Took the bike to the Triumph dealer in Buenos Aires. They were very envious since it is not available in Argentina. Shame since it is well suited to the roads here.
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Monday, 25 April 2011
Not a figment of my imagination!
She lives!!! After 6 hours doing customs type stuff at the airport I fianally managed to get my hands on Daisy. I was beginning to think that she did not exist. The Aduanna were really helpful even though we had been warned about them. Perhaps it is my good looks and charm that got me through.
That said customs would not even let me take a photo of her as she was being unpacked perhaps they were really 'special forces' personnel operating undercover as customs officials or perhaps they watch too much CSI.
Back at Dakar I recorded her good looks.
Saturday, 23 April 2011
and so we wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So what has happened since the last blog? With regards to the bike ‘sweet FA’! It has now been 2 weeks since we arrived in BA and the bike is still in customs though it has now made it to Argentina and surprisingly even to Buenos Aires. So the story to date: After being impounded my US customs and missing the onward flight we waited a week until the next scheduled flight for Centurion Cargo to BA. Incredulously that aircraft decided that the Miami hospitality was too great to miss and went defective on the airfield with the bikes loaded onboard. 24 hours later it was
sorted and the extra day was small compared to the time we had already waited but was critical to the contents of our wallets. To continue! When the bikes were due to finally arrive in BA we went to the airport at the ETA to try and get ahead of the power curve but in keeping it turns out that time we had been told was when they arrived in Uruguay and it would be another 2.5 hours before BA saw the flight. Late in the afternoon and leaving insufficient time to get them through customs! No problemo the next day (Thursday would be fine). That would be too easy. It was a National holiday until Monday and we would have to pay $50ish a day for storage. So what did we do in the meantime? Had a really good weekend. We followed the advice of John (another one) who was riding a KTM 950 superenduro. So it was straight into town where we hoped to find a backpackers. Being the holiday though meant that everything was fully booked! Fortunately a B&B with only 2 rooms had space but it meant that I had to share a bed with Ian and his ‘bodily functions’. Our social life though moved from 1st to 5th gear and The Gibraltar Inn was treated to the money from our pockets. Why had we spent over a week staying at Dakar Motors?
Actually did some cultural things like going to a tango show. I will admit that the opportunity to look at fit dancers was one not to be missed. I was not prepared for the appearance of a supernatural being. The ghostly apparition of Evita proved difficult to snap even with my 'ghostbusters' camera.
Not only that but a couple of days previous I had met up with Silvana who I had not spoken to
in 20 years. We travelled together for a couple of weeks whilst in Miami. The wonders of Facebook.
sorted and the extra day was small compared to the time we had already waited but was critical to the contents of our wallets. To continue! When the bikes were due to finally arrive in BA we went to the airport at the ETA to try and get ahead of the power curve but in keeping it turns out that time we had been told was when they arrived in Uruguay and it would be another 2.5 hours before BA saw the flight. Late in the afternoon and leaving insufficient time to get them through customs! No problemo the next day (Thursday would be fine). That would be too easy. It was a National holiday until Monday and we would have to pay $50ish a day for storage. So what did we do in the meantime? Had a really good weekend. We followed the advice of John (another one) who was riding a KTM 950 superenduro. So it was straight into town where we hoped to find a backpackers. Being the holiday though meant that everything was fully booked! Fortunately a B&B with only 2 rooms had space but it meant that I had to share a bed with Ian and his ‘bodily functions’. Our social life though moved from 1st to 5th gear and The Gibraltar Inn was treated to the money from our pockets. Why had we spent over a week staying at Dakar Motors?Actually did some cultural things like going to a tango show. I will admit that the opportunity to look at fit dancers was one not to be missed. I was not prepared for the appearance of a supernatural being. The ghostly apparition of Evita proved difficult to snap even with my 'ghostbusters' camera.
Not only that but a couple of days previous I had met up with Silvana who I had not spoken to
in 20 years. We travelled together for a couple of weeks whilst in Miami. The wonders of Facebook.
Friday, 15 April 2011
Round and about Buenos Aires
I must say that this is a really nice city. Friendly, clean and lots to do. Did the tourist thing and took a tour bus today.
Thursday, 14 April 2011
In Buenos Aires, still in Buenos Aires, still in Buenos Aires
Got here a couple of days ago and staying at Dakar Motors the adventure motorcycling hub in southern Argentina. 
This is the inside of Dakar but unfortunately there seems to be something missing. Oh yes! Daisy. Some US customs official in Miami decided that he wanted to check her out even though she was only transitting and of course UK security is no good so they were clearly justified in their actions. I wonder if it was before or after they frisked that 6 year old girl? In any case Daisy missed her connecting flight and is not due here until next Monday. The other 2 bikes are with her as well. Still smiling though!
This is the inside of Dakar but unfortunately there seems to be something missing. Oh yes! Daisy. Some US customs official in Miami decided that he wanted to check her out even though she was only transitting and of course UK security is no good so they were clearly justified in their actions. I wonder if it was before or after they frisked that 6 year old girl? In any case Daisy missed her connecting flight and is not due here until next Monday. The other 2 bikes are with her as well. Still smiling though!
Monday, 11 April 2011
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
BUENOS AIRES TO NEW YORK Take 2!!!!
Prep time
Following the last adventure I am about to depart on another. This time I will take my new bike, Daisy a brand new Triumph Tiger 800xc, from Buenos Aires to New York. It will be a fast ride since there are only 2 1/2 months available. There are 2 other guys coming along for the ride but since I have done a lot of South America already I will go from BA north, explore by myself and then meet the guys in Bolivia. We will then travel north to New York. Daisy went to the shippers yesterday and we fly on Monday 11 April. So much for me settling down!!
Saying goodbye to her friends
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