Bogota had it´s delays and challenges, but they were manageable. While working on the problems (Sean´s blog has a detailed description), we had the privilege of meeting some wonderful people and exchanging some good stories and jokes. We had very little free time. Bogota´s main attraction for me, the Gold Museum, was closed for remodeling. The central plaza and cathedral were blocked off for an official ceremony. And we didn´t get to the salt mine and church. But we were able to take come walks in the old city, have some great conversations, and solve the problems. I found the time in the city to be very positive, and we´re hoping to get back to Bogota when we finish our ride in South America.
We did indeed free our bikes from their cages on Thursday. Processing them through customs took all morning. Getting them out of the airline cargo bay took all afternoon. The entire front of the cargo terminal was a loading dock, with a couple narrow, railed stairs for customers and workers--too narrow and steep for the bikes. The problem was how to get the bikes down the drop.
Everything was considered from an I-beam ramp (too high, narrow, and steep) to driving them around the back of the terminal and out the service entrance (the obvious solution, but it wasn´t acceptable to the airport security). By mid-afternoon 30 people were working on the problem. Finally someone mentioned that they had a fork lift in the parking lot. With a large aluminum palate and a skilled driver, each bike in turn was smoothly lowered to ground level. And we drove off jubilantly into a deluge that was just hitting the city. It was a baptismal experience of the highest order.
We did indeed free our bikes from their cages on Thursday. Processing them through customs took all morning. Getting them out of the airline cargo bay took all afternoon. The entire front of the cargo terminal was a loading dock, with a couple narrow, railed stairs for customers and workers--too narrow and steep for the bikes. The problem was how to get the bikes down the drop.
Everything was considered from an I-beam ramp (too high, narrow, and steep) to driving them around the back of the terminal and out the service entrance (the obvious solution, but it wasn´t acceptable to the airport security). By mid-afternoon 30 people were working on the problem. Finally someone mentioned that they had a fork lift in the parking lot. With a large aluminum palate and a skilled driver, each bike in turn was smoothly lowered to ground level. And we drove off jubilantly into a deluge that was just hitting the city. It was a baptismal experience of the highest order.
2 comments:
I am an amiga of Isaac and found your blog on his web page. Your adventure is awesome. I will continue to follow your trek. Hasta luego.
Fun times on the forklift...it must have felt like home. ;)
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