The sat phone saves time, worse injury and life. There really is no good reason not to have one if you are going to travel in this remote corner of the world – especially alone. Have Tools: (See #10)
  4. Do: Make sure to have Dirt Riding Skills The Dalton is not the place to start to learn how to ride dirt. I have seen too many gung-ho riders take their unprepared bikes up there, only to receive a strong thwarting from the conditions. Some bikes come back broken, some come back on the top of trailers. Some of these bikes never run again. The truth is, the rider did not have the skills for the terrain. Some riders seem to think that since the highway exists on a map, and looks like any other road on the map, it must be like any other road. Wrong. If you did not grow up on dirt bikes, race competatively, or take an off-road course and practice, then this road can be over your head. If you do not know to get on the pegs and give it the gas when things get creamy, then you should not be on the Dalton at all. This road will throw everything at you, and your mistake can cost you thousands of dollars or worse. Before you ride it, be sure to know how to handle your bike in gravel, deep gravel, and mud. Practice fire roads at home and dirt tracks. Spin that back tire and get familiar with acceleration….these are the tools you need to master before going up the Dalton safely.
  5. Don’t: Forget about Fuel The Dalton Highway has 245 mile stretch without fuel. Most 5-gallon tank bikes will not make this if the rider is going over 60 m.p.h. Therefore, bring a small, two-gallon fuel container and strap it to you bike for your ride north out of Fairbanks. You won’t use it until Coldfoot, but you will be glad you brought it! Running out of gas on the Dalton is a bummer, and usually includes voracious mosquitoes…to be avoided if possible!
  6. Do: Clean your Radiator and Air Intake The consistency of dirt on this highway is like clay. They mix the road surface with Calcium Chloride to keep the dust down in the summer. It also acts as a natural hardener so when the road surface is dry the heavy truck traffic forms it to have the characteristics of pavement – when it is dry. When wet, a thin layer of mucky clay begins to cake onto your bike. Once it sticks to your engine, it heats up and dries like ceramic. Once this happens, you can’t get it off, even with a chisel. To be sure, once you ride the Dalton, your bike will never be the same – that stuff will never come off your bike completely. This muck will cover your engine and causing it to heat up. It will also clog your radiator, your air intake and if gone unchecked will cause your engine to severely overheat, to the point that it will stop you in your tracks. I picked up a Japanese rider who had this happen to him, and he has spent a couple of miserable nights out with his mosquito friends. To counter any problems, find a hose in Coldfoot on your way up and down…and see if you can find one in Deadhorse. This is not an easy task, but you’ll find if ask nicely, you will be able to clean out your radiator and air intake in that lonely outpost.
  7. Do: Choose the Right Bike. Many riders figure that they can take their comfortable cruiser up the Dalton. This works well, until you hit that 700 yards of terror. A couple of years ago, some adventurous Harley riders chose to take on this highway after the annual HOG rally. What happened after that was a disaster: some of the riders were air-vaced out and some of the bikes never rode again. Though there are riders that make it all the way to Deadhorse on their large street bikes, many will tell you that they would not do it again. My suggestion is that you leave your street bike for the street, and ride a dirt-oriented motorcycle on the Dalton. All of the BMW GS models do well up there and any 650 cc dual-sport style bike will be the most appropriate. The dilemma for many long distance tourers is sacrificing the comfort of their street machine for the long miles it takes to get to Alaska. Why do that for just the couple of days it takes to ride to the Arctic Ocean? A safe solution for this is to ride to Anchorage and rent a motorcycle for that portion of the trip. Both MotoQuest (Motorcycle Rentals, Tours and Self-Guided Adventures | MotoQuest) and Alaska Motorcycle Adventures (Home Alaska Motorcycle Rentals) offer this service. You can take your street bike to them for storage, and rent a well-equipped adventure bike for that portion of your adventure.
  8. Don’t: Push It Most accidents I have encountered on the Dalton involved the most insidious of enemies: fatigue. The nature of the Dalton Highway plays into the hands of this very dangerous condition. There is no where to stop, no places «to see»… so the rider keeps on going. During the long summer days, the rider on vacation who has drawn up an aggressive schedule to «see it all» in Alaska will not stop until the sun goes down. In the land of the Midnight Sun, this won’t happen for a couple of months!! Therefore, these riders push themselves to the brink of exhaustion…and then a little more. This is when a rider loses a second of concentration, drifts to the soft shoulder of the road, and then gets flung into the bushes. It does not take much for a rider to completely change their trip and life on this road. To avoid this, I recommend that riders budget 4 days from Fairbanks to Deadhorse and back. Stop in Coldfoot or Wiseman for the night on your way north and on your way south. Stop in Deadhorse for the night and get some rest. I have come across too many accidents of even experienced riders who have made the ride from Coldfoot to Deadhorse, only to turn around and try to make it back to Coldfoot that evening. This is when the danger of fatigue is at its peak. The north slope of Alaska is not a place to run the risk of an accident. You are best off spending the $200+ for a night at a hotel in Deadhorse and getting your rest. This road taxes your senses and your ability to concentrate. Be smart: don’t push it at all.
  9. Do: Be aware of Truck Traffic The main purpose for the Dalton Highway is for the oil companies to be able to service the oil fields at the Arctic Ocean. Large 18-wheel trucks are constantly running this road. Until a few years ago, these trucks were the only vehicles allowed to ride past the Yukon River. The culture of trucking in this neck of the woods has not changed much from those days: the truck owns the roads. When you are riding there, you need to adhere to a new set of rules and become very aware of the effect large trucks have on your ride to the Arctic. Here are some skills you will need to develop: When you cross a truck on dirt: Hunker down behind your windscreen. These trucks are throwing rock – sometimes the size of baseballs – and you need to protect yourself. Do not ride with your face shield open. Keep as much of your body behind a protective surfaces as possible. Let trucks pass. Many of these trucks are empty after delivering their supplies and are trying to make time. They run at speeds of up to 90 m.p.h.!! Keep vigilant in your rear view mirror for these monsters creeping up on you. To be sure, you will be passed! The shoulders of this road are extremely soft, and will throw you into the bushes. So, when pulling over to let them by, don’t slow down too much, and do not get too far off the side of the road. Be aware of where you park. This highway will be empty for up to 30 minutes at a time. No traffic makes a rider complacent. Add a herd of caribou and the rider wants to stop and take a picture. At the time of parking, no one is around, so you choose the road as the parking lot. Then, (and this has happened) two 18-wheelers come from opposite directions and will need to pass each other right where you parked! There is simply no room for your bike to be there, and this is when things get tricky! If you ever stop along the Dalton, make sure to pull completely off the road. Otherwise, you may get an ear-full from an Ice-road trucker in the Coldfoot parking lot! (or worse)
  10. Do: Outfit your Ride Bring the tools necessary to get you out of a pinch. Be able to take off your tire, replace an inner tube, patch a hole, plug a hole, take your bike apart, put air into your tire…All the things you wish you had brought seem to come to mind when your bike fails. Take time and prepare beforehand. Be able to take of your tires and repair them and fix problems that may arise. I always bring a manual foot pump, tool kit, tire spoons, hex set, and a syphon hose. Accessorize your bike. Make sure it can take rocks and fall over and not get hurt. Protect your engine on the sides and underneath. Protect your hand guards. Make sure your pegs do not get slippery. Make sure you seat fits your body. Do everything you can to make that bike you ride comfortable, well balanced and able to take a hit. You will be glad you did. Outfit the rider. Wear protective water resistent/waterproof gear that can withstand a temperature range from freezing to 100 degrees F. Waterproof boots and gloves are essential. These are the basics if you want to have a safe and memorable trip as far north as you can go on the North American continent. Your health and safety, of course, come first. Your lust for adventure will not be stopped. In fact, it should be encouraged! Just take a couple of these steps to make sure you get home safe and sound and have the time of your life. Ride safe!

 

Publisert

Oppdatering av reiseplanene

Reiseplaner er til for å endres 🙂

Får stadig vekk spørsmål om hva planene mine går ut på, om jeg skal reise alene eller sammen med noen osv. Jeg ga en informasjon om dette i november men her kommer i alle fall en ny oppdatert informasjon.  Etter Denver er det visse endringer.

Jeg skal fortsatt kjøre med min egen  BMW F800GS Trophy fra 2012

BMW F800GS Trophy
BMW F800GS Trophy

 

Jeg setter meg på sykkelen mandag 27. april. Kjører via Sverige å stopper muligens hos  MP Motorcykler i Danmark for å ta en siste sjekk av sykkelen på tirsdag 28. April. 29. April kjører jeg videre gjennom Tyskland – Nederland – Belgia og så til slutt til Eurotunnelen i Frankrike for å ta toget til England.

Dermed bør jeg være i London for å levere motorsykkel til Motofreight den 1. mai slik at de kan forberede  frakte av motorsykkelen til Anchorage.

Mogreina – London er i følge Google Map på ca. 1943km og blir selvfølgelig kun enn transport etappe, men jeg håper i alle fall at været blir bra slik at første del av turen får en god start.

Om ettermiddagen den 1. mai flyr jeg hjem igjen til Norge så Nina og jeg kan reiser en tur med bobilen til Písek i Tsjekkia. Avreise blir antagelig søndag 3. mai og vi kommer tilbake igjen tirsdag 12. mai.

Så er det å ta de siste forberedelsene til dagen etterpå hvor flyturen til Anchorage er satt opp med FI319 klokken 14.45 med mellom landing på Keflavik klokken 15.25 og så ankomst Anchorage Alaska klokken 16.20 lokal tid.  Planen er å hente sykkelen ut fra tollen den 14.

John Del Norte møter meg her i Anhorage den 13. eller 14. Når sykkelen er hentet ut fra tollen og nødvendige forberedelser er gjort starter etappen nordover til det nordligste punktet på turen som er Prudhoe Bay. Så kjører vi sydover fra Prudhoe Bay til Seattle.

Å her kommer endringene i planene. Ruta Anchorage – Prudhoe Bay – Seattle er ca. 5700km. Både John og jeg ser på denne delen av turen som en transport etappe. Planen er like vell å ikke kjøre mer enn ca 250km pr. dag og dette gir oss muligheten til å være i Seattle ca 4. juni for å møte Terje. Terje hadde i utgangspunktet tenkt å kjøre sammen med oss i 2 uker, men dette er nå utvidet til 4 uker. Terje ønsker å krysse USA på skrått, og dette er selvfølgelig ikke meg imot 🙂 Så den nye planen går altså ut på å kjøre fra Seattle til Denver sammen med John som først planlagt, men når vi møter Paul Alms og Quan Hoang forlater vi disse 3 og fortsetter på TAT ruten videre ut mot østkysten av USA. Til slutt er målet å komme til Summerfield / Ocala i Florida, besøke Torger, selge sykkelen som Terje kjører på, for så å levere Terje på flyplassen i Orlando.

I løpet av disse 50 dagene har jeg da kjørt ca. 12.000km. Dvs ett snitt på ca 240-250km pr. dag. Så kjører man med en gjennomsnitt hastighet på 60km/t i 4 timer pr dag bør det her gå bra. Å siden man tross alt er på motorsykkeltur synes ikke jeg dette er mye. Med bare 4 timer pr. dag på sykkelen bør dette også åpne opp muligheten til å oppleve ting langs veien.

Når Terje reiser hjem fra Orlando begynner min reise gjennom Florida – Alabama – Mississippi – Louisiana – og Texas  før jeg når grensen til Mexico ett eller annet sted. Avstanden fra Ocala i Florida til Mexico sin nærmeste grense er nesten 2000km. Så kjører jeg i snitt 250km pr. dag på denne strekningen også bør jeg være i Mexico i løpet av en ukes tid. Dvs. rundt midten av juli.

John Del Norte, Paul Alms og Quan Hoang har i praksis nå 3 uker forsprang men jeg vet at de kommer til å bruke litt tid i Mexico så min plan er å forsøke å ta de igjen ett eller annet sted mellom Mexico og Panama. Siden Paul Alms bare skal til Belize hadde det vært kjekt å treffe de igjen før den tid. Jeg har tenkt å oppleve ting under veis, se nye steder, treffe nye folk men det kan være at jeg evt. dropper Baja California i Mexico for å heller ta igjen de andre gutta. Hvis jeg skal kjøre helt til Baja California i Mexico krever dette at jeg faktisk i løpet av denne turen krysser USA 2 ganger 🙂 Men Baja California står høyt på ønskelisten så hvem vet 🙂

Etter at jeg har kommet til Mexico har jeg ingen eksakte planer. I forhold til opprinnelig reiseplan har jeg fortsatt 5 mnd. tilgjengelig tid før jeg hadde planlagt å komme hjem. Når jeg ankommer Panama City har turen gjennom Nord og Mellom Amerika fått BMW’en til å rulle ca. 20.000km. Gjennomsnitt daglig kjørelengde synker, man tar dager fri for å oppleve strand, kultur og andre ting å i tillegg er det på tide med service nr 2 på sykkelen 🙂

 

Baja California
Baja California

Baja området kan by på utfordrende vill natur og masse veier av forskjellig kvalitet.

 

Reiseplan for Syd Amerika får dere dessverre ikke. Ingen planer er lagt, og målet er å ta tingene etter hvert som dagene går. Reisen sydligste mål er også Argentinas sydligste punkt. Da snur jeg å kjøre opp til Buenos Aires for så å fly hjem derfra. De som vil kan følge med på bloggen, og gi gjerne innspill til hva man bør se og oppleve 🙂

 

 

 

Publisert

Første prøvepakking

Planen var å prøvepakke litt i helgen for å se hvor mye plass de forskjellige tingene tar, men kom ikke så langt dessverre. Telt, sovepose og liggeunderlag er jo det som tar størst plass så jeg var spendt på om dette fikk plass i 1 Packsack Ortlieb Rack-Pack Size M yellow fra Touratech

01-055-0097-0 Packsack Ortlieb Rack-Pack Size M yellow
01-055-0097-0 Packsack Ortlieb Rack-Pack Size M yellow

Alt fikk plass i baggen og vil bli spent fast på toppen av kofferten slik som dette.

01-055-0097-0 Packsack Ortlieb Rack-Pack Size M yellow
01-055-0097-0 Packsack Ortlieb Rack-Pack Size M yellow

 

Sist gang jeg bestilte varer fra Touratech bestilte jeg 2 slike bagger og en som er litt større, men de var tom for varer så jeg fikk bare denne ene. Så i kveld bestilte jeg de 2 siste siden disse så ut til å ha kommet inn på lager igjen. Så når de kommer kan jeg få prøvepakket skikkelig.

Etterpå ble det en Facebook video samtale med en John som bor i Eureka, California Planen er at han skal møte meg i Anchorage og være med på hele turen fra Alaska til Argentina. Dette var første gangen vi snakket sammen, men det blir nok flere ganger før avreise og så blir han min nye samboer de neste 7-8 mnd’er 🙂

Publisert

Venezuela travel warning

Om Venezuela skal besøkes på denne turen får tiden vise, men man kan jo i alle fall merke seg at de største farene i Venezuela er drap og kidnapping. I tillegg får man merke seg følgende tekst angående Caracas:  «In Caracas, the homicide rate is even higher at 134 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.»

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The Department of State has issued this Travel Warning to inform U.S. citizens about the security situation in Venezuela. Tens of thousands of U.S. citizens safely visit Venezuela each year for study, tourism, business, and volunteer work. Violent crime in Venezuela is pervasive, however, both in the capital, Caracas, and in the interior. This updates the Travel Warning issued on June 4, 2014, to include amendments to the movement policy for U.S. Embassy personnel and their families.

According to the non-governmental organization Venezuelan Violence Observatory (VVO), there were 24,763 homicides in Venezuela in 2013, amounting to a rate of 79 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, among the highest in the world. In Caracas, the homicide rate is even higher at 134 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.

Kidnappings are also a serious concern throughout the country. In 2013, 625 kidnappings were reported to the authorities. It is estimated that roughly 80 percent of kidnappings go unreported; the actual number of kidnappings in 2013 is likely much higher. Common criminals are increasingly involved in kidnappings and may deal with victims’ families directly. In addition, there is cross-border violence, kidnappings, drug trafficking, and smuggling along Venezuela’s western border.

The Department of State considers the criminal threat to U.S. government personnel in Venezuela sufficiently serious to require them to live and work under strict security restrictions.  All U.S. direct-hire personnel and their families assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Caracas are subject to an embassy movement policy for their safety and well-being. The details of the policy are found in our Country Specific Information on Venezuela. These practices limit, and may occasionally prevent, access by U.S. Embassy officials to certain areas of Caracas and the interior of the country.

In addition, all U.S. direct-hire personnel and their family members who are assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Caracas are required to take an armored vehicle when traveling to and from the Maiquetia Airport as well as when traveling in some parts of Caracas and the interior.

U.S. citizens in Venezuela should be vigilant of their surroundings at all times and in all locations, especially when entering or exiting their homes, hotels, cars, garages, schools, and workplaces. Whenever possible, U.S. citizens should travel in groups of two or more persons; avoid wearing jewelry and carrying large sums of money or displaying cash, ATM/credit cards, mobile phones, or other valuables; and avoid walking at night in most areas of Venezuela or walking alone on beaches, historic ruins, and trails. Incidents of crime along inter-city roads, including carjacking and kidnapping, are common in Venezuela. Motorists should avoid traveling at night and always drive with their doors locked to deter potential robberies at traffic lights and on congested city streets.

For more detailed information on staying safe in Venezuela, please see the State Department’s Country Specific Information.  For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ internet website, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts can be found.  Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well.

Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 001-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). U.S. citizens living or traveling in Venezuela are encouraged to enroll with the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to obtain updated information on travel and security within Venezuela. For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens in Venezuela, please contact the U.S. Embassy.

The U.S. Embassy in Caracas is located on Calle F con Calle Suapure, Lomas de Valle Arriba. The telephone number during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) is (011) 58-212-975-6411. For after-hours emergencies use (011) 58-212-907-8400. The fax is (011) 58-212-907-8199. Please check the Embassy website for additional information.

Publisert

Colombia Travel Warning

Letingen etter informasjon om landene som skal besøkes fortsetter 🙂 Colombia er ett av landene man har hørt om å som ofte relateres til vold, men det er også ett land med masse flotte mc veier. Jeg har lest mange reiseskildringer om folk som har vært her i ukesvis å kjørt mc som forteller at dette landet bare må besøkes på 2 hjul.

Kriminaliteten ser ut til å ha blitt redusert betraktelig fra år 2000 og frem til nå, men de kommer fortsett med visse advarsler. Som f.eks.:

Colombia can be extremely dangerous due to the presence of terrorists and  criminal elements, including armed gangs (referred to as «BACRIM» in Spanish), that are active throughout much of the country. These groups are heavily involved in the drug trade, extortion, kidnapping, and robbery.

Men bør altså vise litt forsiktighet, men generelt er som sagt kriminaliteten mye lavere enn man husker den for noen år siden. Her er hele advarselen fra Travel State Gov.

The Department of State has issued this Travel Warning to inform U.S. citizens about the security situation in Colombia. Tens of thousands of U.S. citizens safely visit Colombia each year for tourism, business, university studies, and volunteer work. Security in Colombia has improved significantly in recent years, including in tourist and business travel destinations such as Bogota, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Medellin, and Cali.  However, violence linked to narco-trafficking continues to affect some rural and urban areas. This Travel Warning replaces the previous travel warning released on April 14, 2014, with minor changes to the travel restrictions for U.S. government officials and their families in Colombia.

There have been no reports of U.S. citizens targeted specifically for their nationality. While the U.S. Embassy has no information regarding specific and credible threats against U.S. citizens in Colombia, both the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC) and National Liberation Army (ELN) terrorist groups continue to condemn any U.S. influence in Colombia.  The Department of State strongly encourages U.S. citizens to exercise caution and remain vigilant as terrorist and criminal activities remain a threat throughout the country. Explosions occur throughout Colombia on a regular basis, including in Bogota. Small towns and rural areas of Colombia can be extremely dangerous due to the presence of terrorists and  criminal elements, including armed gangs (referred to as «BACRIM» in Spanish), that are active throughout much of the country. Violence associated with the BACRIM has spilled over into many of Colombia’s major cities. These groups are heavily involved in the drug trade, extortion, kidnapping, and robbery.

The incidence of kidnapping in Colombia has diminished significantly from its peak in 2000.  However, kidnapping remains a threat. Terrorist groups and other criminal organizations continue to kidnap and hold civilians, including foreigners, for ransom.  No one is immune from kidnapping on the basis of occupation, nationality, or other factors.  The U.S. government places the highest priority on the safe recovery of kidnapped U.S. citizens, but it is U.S. policy not to make concessions to kidnappers.

U.S. government officials in Colombia regularly travel to the major cities of Colombia such as Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, and Cartagena without incident. U.S. government officials and their families in Colombia normally are permitted to travel to major cities only by air. They may not use inter- or intra-city bus transportation, or travel by road outside urban areas at night. U.S. government officials in Colombia and their families are restricted to traveling within certain areas. This includes using the main highways to travel between Bogota and Bucaramanga, and between Bogota and Ibague. Personnel are also allowed to drive between Manizales, Pereira, and Armenia and within the “coffee country” departments of Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindío. On the Caribbean coast, personnel are restricted to driving along Highway 90 from Cartagena, through Barranquilla to Santa Marta.  Travel to all other areas of Colombia is off limits unless specific authorization is granted.  All U.S. citizens in Colombia are urged to follow these precautions and exercise extra caution outside of the aforementioned areas.

For more detailed information on staying safe in Colombia, please see the State Department’s Country Specific Information for Colombia. For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ internet web site, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well.

Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 001-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). U.S. citizens living or traveling in Colombia are encouraged to enroll with the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to obtain updated information on travel and security within Colombia. For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens in Colombia, please contact the U.S. Embassy or the closest U.S. Consulate as listed below.

The U.S. Embassy is located at Calle 24 Bis No. 48-50 Bogota, D.C., Colombia. Mailing address: Carrera 45 No. 24B-27 Bogota, D.C., Colombia. In case of a serious emergency that jeopardizes the health or safety of a U.S. citizen in Colombia, please call the Embassy at (+57-1) 275-2000; Embassy fax: (+57-1) 275-4501; Consular Section phone: (+57-1) 275-4900. The Embassy’s American Citizens Services office provides routine information at http://bogota.usembassy.gov. For questions not answered there, inquiries may be sent by email to ACSBogota@state.gov.

The U.S. Consular Agency in Barranquilla, which accepts passport applications and performs notarial services, is located at Calle 77B, No. 57-141, Piso 5, Centro Empresarial Las Americas, Barranquilla, Atlantico, Colombia; telephone (+57-5) 353-2001/353-2182/369-0149. In case of an emergency in the Barranquilla/North Coast area, please contact the Embassy in Bogota at (+57-1) 275-2000 which will forward the call to our Consular Agent.

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Honduras Travel Warning

Etter å ha lest gjennom Honduras Travel Warning blir vell konklusjonen:

1: Honduras er det landet med høyest drapsrate siden 2010.

2: Den honduranske Ministry of Security registrert en drapsrate på 75,6 – 79 per 100.000 personer i 2013.

3: Tourists traveling with group tours also report fewer criminal incidents

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The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens that the level of crime and violence in Honduras remains critically high.  This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning dated December 24, 2013, and includes additional information on crime and security in Honduras, as well as updated contact information.

Tens of thousands of U.S. citizens visit Honduras each year for study, tourism, business, and volunteer work without incident. However, crime and violence are serious problems throughout the country, and the Government of Honduras lacks the resources to address these issues. Since 2010, Honduras has had the highest murder rate in the world. The Honduran Ministry of Security recorded a homicide rate of 75.6 per 100,000 people in 2013, while the National Violence Observatory, an academic research institution based out of Honduras’ National Public University, reports that the 2013 murder rate was 79 murders per 100,000 people.

U.S. citizens are victims of crime at levels similar to those of the local population, and do not appear to be targeted based on their nationality. Although Roatan/Bay Islands, Copan Mayan ruins, and other tourist destinations and resorts have a lower crime rate than other parts of the country, thefts, break-ins, assaults, and murders do occur and are still high by international standards. In 2012, the Government of Honduras increased police presence and established special police forces in areas frequented by tourists, such as the Copan Mayan ruins and Roatan. The Honduran government is evaluating similar options for other locations, and major hotels and other tourist installations have increased private and police security.

Tourists traveling with group tours also report fewer criminal incidents. However, the San Pedro Sula area has seen armed robberies against tourist vans, minibuses, and cars traveling from the airport to area hotels, and there have also been armed robberies along the road to Copan. Visitors are strongly urged to exercise caution in discussing travel plans in public.

Several U.S. citizens have reported being robbed while walking on isolated beaches. All visitors should be vigilant of their surroundings at all times, avoid unfamiliar or isolated areas, and take care to book only with reputable tour companies during their visit to Honduras. The vast majority of cruise line passengers in Honduras experience no problems, but incidents of armed robbery and carjacking have been reported. Coxen Hole on the island of Roatan should be avoided after dark. The vast majority of serious crimes in Honduras, including those against U.S. citizens, are never solved.

Members of the Honduran National Police have been known to engage in criminal activity, including murder and car theft. The government of Honduras lacks sufficient resources to properly investigate and prosecute cases, and police often lack vehicles or fuel to respond to calls for assistance. In practice, this means police may take hours to arrive at the scene of a violent crime, or may not respond at all. As a result, criminals operate with a high degree of impunity throughout Honduras. The Honduran government is still in the early stages of substantial reforms to its criminal justice institutions.

Transnational criminal organizations also conduct narcotics trafficking and other unlawful activities throughout the country, using violence to control drug trafficking routes and carry out criminal activity.  Other criminals, acting both individually and in gangs in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and other large cities, are known to commit crimes such as murder, kidnapping, extortion, carjacking, armed robbery, rape, and other aggravated assaults.

Kidnappings remain a concern and are believed to be underreported. Since January 1, 2012, four cases of kidnapped U.S. citizens were reported to the U.S. Embassy. The kidnapping victims were all subsequently released, sometimes paying large ransoms to their captors.

U.S. citizens should be vigilant of their surroundings at all times and in all locations, especially when entering or exiting their homes, hotels, cars, garages, schools, and workplaces. Whenever possible, U.S. citizens should travel in groups of two or more. It is also advisable to avoid wearing jewelry and carrying large sums of money or displaying cash, ATM/credit cards, or other valuables. U.S. citizens should avoid walking at night in most areas of Honduras or walking alone on beaches, historic ruins, and trails. Motorists should avoid traveling at night and always drive with their doors locked and windows up to deter potential robberies at traffic lights and on congested downtown streets.

The location and timing of criminal activity is unpredictable in Honduras. The U.S. Embassy recommends that all travelers exercise caution when traveling anywhere in the country; however, certain areas of the country demonstrate higher levels of criminal activity than others. Most of Honduras’ major cities (Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, and others), as well as several Honduran “departments” (a geographic designation similar to U.S. states) have homicide rates higher than the national average for 2013, including:

DEPARTMENT                      CAPITAL
Atlántida                             La Ceiba
Colón                                 Trujillo
Cortés                                San Pedro Sula
Ocotepeque                        Ocotepeque
Yoro                                   Yoro

There are no reliable statistics for the department of Gracias a Dios; however, travelers to the area should note that it is a remote location where narcotics trafficking is frequent, infrastructure is weak, government services are limited, and police or military presence is scarce.

For more detailed information regarding personal security, please see the State Department’s Country Specific Information for Honduras.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Web site, where the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found.

The Embassy strongly encourages U.S. citizens living or traveling in Honduras to enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to obtain updated information on travel and security within Honduras. Travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States or outside the United States and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. Stay up to date by bookmarking the Bureau of Consular Affairs Web site, which contains Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution.

If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime in Honduras, you should contact the local police and the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa. If you are in the two major cities of Tegucigalpa or San Pedro Sula, you can reach the local police by dialing 911; other smaller cities or rural areas have their own local police assistance numbers.

The U.S. Embassy is located on Avenida La Paz in Tegucigalpa, and can be reached at:

Telephone:     (504) 2236-9320/2238-5114
Fax:               (504) 2236-9037
After Hours:    (504) 2236-8497
Website:         honduras.usembassy.gov

The Embassy’s American Citizens Services Unit is open to walk-in services Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 11:30 am, and can be reached directly at:

Telephone:     (504) 2238-5114 ext. 4400
After Hours:    (504) 2238-5114 / 2236-9320 ext.4100
Fax:               (504) 2238-4357
Email:             usahonduras@state.gov
Facebook:       http://www.facebook.com/acstegucigalpa

The U.S. Consular Agency in San Pedro Sula is located on the eleventh floor of the Banco Atlantida building (across from Central Park). The agency is open to walk-in services on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:00 to 4:00 pm, and can be reached at Telephone: (504) 2558-1580.

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El Salvador Travel Warning

Selv om Travel Warnings er generelle gir det i alle fall ett lite perspektiv om forholdene. Så jeg gjør en liten sjekk på Travel State Gov. med jevne mellomrom for å se om det er spesielle ting man bør tenke på.

Her er siste melding fra Travel State Gov angående situasjonen fra El Salvador. Slik det ser ut for øyeblikket er det en «kritisk» høy kriminalitet i landet, i snitt 10 Amerikanske statsborgere har blitt drept pr. år, og over 100 Amerikanske statsborgere har blitt frastjålet sine pass og andre eiendeler. Ser også ut til at highway overfall kan skje, så det er nok lurt å ikke kjøre etter at det har blitt mørkt.

El Salvador er jo ett relativt lite land, så man kan teoretisk sånn sett klare å komme seg gjennom hele landet i løpet av 1 dag hvis man føler for det. Alternativt kan man også unngå El Salvador å heller kjøre gjennom Honduras, men travel Warnings for Honduras var ikke stort bedre 🙂 Som det står på Travel.State.Gov sine sider om Honduras: «Since 2010, Honduras has had the highest murder rate in the world.» Hoduras må vi nødvendigvis gjennom uansett, men velger vi å kjøre gjennom El Salvador blir det færre kilometer å kjøre gjennom Honduras.

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The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens that crime and violence levels in El Salvador remain critically high. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning dated April 25, 2014, and includes updated information on crime and security in El Salvador.

Tens of thousands of U.S. citizens safely visit El Salvador each year for study, tourism, cruise ship visits, business, and volunteer work.  There is no information to suggest that U.S. citizens are specifically targeted by criminals; however, crime and violence are serious problems throughout the country.   Since January 2010, 33 U.S. citizens have been murdered in El Salvador including a nine-year-old child in December 2013.  During the same time period, 366 U.S. citizens reported having their passports stolen, while others were victims of violent crimes.

Typical crimes in El Salvador include extortion, mugging, highway assault, home invasion, and car theft.  There have also been cases reported in which criminals observe and follow customers making withdrawals at ATMs and banks, then rob them on the road or at a residence.  Some victims unwittingly wander into gang-controlled territory and may be targeted, normally at night.  Assaults against police officers have risen, and public shootouts are not uncommon.  Armed robberies of climbers and hikers in El Salvador’s national parks are known to occur, and the Embassy strongly recommends engaging the services of a local guide certified by the national or local tourist authority when hiking in back country areas — even within the national parks.  The National Civilian Police (PNC) has a special tourist police force (POLITUR) to provide security and assistance to visitors.  It has officers located in 19 tourist destinations.

A majority of serious crimes are never solved; only six of the 33 murders committed against U.S. citizens since January 2010 have resulted in convictions.  The Government of El Salvador lacks sufficient resources to properly investigate and prosecute cases and to deter violent crime.  While several of the PNC’s investigative units have shown great promise, routine street-level patrol techniques, anti-gang, and crime suppression efforts are limited.  Equipment shortages (particularly radios, vehicles, and fuel) further limit their ability to deter or respond to crimes effectively.

El Salvador, a country of roughly six million people, has, according to Government of El Salvador statistics, thousands of known gang members from several gangs including Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Eighteenth Street (M18). Gang members are quick to engage in violence or use deadly force if resisted.  These “maras” concentrate on narcotics and arms trafficking, murder for hire, carjacking, extortion, and violent street crime.  Authorities believe a significant number of disappearances are related to gang activity, since many of the missing were in gangs or were friends or family members of gang members.  Police sources claim that the families of gang members often face the same risks of being killed or disappearing as the gang members themselves.

Extortion is a particularly serious and very common crime in El Salvador.  Some extortion attempts are no more than random cold calls that originate from imprisoned gang members using cellular telephones, and the subsequent threats against the victim are made through social engineering and/or through information obtained about the victim’s family.  U.S. citizens who are visiting El Salvador for extended periods are at higher risk for extortion demands.  Many extortions and other crimes are not reported by victims for fear of reprisal and lack of faith in the ability of the government to protect the victims.

U.S. citizens should remain alert to their surroundings, especially when entering or exiting their homes or hotels, cars, garages, schools, and workplaces.  Whenever possible, travel in groups.  U.S. Embassy security officials advise all U.S. government personnel not to walk, run, or cycle in the unguarded streets and parks of El Salvador, even in groups, and recommend exercising only in gyms and fitness centers.  Avoid wearing expensive jewelry, and do not carry large sums of money or display cash, ATM/credit cards, or other valuables.  Avoid walking at night in most areas of El Salvador. Incidents of crime along roads, including carjacking, are common in El Salvador.  Motorists should avoid traveling at night and always drive with their doors locked to deter potential robberies at traffic lights and on congested downtown streets.  Travel on public transportation, especially buses, both within and outside the capital, is risky and not recommended.  The Embassy advises official visitors and personnel to avoid using mini-buses and regular buses and to use only radio-dispatched taxis or those stationed in front of major hotels.

For more detailed information regarding personal security, please see the State Department’s Country Specific Information for El Salvador.  U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, where the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found.  Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well.

U.S. citizens living or traveling in El Salvador are strongly encouraged to sign up for the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to obtain updated information on travel and security within El Salvador.  Travelers may also obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States or on a regular toll line at 202-501-4444.

The U.S. Embassy is located on Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Urbanización Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlán, La Libertad, and can be reached at:

Telephone: 503-2501-2999
Fax: 503-2278-5522 / 503-2278-6020
Email: ACSSanSal@state.gov
Website: sansalvador.usembassy.gov
Facebook: www.facebook.com/embajadaamericanaelsalvador
Twitter: twitter.com/USCitSV

For after-hours emergencies, please call 503-2501-2253.

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Bestilt deler til min BMW F800GS hos F800depot.com

Da er litt deler bestilt til min BMW F800GS hos F800 Depot. Har ikke handlet hos de tidligere men de dukket opp i forbindelse at jeg surfet litt på nettet så hvorfor ikke prøve de ut 🙂

Målet er å ta en liten service på sykkelen selv i vinter før avreise så det som ble bestilt var følgende:

  • BMW Air Filter for F800GS
  • BMW Drain Plug Crush Washer for F800GS
  • BMW Oil Filter for F800GS
  • Brake Pads (Front – F800GS)
  • Brake Pads (Rear – F800GS)

Kjede, kjedelås, og drev må vell også kjøpes inn men det får jeg bestille etter nyttår.

BMW Drain Plug Crush Washer
BMW Drain Plug Crush Washer
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Linser vs. briller på mc tur

En ting som virkelig har irritert meg i mange år når det gjelder motorsykkelkjøring er de hersens brillene. De kan ikke være på når hjelmen tas på, de må tas av før hjelmen tas av, men det mest irriterende er at de har en tendens til å skli ut på nesen mens jeg kjører. Å kjøre med cross goggles har også vært umulig med briller på, så i det siste har jeg vurdert å gjøre noe med problemet.

Egentlig vurderte jeg å skifte ut de brillene jeg har for å få noen som virkelig satt skikkelig inne i hjelmen, men etter en tur på Interoptik på Jessheim hvor jeg ble tatt godt imot av hyggelige og dyktige personer endte jeg opp med å teste ut linser.

Progressive linse
Progressive linse

Selv om jeg er langsynt på langt hold og nærsynt på nært hold og har litt skjeve hornhinner å derfor bruker progressive briller finnes det linser som takler dette. Så etter ett teoretisk kurs fikk jeg utlevert linsene og måtte bevise at dette klarte før jeg fikk forlate lokalet. Dvs. det tok altså litt tid før jeg forlot lokalet 🙂 Å plukke seg selv innpå øynene er en ting, men det krever også en viss teknikk. Så etter å ha forsøkt seg frem i 1 1/2 time klarte jeg omsider å finne en teknikk som fungerte.

Lørdag er det tilbake for en kontroll, å for å finne ut hvilken type linser jeg skal ha. Selv har jeg tro på at det muligens blir det de kaller en «døgnlinse».

Her er det de skriver om døgnlinser.

En linse som gir deg frihet til å se godt hele døgnet. Døgnlinser kan beholdes kontinuerlig på øyet i inntil 30 dager. Materialet linsen er laget i «puster» slik at øynene får mye oksygen.

  • Linser for kontinuerlig bruk opp til 30 døgn.
  • Du setter de på øynene og tar linsene ut igjen 30 døgn senere.
  • Linsene lar øynene dine puste normalt ved at de transporterer opptil 6 ganger mer oksygen enn hva vanlige myke kontaktlinser gjør.
  • Linsene gir deg perfekt syn hele tiden, og vurderer du laseroperasjon kan dette være løsningen.

Så da håper jeg at jeg har teknikken inne til jeg skal på tur, og at jeg ender opp med en linsetype som gjør at jeg ikke må ha en egen koffert til dette 🙂

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Amerika kart

For å senke reisefeberen litt har jeg kjøpt meg ett kart som nå er hengt opp på veggen på kontoret (her hjemme). Vet ikke helt hva jeg skal bruke det til, men siden kartet er relativt stort og plasstbelagt kan det jo hende at ruten blir tegnet inn på kartet før avreise. Så får tiden vise om jeg klarer å gjennomføre og om turen faktisk ble gjennomført etter planen.

Jeg skal i alle fall ikke sitter her neste år å si… pokker å at jeg ikke fulgte drømmen.

Amerika kart
Amerika kart

 

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Været i Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, USA Håper Jofama sine klær er varme :-)

Prudhoe Bay betegnes som det nordligste punktet på Pan American Highway så ønsket om å kjøre fra Anchorage til Prudhoe Bay for å få med seg det nordligste punktet av ruten er selvfølgelig høyt på ønskelisten selv om det sånn sett ikke er så mye å se på Deadhorse.

Prudhoe Bay
Prudhoe Bay

 

Været i dag i Prudhoe Bay Deadhorse er -25°C men det er heldigvis ikke i dag jeg er der. Sjekket også gjennomsnitt temperaturen i Prudhoe Bay Deadhorse å det ser ut til at gjennomsnitt høy i Mai = -1,8°C og gjennomsnitt lav i Mai = -7,2°C.

Men gjennomsnitt for en måned er jo fordelt på alle 31 dagene, og da håper  jeg at de første dagene er en del kaldere og trekker gjennomsnitt ned vs de de siste dagene som da forhåpentligvis er varmere. Så siden jeg ikke regner med å være i Prudhoe Bay før ca. den 20. mai kan det jo være at vi i alle fall er på pluss siden av gradestokken. Heldigvis har Jofama sagt de skal sponse meg med klær fra innerst til ytterst og det er bra for dette kan nok bli kaldt 🙂

Været i Prudhoe Bay
Været i Prudhoe Bay
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Foreløpige planer

Noe av de jeg blir spurt om av venner og bekjente er hvor langt jeg er kommet i planleggingen, hvilken motorsykkel jeg skal bruke og hvem jeg skal reise sammen med.

Så her kommer foreløpig plan 🙂

Motorsykkelen jeg skal bruke er min egen BMW F800GS Trophy fra 2012

BMW F800GS Trophy
BMW F800GS Trophy

 

Jeg setter meg på sykkelen mandag 27. april. Kjører via Sverige å stopper muligens hos  MP Motorcykler i Danmark for å ta en siste sjekk av sykkelen på tirsdag 28. April. 29. April kjører jeg videre gjennom Tyskland – Nederland – Belgia og så til slutt til Eurotunnelen i Frankrike for å ta toget til England.

Dermed bør jeg være i London for å levere motorsykkel til Motofreight den 1. mai slik at de kan forberede  frakte av motorsykkelen til Anchorage.

Mogreina – London er i følge Google Map på ca. 1943km og blir selvfølgelig kun enn transport etappe, men jeg håper i alle fall at været blir bra slik at første del av turen får en god start.

Om ettermiddagen den 1. mai flyr jeg hjem igjen til Norge så Nina og jeg kan reiser en tur med bobilen til Písek i Tsjekkia. Avreise blir antagelig søndag 3. mai og vi kommer tilbake igjen tirsdag 12. mai.

Så er det å ta de siste forberedelsene til dagen etterpå hvor flyturen til Anchorage er satt opp med FI319 klokken 14.45 med mellom landing på Keflavik klokken 15.25 og så ankomst Anchorage Alaska klokken 16.20 lokal tid.  Planen er å hente sykkelen ut fra tollen den 14.

John Del Norte møter meg her i Anhorage den 13. eller 14. Når sykkelen er hentet ut fra tollen og nødvendige forberedelser er gjort starter etappen nordover til det nordligste punktet på turen som er Prudhoe Bay.

Neste dato som er satt er at vi skal møte Terje Sand i Seattle ca 20 juni og han skal være med å kjøre TAT til Denver. En tur som er satt opp til å vare i 2 uker.

Trans America Trail
Trans America Trail

 

Når Terje reiser hjem fra Denver møter John Del Norte og jeg muligens Paul Alms og Quan Hoang.  Paul Alms har planer om å kjøre sammen med oss til Belize mens Quan Hoang har planer om å være med hele veien til Ushuaia i Argentina.

Selv har jeg lyst til å kjøre Baja California i Mexico for så å ta ferge fra La Paz til fastlandet igjen.

Baja California
Baja California

Baja området kan by på utfordrende vill natur og masse veier av forskjellig kvalitet.

 

Etter Denver er ingen datoer, ruter eller steder avtalt bortsett fra at målet er å komme hjem til jul.

 

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Vaksiner

Da har jeg hatt de 3-4 første besøkene på Jessheim vaksinasjonskontor. Så lagt har jeg fått 2 doser med Hepatitt B, 3 doser med Rabies pluss Gulfeber. Så da gjenstår Boostrix-polio (difteri, stivkrampe, kikhoste,polio) og Tyfoid hvis jeg har forstått informasjonen riktig.

Hepatitt A hadde jeg tatt tidligere når Nina og jeg var i Mexico i 2011 så dermed trenger jeg ikke dette.

Så da gjenstår det å finne ett bra forsikringsselskap som kan forsikre både meg og motorsykkelen. Norske forsikringsselskaper vil jo dessverre ikke forsikre motorsykkelen for denne turen.

Vaksine
Vaksine
Vaksine
Vaksine
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Mexico Travel Warning UPDATED: OCTOBER 10, 2014

Mexico Travel Warning
LAST UPDATED: OCTOBER 10, 2014
The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens about the risk of traveling to certain places in Mexico due to threats to safety and security posed by organized criminal groups in the country. U.S. citizens have been the target of violent crimes, such as kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery by organized criminal groups in various Mexican states. For information on security conditions in specific regions of Mexico, which can vary, travelers should reference the state-by-state assessments further below. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning for Mexico, issued August 15, 2014, to update information about the security situation and to advise the public of additional restrictions on the travel of U.S. government (USG) personnel.

This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning for Mexico, issued August 15, 2014, to update information about the security situation and to advise the public of additional restrictions on the travel of U.S. government (USG) personnel.

General Conditions:

Millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year for study, tourism, and business, including more than 150,000 who cross the border every day. The Mexican government dedicates substantial resources to protect visitors to major tourist destinations, and there is no evidence that organized criminal groups have targeted U.S. visitors or residents based on their nationality. Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime that are reported in the border region or in areas along major trafficking routes.

Nevertheless, U.S. travelers should be aware that the Mexican government has been engaged in an extensive effort to counter organized criminal groups that engage in narcotics trafficking and other unlawful activities throughout Mexico. The groups themselves are engaged in a violent struggle to control drug trafficking routes and other criminal activity. Crime and violence are serious problems and can occur anywhere. U.S. citizens have fallen victim to criminal activity, including homicide, gun battles, kidnapping, carjacking, and highway robbery. While many of those killed in organized crime-related violence have themselves been involved in criminal activity, innocent persons have also been killed. The number of U.S. citizens reported to the Department of State as murdered in Mexico was 71 in 2012 and 81 in 2013.

Gun battles between rival criminal organizations or with Mexican authorities have taken place in towns and cities in many parts of Mexico. Gun battles have occurred in broad daylight on streets and in other public venues, such as restaurants and clubs. During some of these incidents, U.S. citizens have been trapped and temporarily prevented from leaving the area. Criminal organizations have used stolen cars, buses, and trucks to create roadblocks on major thoroughfares, preventing the military and police from responding to criminal activity. The location and timing of future armed engagements is unpredictable. We recommend that you defer travel to the areas specifically identified in this Travel Warning and exercise extreme caution when traveling throughout the other areas for which advisories are in effect.

The number of kidnappings throughout Mexico is of particular concern and appears to be on the rise. According to statistics published by the Mexican Secretaria de Gobernacion (SEGOB), in 2013 kidnappings nationwide increased 20 percent over the previous year. While kidnappings can occur anywhere, according to SEGOB, during this timeframe, the states with the highest numbers of kidnappings were Tamaulipas, Guerrero, Michoacán, Estado de Mexico, and Morelos. Additionally, according to a widely publicized study by the agency responsible for national statistics (INEGI, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography), Mexico suffered an estimated 105,682 kidnappings in 2012; only 1,317 were reported to the police. Police have been implicated in some of these incidents. Both local and expatriate communities have been victimized. Nearly 70 kidnappings of U.S. citizens were reported to the U.S. Embassy and consulates in Mexico between January and June of 2014.

U.S. citizens are encouraged to lower their personal profiles and to avoid displaying indicators of wealth such as expensive or expensive-looking jewelry, watches, or cameras. U.S. citizens are encouraged to maintain awareness of their surroundings and avoid situations in which they may be isolated or stand out as potential victims.

Kidnappings in Mexico have included traditional, «express,» and «virtual» kidnappings. Victims of traditional kidnappings are physically abducted and held captive until a ransom is paid for release. «Express» kidnappings are those in which a victim is abducted for a short time and forced to withdraw money, usually from an ATM, then released. A «virtual» kidnapping is an extortion-by-deception scheme wherein a victim is contacted by phone and convinced to isolate themselves from family and friends until a ransom is paid. The victim is coerced (by threat of violence) to remain isolated and to provide phone numbers for the victim’s family or loved ones. The victim’s family is then contacted and a ransom for the «kidnapped» extracted. Recently, some travelers to Mexico staying at hotels as guests have been targets of such «virtual» kidnapping schemes.

Of particular safety concern are casinos, sportsbooks, or other gambling establishments and adult entertainment establishments. U.S. government personnel are specifically prohibited from patronizing these establishments in the states of Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas.

Carjacking and highway robbery are serious problems in many parts of the border region, and U.S. citizens have been murdered in such incidents. Most victims who complied with carjackers’ demands have reported that they were not physically harmed. Carjackers have shot at vehicles that have attempted to flee. Incidents have occurred during the day and at night, and carjackers have used a variety of techniques, including roadblocks, bumping/moving vehicles to force them to stop, and running vehicles off the road at high speeds. There are indications that criminals target newer and larger vehicles, especially dark-colored SUVs. However, even drivers of old sedans and buses coming from the United States have been targeted. While violent incidents can occur anywhere and at any time, they most frequently occur at night and on isolated roads. To reduce risk when traveling by road, we strongly urge you to travel between cities throughout Mexico only during daylight hours, to avoid isolated roads, and to use toll roads («cuotas») whenever possible.

The Mexican government has deployed federal police and military personnel throughout the country as part of its efforts to combat organized criminal groups. U.S. citizens traveling on Mexican roads and highways by car or bus may encounter government checkpoints, staffed by military or law enforcement personnel. In some places, criminal organizations have erected their own unauthorized checkpoints, at times wearing police and military uniforms, and have killed or abducted motorists who have failed to stop at them. You should cooperate at all checkpoints.

The Department imposes restrictions on U.S. government employees’ travel in Mexico. Since July 2010, USG employees are prohibited from driving on non-official travel from the U.S.-Mexico border to or from the interior of Mexico or Central America. One exception is that personal travel by motor vehicle is permitted on Highway 15 toll road between Hermosillo and Nogales during daylight hours.

U.S. government personnel and their families are prohibited from personal travel to all areas to which it is advised to «defer non-essential travel». When travel for official purposes is essential, it is conducted with extensive security precautions. U.S. government personnel and their families are allowed to travel for personal reasons to the areas where no advisory is in effect or where the advisory is to exercise caution. While the general public is not forbidden from visiting places categorized under «defer non-essential travel,» U.S. government personnel will not be able to respond quickly to an emergency situation in those areas due to security precautions that must be taken by U.S. government personnel to travel to those areas.

For more information on road safety and crime along Mexico’s roadways, see the Department of State’s Country Specific Information.

State-by-State Assessment:

Below is a state-by-state assessment of security conditions throughout Mexico. Travelers should be mindful that even if no advisories are in effect for a given state, crime and violence can still occur. For general information about travel and other conditions in Mexico, see our Country Specific Information.

Aguascalientes: You should exercise caution when traveling to the areas of the state that border the state of Zacatecas, as criminal organization activity in that region continues. There is no advisory in effect for daytime travel to the areas of the state that do not border Zacatecas; however, intercity travel at night is not recommended.

Baja California: Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada and Mexicali are major cities/travel destinations in the state of Baja California – Exercise caution in the northern state of Baja California, particularly at night. Criminal activity along highways and at beaches is a continuing security concern. In 2013, homicide rates in Tijuana and Rosarito increased 48 percent and 67 percent compared to the previous year, according to the Baja State Secretariat for Public Security, and both cities experienced further increases in homicide rates during the first half of 2014. While most of these homicides appeared to be targeted criminal organization assassinations, turf battles between criminal groups have resulted in violent crime in areas frequented by U.S. citizens. Shooting incidents, in which innocent bystanders have been injured, have occurred during daylight hours.

Baja California (Sur): Cabo San Lucas and La Paz are major cities/travel destinations in the state of Southern Baja California – No advisory is in effect.

Campeche: No advisory is in effect.

Chiapas: San Cristobal de las Casas is a major city/travel destination in Chiapas – No advisory is in effect.

Chihuahua: Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua City, and Copper Canyon are major cities/travel destinations in Chihuahua – Exercise caution in traveling to the business and shopping districts in the northeast section of Ciudad Juarez and its major industrial parks, and the central downtown section and major industrial parks in Chihuahua City. U.S. citizens should defer non-essential travel to other areas of these cities and anywhere else in the state of Chihuahua and travel during daylight hours between cities. In Ciudad Juarez, personal travel by U.S. government employees outside the north/central and northeast portion of the city near the Consulate General is restricted and private U.S. citizens should defer non-essential travel to those areas as well. In Chihuahua City, U.S. government personnel and their family members are permitted to travel only to the central business districts and the city’s airport. Personal vehicular travel during daylight hours by U.S. government personnel and family members is authorized between Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua using the Highway 45 toll road. Although homicide rates in Ciudad Juarez have decreased markedly from a peak several years ago, the city still has one of the highest homicide rates in Mexico. Crime and violence remain serious problems throughout the state of Chihuahua, particularly in the southern portion of the state and in the Sierra Mountains, including Copper Canyon. U.S. citizens do not, however, appear to be targeted based on their nationality.

Coahuila: Defer non-essential travel to the state of Coahuila except the city of Saltillo, where you should exercise caution. Violence and criminal activity along the highways are continuing security concerns, particularly along the northern border between Piedras Negras and Nuevo Laredo. The state of Coahuila continues to experience high rates of violent crimes and narcotics-related murders. Criminal organizations continue to compete for territory and coveted border crossings to the United States. Violent crime, including murder, kidnapping, and armed carjacking, continues to be a concern.

Colima: Manzanillo is a major city/travel destination in Colima – Defer non-essential travel to the areas of the state of Colima that border the state of Michoacán, including the city of Tecoman. The security situation along the Michoacán border continues to be the most unstable in the state, with gun battles occurring between rival criminal groups and with Mexican authorities. Intercity travel at night is not recommended.

Durango: Defer non-essential travel to the state of Durango except the city of Durango, where you should exercise caution. Violence and criminal activity along the highways are a continuing security concern. Several areas in the state continue to experience high rates of violence and remain volatile and unpredictable. U.S. government personnel may not travel outside the city of Durango and must abide by a curfew of 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. within a secured venue.

Estado de Mexico: Toluca and Teotihuacan are major travel destinations in Estado de Mexico – Defer non-essential travel to the municipalities of Coacalco, Ecatepec, Nezahualcoyotl, La Paz, Valle del Chalco, Solidaridad, Chalco, and Ixtapaluca, which are eastern portions of the greater Mexico City metropolitan area, located just to the east of the Federal District of Mexico and Benito Juarez airport, unless traveling directly through the areas on major thoroughfares. These areas have seen high rates of crime and insecurity. You should also defer non-essential travel on any roads between Santa Marta in the southeast portion of the state and Huitzilac in the state of Morelos, including the Lagunas de Zempoala National Park and surrounding areas.

Guanajuato: San Miguel de Allende and Leon are major cities/travel destinations in Guanajuato – No advisory is in effect.

Guerrero: Acapulco, Ixtapa, Taxco and Zihuatanejo are major cities/travel destinations in Guerrero – Defer non-essential travel to all parts of the state, except for the cities of Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa, Taxco, and the caves at Grutas de Cacahuamilpa. Even in these tourist-friendly cities, you should exercise caution and stay within tourist areas. If driving to Taxco, only use federal toll road (“cuota”) 95D, exit at Puente de Ixtala/Iguala 91 and use 95 Cuernavaca-Iguala; return using the same route. Do not stop between the 95D toll road and Taxco. Gas refueling and rest breaks should be planned accordingly. You should also exercise caution and travel only during daylight hours on highway 95/95D between Mexico City and Acapulco. Use the toll road towards the Playa Diamante area and avoid the highway running through the city of Acapulco for travel to and from Acapulco. In Acapulco, defer non-essential travel to areas further than 2 blocks inland of the Costera Miguel Aleman Boulevard, which parallels the popular beach areas. Lodging for U.S. government personnel is limited to the hotel zone (“zona hotelera”) of Acapulco, beginning from the Hotel Avalon Excalibur Acapulco in the north and going south through Puerto Marquez including the Playa Diamante area. Any activity outside the hotel zone for U.S. government personnel is limited to the coastal area from La Quebrada to the beginning of the hotel zone and only during daylight hours. In general, the popular tourist area of Diamante, just south of the city, has been less affected by violence. Flying into the coastal cities in southern Guerrero remains the preferred method of travel. You should defer non-essential travel by land between Acapulco and Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa; travel to Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa only by air, and exercise caution while in Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa. The state of Guerrero was the most violent state in Mexico in 2013, with 2,087 homicides and 207 reported cases of kidnapping, according to the Mexican Secretariado Ejecutivo Nacional de Seguridad Publica. Self-defense groups operate independently of the government in many areas of Guerrero. Armed members of these groups frequently maintain roadblocks and, although not considered hostile to foreigners or tourists, are suspicious of outsiders and should be considered volatile and unpredictable.

Hidalgo: No advisory is in effect.

Jalisco: Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Lake Chapala are major cities/travel destinations in Jalisco – Defer non-essential travel to areas of the state that border the states of Michoacán and Zacatecas. The security situation along the Michoacán and Zacatecas borders continues to be unstable and gun battles between criminal groups and authorities occur. Concerns include roadblocks placed by individuals posing as police or military personnel and recent gun battles between rival criminal organizations involving automatic weapons. You should exercise caution in rural areas and when using secondary highways, particularly along the northern border of the state. Except for the areas of the state that border Michoacán, there is no advisory in effect for daytime travel within major population centers or major highways in the state of Jalisco. Intercity travel at night is not recommended. There is no recommendation against travel to Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. There is also no recommendation against travel on principal highways in Jalisco between Guadalajara including the portions that cross into the southern portions of the state of Nayarit.

Mexico City (also known as the Federal District): No advisory is in effect. See also the discussion in the section on Estado de Mexico for areas within the greater Mexico City metropolitan area.

Michoacán: Morelia is a major city/travel destination in Michoacán – Defer non-essential travel to the state of Michoacán except the cities of Morelia and Lázaro Cardenas and the area north of federal toll road 15D, where you should exercise caution. U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling by land in Michoacán except on federal toll road 15D during daylight hours. Flying into Morelia and Lázaro Cardenas is the recommended method of travel. Attacks on Mexican government officials, law enforcement and military personnel, and other incidents of organized crime-related violence, have occurred throughout Michoacán. Federal authorities deployed some 9,000 federal security forces to Michoacán in January 2014 to address rising insecurity, particularly in the entire western part of the state. Due to criminal activity in Lázaro Cardenas, the Mexican military assumed direct control of the port in late 2013. Government authorities incorporated some of the self-defense groups that had operated independently of the government in recent months into a new state police unit in May. Armed members of some other self-defense groups maintain roadblocks and, although not considered hostile to foreigners or tourists, are suspicious of outsiders and should be considered volatile and unpredictable. Some groups in Michoacán are reputed to be linked to organized crime.

Morelos: Cuernavaca is a major city/travel destination in Morelos – Exercise caution in the state of Morelos due to the unpredictable nature of organized crime violence. You should also defer non-essential travel on any roads between Huitzilac in the northwest corner of the state and Santa Marta in the state of Mexico, including the Lagunas de Zempoala National Park and surrounding areas. On August 24, 2012, two U.S. government employees were injured after being fired upon by Federal Police officers on a non-toll road north of Tres Marias, Morelos. Numerous incidents of organized crime-related violence have also occurred in the city of Cuernavaca.

Nayarit: Defer non-essential travel to areas of the state of Nayarit that border the states of Sinaloa or Durango, as well as all rural areas and secondary highways. There is no recommendation against travel to the Vallarta-Nayarit area in the southern portion of the state known as the Riviera Nayarit, Tepic, Xalisco, and San Blas, or to principal highways in the southern portion of the state used to travel from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta. Intercity travel at night is not recommended.

Nuevo Leon: Monterrey is a major city/travel destination in Nuevo Leon – Defer non-essential travel to the state of Nuevo Leon except the metropolitan area of Monterrey, where you should exercise caution. Although the level of organized crime-related violence and general insecurity in Monterrey has decreased dramatically within the last 18 months, sporadic incidents of violence have occurred in the greater Monterrey area. Security services in and around Monterrey are robust and have proven responsive and effective in combating violent crimes; however, instances of violence remain a concern in the more remote regions of the state. Criminal organizations have kidnapped, and in some cases murdered, U.S. citizens, even when ransom demands are met. As a result of a Department of State assessment of the overall security situation, U.S. government personnel and their dependents may not travel outside the San Pedro Garza Garcia municipal boundaries between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., except for travel to the airport after 5 a.m.

Oaxaca: Oaxaca, Huatulco and Puerto Escondido are major cities/travel destinations in Oaxaca – No advisory is in effect.

Puebla: No advisory is in effect.

Queretaro: No advisory is in effect.

Quintana Roo: Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya and Tulum are major cities/travel destinations in Quintana Roo – No advisory is in effect.

San Luis Potosi: Defer non-essential travel to the state of San Luis Potosi, except the city of San Luis Potosi, where you should exercise caution. Violence and criminal activity along highways are continuing security concerns. U.S. government personnel may not travel outside the City of San Luis Potosi and must abide by a curfew of 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. within a secured venue.

Sinaloa: Mazatlan is a major city/travel destination in Sinaloa – Defer non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa except the city of Mazatlan, where you should exercise caution, particularly late at night and in the early morning. One of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations is based in the state of Sinaloa, and violent crime rates remain high in many parts of the state. Travel off the toll roads in remote areas of Sinaloa is especially dangerous and should be avoided. We recommend that any travel in Mazatlan be limited to Zona Dorada and the historic town center, as well as direct routes to/from these locations and the airport.

Sonora: Nogales, Puerto Peñasco, Hermosillo, and San Carlos are major cities/travel destinations in Sonora – Sonora is a key region in the international drug and human trafficking trades and can be extremely dangerous for travelers. Travelers throughout Sonora are encouraged to limit travel to main roads during daylight hours. The region west of Nogales, east of Sonoyta, and from Caborca north, including the towns of Saric, Tubutama, and Altar, and the eastern edge of Sonora bordering Chihuahua, are known centers of illegal activity, and non-essential travel between these cities should be avoided. Travelers should also defer non-essential travel to the eastern edge of the state of Sonora, which borders the state of Chihuahua (all points along that border east of the northern city of Agua Prieta and the southern town of Alamos), and defer non-essential travel within the city of Ciudad Obregon and south of the city of Navojoa. You should exercise caution while transiting Vicam in southern Sonora due to roadblocks that can be instituted ad hoc by local indigenous and environmental groups. U.S. citizens visiting Puerto Peñasco should use the Lukeville, Arizona/Sonoyta, Sonora border crossing, and limit driving to daylight hours.

Tabasco: Villahermosa is a major city/travel destination in Tabasco – No advisory is in effect.

Tamaulipas: Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, and Tampico are major cities/travel destinations in Tamaulipas – Defer non-essential travel to the state of Tamaulipas. All U.S. government employees are prohibited from personal travel on Tamaulipas highways outside of Matamoros, Reynosa, and Nuevo Laredo due to the risks posed by armed robbery and carjacking, particularly along the northern border. Traveling outside of cities after dark is not recommended. While no highway routes through Tamaulipas are considered safe, the highways between Matamoros-Ciudad Victoria, Reynosa-Ciudad Victoria, Ciudad Victoria-Tampico, Monterrey-Nuevo Laredo, and Monterrey-Reynosa, are more prone to criminal activity. In Matamoros, U.S. government employees are subject to movement restrictions between midnight and 6 a.m.

Matamoros, Reynosa, Nuevo Laredo, and Ciudad Victoria have experienced numerous gun battles and attacks with explosive devices in the past year. Violent conflicts between rival criminal elements and/or the Mexican military can occur in all parts of the region and at all times of the day. The number of reported kidnappings for Tamaulipas is among the highest in Mexico, and the number of U.S. citizens reported to the consulates in Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo as being kidnapped, abducted, or disappearing involuntarily in the first half of 2014 has also increased. In May 2014, a Mexican state and federal security initiative was announced focused on combating increased violence in the state.

Tlaxcala: No advisory is in effect.

Veracruz: Exercise caution when traveling in the state of Veracruz. The state of Veracruz continues to experience violence among rival criminal organizations. Mexican federal security forces continue to assist state and local security forces in providing security and combating organized crime.

Yucatan: Merida and Chichen Itza are major cities/travel destinations in Yucatan – No advisory is in effect.

Zacatecas: Defer non-essential travel to areas of Zacatecas near the border with other Mexican states. Exercise caution in the interior of the state including the city of Zacatecas. Robberies, carjackings, and organized criminal activity remain a concern. Gun battles between criminal groups and authorities have occurred in the area of the state bordering the state of Jalisco. Extreme caution should be taken when traveling in the remainder of the state. U.S. government personnel may not travel outside the city of Zacatecas after dark and must abide by a curfew of 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. within a secured venue.

Further Information

For more detailed information on staying safe in Mexico, please see the State Department’s Country Specific Information for Mexico.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the State Department’s internet web site, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 001-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). U.S. citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to enroll with the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens in Mexico, please contact the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate with responsibility for that person’s location in Mexico. For information on the ten U.S. consular districts in Mexico, complete with links to Embassy and Consulate websites, please consult the Mexico U.S. Consular District map. The numbers provided below for the Embassy and Consulates are available around the clock. The U.S. Embassy is located in Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000; telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000; telephone long distance within Mexico 01-55-5080-2000. U.S. citizens may also contact the Embassy by e-mail.

Consulates (with consular districts):

Ciudad Juarez (Chihuahua): Paseo de la Victoria 3650, telephone. (011)(52)(656) 227-3000.
Guadalajara (Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguas Calientes, and Colima): Progreso 175, telephone (011)(52)(333) 268-2100.
Hermosillo (Sinaloa and the southern part of the state of Sonora): Avenida Monterrey 141, telephone (011)(52)(662) 289-3500.
Matamoros (the southern part of Tamaulipas with the exception of the city of Tampico): Avenida Primera 2002, telephone (011)(52)(868) 812-4402.
Merida (Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo): Calle 60 no. 338-K x 29 y 31, Col. Alcala Martin, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico 97050, telephone (011)(52)(999) 942-5700 or 202-250-3711 (U.S. number).
Monterrey (Nuevo Leon, Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, and the southern part of Coahuila):Prolongacion Ave. Alfonso Reyes No. 150, Col. Valle Poniente, Santa Catarina, Nuevo Leon, 66196, telephone (011)(52)(818) 047-3100.
Nogales (the northern part of Sonora): Calle San Jose, Nogales, Sonora, telephone (011)(52)(631) 311-8150.
Nuevo Laredo (the northern part of Coahuila and the northwestern part of Tamaulipas): Calle Allende 3330, Col. Jardin, telephone (011)(52)(867) 714-0512.
Tijuana (Baja California Norte and Baja California Sur): Paseo de Las Culturas s/n Mesa de Otay, telephone (011) (52) (664) 977-2000.
All other Mexican states, the Federal District of Mexico City, and the city of Tampico, Tamaulipas, are part of the Embassy’s consular district.
Consular Agencies:

Acapulco: Hotel Emporio, Costera Miguel Aleman 121 – Suite 14, telephone (011)(52)(744) 481-0100 or (011)(52)(744) 484-0300.
Cancún: Blvd. Kukulcan Km 13 ZH Torre La Europea, Despacho 301 Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico C.P. 77500, telephone (011)(52)(998) 883-0272.
Los Cabos: Las Tiendas de Palmilla Local B221, Carretera Transpeninsular Km. 27.5, San José del Cabo, BCS, Mexico 23406 telephone, (624) 143-3566 Fax: (624) 143-6750.
Mazatlán: Playa Gaviotas #202, Zona Dorada, telephone (011)(52)(669) 916-5889.
Oaxaca: Macedonio Alcalá no. 407, interior 20, telephone (011)(52)(951) 514-3054, (011) (52)(951) 516-2853.
Piedras Negras: Abasolo #211, Zona Centro, Piedras Negras, Coah., telephone, (011)(52)(878) 782-5586.
Playa del Carmen: «The Palapa,» Calle 1 Sur, between Avenida 15 and Avenida 20, telephone (011)(52)(984) 873-0303 or 202-370-6708(a U.S. number).
Puerto Vallarta: Paradise Plaza, Paseo de los Cocoteros #1, Local #4, Interior #17, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, telephone (011)(52)(322) 222-0069.
San Miguel de Allende: Centro Comercial La Luciernaga, Libramiento Manuel Zavala (Pepe KBZON), telephone (011)(52)(415) 152-2357.

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Sjekket reiseforsikring hos World Nomads

WorldNomads

Forsikringen for en slik tur er selvfølgelig viktig så de første undersøkelsene er gjort for å finne ut hva jeg kan forvente meg av utgifter og hva en forsikring kan dekke. Fra litt surfing på diverse forumer har WorldNomads.com dukket opp.

Ser ut til at tilbudet ligger på 535 og 588 euro, så da er det bare å få noen tilbud fra andre for å sammenligne pris, sjekke hva de faktisk dekker og ikke minst høre med andre hvilke erfaringer de har gjort seg. Hjelper lite hvis ett selskap gir bra priser hvis det er så byråkratisk å få noe dekket at det er umulig når man står midt inne i bushen med dårlige internett forbindelser og muligens må ringe med satellitt telefon 🙂

What you’re covered for
Collapse all View full description of coverage (policy wording)

Standard

€535
EUR

Explorer

€588
EUR
[ – ]

Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses

While travelling overseas, you suffer an acute serious illness or acute serious injury and you require urgent and necessary medical or emergency dental treatment or hospitalisation.Read about what’s covered (and not) & how we can help for details.
 €3,500,000 Unlimited

Hospitalisation or treatment by a doctor or specialist

Surgery or medical treatment in a hospital or clinic either as an inpatient or outpatient.

 100% of expenses 100% of expenses

Prescribed medicines by a doctor or specialist

Medicines prescribed by an authorised physician, dentist or specialist while travelling.

 100% of expenses 100% of expenses

Pain relieving dental treatment

Urgent and immediate treatment by a dentist for an injury, infection, lost filling or a broken tooth during your trip.

 €250 €350

Counselling after an assault or mugging

Covers the cost of counselling by a psychologist abroad or in your country of permanent residence following your mugging or assault.

 €200 €200

Daily emergency cash allowance in hospital

A daily cash allowance while you’re in hospital, where pre-approved by ihi Bupa.

 €1500 (€35/day) €2000 (€70/day)

Physiotherapy or chiropractic treatment

Treatment by physiotherapists and chiropractors as prescribed by an authorised physician.

 Not included €1500

Treatment by acupuncturist or osteopath

Alternative treatment by registered and licensed acupuncturist or osteopath.

 Not included €350

Adventure sports and activities

You’re covered for medical expenses and medical evacuation/repatriation expenses if you’re injured participating in a range of covered adventure sports and activities while travelling overseas. Coverage for snowsports is only included in the Explorer Plan. You’re not covered to participate in paragliding, mountaineering, base jumping, professional sports, races, competitions or motorsports on any plan.

 Standard sports & activities Standard & higher risk sports & activities

Study, work & volunteer

Emergency medical assistance, medical treatment and medical evacuation/repatriation if you are seriously injured or in an accident while you study, work or volunteer overseas. You must have the appropriate visa and/or be allowed to study or work under the local laws of the country. Non-manual work includes non-physical jobs including office, hospitality, teaching, care-giving or retail work. Manual work is physical labour, usually done with your hands or machinery including fruit picking, hair-dressing, construction or work in a factory assembly line.

 Non-manual work only Non-manual work & manual work
[ – ]

24 Hour Emergency Assistance

In case of death, sickness, injury or accident while travelling, our emergency assistance team at ihi Bupa are multi-lingual and can help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 Unlimited Unlimited
[ – ]

Emergency Medical Transport, Evacuation, Repatriation & Travel Expenses

Emergency transport to a medical facility, your evacuation to a safe place or repatriation home when pre-approved by the insurer, ihi Bupa.Read about what’s covered (and not) & how we can help for details.
 €350,000 €350,000

Medical evacuation or repatriation home

Reasonable additional expenses for your medical evacuation, ambulance transport or repatriation home if you suffer an acute serious illness or injury. These expenses must be pre-approved by the insurer ihi Bupa.

 Included Included

Ambulance transport

Transportation to the nearest medical facility or to another place for treatment.

 Included Included

Non-medical evacuation

Evacuation to a safe place due to war, terrorism or natural disaster.

 Included Included

Personal support and accompaniment

Economy class flights and reasonable additional travel expenses for accommodation, local transportation and meals for a friend or close relative to support and accompany you in hospital and your repatriation home if your condition is life threatening or you will be in hospital for at least 5 nights. Travel expenses must be pre-approved by the insurer ihi Bupa.

 €3500 (€200/day) €3500 (€200/day)

Compassionate emergency repatriation

Reasonable expenses to repatriate you home if you have to end your trip due to a close relative’s sudden illness, injury or death.

 Included Included

Accidental death – repatriation of remains

Cremation and/or transportation of your remains home if you die while overseas.

 €10000 €10000
[ – ]

Pre-Trip Cancellation

Cover for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, tuition/course fees and tours if you have to cancel your trip before you leave home, due to an unexpected, serious illness or injury requiring hospitalisation.Read more about what’s covered (and not) & how we can help.
 €3,500 €7,000
[ – ]

Trip Interruption

Covers your your non-refundable, pre-paid travel and accommodation expenses, change to itinerary fees and tuition/course fees if, after you leave home, your trip is interrupted or you have to end your trip early due to your (or your close relative’s) death, acute serious illness/injury.
 €2,500 €3,500

Travel provider insolvency

Protection if your travel service provider becomes insolvent.

 Included Included

Home visit

We will let you return home and resume your trip under the insured period for any reason at your own expense.

 One visit included One visit included
[ – ]

Resumption of Trip

Covers the cost to resume your trip if you had to return home due to the death or hospitalisation of a close relative or if you have been medically evacuated/repatriated due to an acute serious illness or injury.
 €1,000 €2,000
[ – ]

Travel Delay

Cover for reasonable additional expenses for local transportation, meals and overnight hotel accommodation if your pre-booked transport is delayed for more than 3 hours, cancelled or overbooked.
 €350 €700
[ – ]

Missed Flight Connection

Covers a replacement flight ticket or the cost to change your ticket if a common carrier causes you to miss your pre-booked connecting flight.
 Not included €700
[ – ]

Hijacking

Loss of pre-paid travel expenses if you decide to end your trip after you have been hijacked.
 Not included €700
[ – ]

Special Event Cover

Reasonable alternative transport costs to arrive on time if you are delayed and need to attend a pre-paid music, cultural or sporting event. You will also be reimbursed if the tickets can not be refunded or rescheduled.
 Not included €350
[ – ]

Baggage & Personal Effects

Covers your baggage, clothing, electronic equipment, jewellery or other items you take or buy on your trip if they are stolen, damaged by a natural disaster, or lost/damaged by a common carrier. Special conditions and single item limits apply.
 €1,700 €2,500

Theft of baggage

Cover if your baggage and/or personal belongings are stolen from you, a locked room, vehicle or safety box.

 Included Included

Loss or damage by fire or natural disaster

Cover if your belongings are lost or damaged by fire or other natural disaster if locked in your accommodation abroad or a locked safety box.

 Included Included

Loss or damage to checked in baggage

Documented loss or damage to baggage by a common carrier, accommodation or luggage storage provider.

 Included Included

Delayed baggage

Reasonable expenses for the purchase of essential items of clothing, toiletries and essential medicine where your registered, checked-in baggage is delayed for more than 12 hours.

 €300 (€100/24hrs up to 3 days) €500 (€100/24hrs up to 5 days)

Theft of cash

Your cash is covered up to the limit shown if it is stolen from you.

 Not included €200

Theft or damage to sporting equipment

Theft of your sporting equipment or damage to your sporting equipment by a common carrier.

 Not included €350
[ – ]

Passport & Travel Documents

Covers the cost to replace your passport, credit cards, tickets, drivers license, travellers cheques, securities and other travel documents if they are stolen from you or lost in a fire or natural disaster.
 €350 €700
[ – ]

Personal Liability – Physical Injury or Property Damage

Legal liability and defence costs for any physical injury or property damage you negligently cause to a third party.
 €700,000 €1,750,000
[ – ]

Rental Vehicle – Insurance Excess

Covers the excess on your rental vehicle insurance if you are in a motor accident or your rental vehicle is stolen. You can also submit a claim to pay for additional costs to return the vehicle if you are medically unfit to drive.
 Not included €1,500
[ – ]

Personal Accident

Compensation and/or repayment of a credit card or student loan if you are involved in an accident and you die, lose a limb or lose your eyesight.
 Not included €15,000

Accidental death, loss of eye(s), limb(s), permanent total disablement

Compensation in case of accidental death, loss of a limb, loss of sight, loss of extremity, or permanent total disablement while abroad or up to one year after the accident.

 Not included Included

Student loan and credit repayment

If you die or suffer permanent loss of sight in one eye, permanent loss of one limb or permanent total disablement while travelling, a one-time payment is available to repay your full time student loan or credit owed.

 Not included €3750
Publisert

Svar fra Motofreight

Motofreight

Da fikk jeg en ny mail fra Motofreight med ett tilbud som også innehold informasjon om frakt av mc til og fra UK, pluss en ca. pris på hvordan komme seg rundt Darien Gap. Mitt første budsjett som var basert på gjetning uten å ha forespurt noen transportører var på 35.000kr, så det viser seg at å være tidlig uten med å planlegge og innhente priser kan være lurt i henhold til å sette opp ett spare budsjettet.

Frakt

Norge – UK £450 = 4,558NOK

London til Anchorage £1,495 = 15,144NOK

Darien Gap $1000 = 6.052NOK

Buenos Aires til London £2,200 = 22,286NOK

Frakt UK – Norge £450 = = 4,558NOK

Totalt 52,133NOK

I tilllegg kommer fortolling og forsikringer, pluss sikkert andre ting som jeg ikke har kontrollen på enda 🙂

 

Motofreight har virkelig vært kjapp med tilbakemeldinger, vært konkret og kommet med noen gode tips. Helt klart ett selskap som ved hva de holder på med og som tydeligvis har gjort denne type befraktninger mange ganger tidligere.

Var også i kontakt md GravelRoadLogistics og Motorcycle Express men tror jeg satser på Motofreight 🙂