Cartagena was the furthest north we go on this trip. It’s all going south from here on (no jokes please). A day along the Caribbean coast and then inland in 38C heat to the “stopover” town of Montaria. Then 175 miles through the rain and into the mountains to Medellin.
Time to talk a bit about the group. There are 20 bikes with a mix of end-to-end riders heading for Tierra del Fuego and four of us just riding the Andes section to Santiago. Keeping us all in order are Globebusters’ owners Kevin & Julia riding twin Triumph 1200 XCs. Back up is Alan (Wy Aye) and Peter (Tintin) in a pair of Transit vans. Kevin, Al and Pete were the crew for my trip and to China.
The travel is starting to take its toll. Tony’s Triumph has had no rear suspension since Bogota and Trevor & Audrey’s 1200GS collapsed on the road to Montaria. Khalid’s new BMW won’t start. Tim1 and Richard have both been really unwell with a virus which is now going round the group. Chris, Nicole and Tiffany have all succumbed so far.
This is where the Transits come in. The sick bike / rider is loaded into the van and moves with the group until they get better or we reach a mechanic who can fix the problem. No one is left behind but the group keeps moving.
Leaving Medellin tomorrow we have all the bikes fixed and every rider ready to go except poor Tim1 whose virus has progressed to pneumonia and is taking 3 or 4 days to rest in the van.
The travel is starting to take its toll. Tony’s Triumph has had no rear suspension since Bogota and Trevor & Audrey’s 1200GS collapsed on the road to Montaria. Khalid’s new BMW won’t start. Tim1 and Richard have both been really unwell with a virus which is now going round the group. Chris, Nicole and Tiffany have all succumbed so far.
This is where the Transits come in. The sick bike / rider is loaded into the van and moves with the group until they get better or we reach a mechanic who can fix the problem. No one is left behind but the group keeps moving.
Leaving Medellin tomorrow we have all the bikes fixed and every rider ready to go except poor Tim1 whose virus has progressed to pneumonia and is taking 3 or 4 days to rest in the van.
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