Terranova Expedition: Bye to Barranquilla and Petar and Dom...

I've had to say a sad goodbye to my friend Petar and his riding partner Dominick, and to Barranquilla.

They had ridden north to hang out with me for a couple days. They ended up staying for 10.

Like Troy and I beforehand, Petar and Dominick have fallen in love with the wonderful people of Barranquilla.

After almost a week, Dominick decided he wanted to at least try and ride in Venezuela so he left by himself, but turned around after 2 days after being harassed by the police on three different occasions. Each time, they had required him to completely empty his bike of all it's contents, and then would only let him continue, if he paid them off.

He said "screw it" and turned around and came back to Colombia.

When they decided it was time to push on, we had a nice party for them, and Vanessa and her friends bought balloons, a cake and party streamers to send them off. I know they were really touched by the thought.

With heavy hearts we said goodbye, and they mounted up and rode south towards Medellin, and then on to Bogota, where they flew the bikes and themselves to Panama and continue the journey North.

My time in Barranquilla has also come to an end, and I am writing this while sitting in the airport in Lima, Peru, waiting for my flight to take me to Cusco, Peru. and reclaim my bike.

But in addition to myself, I also have a companion who has joined me for a couple months of adventure. While I was in Barranquilla, Vanessa got her Passport (she's never had one) and has decided to ride with me wherever our adventure takes us. :)

At the airport.

A few days ago I went to book her flights, and I of course tried to get the same flights that I was on. The route back to Cusco isn't a straight flight from Barranquilla, instead we have to take a Taxi ($$$) from Barranquilla to Santa Marta, catch a flight to Bogota, then get on another plane and fly 3.5 hours to Lima, and finally another domestic flight from Lima to Cusco.

My flights were with Copa Airlines (regional Colombia), then LAN(PERU) for the Bogota to Lima and Lima to Cusco legs. Vanessa was on the same Copa flight to Bogota, but then caught an Avianca flight to Lima, before getting on another LAN(Peru) flight.

The flight times worked out that she took off from Bogota 2 hours before my flight, and then had a 2.5 hour layover in Lima. When my flight landed, I realized that if I hurried, I might be able to get through customs and security and see her off before her flight left for Cusco. Since she has never flown out of Colombia before, I thought she might be a little nervous.

So when my plane landed I did my best not to elbow people out of the way before hurrying through immigration and customs, then navigating a huge line at security and running from one end of this massive airport to the other and getting to the gate JUST in time!

Vanessa was still sitting in the waiting area, and was surprised and happy to see me. Good thing I ran, because I was right, she WAS nervous. I think it was sinking in that she wasn't in Colombia anymore, and while she was smiling and laughing, I could tell she was pretty excited.

At this point, I had a nice stupid moment, that I am almost not inclined to admit to, but since I have nothing to do for the next 1.5 hours, I will try to tell the story.

Since Vanessa and I were flying the same airline for this leg of the trip, only on different flights, I went up to the counter and asked the girl if there was any chance to get me on the same flight. Since my flight is 1.5 hours behind hers, Vanessa will have to wait for me in Cusco. If I could get on the same flight, she wouldn't have to wait.

The girl behind the counter said the plane was pretty full, but she would let me know after everyone boarded. This is where the stupid part comes in.

I didn't notice that there were two gates, side by side.

I asked the girl behind the counter (Left Door) if they could get me on the flight. Both gates are loading, side by side.. The last people are going down the walkway, Vanessa is waiting to see if I can get on.

I ask the girl, if there is room on the flight.

Left Door girl "yes, we can get you on" and opens the Left door.

Me (slightly confused).. "no.. no, I would like to be on THAT flight.. pointing to the Right door".

Left Door girl : "You have to check with her (pointing to the Right door girl), it's not my flight"

Me: (stupidly realizing there are two gates, but not thinking much beyond that, shuffles three steps to the right…) "Excuse me, do you have any room left on your flight"

Right Door girl: "Sorry my flight is full"

Me "ok, thanks"

I signal to Vanessa that I will see her in an hour and a half. She blows me a kiss and walks down the gangway onto the flight.

I go sit down in the waiting area to wait the 1.5 hours for my flight, and after about 10 or 15 minutes, I happen to glance up at the boards, and see the two signs:

Gate 9, LAN Airways to Cusco, 12:00 departure time. (Right door)

Gate 10, LAN Airways to Cusco, 12:05 departure time. (Left Door)

So, instead of getting on a flight and arriving in Cusco within 5 minutes of each other, I'm sitting here in Lima for the next hour and a half, with time on my hands to write a long boring blog entry about how stupid I am.

[slaps head with hand]