Pavement from Venezuela to Manuas?

**NewMexEd** · #1 1 Nov 2002

I've heard conflicting reports about this stretch of road. I know for sure the there is blacktop from the border south to about 150 miles n. of Manuas, but I also read recently that the road is now improved all the way to Manuas. Any recent info to share?

Thanks,
NewMexEd

**ultimatejourney** · #2 2 Nov 2002

Contact Jeremy Andrews -- he rode this route north back in July. He doesn't talk about the road in the following posting, but you can always send him an email... http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tst...ews/000132.php

My understanding is that the road is paved and you can ride it even in the rainy season. We will ride from Manaus to the Venezuela border in about 3 weeks. If you want to know more, drop us an email after Nov 25th.

Suerte,
Chris & Erin Ratay

------------------
Ride safe, ride far, ride often,

Email: bmw @ ultimate journey .com (no spaces -- wrote to avoid spam mail)
Website: <A HREF="http://www.UltimateJourney.com
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</A> 1999-2003 World Tour

**NewMexEd** · #3 2 Nov 2002

Thanks! Maybe we can meet up in C. America this winter as I'll be heading South as you're passing north.

Ride Safe,
Edward Sullivan
a.k.a. NewMexEd

**El Penguino** · #4 13 Nov 2002

Yes it is paved all the way .
The road suffers from a few wash outs and potholing , more so in Brasil , so this makes it dangerous at high speed in the dark , but otherwise it is no drama .

There are some road-side restaurants on the Brasilian side beside which you may be allowed to camp at night . Some have shower blocks , ice water dispensers etc - free and very comfortable if it wasn't for the 110% humidity !!

**NewMexEd** · #5 13 Nov 2002

Sr. Penguino,

When were you there? Jeremy Andrews passed by there this summer and it was not paved...

Thanks,
NewMexEd

**mika** · #6 13 Nov 2002

hi all,

we traveled from Manaus to Venezuela in August 2002 - the road is paved and very good, but there are some potholes

Mika

**ultimatejourney** · #7 17 Nov 2002

We just arrived in Belem from Fortaleza, and that was paved -- but it might have been better if it was dirt!! The potholes were the size of small swimming pools, and generally hard to spot until you were banging your rims against them! Oh, did I mention the coffin size speed bumps through out all the villages, or the 45C heat and 90% humidity?!?! Other than that, the landscape was quite barren. But hey, at least it was paved!

Getting on some wooden boat tomorrow (Nov 18) and heading up river to Manaus. Should be hitting the above stretch of road the following Sunday/Monday.

Ed, hope to see you in C.A....

-C & E

**El Penguino** · #8 19 Nov 2002

Sr NewMxEd,
I was there a few weeks after Jeremy , and it was paved , I assure you . It is possible to ride from manaus to caracas in 3 1/2 days - I did .

There are some small pieces of washout and damaged paving but otherwise it is OK .

Small note of advice - a document will be issued by the Venezuelan customs for your motorcycle . Make sure the date is written correctly - the officer wrote the wrong month on mine and this created problems to export the bike afterwards .

See you,
Chris

**NewMexEd** · #9 21 Nov 2002

Thanks all!

It's T-minus 21 days and counting to lift off!!

NewMexEd

**ultimatejourney** · #10 4 Dec 2002

Been there, done that -- just last week! Left Manaus on Dec 25, and crossed the border to Ven on 26th. It is about 1,000km, and 99.9% paved. There are roughly 10 sections of no more than 100 meters of hard packed dirt-rock. No problem on any bike.

The problem is the very well hidden potholes -- sometimes we had to knock it down from 4th gear to 1st very quickly, just to manuever around the Huge Holes.

30km from the border, I was not watching close enough, and hit a long/deep hole. The result, no more dampening oil in the Ohlins shock, and I had to pogo-stick it all the way to Caracas.

Border crossing was fast and efficient; gas stations every 100-125km; and the first 150km of road in Venezuela is filled with spectacular mountains (Gran Sebana).

Gas in Venezuela is US$1 for 13 liters of unleaded 95, or 20 liters if leaded 91 octane.

Have a blast. If you want to see photos of our trip up river from Belem to Manaus, see www.UltimateJourney.com/Amazonas.html

Happy Holidays!

------------------
Ride safe, ride far, ride often,

Email: bmw @ ultimate journey .com (no spaces)
Website: <A HREF="http://www.UltimateJourney.com
" TARGET=_blank>www.UltimateJourney.com
</A> 1999-2003 World Tour