Riding the Dream: Goodbye Venezuela... Welcome to Colombia

My visa was expiring feb 15. I wanted to spend the weekend in Merida and leave monday. On Sunday - day before Valentine day, my dear lovely bike decided to give me grief. She didn't start... Not sure at all of the problem, I tried all my mechanic tricks but still no luck. I had no idea what the problem could be. Maybe another valve? It had no compression to start. Being Sunday, I couldn't do much but leave it until tomorrow.
Monday - I spent all day looking for a mechanic who could come check it out. After a few visits to several shops, one guy could help but not until tomorrow tuesday. My temporary bike permit was expiring tuesday! So I was getting nervous as I knew in these countries, tuesday might mean friday....
Finally the mechanic came, tuesday like he said he would. He also couldn't diagnose the problem. So off we went to get another guy to help him bring my bike to the shop. In Latin America, mechanics know all the best tricks in the book. They left with my bike, one riding another bike while pushing my bike on neutral with his foot on the passenger foot peg! Off they went, hoping it wasn't going to someone's home instead of the shop!
Now I only needed to be patient and wait.....
The next day, my friend Maigualida started making phone calls to the aduana to find out what happens if my bike leaves the country late. - Venezuela is the only country in South America that gives you a nice big full page stamp - MOTO - so I was nervous they were very strict with temporary imports and a high fee could be applied on my exit. No luck with any of my calls, all they said was ... " Suerte" good luck! great...
After a visit to my mechanic, he diagnose the problem being my alternator brushes needed to be changed. Something to expect I guess after 80 000 km on the engine.
I gave him a few bucks to get the parts needed, " manana listo " he says. Perfect! couple days late will be fine at the border.
Manana ... still no bike! Now I was getting very nervous, time on my permit was clicking and so was my visa. Another visit to the mechanic, " Mucho proplema " he tells me! great, what now. My entire electrical system was a mess from riding in cold, hot, rain, sand, salt... wires were eaten away. So all electrical needed to be replaced. It was now friday, still no bike. And with the weekend coming up, I know it was going to go until next week. I asked him how much all would cost me, he threw me a higher then expected number. With Zero money left in my pocket,.. for the second time in Venezuela! Thanks to the wonderful banking system where no ATM machines are available for gingos. I really didn't know how I was going to pay. Trying to figure money transfers online caused more headaches and complications. There is just no easy way to get money sent to this country.
A bus ride to Cucuta Colombia to get money was out of question... 2 day mission and maybe they wouldn't let me back in because of my visa.
Now back to Monday, still no bike.... I was loosing patience with my mechanic. Every time I went to see him, nothing seemed to be done. One week later, wednesday - my bike was finally ready, all good like new. But still had no money. My friends Roxana and Maigualida had to run several times to the bank, they were able to help me out lending me cash. I went back to see my mechanic to pay him and finally get my bike...
The next day, I was on my way out towards Colombian border.

Little electrical problem in Merida.

I left Merida under a nice sunny sky. Felling relieved to be back on the road with a working bike. An hour later, heavy rain, I was soaked! Luckily it didn't last long. I needed to ride 250 km to San Cristobal. The nearest border town to Colombia were I had a friend to stay with for the night. 5 hours later, I finally arrived in San Cristobal.
I quickly found my friends house. But when I got there, he wasn't home. I waited 1/2 then he arrived with a couple other friends. Next thing you know, a full case of beer was out of the trunk. "Welcome to San Cristobal my friend!" says Gabriel, handing me a cold one. He introduces me to his buddies Jose and Rafael. After a warm shower to clean the dirt of my face, more beers were drank.
" Vamos " says Gabriel, " let's show you around San Cristobal " Off we went to drink a few more beers to another pub. Tired from my long ride and empty stomach, I was feeling a little tipsy. Hoping the night was coming to an end soon so I can go sleep.... " Vamos!!! " To another bar... shit!
So off we go. Arriving at the bar, the doorman didn't want to let me in cause i was wearing flip flops! I couldn't believe bars like this existed in Venezuela.... Gabriel did the talking, and I was in.
Next thing you know, the waiter comes over with 500 year old Bottle of Rum. - Oh boy!
More friends showed up... so did another bottle of Rum.
" Vamos!!! " oh no! I tell myself... another bar, so off we go to one of his friends bar. Gabriel hands me another beer. I was now past my bed time and wasted. I sat down drinking my beer while trying to keep straight eye watching couples swing away in Salsa groove. I only wished I knew how to swing like that! When all of a sudden, this cute little girl comes over to ask me for a Salsa dance.
Trying not to fall over or step over her feet, she soon realized I couldn't dance Salsa Shit! So I got ditched.... I went back to my seat trying not to pass out.
I don't really remember the numbers of drinks that night. But I sure remember finding myself wrapped around the toilet bowl Puking my sandwich diner. Again a few more times out the car window on our way home.
Then I remembered making more ham and cheese sandwiches with Gabriel at 4:30 am. So long for wanting to go to bed early for an early start to the Colombian border - 2 hours way.
At 10 am, Rafael woke me up asking if I wanted another beer! I was ready to throw up in his face. hangover of hell. I couldn't even make it to the shower. I looked outside the window, it's pouring rain!
Fawk! Tomorrow is the weekend.. I need to cross the border today! But I can barely stand straight. My head was pounding, but I got myself in the shower. "Cerveza???" Rafael says. No way! just the word cerveza made me feel sick! We went for lunch and by now, I was slowly recovering. Gabriel and Rafael were insisting that I stay for the weekend, " We take you to more good bars! " they told me. I had to escape, plus I was nervous about my visa issues. The rain stopped so there was my chance to go... I packed up my bags. Waved good bye to my buddies. Still with taste of Rum in my mouth, I was on my way along the zig zag road to Cucuta Colombia.

Saying goodbye to my crazy friends in San Cristobal.

San Cristobal, Venezuela. Nothing much but a drinking city!

Welcome to Colombia!!!!!!!!

I didn't know what to expected at the border, but like all borders, heavy traffic filled the streets. I prepared myself to show a photos of my bike in pieces at the shop and receipt from the mechanic incase I would get in trouble. I went to get my passport exit stamp. Paid the guy my exit fees of 76 bolivar. mmmm easy! he never noticed my nice - MOTO - stamp in my passport! So I jumped back on my bike and drove off to Colombia without exiting my bike out of Venezuela! All the stress of being worried about a big fine or late exiting my bike was nothing but a piece of cake. If I want to come back to Venezuela, well I already have my papers.