Follow a Journey from Texas to Argentina in Progress!

[rlswim]

You will likely enjoy following the journey as it happens of two Texas BMW riders to the southern tip of South America. Bo Griffin and Dick Jacobs are currently traveling from Texas through Central America to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Bo has a satellite uplink for positioning to an internet site, so their route may be followed near real-time. Go to http://www.bogriffinrides.com/html/southamerica.htm for images of the adventure and the link to follow their trek. Bo leads many rides for the Lone Star BMW Riders, which I have had the privilege to join in on this year.

Photo below in La Paz, Peru 11 Jan 07.

[rlswim]

It's the end of day 6 and Bo and Dick made it into El Salvador to La Libertad on the Pacific coast. Attached is an image of their route so far.

[PacWestGS]

Neat, I'll be taking notes... :lurk

[Traveler1]

Thanks for posting this. I'm going to follow their adventure with great interest.

[rlswim]

It's the end of day 8 and the boys have made it from La Libertad, El Salvador with a New Year's stay in Leon, Nicaragua to San Jose, Costa Rica for some well-deserved rest at a friend's place. Their route from 31 Dec 06 to 1 Jan 07 is attached. More can be found at http://www.bogriffinrides.com/html/southamerica.htm. :thumb

[rlswim]

Day 11 finds Bo and Dick in Panama City. They are to ship the bikes by air Friday morning to Bogota to continue their journey past the formidable Darien Gap.

[rlswim]

After an air freight from Panama into Bogota, Columbia on the weekend, the guys have rolled into Quito, Ecuador for day 15. Go to http://www.bogriffinrides.com/html/southamerica.htm for images and semi-daily journals by Bo.

[salcar]

these guys are moving fast! it took me over three months to get to Quito from CA and some riders i met along the way told me i was moving to fast:nono i'll keep an eye out for them maybe i'll see them here down south.

[mrich12000]

Boy what a great trip to do. Just looked at the route in Gogle maps Hybrid, wow all the switch backs and varios road types. Good luck, I will be taking notes as well.:clap

[RTRandy]

Anyone know why they air freighted the bikes from Panama to Bogota? What's the deal on the Darien Gap? Are there no roads to get to Columbia ? Sorry if I seem nieve. I've never been down that way or studied about that area.

I booked marked their report so I've been following along. Amazing!

[rlswim]

Anyone know why they air freighted the bikes from Panama to Bogota? What's the deal on the Darien Gap? Are there no roads to get to Columbia ? Sorry if I seem nieve. I've never been down that way or studied about that area.

I too was under the impression that the Pan-American Highway was continuous, but there is a strip of about 80 miles of jungle between Panama and Colombia with absolutely no road or path. The stories go that you can count the number of people that have crossed the Darien Gap with your fingers. Here is a Wiki about the Gap http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darien_Gap . I also ran across an interesting account of crossing the Gap by Karl Bushby, who is currently walking around the world http://goliath.mail2web.com/Journals/DarienGap.asp .

Different people have noted that they either took a ship or flew their bikes around the Gap from either Costa Rica or Panama to Ecuador or Colombia. Bo had noted in his expenses that air freight for the bike was around $560, and his flight cost was ~$260.

And mrich12000 - try following the journey in Google Earth (free application from Google). The Star-Traxx link on Bo's site positions directly into Google Earth. You can choose a 3 dimensional view and "fly" along their route to get a feel of the terrain that Bo and Dick are riding through. I have spotted things in the Google Earth views that I saw later in Bo's pictures he posted.

[rlswim]

Day 20 brought the boys into Lima, Peru. They are covering more miles now each day along the relatively straight roads on the Pacific coastline.

[bigdelta]

Anyone know why they air freighted the bikes from Panama to Bogota? What's the deal on the Darien Gap? Are there no roads to get to Columbia ? Sorry if I seem nieve. I've never been down that way or studied about that area.

I booked marked their report so I've been following along. Amazing!

I had the pleasure of meeting him before he passed away.Very nice gentleman and very unassuming.Excellent read of his ride through the Dariens Gap a few years back.I believe another rider did it on a 2WD Rokon (?).I think everyone who has a MC library should include this.His daughter is active in RA IIRC.

A short review:
Imagine a network of highways stretching from Alaska to Argentina, a road system connecting 18 countries, two continents and consisting of over 46,000 miles of pavement and dirt. Now imagine riding your bike on this highway and discovering that the route stops dead in the middle of the jungle.

Ed Culberson's book about motorcycling the entire length of the Pan American Highway, even the part where there is no road, is much more than the average travel narrative. It is, rather, an intimate look into the mind of a man whose obsession to achieve his dream brings him close death, and even closer to enlightenment.

Culberson's obsession lies on the border between eastern Panama and western Colombia. The Darien Gap, an area of thick jungles, impenetrable swamps, and impassable topography, is an 80-mile break in the roadway connecting the northern and southern hemisphere. The local Indians call it "the Stopper", for it has long been an obstacle for travelers seeking an overland route to South America. In his book, the author shares his passion for motorcycling and his fascination with the Pan American Highway; the result is a long journey full of triumphs and failures, and personal endurance.

Riding a BMW R80 christened "Amigo", Culberson finds himself in adventure at every turn. Everything from hostile natives and torrential weather to flaky traveling companions and crooked border officials impedes his progress across the Darien. Most of the time this book reads like a journal as Culberson confides in the reader his uncertainties about the journey and also about the negative affect his obsession has had on his personal life.

Obsessions Die Hard is the story of a man faced with a challenge he cannot turn away from, but it is also an education of what it means to truly have an obsession for something. An inspiring and unbelievable book by a very humble and elegant writer, this is a must read for anyone interested in the sport of motorcycling and the perseverance of the human soul

[rlswim]

After a drive line repair in Santiago, Bo and Dick have ridden from Lima, Peru through Chile and into San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina on day 28. Bo has posted plenty of images from the trip at http://www.bogriffinrides.com/html/southamerica.htm

[rlswim]

:thumb
32 days and over 9,000 miles brings Bo to his destination in Ushuaia, Argentina on Thursday morning, 25 January 07. No more riding south, as 600 miles of water separates South America from Antarctica. Speaking of separations, Dick is following a bit behind after he and Bo parted ways in Sarmeinto.

Bo - Congratulations on a great journey and the wonderful pictures and stories that you have shared with us! There is still a major trek in front of you to get back home, and I look forward to seeing and riding with you again. Godspeed - Richard

[rlswim]

Bo has reached Bahia Lapataia and the end of Ruta 3, the Pan-American highway.

[Voni]

Bravo!

Thanks for taking us along on the ride.

Voni
sMiling

[mrich12000]

I too was under the impression that the Pan-American Highway was continuous, but there is a strip of about 80 miles of jungle between Panama and Colombia with absolutely no road or path. The stories go that you can count the number of people that have crossed the Darien Gap with your fingers. Here is a Wiki about the Gap http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darien_Gap . I also ran across an interesting account of crossing the Gap by Karl Bushby, who is currently walking around the world http://goliath.mail2web.com/Journals/DarienGap.asp .

Different people have noted that they either took a ship or flew their bikes around the Gap from either Costa Rica or Panama to Ecuador or Colombia. Bo had noted in his expenses that air freight for the bike was around $560, and his flight cost was ~$260.

And mrich12000 - try following the journey in Google Earth (free application from Google). The Star-Traxx link on Bo's site positions directly into Google Earth. You can choose a 3 dimensional view and "fly" along their route to get a feel of the terrain that Bo and Dick are riding through. I have spotted things in the Google Earth views that I saw later in Bo's pictures he posted.

ok I will do that thanks:wave

[mrich12000]

[QUOTE=bigdelta;178121]I had the pleasure of meeting him before he passed away.Very nice gentleman and very unassuming.Excellent read of his ride through the Dariens Gap a few years back.I believe another rider did it on a 2WD Rokon (?).I think everyone who has a MC library should include this.His daughter is active in RA IIRC.

:type You can find his books here.http://www.motolit.com/obdieharmotp.html
Great adventure and pictures. Well done drinks are on me at Wisconson :clap :clap :clap

[rlswim]

Since our last chapter, Bo has made his way back up the east coast to Buenos Aires, where his bike has been packed up for a cargo trip back to the states. Bo took a flight back to the states this morning, and will visit in Florida before returning to North Texas. Dick is currently in El Calafate, Argentina after joining up with a couple of Brazilian riders returning from Tierra del Fuego. He is on a leisurely pace now enjoying the back roads of South America. No telling where he will wind up next! Dick is still posting his journal at http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=191778 .