There are lots of stones and litter being thrown at the police and in return we receive tear gas which does sting the eyes and I remember made worse if you rub the eyes ( TA days) Apparently last week there was another demonstration that was anti FAC and this demo was anti police. Both Venezuela and Ecuador have closed there borders as Colombian troops have killed the 2nd in charge of the FAC and it all happened 18kms inside the Ecuador border which upset a few people. Anyway I mange to get back to the hostel without getting too involved and watch a copy DVD which packs up half way though so we never get to know what happened!
James has his bike ( Triumph Tiger) back from a good service ( his 1st in 18 months) + a new rewound alternator and all for US$500. He had found a very good bike shop in Bogota and so I will visit later for some spare parts and tools that I need or Dave had taken with him.
7th March
I make a trip to the local Honda bike garage and find them very knowledgeable and helpful. I buy a spare rear HD inner tube and a spare regulator/rectifier (US$225) from a 650 Suzuki which I am told will work well on the Africa Twin as it has been done before by them.
I also mange to buy a set of Alan keys and some terminal connectors.
I then visit the American Airlines office in the town centre and manage to change my flights home from San Diego so I will now fly home on the 10th April but am then reminded that my baggage allowance is 2 cases totally 23kgs! Hand luggage is 8kgs.
I also buy an airline ticket (US$340) for me to leave Bogota on Monday morning as bike left here on Thursday afternoon and should be collect Saturday if I am not to be charged storage fees in Panama.
I decide to walk across town and back to the hostel, on the way I find a weight machine and discover I am now 88 kgs that's 10 kgs less than when the trip started if the machine is correct.
I also discover while I am with AA that Dave will fly home tomorrow from Miami ( he had not replied to my e-mails).
At 1600 hrs it starts to rain so I visit the national museum for 3000 pesos and then walk aback to the hostel. It is now tipping down and also thunder and lighting. It is cold tonight.
8th March
James and I walk into town to watch the start of the fiesta parade, I also get loads of photocopies of documents I am likely to need to Central America.
We reach the view point we had chosen ( main theatre entrance) and it starts to rain which becomes so heavy that the road turns into a river and we have to wait inside the theatre entrance with about 100 others until it stops raining. The Parade is cancelled so we go for soup and stew and later walk to the Plaza de Boliviar for a free concert that night. Good atmosphere in the Plaza and the group is very popular with the locals but there is only so much Spanish/Colombian music you can put up with before its time to go to bed!
Sunday 9th March
I decide to visit the top of the local mountain this morning and go up via the Funiglar railway. I get a one way ticket for 4000 peso and take some photo's of the city and then walk back down the path where there are huge crowds coming up and some are crawling to repent their sins as there is a church/shrine at the top. Most of the shops in town are closed, I settle my hostel bill as I will be leaving very early tomorrow and then pack all my remaining belongings.
the rucksack inc the helmet is 17kgs
the tank bag + contents is 4 kgs
the bike inc panniers but no fuel is 288 kgs
my weight is between 98 and 88 kgs
the bike clothing/boots inc camel pack is 12 kgs
fuel inc extra 32 kgs
Total 451 kgs
Monday 10th March
up at 0445 hrs and catch Taxi to airport 0510hrs security at airport OK and I go though with full bike clothing and bike boots - no problem (even though I have at least one litre of water in my camel pack). Michael advertised my bike for sale on the web a few days ago and I have already had three enquiries and need to send them pictures.
At Copx airlines I am asked if I could catch the later flight at 0930 hrs and of course I say no ( the 0730 hrs flight is over subscribed) The flight is good with plenty of leg room and a good breakfast and we land at Tocumen- Panama City at 0930 hrs. I find the ATM and draw US$ as that's the local currency ( same as Ecuador). I get a taxi to the GIRAG office which turns out to be miles away at the old airport and once the taxi has left I discover it is also the wrong GRIAG office.
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