misterk
Member
Great ride and videos!!
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Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Dude travels the world on his NC700X.
- Thread starter SleepyC
- Start date
Nofear2trek
Elite Member
I think there are three members of the forum currently planning a trip down to South America beginning this coming July. Your experiences are most welcome in our planning stages. Thanks for any illumination you provide us.
Ray
belrix
Site Supporter
Subscriber and following.
Safe travels!
Safe travels!
rmezei
Member
Good luck 'dude' 
stay safe
You are very brave and becoming a hero here on this international forum !
stay safe You are very brave and becoming a hero here on this international forum !
Utrecht
New Member
Glad you like the videos. I'm always worried that the quality is lacking. I have zero experience in video editing and I'm learning as I go! My GoPros have been amazing! I need to take a look at some editing videos to make my videos more entertaining. They're not bad, but could always be improved upon.
Utrecht
New Member
No worries SleepyC, I'm glad you made the post!
I was a video game developer for the VA before I headed out on this trip. We focused on creating medical simulations & games to train our doctors and nurses where there were gas in training. It was a very rewarding job and I do miss it, but traveling was far more important to me. About ten years ago I made the decision to do this trip. As a result I started saving, but always told myself no matter what I have in my bank account at the end of those ten years, I have to go no matter what. I didn't save heavily, just where I could, and I still traveled during that time too. I never requested sponsorship from anyone nor have I accepted any handouts. I do accept donations on my website, but honestly, who really is going to donate to that? There's a sense of pride knowing I made this happen without any assistance.
As for planning, there was none. All I did for ten years was dream. Even still I don't plan more than a couple days out. I find that if I plan too much then the enjoyment of the journey gets lost and I'm more focused on schedules. However, I won't leave the current place I'm in until I have another confirmed place to stay! Couchsurfing hasn't really paid out as much I would like, but Airbnb has been incredible! It's a great alternative. Most of the places I stay are really cheap and the hosts are warm and inviting.
Utrecht
New Member
Hey Ray,
I welcome anyone who can join me! The plan is to head to Argentina and then ship my bike to South Africa!
As of right now I only have a Fl license. Whether there's going to be repercussions to that later on I'll have to find out. Before I left I scoured the internet looking for advice on what documents to bring and I never really saw anything that specifically stated I needed an international license so I never stressed getting one.
Motorcycle insurance is never a problem. I currently have Progressive and that's more of a formality if a country needs documentation for entry into their country. Most countries offer affordable insurance right as you cross the border, so if you're planning something similar and think the international insurance may be extensive, hold off until you get into each country and just buy theirs. This obviously won't apply to countries later on like in Africa, but at that time I don't think international insurance will really apply either so if anything happens I'll likely pay out of pocket.
I paid my bike of within a couple months of me purchasing it. I have copies of my title and the first time I foresee me really needing to have a copy is when I cross the Darien Gap. I'll be using Wild Card Sailing Co. to transport my bike and they require a digital copy of my title.
Health insurance...I'm not sure what to say about this. 3rd world countries have medical centers in many of the major towns you come across. You can stop by and get checked out for a couple dollars and you can request medicine from them for low costs too. Out in the more rural areas if you require medical attention, well you're screwed. There's really no good way to say that. Obviously, it's smart to have insurance, but I can't say it'll do you any good to have it outside of the major cities. Since I prefer the more rural areas, I just opt to pay out of pocket. I'm also a veteran so many countries do have military bases that I can seek medical attention if I really need it.
I hope this info helped. I can always go into more detail and this info may change because I have only made it to Honduras. I'll try to keep you updated it anything does change.
Nofear2trek
Elite Member
Thanks for taking the time for our questions. Maybe we'll catch up with you down there while you're waiting on the boat.
I considered the jump to South Africa too, until speaking with a seasoned trekker this past January in Thailand.
He had done Africa many times and was heading back there after taking a siesta in Thailand for a bit. He explained it would probably be really expensive, first to get to South Africa, and then because I would have to fly/ship the bike over the middle countries where they like to shoot people. While traveling throughout Africa, lots of time you need armed escort/guides with. I couldn't see any cost/benefit ratio that seemed doable for me. This guy was again heading to South Africa and would rent a bike there and turn it back in when he leaves, flying to Russia. Just some FYI.
It would be great if you could sorta list your expenses as you go along. Fuel, food, accommodations, tolls, border crossing associated fees, bribes, etc.
Also, listening to your video on your equipment packing list, I thought you would be dumping some stuff as you find it's not needed and takes space you want to use for something else. Could you start a running list of items you dumped along the way?
Fair winds!
Ray
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Utrecht
New Member
I make a list of notable things about each country and will update my website accordingly. The only one I've posted so far is Mexico. I'm severely falling behind and need to get motivated to complete the info for Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and soon the be Nicaragua! The process of editing videos and updating the website is pretty time consuming when I'm also trying to tour the countries. I'm only in each place for a couple days so I usually put off the updates. I would like to provide things like expenses, but keeping track of everything would consume all of my time. I brought a ton of ebooks and movies with the thinking I would have a ton of excess time. Honestly, I'm usually so exhausted I don't indulge in much outside of trying to interact with locals and nature. If you have a specific question I can try to answer it. I'll try to provide more detailed info on my site, but I can't make promises.
rippin209
Well-Known Member
Cheap easy way to keep track of expenses is to take pictures of receipts, they have special apps for all that but it's usually easier to simply take pics and upload them later. For saving or taking notes try saving audio recordings and have Dragon type them up (then your just checking for errors) if you have a android Swype keyboard comes with Dragon and it's free. Thanks for taking the time to post here as well
Nofear2trek
Elite Member
Just read your latest country updates on your website, glad you're enjoying the trip so much so far. *
Just wondering about where/when you get/buy the CA-4 VISA? Also, is clearing customs turning into a PITA? Have you neede to show your yellow international immunization record to anyone yet?
Ray
Utrecht
New Member
Just read your latest country updates on your website, glad you're enjoying the trip so much so far. �� �� ��*
Just wondering about where/when you get/buy the CA-4 VISA? Also, is clearing customs turning into a PITA? Have you neede to show your yellow international immunization record to anyone yet?
Ray
The CA-4 is the approving stamp to enter the four countries so there's no extra work involved. Each time you enter one of the four countries they will calculate and inform you how many valid days, out of the 90 allotted, you have left. This doesn't mean the entry/exit fees are the same though.
For me, borders are the worst part of the trip. I'm beginning to dread going to them because there's never any clear indication on where to go or what the process is. It also doesn't help that I don't speak Spanish, but that's entirely my fault. However, once I'm at the desk most customs officials just stamp me and wave me off. Not since Mexico has anyone tried or asked to inspect my luggage and even then it was the Mexican military not customs.
I always have my yellow card with my passport just in case, but as of yet no one has asked.
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Nofear2trek
Elite Member
Just a bit confused, the CA-4 is first stamped into your passport as you enter the first of the 4 countries upon your request? And then used as you travel thru the other 3?
This past winter I again had to get a new passport after all the pages had been used for visas, entry, and exit stamps. Although they don't expire for ten years, even with getting extra page versions, mine never exceed five years without running outta space again. Saying that, I have gone thru uncounted overland (not personal vehicle) border crossings worldwide during close to a half century of traveling. No two are the same and the majority have you scratching your head wondering why they do it that way! Lots of times, low level corruption is involved, you know it as much as they know it. Most of the time you just cough up the 'fees', but there have been occations that I just turned around and didn't enter the country. Heads up, your patience will be tested in Panama.
Continue enjoying your trek as much as we are enjoying following your sharing it with us!
Ray
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Quick question about Africa... Won't you need a carne for your bike over there? I know they are very expensive.
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Utrecht
New Member
Yeah I'll need to get one. I won't concern myself with that until I get to Argentina or Cape Town. I heard they're fairly expensive as well, but there's really no way around that. The price of traveling the world!!
Utrecht
New Member
There's no request, it's an automatic process. There's no additional cost to the CA-4 it's just there to calculate the time you've spent in all four countries.
peergum
New Member
Great thread. Started following. I PM'd you on facebook (saw the link on your blog), before noticing you had answered this thread too.
I added your blog to sphyn.com (I built a blog reference list where people can link their blogs [for free]). Not sure it will make a big difference at this point (the site is pretty new) but hey, it costs nothing to try.
I had the same (mostly) lame results on couchsurfing when I toured the states at the end of last year, which motivated me to create Sphyn (and avoid listing hosts who don't really host a lot or do not answer requests). I also thought hosts should be compensated a bit (still cheap for the traveler, nothing like airbnb) for accepting guests and Sphyn also let people offer "features" (like welding, bike servicing, etc...). Anyway, not here for self-promotion, just wanted to chip in about couchsurfing.
I initially planned to start traveling south (Mexico, then CAm and SAm) earlier in the year, but personal events changed things a bit and I'll be leaving in July with my girlfriend (2-up). Initially I planned to go on my NC750XA, but I was both worried about the ability for the NC to behave well in sand/mud and with the load on the bike (2 people + a bunch of stuff, I guess). So I'm currently looking into an Africa Twin. I love the bigger front wheel, sure should help. As far as power is concerned I'm sure the NC is good enough, but the additional power of the AT will certainly be a plus in possibly bad situations.
Anyways. Maybe we'll meet somewhere in South America. Maybe in Africa (in the plans, no date yet though, probably 2018). Or anywhere. The world is not so big, is it?
- Phil.
PS: I'm building trip planning/reporting into Sphyn. Should be ready in a few weeks. Maybe you can use it
I added your blog to sphyn.com (I built a blog reference list where people can link their blogs [for free]). Not sure it will make a big difference at this point (the site is pretty new) but hey, it costs nothing to try.
I had the same (mostly) lame results on couchsurfing when I toured the states at the end of last year, which motivated me to create Sphyn (and avoid listing hosts who don't really host a lot or do not answer requests). I also thought hosts should be compensated a bit (still cheap for the traveler, nothing like airbnb) for accepting guests and Sphyn also let people offer "features" (like welding, bike servicing, etc...). Anyway, not here for self-promotion, just wanted to chip in about couchsurfing.
I initially planned to start traveling south (Mexico, then CAm and SAm) earlier in the year, but personal events changed things a bit and I'll be leaving in July with my girlfriend (2-up). Initially I planned to go on my NC750XA, but I was both worried about the ability for the NC to behave well in sand/mud and with the load on the bike (2 people + a bunch of stuff, I guess). So I'm currently looking into an Africa Twin. I love the bigger front wheel, sure should help. As far as power is concerned I'm sure the NC is good enough, but the additional power of the AT will certainly be a plus in possibly bad situations.
Anyways. Maybe we'll meet somewhere in South America. Maybe in Africa (in the plans, no date yet though, probably 2018). Or anywhere. The world is not so big, is it?
- Phil.
PS: I'm building trip planning/reporting into Sphyn. Should be ready in a few weeks. Maybe you can use it
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What is a 'carne'?
marekm
New Member
Utrecht
New Member
Some of you have already seen this one my FB. I've always heard stories of people being accommodating enough to allow bikers to park their motorcycles inside buildings and here it is! This hotel in Granada let me park it right in the lobby. It's been a huge topic of discussion for the locals who visit the adjacent shop.
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