I found Katrina , a woman riding South America solo , she , also on a DR650 , was in Santiago heading towards Mendoza on her way to Buenos Aires to ship her bike home .
Katrina agreed to be my “ mule ”. I ’ ll never forget the day she arrived at my hostel in Mendoza with my new ( used ) brake rotor . Another friend for life and another person I met saving the day !
By March of 2020 I had successfully made it all the way to Ushuaia . All that work and all those miles and I ’ d finally made it .
The group I was with all had different plans . Most though we ’ re going to ride up the east coast of Argentina on Ruta 3 to Buenos Aires where they would ship their bikes home . Me ? I was still planning on riding all the way back . I had plenty of adventure in front of me .
In Buenos Aires Olaf decided to ride with me a bit longer , as I was headed further north towards Iguazu Falls , one of the seven wonders of the world , and then into Brazil . From there I would cross into Bolivia continuing my way north , while Olaf would go back to Buenos Aires and ship his motorcycle home to Germany . That was the plan . Two days after we crossed into Brazil , it happened . We had heard pieces in the news about a virus causing issues in China . I really didn ’ t give it much thought , until all the land borders of South America began closing . Then the worry , doubt , stress , reared its ugly head again . What to do ? Abandon the bike and fly home ? I couldn ’ t ! Sell it on the black market , there ’ d already been an offer , and fly home ? No way ! This bike is a part of me , and I ’ ll not give her up easily .
Stress was beginning to rule my days . A fellow rider approached through social media . Olaf and I were staying in Joinville , Brazil and the riders parents owned a pousada ( motel ) in a small beach community two hours south of us that was closed due to the pandemic . Knowing my plight of extremely limited funds and unknown length of stay , his parents agreed to rent me an apartment at a very reasonable rate .
This became my home and for the next five months I became a part of the Honorio family .
I practiced my Portuguese daily and they helped . The matriarch , Noemir ( Emma ), became like a mother to me , bringing me home cooked meals daily . Her son , Luis , showed me the finest roads in the area to ride motorcycles .
Together , as my new family , they quelled my fears and brought happiness to my life . When the time came to finally ship my motorcycle home , by sea , and for me to fly out of Brazil it brought great sadness , yet a sadness not of fearing the unknown or facing uncertainty . This was a
TRAVERSE 67