Anyone flying UK-Argentina late this year ??
 

If you are and interested in sharing a crate and maybe some Argentinian exploring on arrival then please drop me a PM.

My plan is to get to Argentina in November time (best time), meet up with a friend who lives in BA, do the HU rally in viedma before heading to Tierra del fuego and ushiaia for xmas and new year. After that, heading north into the great unknown.

This was planned for November 2008 but I just cant wait so Im bringing my trip forward by 12 months so looking for possible riding companions.

Please drop me a PM or Email if this is something you would like to consider.

Cheers and safe riding

Ted

Ted,
no te beso el culo, but we might want to share a crate with you later this year.
Cheers,
Andy

Well you would be very welcome (to share a crate that is, not kiss my arse :innocent: )

There is already another guy very interested in jumping in too.

The more the merrier and more importantly, the more the CHEAPER !! :D

Hey Ted

When do you think you will know for definate you are doing the trip this year?

Im waiting to find out if i was successful in a job interview last week. If im not then as you know im going travelling without the bike to SE Asia then Australia. However id much rather do a trip like yours. I should hopefully find out this or next week if i was successful. If I am there is still the possibility of not taking it. It will just be a harder decision as its more dosh and i will be get the chance to back to Uni.
I actually hope i dont get it as then my decision is made:cool4:

OK.. Im DEFINATELY going THIS year. I have the money, the bike and all the gear. All I need to do is book flights and shipping.

I've have had 2 shipping quotes.

1st one from 'Dynamic' going by ship quotes £615 plus about £400 in port fees and paperwork. Thats EVERYTHING. They quote air frieght at about £2k

'JCS cargo' quoted £1400 for air freight including all fees etc.

Flights for yourself to Buenos aires are about £550.

All these companys seem to quote one bike per crate so sharing a crate doesnt seem to be an option anymore.

Im happy to go over with or without people. It would be cool to go over with a few people though :)

Good for you.:thumbup1:

I will let you know if i get the job this week or next week. If i dont get it then i will definetely come along. Maybe not at exactly the same time as i have to sell the house, exchange the bike, and get the bike and myself equipped. It should be doable in that time though.

If i do get the job then im back to square one with making the decision to go. Its a really good job but i think id rather go the trip. Ill cross this bridge when it comes to it. Ive got butterflies just thinking about it. Ive been reading Mike Skinners blog all night in work. The decision will be made pretty quick for this as well as obviously ive got to tell the company if im accepting the job or not.

I know how you feel fella. I just started my dream job 2 weeks ago. I sell motorcycles in a large dealership and they pay me VERY well to do it.

To most people, I would be crazy to pack it in and leave but instead iv seen it as an opportunity to work for 3 months at silly money and disappear with the cash :D

Hi Ted

As long as the crate fits in the aircraft, and the contents are safe (i.e. petrol drained and battery disconnected), the company is only concerned with the weight and volume, whichever they can charge more for!

FWIW, I shared a crate the first time I sent the bike to Bs As but the saving was minimal. My guess at the difference in weight between one two bike crate and two one bike crates is at most 20 kilos. The total weight of our two GS's plus luggage plus crate was > 600 kilos!

I'm sailing this time by Grimaldi. I'm retired, so the 24 day passage doesn't worry me and it's much greener, competitively priced, the food is great, you see so much, and (allegedly!) it's simpler getting the bike released by Aduana.

Regards, Mick

Well ive landed myself the job. Still waiting on the contract and details etc.

Im going to have to take it. Even if i try it out until next year. I cant believe i landed it now. I used to work for the company 6 years ago and ever since ive left ive tried to get back in and been unsuccessful. And now 6 years later when i had given up hope and going to jet off to far off lands they give me a better job.

Anyways it will give me more time to prepare for such a trip if i go next year.

Me and another hubber are touching down in Buenos Aires on the 14th November.

Anyone about for a beer or 10 ?

I have tried to book with Grimaldi for March 2008 but they are still awaiting sailing dates.
But I WILL be going then.
I thought the sailing was 34 days from London? Have I got it wrong?
It sounds as if you have been before. Any advice welcomed.
I am hoping to organise a visa, as I was told you need a ticket out as well as in and I am hoping of doing the whole of South America.
How long is your trip for?
I spoke with someone on the docks in London. He recommends that whenever the ship docks, go stand by your bike. Read a book, talk to the deck guys, whatever. Nothing will happen to it if you are there.

We are going with Dynamic-internatial.

They have boats going direct to buenos aires every week. Its 19 days sailing from the UK.

You just get a visa on arrival. The bike is securely crated by the company before hand.

Costing £750 quid.

Im planning on being in South America for about 4-6 months.

You keeping a blog Ted. Would quite like to read what im missing out on:thumbup1:

yup, should be.

www.touringted.com !

No content yet as i've just bought it. Keep you eyes peeled.

Spiritually with You.
 

Hi Ted,:thumbup1:
Gaw· blin me, You lucky son ..of a... tch!:oops2:
How I envy You !:(
You·re in for a great experience. Wish I could could go with You!:mchappy:
If You meet any 32 - 33 year old, blond, blue eyed guys or gals with a scandinavian accent (lol) more or less anywhere in SA, say hello from ol· uncle Danny:wheelchair: (could have my genes)? and leave some of Yours behind! You·re a real nice guy, so that would·nt make the world a worse place for sure!:thumbup:
I·ll be in Your web page every day to "be with You" wherever You may be, during Your ride, mate.:punk:
Lots of all the best, :clover:
Dan :tongue_smilie:

Hi Gypsy

I came back with Grimaldi in '04 and it took 24 days; looking at their website this is still how long it takes. You ride on the boat and ride off again at the other end, just like a ferry. The bike is luggage, not cargo, so it isn't on the ship's manifest, which considerably simplifies the paperwork. You have a lot of time on your hands so take a stack of paperbacks/Su Doku puzzles/Gameboy with you as watching the whales/porpoises/turtles/flying fish etc. gets pretty boring after a while.

I never had a visa; as far as I know it isn't necessary.

Regards, Mick

Is this similer trip to yours Ted, i.e ride the bike on (or crate it) and sail with the bike then roll off the other end.? That sounds pretty cool and a good deal for that price

I basically drop the bike off at Dynamic's packers and they do the rest.

They crate it and put it on a ship for £700. Port and customs charges in BA will be about £200 at a guess.

My flight is about £500 so total for getting myself and the bike there for £1400.

I looked into the roll on roll off ferry and the cheapest I could get it for was £1600.

Plus, i really dont want to be stuck on a cargo ship for 3 weeks with nothing to do. Id go INSANE and end up spending an extra £500 on cheap booze to pass the time :cool4:

I thought that. Just checking. 19 days on a cargo ship would be worth it though. Id just take a cheap laptop a box of 50 DVDs with a dozen tv series, loaded on it, some games,and books. Easy:thumbup1:.

Then again cheap booze would be too tempting. Would probably walk off the ship the other end as mad as Jack Sparrow due to the rum. :w00t:

You pays you money ...........................
 

Just checked Grimaldi's website and converted my one way price from the euros quoted and it's £1,249.91.

The MV Repubblica Argentina is a dry ship, apart from the carafes of wine supplied with lunch and dinner and a couple of tots when you cross the equator. There's nothing to buy on board, it's all found. In effect, you're getting 3-4 week's board and lodging FOC; result, score! It considerably shrinks my carbon footprint as well, not a factor I feel I can ignore.

If you can afford the time, sailing adds an extra adventure to your trip and gives you a fantastic perspective on just how far you've gone, both of which are lacking with a flight. Each to their own.

Regards, Mick

That is annoying. I called Grimaldi directly and got a quote over the phone. They told me £1850 or something rediculous.

I would of gone with them if I was quoted that price. Would be fab to roll on and roll off.

Hi Ed! Gosh I can´t beleive your coming! I thought it would be next year!
Good for you!

We will be in BAs in november, planning to stay a couple of weeks to rest and do some repairs on the bikes! Well, mainly on mine! It has taken some battering aliong the last 9000 miles! By the time we get to BAs it will be urgent I think!

Anyway, happy to get to any drink you may want to organise in BAs! We can spend time looking at some maps and we will tell you all about the state of the roads!!!

Howdie !!

Yup.. I got fed up with waiting and saving so just booked some flights :)

Would be great to meet up in BA. I touch down on the 14th November and will hopefully be staying around Dakar Motors area to start with.

Are you going to Viedma ??

Keep in touch.

P.s What bike are you riding ???

We will probably go down to Dakar moto but we are looking to rent a flat for couple of weeks if possible, to give us a break of camping and hostals, but depend when we get to BAs!
We are planning to go to Viedma but that also depends. I am currently in talks with agencies for a trip to Antarctica and boats are filling up fast this year, so depending on availability. My hopes of turning up at Ushuaia for Xmas and buying a ticket on arrival is not a good plan! We need to book something!
We ride me a F650GS, and husband a F650GS/Dakar, both are 2004 models. Mine is falling in pieces (literally!) Every day something else fall off the bike or disappear!

Im sure we'l bump into each other then :)

How are you with spanner work ? I dont mind giving you a hand in exchange for some route info !!

Are you guys sure to want to get your bikes to South America thru BUENOS AIRES? It s a lot of hassle and quite expensive. It took us one week of full work, begging to do it and it cost us 800 dollars just for the processing...Wouldnt Uruguay be a better alternative?

Cheers

Philippe

Roro
 

It could be they were quoting Euros not Pounds.
I checked with Grimaldies agent in the Strand (London) and with Euro conversion etc it is about £1300 but that's not fixed yet as my sailing date in March 08 is still to be confirmed. I am taking a year (or maybe 2) out to see what I can see, so I'm in no hurry. I'm taking my laptop and studying Spanish and I've got some software I need to learn, and some technical papers to write. So I'll be busy.