This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 21st, 2007 at 00:02 and is filed under South America. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Today I had my bike released from the port and had my first taste of riding the roads of Buenos Aires. Me and Duncan had arranged to meat Sandra of Dakar motos at the port at 9am (Very early for me at the moment). She works as a kind of translator/broker/fixer/agent to help bikers get their babies out of the warehouse and through customs. Without her, it takes 1-2 days of paperwork ,stress and craziness to try and release a vehicle into Buenos Aires as a tourist. She is fantastic and we had our bikes out in 3 hours which is a personal record for her. All this for $100 each. A BARGAIN for the stress and time it saves. Any other broker would charge you 5x that and take twice as long.
We had to wait in a que behind 45 French motorists who were trying to release their cars for a Rally. We quickly bypassed them and before we knew it we were signing papers and well on the way. Next it was to customs to persuade the officers that we weren’t dodgy penguin smugglers and we were actually going to take out bikes out of the country again. Sandra smoothed the cogs once more and it then onto the shipping yard where the bikes were waiting for us, still in their crates. Its regulations that you have to get your bikes out of the yard on a truck and then unpack them somewhere else but once again, Sandra arranged it so we could unpack them and ride out. The next hour was spent ripping the crates open with the help of a great guy who worked in the warehouse. He wouldnt even take a decent tip but we insisted that he at least take 20 pesos (about 3 quid)
Our tanks had to be drained of fuel before shipping, bar 1 litre, so it was straight out of the port and into the city centre of Buenos Aires to find fuel and our way back to our apartment. Luciky there was a petrol station only 2 minutes from the port and I filled up 23 litres of super for a ludicrous £6 (That’s actually expensive lol)
We were actually a bit lost then. In the middle of bustling Buenos Aires city centre with no maps and absolutely no idea how to find our way 25 miles out to the town where we are staying. I cheated and used my GPS although but in my defence, it would only tell me the general direction where to go and major roads etc. We knew the general direction we were going and I spotted the sign for “El liberator”. This is a main road near to where Dakar Motos is. I flew off the junction accross 7 lanes (yes the roads have THAT many lanes) and we “kind of” knew where we were. I decided to head for Dakar Motos then find out way the other 15 miles to the apartment afterwards 
Riding in Buenos Aires is just crazy. There are rules and traffic lights etc, but they are more of a guide than a rule. People are swerving and diving everywhere and small bikes zipping about ridden by guys talking on their phones which their helmets hanging off their elbows. In its defence, the roads are well sign posted and everyone seems to have a general “understanding” with how to drive. What really throws you is that at least 80% seem to be one way which makes navigating a total pain in the ass. Its great fun though and I actually prefer it to the fascist rules and grid lock ques of the UK.
After some utter confusion with the one way system, we were picked up by Karl Hienz who just happened to be at Dakar and heard our bikes circling the area.
At Dakar we met an America girl and a Canadian guy who had just arrived and had coffee and chatted about our bikes, plans and adventures etc. Just another day in South America on a bike. Time for a steak in the town square now !!!
November 21st, 2007 at 22:08
so far so good, hope it all goes well
November 22nd, 2007 at 02:09
Still got its wheels then! half expected you to open the box and find it on bricks!!! oh it never went to Liverpool docks did it!!!
November 23rd, 2007 at 01:08
Woo!
Finally a picture of your ugly mug
Hugs for Jess.
I’m a little worried you might not ever leave Dakar though… 9am starts are EARLY (pha! come to the farm and wake up at 5:30 for me pleeeaaase!), lots of steak, and vicarious travelling via all the new arrivals. I’m envious.
With all those new friends you won’t be having to befriend any more Mr Plods, no will you. LOL