Coronavirus (Pic: Buck Snyder)
At the time of writing the pair were desperately
looking for options to repatriate bikes and themselves.
Trapped?
“Canada has advised all Canadians living or travelling
abroad to return to Canada. However, as we need to sort
out a plan for our motorcycles, this is easier said than
done.
Brazilian-Italian Katia Mello e Alvim had already found
herself in the home country of Kroeker and West, where
she’s been since mid-March. Mello e Alvim had been
riding north from Brazil since February 2019. An injury
meant an initial change of plans and bikes, she ended
up in Canada with plans of reaching Tuktoyaktuk in the
Arctic Circle.
“I haven’t had interaction with local authorities,” Mello
e Alvim said, explained that flying back to Brazil and
leaving her bike in Canada was the absolute last option.
“I’ve been in contact with local healthcare workers, who
have always been nice and informative.”
There’s a common theme amongst all the travellers,
that locals whether in authority or not, have always been
friendly, welcoming, and helpful, once the initial shock
response of reacting to COVID-19 was overcome.
“Everywhere I go, they ask me how I’m handling
things,” smiles Mello e Alvim. “I’ve never felt any
animosity.”
“The people are really friendly,” agreed British
traveller Mark Waters, who found himself caught up in
the pandemic in Cambodia. “Most businesses closed
themselves after all of the tourists left.”
Ironically, Waters found himself in Cambodia after his
Yamaha XT660z broke down, it seems a common theme
for the Ténéré.
Waters started his ride around the world in July 2018
and got as far as Mongolia before suffering gearbox
problems, the bike was fixed on the road but the delay
meant he was stranded in Mongolia during the depths of
winter, no option to ride.
Trapped?
The bike and rider were shipped back to the United
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