Ride from North Texas to the Darien Gap

[Nightflight99]

I wasn't able to make InZane, but I did just complete this ride instead:

Riding a motorcycle (DR650) from North Texas all the way to the Darien Gap in Panama: Mission completed. 

US -> Mexico -> Guatemala -> Belize -> Mexico -> Belize -> Guatemala -> El Salvador -> Honduras -> Nicaragua -> Costa Rica -> Panama

Just under 14 weeks (divided into two legs), nine countries, seven border crossings on this leg of the trip alone (11 in total, across both legs), 7 currencies, 2 medical incidents, 2 flats, some unknown number of mechanicals, and countless plates of ridiculously good food. 

And no, I did not die. -ish. 


The end of the road: the PanAmerican highway ends right here, at the Darien Gap.


Welcome to the Darien! This area is heavily indigenous and eventually fades into the dense tropical forest that separates Central America from South America.


This is the Chucunaque river at Yaviza, Panama. South of the river (to the right in this image) is what people refer to as the Darien Gap. The area is heavily controlled by the Panamanian military on the Panamanian side, and by Clan del Golfo cartel on the Colombian side.


I hit a pothole (or rather, a trench that identified as a pothole) outside of Rio Amarillo, Honduras, which flattened my front tire and took it off the bead. This triggered an impromptu wrenching session in a nearby shack. Got it all back together just in time for a torrential downpour...


The view onto the crater lake of Santa Ana volcano in El Salvador. The rim sits at 7,800 ft, and provides a stunning view onto an ominous 1,000-ft drop down steep jagged cliffs into a steamy-hot turquoise witches brew of sulfur.


Sketchy ferry crossing at Sayaxche, Guatemala.


I'm not sure that I'll ever be able to take a more glorious shot of the DR650 than this one at Sarteneja, Belize.


View of the Bacalar lagoon in Bacalar Quintana Roo, Mexico.


Volcan de Agua, viewed from Antigua, Guatemala.


The Sumidero Canyon in Chiapas, Mexico. I took this picture near the spot where some of the local Chiapa people are said to have committed suicide to avoid being ruled by the Spanish. It is a 3,300 ft vertical drop at this spot.


Religious parade through Juchitan de Zaragoza in Oaxaca, Mexico.


When you're so impressed with the local convenience store that you leave them a 5-star Google review. The guy on the ground? Oh, that's just Eduardo, the local drunk, out of this mind wasted on a Tuesday night.

And yes, I checked on him and made sure he wasn't hiding any tequila...(in Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico).


Kids playing during the sunset at Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico.


Sunset in San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico.


Descending into the canyon between Cerocahui and Urique in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico.


View into the famous Copper Canyon in Chihuahua, Mexico.


Anytime I'm in Chihuahua, I'm equally entertained by this: A chihuahua in the city of Chihuahua, in the State of Chihuahua. Yes, its the small things in life...


One of many water crossings, this one in Guatemala. The road had been washed away by the rains. Luckily, there was a 9-year old with a shovel, sorting it all out...


Mexico in particular has some of the best motorcycle roads in the Americas. If these were located in the US, they would be the Mecca of motorcyclists far and wide. This stretch is located in the Copper Canyon area of Chihuahua, Mexico.


Enchiladas de tres moles in Puebla, Mexico. As a seasoned Mexico rider, I have found a few favorite restaurants all over the country.

I plan on writing a ride report, but this is a rather intimidating undertaking, considering the scale of this ride and the number of images I took. In fact, writing the ride report may be more intimidating than the ride itself...

Hope you enjoyed the teaser. No Valkyrie pics, as I usually take adventure bikes on these types of rides. They're doable on a Valkyrie, but would present additional challenges, since the suspension would likely get beat to crap in short order.

[Serk]

...if this is the teaser I eagerly await the main course!

Thanks for sharing!

There was a website of a Japanese guy who rode a Valkyrie all over the world (Including Central/South America and a lot of other places.

Europe
Central Asia
Africa
Tibet
Mount Everest
middle east
Asia
North America
Central and South America
Oceania

Unfortunately it looks like his website has been lost to the sands of time. I found an archive of it but most of the images didn't make it apparantly:

https://web.archive.org/web/20090211131434/http://baikunomatsuo.sakura.ne.jp/index.html

(NOT detracting from your ride at all!)

Curious - are you a fluent Spanish speaker?

[GiG]

Yes, I did enjoy the teaser, look forward to the report! 

I am familiar with a couple of the sites posted, THANKS!

[Nightflight99]

There was a website of a Japanese guy who rode a Valkyrie all over the world (Including Central/South America and a lot of other places.

Yeah, its all doable on almost any bike, but -- having ridden in Latin America on different bikes -- I find it far more enjoyable on a lighter bike that is capable of handling the speed bumps, potholes, and sections of missing pavement (not to mention off-road terrain) without getting beat to a pulp. This type of riding is hard on any bike, but adventure bikes tend to be mechanically a lot more forgiving than cruisers, in terms of wear & tear.

I've thought about taking a Valkyrie to Mexico, which would be fun as long as I'm picky about the route. The heaviest bike I've taken down South was a Kawasaki Concours 14, and that was quite a bit of work on tight, steep, cobblestone roads in mountain villages.

[Nightflight99]

Curious - are you a fluent Spanish speaker?

I like to say that I have a "learners permit." 

Not fluent, but conversational. It also improves steadily with cerveza intake...

Speaking some Spanish is a huge advantage, although I've run into plenty of travelers whose Spanish vocabulary consisted of ten words. They do just fine, but it is much more rewarding when you're able to properly communicate with the locals. Many of them will bend over backwards for you, especially if they see you trying to speak their language.

My best bud asked to join me on these trips years ago, and he spoke zero Spanish. I asked him to take a basic Spanish course beforehand, and he ended up having a blast. His Spanish improved very quickly, and he has since joined me on many of these trips, including the first leg of this one. It doesn't take much -- just some motivation and a bit of dedication.

[3fan4life]

Great Read!

A trip like this is on my bucket list.

I would also pick a KLR 650 for the trip, I've often thought about getting my hands on one of the diesel versions that were produced for the military.

My biggest concern about such a trip would be my safety.

I'd be interested to know what if any situations you've encountered that made you feel unsafe.

[Nightflight99]

Great Read!

A trip like this is on my bucket list.

I would also pick a KLR 650 for the trip, I've often thought about getting my hands on one of the diesel versions that were produced for the military.

My biggest concern about such a trip would be my safety.

I'd be interested to know what if any situations you've encountered that made you feel unsafe.

KLRs are excellent adventure bikes, and are very similar to the DR650. You really can't go wrong with either, although I admittedly have a preference for the DR, due to it being slightly more skewed toward off-road capabilities.

As far as safety is concerned, it was mostly uneventful and worry-free. In my years of riding all over Mexico I've learned that the same skills that keep you safe elsewhere will transfer nicely to most places in Latin America. I study my route, read feedback from other overlanders, and ask locals whenever necessary. No place in the world is ever 100% safe, but you can easily mitigate any risk factors by doing your homework and applying common sense.

Mexico has a few select areas that are risky, but with a bit of research those areas are easily identified and avoided. Guatemala can be a bit spicy in some parts, but the common routes aren't really an issue. The only other country that makes a lot of overlanders nervous is Honduras, but even that turned out to be relatively straight-forward. The bigger cities in all of those countries have the typical urban crime and bad neighborhoods that you can find just the same in any large city in the US, so you simply use the same common sense skill sets to keep you safe.

I think most people would be shocked by the reality that they would encounter on these types of trips, as compared to their expectations. Out of all of the other travelers that I have encountered on my many motorcycle trips through Mexico and beyond, I've only met very few that ever had any significant safety issues that went beyond a stolen camera or being overcharged for something. Of course it can happen, but it does not appear to be the norm, and certainly nowhere near the common perception that people tend to have in this country.

If you ever get the itch -- just go! It'll be one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences you can have.       

[3fan4life]

I have at least 2 more years before I can seriously plan a trip like this.

But, it is a bucket list item and something that I'd like to do.

If I can make it come to fruition I will certainly pick your brain.

[Rams]

I just tell them I am pleased they made it this far and hope they know someone with a trailer to get back home.

[Nightflight99]

I have at least 2 more years before I can seriously plan a trip like this.

But, it is a bucket list item and something that I'd like to do.

If I can make it come to fruition I will certainly pick your brain.

Absolutely, anytime!