Snapshots from Colombia

The direct flight to Bogota from Houston is four and a half hours, almost enough time to watch one and a half movies.

Bogota is an international hub, well positioned where South America starts. The city occupies an altiplano, a high moorland also known as high plains, in central Colombia. Though close to the Equator, the high altitude of over 8,500 feet gives the city a constant early spring cool type weather. 

Here are snapshots from Bogota Colombia, a world class city with an estimated 8 million inhabitants.

The major streets are clogged with traffic, waiting for the light to change so they can slowly crawl to the next intersection.

Besides having to watch out for trucks, cars, bicycles and motorcycles, street vendors wander among the traffic selling their wares. With slow moving traffic, their risk of danger is low.

As the Christmas season approaches, the vendors offer games for sale. Other vendors are selling the chinese style straw hats to fellow vendors. 

If you think about maybe taking a side street to avoid the snail paced traffic, 

others are having the same thoughts....

While motorcycle are everywhere, they are most often found zipping along, splitting lanes 

between automobiles and trucks. 

Motorcycles are mainly the smaller displacement 100 to 175 cc oriental made brands. 

Anything and everything is delivered around the city via motorcycle.

  Motorcycle parking lots are a common sight. 

By law, motorcyclists must wear a helmet with the bike's license numbers in large letters across the back.

The local constables with their hi-viz jackets and helmets patrol the city via motorcycle.

With so many motorcycles traveling between lanes of traffic, sideview mirrors are frequently bumped or knocked off. 

Another common city sight are the push cart vendors occupying sidewalks throughout the city. Not only do they sell fruits, drinks and snacks, but also minutes for your cell phone.  

Some vendors specialize in clothing. Tight stretchy blouses and even tighter print pants for the ladies are in fashion this year, to the delight of the male population. 

Obesity does not seem to be a problem in this Latin country. 

Construction cranes dot Bogota's skyline.  Today the economy is booming.

The ingenious use of 55 gallon drums, linked together to make a trash chute down the side of new construction. As the building grows taller. just add a few more drums at the bottom.

Older traditional homes of stucco and red tile will eventually be torn down for mid-rise brick residential buildings.

Older colorful store fronts will soon be gone.

The construction crews will move in.....

 Giving the city modern high rise residences and shopping centers.

Inside the malls, the tropics are still here, decorated with christmas lights, from floor to ceiling. 

Having visited Colombia at various times over the past forty years,  Bogota today is the cleanest I have ever seen it. No trash blowing around, no street beggars and never felt endangered or threatened while there.  Getting your shoes shined is a relaxed event, with no worry of petty thieves or criminals.

Maybe because security in the city has been enhanced in recent years. 

For the final shot from our short time in Colombia:  a saxiphone playing Santa tooting out christmas tunes on a busy street corner, hoping for a coin or two.

Merry Christmas 2014 from all of our family to all of your family. 

May your 2015 to full of life and adventure. 

Ride safe, ride long and far.

Colombian Wedding

Last month, Amparo, my BB (Beautiful Bride), and I traveled to Anapoima, Colombia to attend her nephews wedding.The setting was at Los Altos de Chicala, a private club in the lower mountains of central Colombia. Lower means warmer temperatures than Bogota which can be quite cool, even cold. Anapoima is sunny, warm and tropical.

Every morning there was fresh tropical fruit, omelettes and Colombia coffee for breakfast in the open air dining area.

The popular pool area during the day was to be the dinning area for the wedding guests.

By late afternoon the guest came out of their cabanas, dressed as instructed. Ladies in tropical evening wear, men in long sleeve guayaberas. 

Lush greenery and candles decorated the tables.

The soon to be ex-Señorita Calle is escorted down the aisle by her proud father, Luis.

As the sun set on coffee trees dotting distant mountains, vows were exchanges under a white canopy while musicians filled the cooling breezes with romantic melodies.

Freshly married, happy and blessed, are Susana Calles de Rueda and Jaime Andres Rueda. Their new lives together, born in Colombia, will start in Houston, Texas.

Candles lit, silverware set, tables await the couple and their guests.

Even the pool was lit up for the occasion. Soft music while guests dined was replaced with fast paced Colombian music for dancing. Dancing and celebrating continued until 3 AM. 

Celebrating a distant wedding with family and loved ones is always a joyous occasion. More important was the opportunity to renew, refresh and cement relations with distant family through the telling of stories, jokes, remembering the past and looking toward the future. Welcoming new members to the family, the circle grows. Remembering those who are no longer with us, the circle shrinks. The circle of family is ever changing, enriching our lives, giving it depth, heartaches and joy.

Amparo and I had a fabulous time, thanks to the open hearts and homes of her family.

Too soon we were back in Houston. Work awaiting, stacked high in the office. Now to get the house ready for the holidays with our sons and their families, and a little shopping too.

Happy holidays to you and your family from Amparo and I. 

p.s. Next post will be street scenes from Bogota.

Meet Da'mu, the white whale

Introducing Da'mu, son of Da'mit, sired by Shamu II*.  He is a great white whale of a motorcycle rig. On the open road, a killer of interstate miles and miles and miles to go

This 1994 Honda Gold Wing GL1500 motorcycle with a Champion sidecar was waiting for me in Belton, Texas at what I thought was a reasonable price. For a twenty year old machine with 58,000 miles, it was in great shape. The test ride revealed however it would need a few repairs, adjustments and modifications for my intended use. As always and once again, one underestimates the actual $$$ and time for modifications, adjustments and repairs.

By now Da'mu has doubled in cost to own and set up properly for Iron Butt challenges. He is 96.7% ready for some serious long distance riding.

Some of the maintenance repairs were to clean and adjust carbs, sort out electrical gremlins, replace auxiliary fuel tanks and change all the fluids and filters.

The modifications for long distance riding were:
First was to go to the darkside, by installing an automobile tire on rear wheel, a rear motorcycle tire on the front and replace the automobile tire on the sidecar.
Then remove sidecar windshield and have a custom rain cover made for less wind resistance. i.e. better gas mileage.
Next was to replace the three gallon auxiliary gas tank with a five gallon tank so I would have more saddle time between fill ups.
Added Rigid LED driving lights for better nighttime visibility.
Mounted a larger display GPS and iPhone mount.
Removed the CB audio system, replacing it with a solid mount for the map case and tank bag.
Finally changed the front rake with an EZ Steer for less tiring all day riding.

Da'mu does not have two wheel drive or the higher ground clearance of Da'mit, but he does have reverse. We are now mapping out destinations, routes almost ready to roll.

So if you are wondering exactly where we are planning to go on our first big adventure together, let me give you a hint....

So many empty boxes to fill in and so little time... come May 2015, we hit the road, Da'mu and I.

Ride safe, ride long and have an adventure or two.

CCjon


* For those questioning minds, the original Shamu was female.  Shamu II was a male.

Falls Colors in the Rockies

In October, Amparo and I traveled to northern New Mexico to enjoy the changing colors of the aspen trees.  Mother nature put her best foot forward for us.

We drove some of the mountain back roads...

On the Picuris Indian reservation,  crossing a ravine was part of the aqueduct system.

It was two hollowed out logs carrying water from an irrigation ditch, across the ravine to a catch basin on the other side. We wondered how long those logs lasted before having to be replaced. 

The aspen were not the only part of nature showing off their colors. Where Angel Fire gets its name, the sky set ablaze by the setting sun.

The next morning we were treated to a sight of fresh snow on the highest peaks, high above the treeline of aspen and spruce below.

While driving around we spotted numerous wildlife. Though I gave up hunting several years ago, I still enjoy spotting wild animals, then quietly sitting and watching their behavior.

We spotted a hawk looking for its next meal.

Later we came across a hawk pinning a gopher to the ground. Looks like he caught a fresh meal. We got too close, frightening the hawk who flew off leaving the gopher behind. Shaking itself off, the gopher jumped up and dashed for the nearest hole. 

The mule deer studied us as we looked at them.

The pronghorn antelope seemed to cross the roadway unconcerned with traffic.

In the final hours of light, a herd of elk came out of the timber to feed. We counted 43 heads.

Our good friends, Mike and Laurel drove up to join in the tree watching. By the third day we were ready to see other sights, so we drove down to Taos and on to Santa Fe.

In Santa Fe, we took our friends to the Loretto Chapel to inspect the famous winding staircase.

Google Loretto Chapel for the full story and mystery behind this staircase.  It is hard to image this staircase, but everyone who sees it is in awe. How it that possible? How was it built? Who built it? All the questions that remain unanswered after a century and a half.

There is no center support or column for the staircase. The railings and side supports were added several years later as the nuns found it too scary to climb the stairs to reach the choir loft. To descend with no handrail, the nuns would sit down and slide down the stairs on their bums. Safety above modesty.

On our return drive we saw remnants from the frontier days of New Mexico history. 

The wheel on this ox cart was cut from the trunk of one tree. Must have been some rough riding, being out of round and all. 

This wagon has reached trails end. Our trip was relaxing and enjoyable with good friends and greats sights. We never get tired of visiting norther New Mexico even if it does take two days of driving to get there.

Ride on Brother,

A New Day's a Dawning

Still under construction.         Coming soon to a neighborhood near you.

Meet Da'mu, son of Da'mit sired by Shamu II. A sure footed steed in an all white, wide body Honda Gold Wing with Champion Escort sidecar - white, sleek, glides effortlessly and quietly. Doesn't create ripples or commotion as he approaches. Departs as silently as the sun sets.

Orcas are apex predators, i.e. lacking any natural enemies.  I hope that scientific study included consideration of eighteen-wheelers with threadbare tires and distracted cell-phone blathering socialites,  regarded by the two and three wheeled community as natural enemies. The Harley world claims loud pipes saves lives. That may be but a 130db air horn can slap their minds out of deep slumber with a thunderous jolt.

To those who might say, "Offspring of Da'mit and Shamu? OMG, not only is it a killer whale, it's a stubborn killer whale."     Mules are not stubborn, they simply refuse to endanger themselves or their riders. They see the world with an unwavering steadfast gaze. Unbudging, sort of like it's pig-headed rider. 

Wikipedia states white whales are highly intelligent sociable mammals with developed audible communication skills. Hmmm... being highly sociable and talkative, am confident Da'mu will make many new friends as we travel, entertaining strangers with tall tales of adventure from the open road, I'm sure.

Da'mu's fraternal side are part of the oceanic DOLPHIN family (Orcinus Orca), at home in all the world's oceans from the frigid Arctic and Antarctic to tropical seas. So Da'mu and I will be in our natural element then as we explore the breadth of the Americas together.

Da'mu is still getting his land legs together, a bit unsteady, yet will be ready for adventure touring soon. He awaits additional illumination, navigation, rain gear and a shakedown cruise or two.

Mornin' Da'mu, a new day's a dawning.

The stables empty, Da'mit's gone!

Da'mit has moved out, gone to greener pastures in north Texas, leaving an empty feeling in the air.

Those aren't misty eyes wistfully staring at the empty stall where Da'mit would await our next adventure.  Must be a foggy camera lens. 

Chris H, her new owner, says he and Da'mit will be giving his twin daughters rides in the country on a rig that has been to Alaska and back.

Seems like it was only yesterday when Da'mit and I first met.  In fact less than two years ago, in Atlanta, GA, December 2012. There was something special about that Gobi camouflage sidecar that called out to me. A wind of a whisper rustled the Georgia pines saying her and I belonged together. That siren call wanted an answer........ so we made a team, Da'mit and I.

Yes, she was running rough, from having been sitting too long. The seat was too low, too hard and too far forward. No windshield, no luggage and no sidecar experience. But, we had the will and desire to explore this new world of sidecars, together.

Sitting in her saddle for the first time on the day we met, I felt like a kid again. Anything was possible, We could do anything, go anywhere, explore the world together. 

Isn't it amazing how some cameras can capture your inner child! Who needs a dusty sidekick when you have your trusty steed? Hopalong, step aside.  Here comes the Kid on Da'mit. I may have looked sixty seven on the outside, but inside...  I was six again.

Driving back to Texas with Da'mit following on a trailer is when I realized I really don't know how to ride a sidecar. Or as they say in the sidecar world, how to DRIVE a rig. 

Off to Lufkin, Texas, to the only sidecar school in our tri-state area.  A cold chilly day in February found Da'mit and I with one other student learning to stop, turn and fly the chair from a well-informed and experienced sidecar instructor, Marcus Renfroe.  For two days, while he taught and demonstrated, while Jimmy and I fumbled and stumbled. We struggled to learn the techniques to control and drive this off-canter, off-center, over-weight, un-balanced machine. Without going into the physics of sidecars, let it be known that driving a sidecar  is much more difficult to master than riding a motorcycle. Both physically and mentally demanding, all the time, all day long while driving a rig.

So what did Da'mit and I do after learning to fly the chair? 

Why ride down to Key West, Florida, naturally.

That's where you start the Ultimate Coast to Coast Challenge ride. Just 90 miles from Cuba, you turn around and head northwest.... to Alaska. So we did.

 Da'mit and I got to cross the great empty plains for the first time. There came the mountains, the cold, bison herds, black bears, big moose, grizzly bears and even colder cold.

Da'mit wanted to try on some Alaska headgear, but...

 thought it made her behind look small. 

 We made it to the northern most point in Alaska reachable by land, Deadhorse. Had a few great adventures along the way, but that is all in my earlier blog.  Sadly, we turned around and rode back to Texas, swinging through Oregon and Washington on the way south. Da'mit and I met some great friendly folks who gave us warn dry places to sleep and a meal. Our first year together was filled with adventure, exploring, riding, even an encounter with plains indians.

2014 was another year for riding adventure. From the Atlantic Ocean in Maryland to the Pacific Ocean in California, Da'mit and I rode. This time with two other Ural riders, Muzzleflash and Lokiboy.

Now in the Fall of 2014, with 40,000 kms on her clock and a lifetime of memories to share, Da'mit is ready for retirement. She told me she is tired of noisy eighteen wheelers blasting her around, fighting cross winds wanting to blow her off the road, struggling up cold icy mountain passes and the long lonely rides in the dark trying to get to the next town. She is ready for a nice quiet pasture, take a few easy rides in the countryside and make children smile.

Da'mit is a noble steed. A forgiving companion as we crossed south to north, east to west and back again. In the year and half together, we have had an over abundance of adventures, stories, encounters and mishaps together. Enough to fill a book. Goodbye good friend. 

Thanks for the memories........

Good night, Da'mit

p.s. Thanks to Anthony for posing as a young adventurist on Da'mit.