Terranova Expedition 2010-2011 Complete

I've returned home to Calgary, safe and sound.

After a 13 hour flight from Bogota to Toronto and then to Calgary, I arrived home for the first time in 353 days.

My bike is still in Lima awaiting a boat (it missed the first one) on the 17th of October.  Then it will be 18 days sailing to Vancouver.

Petar is here in Calgary right now to, so he is staying with me at the house.

I arrived home to no power, no water, no gas, no phone, no TV, no internet and no truck.

I've spent the last few days getting things organized, finding stuff in the basement and slowly putting my house in order.

I'll likely have a party in the new few weeks to get everyone together.  It's been too long.

Thanks for following along to everyone who's read the blog.    It's been a blast to live this adventure, and I hoped you enjoyed reading about it.

Coming home...

Bike is on a boat, heading for Vancouver.

I'm heading to the Airport...

352 days on the road and I'm looking forward to coming home.

I'll see everyone real soon.

Tim

Colombia

We flew out of Lima yesterday and landed in Bogota, Colombia late last night.

My bike is still in Lima, at the BMW dealership awaiting a new "certified" crate to ship it in.

Seems that the customs people there have a requirement that things are only shipped in "certified" crates (they will do the certification for an extra $160.00).

So instead of using my professionally manufactured (by BMW) shipping crate, that we made specifically to ship motorcycles around the world (including Peru), I had to have a local guy make me a new crate which they would then "certify".

Cost me another $280.00 US.

meh.

All good things...

I've known for a week or so about the outcome, but I've been dreading writing it down,  it seems so final.

But....

The bike has suffered a catastrophic failure.  The low oil pressure light turned out to be a more serious problem than a bad sensor.

The dealership here is telling me that it would take them at least a month to remove the engine, find the problem, order any parts and reinstall.  It would also cost a fortune.

So I have decided to ship the bike back to Canada, and have it repaired at home, where I still have a nice extended warranty on the bike.  :)

I'm currently working through all the custom hoops you have to jump through to get the bike on a boat back to Canada.

The nice folks at the BMW dealership have been incredibly helpful, and have provided me a shipping crate.  I've arranged for a boat on the 30th of September, which will take 18 days to sail to Vancouver.  I'll figure out when I get home how to get the bike from Vancouver to Calgary (shouldn't be a problem)

So that's it for now... The trip isn't really over until I get back, but the motorcycle adventure part is.

Crated up and ready for shipment home.

Jackeline helping out with the Customs paperwork.

Bike is in the Shop...

My bike is at the BMW dealer in Lima, they came by and picked it up a couple days ago.  

Hopefully I'll find out monday what the problem is.  It could be a cheap (relatively) sensor, or something worse, which would be very expensive.  

I'll know in a few days.  

[fingers crossed]

Until then, we wait.

Lima Update...

We are still in Lima with a little problem.  After sitting for a few weeks, I fired the bike up, and the Oil Pressure light came on.  This is not good.  Low oil pressure will quickly lead to total engine failure.

But right now I don't know why it would suddenly start showing low oil pressure?  If I only have a faulty sensor, it's not a big deal, but I have to get it looked at before we move on, and since I don't want to chance riding it if there is an Oil pressure problem, I have to arrange to have the bike picked up and taken to the dealer.

Arghhh... :(

Otherwise, we are enjoying our stay here in Lima.

Bowling in Lima

Overlooking the beach at night.

Parked in the back yard in our Hostel

A couple Aussie bikers stayed at the Hostel with us for a few days.  Great guys!

Vanessa and one of the new house kittens.  He has a brother named "negrito".  He's black.  :)  

Some of the hundreds of cats by the the church next to our hostel.

Vanessa eating "rata".  Not really, just Guinea Pig.

Our friend Chris from Belgium

Black Jesus with a broom?  No idea.

Face painting at the Lima Zoo.

cost me 40 cents... :)

Reminded me of the old guys on the Muppet Show... :)

Magic Circuit of the Water - Parque de la Reserva

We took a cab ride the other night to the Magic Circuit of the Water.

It is a massive fountain complex, the largest in the world, consisting of 13 distinct fountains, most of which are interactive.  All of the fountains are lit, most with continuously changing colour schemes.

There is a laser and picture show, where they project images of dancers, birds and other subject, all synchronized to music and lights.

Cool.

300 Days on the road...

I left home 300 days ago.

"The journey is the reward" - Taoist proverb

With our parents, Calgary, Alberta, Canada,  October 17, 2010

Somewhere in BC, Canada

Camping in Oregon

Setting up camp, Slab City, California

Slab City, California

We met a guy walking the length of Baja, Mexico with his donkey

Neal, Cory, Tim and Troy in Baja, Mexico

Stopping for a break, Baja, Mexico

Having some fun with Troy, Cabo San Luca, Mexico

Jumping around with Neal, La Paz, Mexico

Troy, Cory and Ryan making supper, La Paz, Mexico

Troy and Neal fixing the bikes, Mexico

Troy and Neal discussing the finer points of BMW Clutch repair, La Paz, Mexico

Cory and Troy having some fun, Mexico

Stopping for a break, Mexico.

With friends, Mexico.

Unknown town, Mexico

Top of the Pyramid of the sun, Teotihuacan, Mexico

Stopped for Gas, the local bikers liked our rides

Tikal, Guatemala, with Marie.

Christmas in Antiqua, Guatemala

Surfing in Costa Rica

Tim, Cory, Troy and Dee stopped for a break in Panama

Cory, Dee and Troy in Panama

With May and friend in Bogota, Colombia

May, Tim, Dee and Troy in Barranquilla, Colombia

Troy, being Troy, in Barranquilla, Colombia

Toni, Tim, Yudis, May, Troy and Dee in in Barranquilla.

Vanessa and Yudis share a laugh in Barranquilla, Colombia

Troy, Tim, Neal and Zane in Cartagena, Colombia

Out for supper with Zane, Neal, Tim, Vanessa and Troy in Cartagena, Colombia

Packing up to ride in Medellin, Colombia

Taking a thermal spring break in Manazales, Colombia

Push starting Neal in Cali, Colombia

Straddling the equator in Quito, Ecuador

Top of the world with Troy on Cotopaxi Volcano, Ecuador

Carnival in Banos, Ecuador with Troy and Tutu

Troy interviewing Tutu after bridge jump in Banos, Ecuador.

Troy and Tim about to climb Chimborazo Volcano, Ecuador

Troy and Tim on top of Chimborazo

Troy and Tim in Cajas National Park, Ecuador.

With Friends, Ecuador

Sharing lunch with the local kids, Lake Churup, Ecuador

Dominick and Petar in Lima, Peru

On top of Huayna Picchu with Troy, overlooking Machu Picchu,

Soldier for a day in Barranquilla, Colombia

Meeting the parents, Barranquilla.

Going away party with Vanessa, Barranquilla, Colombia

With friends, Loki Hostel, Cusco, Peru

Vanessa feeding the birds, Arequipa, Peru

Vanessa, somewhere in Peru.

Vanessa and Tim, riding in Peru 

Vanessa:  "This isn't Colombian Coffee!", Chile.

Tim and Vanessa, Potosi Mine, Bolivia.

Supper with Zane and Vanessa, Potosi, Bolivia

Vanessa learning how to open a tuna can with a Leatherman.  Bolivia.

Tim and Vanessa, Train Graveyard, Uyuni, Bolivia

Zane stuck in the Salar, Uyuni, Bolivia

Zane, Vanessa and Tim, Atacama Desert, Bolivia

Vanessa having lunch, Bolivia

Fixing the cursed lower shock bolt, Bolivia

Tim, Atacama Desert, Bolivia

Vanessa sandboarding in Chile.

Zane and Tim, San Pedro, Chile

Vanessa and Tim, Chile.

Dorothy, drunk on Vodka, Chile.  :)

Vanessa and Tim, Arica, Chile

Handsome couple.  Chile.

My bike, safe for the night, Puno, Peru

With Friend, Cusco, Peru

Garage for the night, Peru

Tim, early morning.  Nazca, Peru