It has been a tenuous 3 weeks. But I am happy to report that I have made it to the Amazon. Battling some bad weather, mud and wind was a small price to pay for seeing some of the greatest beaches, riding some of my favorite tropical roads and delving into the colonial history of Brazil.
The good news is I am here and I truthfully have completed 95% of all past blog posts. They are ready to be uploaded here. The bad news is the backlight on my laptop has failed on me. My challenge will be to figure out how to get this fixed in South America. Save having to ship it to someone in the USA at perhaps great expense and having that person ship it to Apple who will cover it as a warranty, and then getting back to me here in South America, I will delve into the international Apple support and service network. The product is covered under international warranty. Once completed and with a good internet connection, I will upload the stories so you can meet the characters, see the historical sites and experience some of the riding I have done since last checking in a few weeks ago.
For those of you who have sent me email and have not received a reply, please note that someone has hijecked my email address and used it as an origination address for SPAM. As a result, I am getting 500 or more emails every day - usually bounced emails, or challenge/response spam filters or undeliverable email. It is a bear and I can hardly drag myself into an internet cafe because 40 minutes or more is used culling through the mess using webmail. So if you have not received a response, please resend your mail. I may have accidentally deleted it, or it is buried in the junk. So sorry. I am usually good about returning e-mails.
Ahhh. But life should present such awful problems, huh?
Other news is I have only a week left on my temporary import permit for Brazil. That means I must get to a border or risk that Doc could be confiscated by the police.
Hey AK...don't hesitate to contact me if you need any help with shipping/receiving your Mac.
My whole family is still reading! Keep it up, Homeboy!
Commented by Eric Jasso On October 19, 2007
Hi amigo,
This is Cristian - Carmenere Adventure rider - from Chile...It´s been a while, too busy sometimes, though I very happy you made it to the Amazon jungle...one of my favorite places.
Where are you? Manaus yet? I have a great friend there, let me know if you need some advice on routes...be aware that from Manaus to Boa Vista (on your way to Venezuela...the only way out) there´re 2 gas stations, and Doc does not have the autonomy to get to Boa Vista, so fill up a 2 lt Coke bottle with extra gas, because sometimes the power goes out in that region and you will not be able to refuel, and there is an Indian National Park, that you have to ride through at certain hours, only day time, and the road conditions are very bad. Many miles on destroyed tarmac, and along the road swamps, crocs and piranhas, also leopards...very friendly big cats...hahahah
Send me a quick e-mail and I´ll let you know more details about a nice place where to stay in Santa Elena (Venezuela) first town close to the border (winding roads through the mountains...so don´t ride at night). Make sure you get your passport and Doc´s paperwork stamped properly at the Brazil and Venezuela international police station...and don´t try to cross that border on a weekend...they like to party too much and that´s the reason why they didn´t fill out my bike´s paperwork and I got arrested in Caracas, no big deal, but long hours talking my way out of customs...hahah
Big hugs from Santiago, Chile.
PS: I´m working with a different winery www.undurraga.cl (one of the Top 10 from Chile) and am moving to NYC in January ´08 to start up our own office...there I will buy my BMW GS 1200 Adventure...and try to catch you somewhere.
Cristian
Commented by Cristian On October 20, 2007
E ai amigo !!
Tudo bem com vc?
Foi bom te-lo aqui!!!
Volte sempre!
um abraço
Marden
Commented by mardenbad On October 23, 2007
Hi Allaaaaannn!!!
Aqui é Carol de Arraial! Lembra? It´s up to you, Trancoso, Trancoso!!! ahahhaha
and how come you made it right from Ubatuba para Amazonia?? it´s impossible! there´s a loooong way up there! or, better, up HERE, coz i´m here now! where are you now?? i´m staying in Manaus for the next week, and then i´ll fly to Macapá!
i want to hear the news!!! i wanna see photos! where are those??
Let me know when you get into Venezuela. I have friends and names for you there. Especially when you get to Caracas.
A.T.
Commented by A.T. On October 31, 2007
Allan, it's been almost 2 weeks since you blogged. You okay?
Commented by crazymactech On November 05, 2007
Todo bien, Amigo. Estoy en Buenos Aires y en Miercoles voy a voler a Sudafrica!!!
Hope you're well.. actually the posts just before the Amazon posts are new... I'mcatching up a bit on the journey to the amzon. There are more posts that will be predated going live over the next few days and all to be up to date on Wednesay or there abouts!
Todo bien, Amigo. Estoy en Buenos Aires y en Miercoles voy a voler a Sudafrica!!!
Hope you're well.. actually the posts just before the Amazon posts are new... I'mcatching up a bit on the journey to the amzon. There are more posts that will be predated going live over the next few days and all to be up to date on Wednesay or there abouts!
A.T. - I actually won't make it to Venezuela, sadly. But I'm working to get my bike to South Africa as noted....
Cristian - Damn. You're moving to NYC!!! how cool.. and you'll have a new bike and meet me on the road some day!!! I'm fired up... we will drink wine one day in NYC too!
Carol.... you legend. Some photos just got posted yesterday of you and Danielle and I even used one of your photos on my blog... with credit of course...
Sadly we missed each other during my holdover in Sao Paulo... but another time for sure!!! keep smiling PAZ
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On October 19, 2007
