I have done it! I pulled into Rio late last night and made my way into the centre. To sum up Brasilian driving habits, ´give a Brasilian an inch and he´ll drive a car through it`. It is 6pm and about 27 degrees celcius as if anyone needed reminding that they were in Rio. It was still an eventful trip. I thought I was dead when a power line dropped on my head (really). The following morning I almost was run over by a motorcycle which would have been ironic.

It has been a great trip for me of some 25000 kms making friends along the way and having many countless helpers, advisors and wellwishers. My main regret of travelling so far is being unable to spend longer in each place and learn more of the lives of my friends.

Firstly I wish to make a number of thank yous. My apologies to those I have missed, there were too many to name. Any businesses I have linked to I owe a debt of gratitude and I hope they get some support in kind.

Thanks

Bob and Julianne Stokstad, for your support, advice, and good roast beef.
Torsten and Tineke Jacobsen who put up with two smelly boys and got us on the road. They have subsequently opened a hotel for cyclists/motorcyclists - obviously gluttons for punishment.
Patrick Moriarty for ongoing support, technical advice, big mouth.
Arne Stokstad for taking me out on a chilled night when I was stressed to my eyeballs.
Bill and Amy Melcher for great chocolate chip cookies. Venice Melcher for being a cutie.
Mike Kimball for putting me up in LA. Shame we couldn´t catch up better.
Mike and Geneva Cowlishaw of Eagleshaw Motorsports. I had no personal relationship with Mike when I called asking for technical advice on my bike. He volunteered his expertise, gave up a Sunday to save a traveller and avoided potentially devastating damage to my engine. He also fattened me up on ribs before plunging into Mexico. A couple of the finest quality. I could only find a link to an associated site Left Coast KLRs.
Dave Burden for the best shrimp and best camping of the trip. Answer my emails!
The tire guy in Baja who let me sleep in his garage when I had crashed in the sand and repaired my saddlebags in the morning.
Tim and Loz for the company, good times and saving me from being arrested in Mexico City.
Rosa from Mendoza for teaching me to love again.
Athina from Acapulco for trying really hard to make Jon a paedphile.
Enrique the drug dealer for not killing us when we unwittingly tried to help you out.. Thanks for the P.
Enrique and Sr of Hostel Villa Colonial for being a great hostel.
Tim Morgan for being a great guy. Looking forward to London.
Fernando the circus performer at the sex motel. ´3 guys on motorcycles. no problem`.
The Californian surfers who drove their jeep to Chiapas.
The road workers who got us drunk as skunks.
The two dogs who had sex in the Mexico : Guatemala border no-mans-land. A beautiful moment for international relations.
Paul in Antigua Guatemala
Jorge Valle-Aguiluz of Caserio Valuz. Friendship, hospitality, nursing me through food poisoning…
Mattijs for being a cool guy to hang out with in Nicaragua.
Rosa Blanca for being the first woman ever to propose to me.
Rosa´s dad for the free rum.
Shaun of Nica-Geeks for showing me the town.
Cathy in Panama for teaching me to love again.
Kevin & Clara McCrea for the KFC.
Ludwig, Stefan and all new friends of the Stahlratte.
Dale & Dyllis of Northland, sailing around the world.
All the team I did the Ciudad Perdida trek with.
The Colombian family who clamoured for photos and then clamoured for my autograph and found us a bed for the night in a town with no hotels.
Ana, Rafa, Diana, Clara of Casa Kiwi, Medellín.
Tiberio Jaramillo and Carlos of Moto Angel, Medellín
Daniel and Alex of the finca.
Dave the dentist from Newcastle for being a top guy.
Scott for a day´s company horseriding in Salento.
Tim of Plantation House, Salento
Mauricio and Miguel Lopez of Bogotá for advice and the best steak of the trip.
Helfried and Alex for showing me Calí.
Johana for teaching me to love again.
Ricardo Rocco in Ecuador for hiring hottie models, being the most Italian man in Ecuador, and great help, advice, brotherliness.
Josh Rowan for being my older twin and stitching me up when I crashed.
Carolina and Thomás of Andahuaylas in Peru. You will never read this but I love you both.
The three guys who helped push a motorcycle through a landslide in Peru at 4000m altitude.
Wilson for a cup of tea at 1am.
Dave the Dentist, Meneesha & Nathalie in Copacobana Bolivia.
Chuck ´Quastdog` on his F650 GS until one of them breaks down. I look forward to buying you dinner when you get to London.
Nosiglias Motos in La Paz, Bolivia
Carlos of Medellín for giving me the shits in Bolivia. I really needed that.
Hostel Inti Huasi in Salta as you guys were so cool and chilled.
Emiliano in Mendoza for a great asado and being a cool guy.
Jorge, Lucas, Adrian for the company on the road in Argentina. And eating meat like a T-Rex.
Javier and Sandra of Dakar Motos, and Daniel their semi-permanent biker resident.
Ana, my Colombian doctor. For fixing what ails me.
Gustavo Fleury and Erica for company and friendliness in Florianópolis.
Rui for cooking a good fish.

And so many more who shared parts of their lives and time with me. Honestly you have taught me how good it is to live and be free. Without your help, this trip would never have worked.

Lets go samba.

Posted on Thursday, September 20th, 2007 at 9:53 pm in Josh's Journal.
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