Newb Needs Help for trip from Canada to Brazil 2014...

[scharfg]

Hello folks. This is my first post on the HUBB please be gentle. I had a look in the book section on the left of the main page but I did not see anything that matched what I was looking for.

I'm wanting to know if there is a book out there that I should get to help me plan a trip to Brazil? I'm riding from western BC Canada and I'm hoping there is a planning guide out there that will help me make the best of this trip.

It is a buddies idea as he wants to see the World Soccer Cup in Brazil in 2014 (starts in June I think) so he invited me along. I've never done anything like this before (I ride dual sport locally, mostly fire roads/pavement (15 000 miles) and have put 50 000 miles on my cruiser riding pavement in the states) and I'm more of a planner than a "just pick up and go and see what happens" type of rider.

I just finished reading "Motorcycle Therapy" and I'm 1/4 the way through "Mondo Enduro" they are good but are written more in a diary format and are not so much a "how to" guide.

We will have about 3 months off work which I know is not much time so we won't be doing many side trips or taking days off. We are fine to camp as much as possible, I'm not much of a world traveller (ie: I need to learn Spanish and am very niave when it comes to interacting with people) and am not much of a people person so I know this will be one of my biggest challenges. My riding partner is more use to travelling and will be the lead for initial interations n such I'm sure.

Anyhoo if you can give me any tips or suggestions I'd be very appreciative.

Ps: HU is a great place, I attended a meeting in Nakusp 2 years ago and it was awesome.

Take care and ride safe!

[garrydymond]

You should read Motorcycling Adventure Handbook by Chris Scott. Lots of useful tips on lots of important topics.

[scharfg]

Great, I'll look it up.

Thanks!

[saralou]

Check out

Rene Cormier

Renedian Adventures - african motorcycle tours

Also we are traveling from Vancouver end of June 2012 North to Inuvik then to Ushuaia.
You can email my husband Daniel@worldwideride.ca if you want some idea and help planning

Cheer

Sara

[markharf]

"Motorcycling Adventure Handbook by Chris Scott"

Actually, you should inquire about a new edition rumored to be in the works, which will have far more information about Central and South America than the old one.

As an alternative, just hang around here for a while, reading whatever comes up (and pasting it into a separate document when you find something relevant). ADVrider.com sometimes comes through as well. By the time you're ready to leave you'll have more information than have any hope of making actual use of.

Mark

[scharfg]

Originally Posted by saralou

Check out

Rene Cormier


Also we are traveling from Vancouver end of June 2012 North to Inuvik then to Ushuaia.
You can email my husband Daniel@worldwideride.ca if you want some idea and help planning

Cheer

Sara

Hi Sara thanks so much, shows you how much of a newb I am I had to look up where Ushuaia was

Take care!

[scharfg]

Originally Posted by markharf

"Motorcycling Adventure Handbook by Chris Scott"

Actually, you should inquire about a new edition rumored to be in the works, which will have far more information about Central and South America than the old one.

As an alternative, just hang around here for a while, reading whatever comes up (and pasting it into a separate document when you find something relevant). ADVrider.com sometimes comes through as well. By the time you're ready to leave you'll have more information than have any hope of making actual use of.

Mark

Hey Mark thanks as well, I've checked on Chris's book and sure enough there is a 6th edition scheduled to be ready for July 2102, I'll hold off till that one is ready to purchase, got a gift card for Chapters so I'm good to go!

Ps: would it be useful to pick up some Lonley Planet books for the various countries I'll be travelling through...?

[Monkeybutt]

I have travelled by motorcycle from Toronto to Rio de Janeiro (2008) and more recently (2011) from Peru to Toronto. I would be happy to relate my experiences and a little advice. Also, my wife is Brasilian and we travel there regularly.
If you are interested send me a PM and we can talk via Skype.

[realmc26]

+1 on markharf's advice. Check the forum daily and subscribe to any threads of interest so you can go back at any time as required.

I also copy and paste any info I classify as important into a word document.

The chris Scott book IMHO is a good start but the real nitty gritty info is on the HUB and Advrider.

When searching the HUB for specific info- as an example honda spare parts in Brazil don't use the HUB search engine. Use Google and enter-

site:horizonsunlimited.com honda spare parts brazil

Same for any other search start with site:horizonsunlimited.com or sub for Advrider.com.

Im also planning my trip to be in Brasil for the world cup so might see you on the road somehwere. Good luck!

James

[markharf]

Well....the same rumors indicated that Central and South American sections of the new edition of Motorcycling Adventure Handbook will be much improved. Hope that's the case.

I carried a Word document about 150 pages in length on a yearlong trip, stashed in my netbook. On it were the pasted bits and pieces from ADVrider, Horizons and Lonely Planet websites, divided by country and/or subject. At times it was helpful, but more often it gave me a backup plan, allowing me to proceed in my usual blundering way without fear I'd be left totally high and dry. People with greater organizational skills might do better than I.

I carried the big Lonely Planet books as well: Central America and South America. They were helpful mainly for local maps, which I'd tear out and put in the mapcase on my handlebars. Eventually, I'd tape them back in the book, which is ridiculously messy but perfectly functional. Others seem to prefer GPS for some reason.

I did general advance planning using a single map of Central America and Mexico, plus another of all of South America. All other maps I bought along the way.

James' advice on site searches (above) is the key to fulfillment.

enjoy,

Mark