Colombia, anyone?

My good buddy Juan Carlos and I traded photos before I flew back to California last week, and I’m enjoying viewing them in this cold California weather.   Juan grabbed a more than a few photos of me, and seeing them is an unusual experience.  I’m usually the guy on the other side of the camera.   It’s fun looking at photos of yourself.

Folks, it’s cold here in LaLa Land…colder even than where I grew up in New Jersey.  Weird weather, to be sure…it’s in the 70s back east and it’s been in the mid-30s out here in California.  It’s sure different than the weather I enjoyed during my adventure ride in Colombia…we were in the tropics there, and it was either hot and humid in the valleys or cold up above 13,000 feet.   What a ride that was!  It was one of the best rides of my life, and Juan’s photos are adding to my joyful recollection of it.  Allow me to share just a few with you.

This first photo is a personal favorite.  It was the end of our first day on the road when we rolled right up to the Caribbean (right on the beach…at one point we were actually riding through the sea water as the waves crashed on shore).   That’s Carlos (and no, we don’t share the same barber).

Here’s another two shots I particularly like…it’s me rolling onto (and then off of) the ferry that took us down the Magdalena River to Mompos.   Folks, that was a ride, and it was definitely not easy getting on and off that boat.   I was a little nervous about it (especially leaving the ferry, as the climb off was very steep), but it all went well.  Juan is a master at getting out in front and grabbing these great photos.   Most of the time I didn’t even know I was being photographed.

Another favorite…me playing Rowdy Yates on Rawhide (any of you remember that one?).   Yep, we actually rode about 100 miles on dirt, and at one point, we rode right through a herd of cattle…a very mooooving experience, to be sure…

And just one more…this is another one Juan grabbed of Carlos and me on one of the many dirt roads…

Like I said, it was the ride of a lifetime.   Juan Carlos is the guy who planned the entire thing and he did a magnificent job.  I’ve planned a few big rides in my day, and I know how much work goes into organizing these things.   It’s nice to have someone plan it all, including the routes, the restaurants, the rest stops, the hotels, the photo stops, etc.  I would have never attempted this ride on my own, and if I had, I never would have seen the things I saw during the Colombia adventure.   Juan knows the country, the roads, and the best spots.  It was an amazing adventure.

Many of you have written and expressed your admiration (and perhaps a bit of envy) regarding my 8-day adventure ride in Colombia, and that’s certainly understandable.   I’ll remember this ride as long as I live.   You might be wondering if you’ll ever have a chance to do something like this.

Well, the answer is yes.   Based on the success of this ride, my good buddy Juan Carlos is establishing a tour company to take a very small number of people on similar rides using RX3 motorcycles.   If you would like to know more, let me know, and I’ll get you set up with Juan.

Folks, this ride needs to be on your bucket list.  The RX3 motorcycle is the bike to do it, and (trust me on this) Juan Carlos is the guy you want to lead you around beautiful Colombia.  I’ll be posting more on the blog about Juan’s new touring company in the near future.  In the meantime, if you want to be one of the first to get in on these well-led and very exclusive rides, drop me a line and I’ll hook you up.