Day 105 - Into Colombia

Inner courtyard of Cranky Croc

It only feels like we've been in Colombia for a month, instead of 5 days. I'd say that's because of the casual and comforting environment of The Cranky Croc hostel. Despite it being an unheated building in a city where it's cold enough for people to wear winter jackets, scarves, hats and gloves... I rate it highly.

Oh yeah, and the small issue of the tp needing to be thrown in the trash instead of the flushed down the bowl...

Otherwise the place is great. The owner Andy, does a wonderful representing the legendary Aussie hospitality.

Plus the man cooks up a great barbie on Friday nights. 

Now that's a barbie!

For the equivalent of $6 US we had bread, salad and about 4 kinds of meat, including some juicy ribeye steaks. Yum.

In Bogota they have entire streets of vendors selling a single product. For instance, the optical shops are all along Carrera 19. Near Avendia Caracas and Calle 15 is the moto district.

This place is magical! I think there must be literally hundreds of vendors selling any, and everything to do with bikes.

From helmets to shocks, custom decals to rain gear, just about everything is here.

Top original, with new

Everything that is, except for handlebar risers for a 2008 KLR 650 (Troy's bike).

However, he was able to get his centre stand straightened (a casualty of the flight from Panama). They also installed the offroad footrests he's been carry in his luggage since San Diego, California.

I found a suitable bolt for my rear top rack to replace the one that while rising back from the airport the other night.

Plus I got a little strip of sunblock with some custom text added to my face-shield. Luger who did the work at Calcomanias LA 17 (Calle 17 No 14-20 C.C. Megacentro) was excellent. He's a perfectionist, and so made sure the finished product came out exactly as requested. If you're ever in Bogota and in need of custom graphics for your vehicle, drop by and tell 'em Darren sent ya...

Also, you can check his buddy Willi in the shop next door selling some very nice LED lighting systems, for bikes and other vehicles.

We thought we'd leave early on Saturday and head north. That plan hit a snag when we couldn't find the house of a guy Troy wanted to purchase a drift cam from.

If you've ever driven in Bogota, you'll remember how insane their street numbering schemes can be. The address we were looking for was on Calle 67, No 97-41

Not a problem finding Calle 67. Well "no problem" is quite relative. More accurately i should say, "No problem that can't be solved by consulting 3 GPS devices, asking 10 locals for directions, and driving around for 45 minutes.  

So we found the street. But this No 97-41 business sunk us. No one we talked to in the neighborhood could figure out where that could be. :(

So, no DriftCam for Troy.

Finally heading out of town we discovered a really cool feature of Colombian highways -- motorcycles pay no tolls! We even have our own special lane, 2 feet wide to bypass the toll collectors. Now how cool is that?!