Test Run - January 15 2022

 This morning we ventured out on intending to stay on paved roads...at least that was my plan...headed towards Briceno a small village a short distance from Canoa made a left turn for San Isidro which we not reach. Stopped at a small outdoor cafe called Aqua Fria. A small cattle farm was across the street ....the staff appeared delited to see 2 gringos and though we only ordered coffee the waitress brought out a plate og planteens with fresh cheese made locally.

 

Athir being inquisitive walks over to the cattle farm and engages a caballero on horseback....farm talk...the waitress walks over to me and invites me to join her and walk over to the farm.....

Athir makes an inquiry re the direction of the road across from the cafe....The back road goes past Rio Muchacho ( Organic Farm ).....the turn off the pavement is a dirt (mud) track with a number of stream crossing....slick in places with Athir going down once and later I dropped my bike....no damage except to ones ego.

I have a luncheon date CON MI MAESTRA DE ESPANOL  and am anxious to get back so our ride is only the morning....this afternoon we plan on returning to Agua Fria which only opened this past September.....it really is in the middle of nowhere as far as population.  

Preparing To Ride Ecuador

 The best laid plans sometimes fail....this is the current situation.  Upon arrival on Tuesday in San Vicente/Canoa we found a new 250cc Ranger on sale $1730.00......unable to buy as you require a Matricula To use the bike which can not be issued sooner than 2 weeks if then....we did our best to find a fixer to no avail......all the rental companies are 2 expensive for a month long excursion...we tried Freedom and Ecuador Bike tours. 

My friend Robert White offered us his unit but as he is back in Canada is unable to be present to have papers drawn up by a notary saying Athir can use the moto.

Maybe a used moto already licenced would work....a 150 with only 777k is advertised for $800.00. We meet with the owner and though this bike is suppose to be only 4 years old....it looks like it has been through the last war with the dash relaced and countless other missing or rigged parts....while we are considering...Miguel my mechanic sees us...I had earlier put out a notice if he could find us a bike...yes he has 2 to consider.....a 150cc Motor 1 scooter or a 125cc Honda....Miguel agrees to rent the Honda and Athir takes possession yesterday (Thursday). 

Last evenning we go into Canoa for dinner....while there my friend Barry from Huntsville who now lives here full time rides up with his land partner on 2 horses and 2 ponies. As they are about to leave Barry falls off while remounting and the horse we think backed into Athirs moto making it fall opposite side of kickstand against my BMW. Breaks the mirror, wind screen and battery falls out (no damage to the BMW)....It is dark and we discover on our return to the condo that his bike has no lights front or rear...the headlight is part of the moulded windscreen. 

This morning with our tail between our legs we arrange to see Miguel and address the bikes current and some past issues. Though we are in a small town it is surprising what new parts are available.....Athir purchases new mirrors, complete front bodymoulding(includes head lamp) with wind screen, new signals front and rear, a harness to hold the battery in place; as well as, a new spark plug cap and rear light bulb. Miguel does all the repairs.

Both Miguel and Athir go to a notary to complete papers for the liability in case of an accident and the legal use of the bike. Athir just sent me a notice saying we may be able to go to Colombia rather than tour Ecuador....hopefully we can but I will need to wait to discuss this when he returns. 

Davos at Ecuador Bike Tours told me the border was closed but according to a web site it is open from 8am to 5pm since December 16th 2021. I have a facebook friend Noraly of Itchy Boots Blog who just crossed...so hopefully Davos is misinformed....more on this later.

Enough for now, I am going down to use the outdoor pool as it must be29c today.

Tomorrow will be a test run of Athurs Bike to Manta to see if we can get a new key lock system installed.

Trip to Manta delayed until Monday which will be the begining of our excursion.  Appears that we are not able to cross into Colombia as of tomorrow....so we will scout out this beautiful country....Bruce and Myrna have invited us to visit them in Otavalo which will be on the Northernly portion of our trip. Hopefully we time it right as Saturday is the large Market in Otavalo...a must see. 

Home in Canada

(November 23 2020......Returned to Canada until January 2021)       This trip was to transfer the motorcycle I purchased in February into my name. The Covid epidemic prevented this earlier when travel was restricted and Davo who owns Ecuador Bike Rentals was stranded in Africa and it was June before he made it home....Though, I have a notorized document that I own the bike....it's title is still not in my name....apparently on a tourist visa in Ecuador I cannot own a motorized vehicle....something I dispute as I have a friend from Russia/Kazakhstan who purchased last year on a tourist visa.......my understanding is I must register with the National Transit Authority...this puts me in the computerized system...then I can purchase ...though it takes a few days to actually show up in their system. Who am I to debate these points with the lawyer when I cannot speak her language...so I accepted that I must be applying for temporary residency....which apparently will allow the authority to title the bike to me....This procedure on my part requires returning to Ecuador with a notorized background check, proof of income above a specific amount, bank statements and education diploma of at least high school in order to get an Ecuadorian drivers license. (if you don't have the diploma of at least HS it is assumed you cannot read therefore you do not qualify) Now due to Covid 19...the local OPP detachment no longer takes the application...you must go on line....download the app (need adobe 9 or higher to do so....downloaded same...filled out app...system won't allow me to sign or send to OPP headquarters in Orillia...what the F...  enough of that...as I am 3 days into 14 day isolation not much I can do at the moment....

Hotel Staff at Selina ordered me a ride for 1/2 the cost of a taxi and I arrived at the airport at 10pm Thursday for a 2am flight via Mexico....where...I arrived at 5:45 am and struggled to put in time until the next leg of my journey at 4:01pm.

A special note here...Ecuador/Mexico monitors everyone with heat sensors....not only at the airport but into most businesses and definitely all banks and malls. I was disappointed that on my arrival in Toronto only a few questions....pretty lax in my opinion.   

 

Preparing to Return to Canada-November 19th 2020

 Arrived in Quito after a 24 hour trip via Mexico 

 The luggage carousel at Manta Airport...1st time I exited a plan via the stairs

 approaching Manta runway

 Avianca....plane was 1/4 full

 approaching Quito

where I had a 14 hour lay over....no lounges with recliners to rest......at Quito Airport and to my hotel by 1 am to await my afternoon flight to Manta which took only 45 minutes. Taxi 1 1/2 hours to Canoa and my residence at Sundown.

Next day I visited with Anita for a few minutes at her Hotel 

then went next door to Carole and Jeff's to retrieve my moto which they had kindly stored.

 

 It was Carole's birthday so we enjoyed a Cake with wine.....not to bad a combination....My moto was in need of new sprockets and chain which I had brought down with me.....Don Hale called Miguel his mechanic who showed up at the hotel Sunday morning and change the old for new...$40.00. Now I have used MIguel in the past having been introduced to him through Julia....who he really likes...so he treats me well....he would lend me his remote power pack and fix my battery problems within a couple weeks....no charge but I insisted on paying him something.

I biked a couple times with friends...Bob White from Sudbury and Bruce Newman from Arizona...both living at Azul.....

 Bob with mask, Bruce and his wife Myrna...we are in Puerto Lopez after a 12 hour day fishing for Marlin...

 A recreation pass time above my hotel

 at Charley Bar....no longer able to enjoy Shrimp

Playa Azul same as Playa Sol where I would look at a unit for sale

 Sundown

 beach in front of Sundown....17k between Canoa and San Vicente

 Fishing boats at Canoa

 My favorite place to eat on the beach...though their are many others 

 Sunset in front of Sundown 

 

 Looking back at Bahia opposite to San Vicente

 Sundown...my room is the end unit 2nd floor

 Pollo Sandwich

 lunch at Sundown

I was beset with gout after eating Shrimp and spent the better part of 2 weeks laid up.... 

 Dinner in Peurto Lopez

 Returning from 60k out in the ocean where the swells took it's toll on me and I would spend 10 hours hanging off the side of the boat wishing I was dead

 

 Anita and I having lunch in San Clemente about 1 hour from Canoa....suppose to be practicing Spanish as she is my teacher but I am a poor student

 Puerto Hotel where our fishing group stayed

Bob y Bob sharing a room

  Bambu in San Clemente where we had lunch

Enough for now...I am in Quito about to go and get my moto which has been at the mechanics for an oil/filter change and some light issues...then into storage at Ecuador Bike Rentals....bike still not in my name but more on that later