7 a.m., Panama City
-Got up at 4:45 this morning so we could load our gear, have breakfast and be ready to ride the freeways at 6:30 to catch our 9 o'clock flight. Just got the announcement that our charter L-1011 is still in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, so our departure from the hotel has been rescheduled for 9, then we'll wait at the airport for the airplane.
-Another nice bit of news is that we will have a police escort (since it's illegal to ride bicycles on the freeways here) to the airport. Too late for us though. Our bike is already deep in the Rali bicycle truck.
-Oh, I think I forgot to cover this in yesterday's journal. When Lisa, Joan, Larry and I were in the Rali Bicycle Store yesterday, the owner heard about our trip and decided he wanted to help. He offered to transport 100 bicycles to the airport in his Rali truck, and to take the riders in his Rali bus. (So why does a bike shop owner have such equipment? Because he also sponsors the biggest bicycle club in Panama.) So that's the truck our bicycle is on.
-Lisa's taking a nap now. Think I'll join her.
-8:30 a.m. update -- The airplane is held up in Ft. Lauderdale waiting for a part. The new time to leave the hotel is noon.
-Jamie Berg had two sets of fenders that she wanted to sell. The price was to make a donation of any amount to a charity that she is collecting for. I bought a set. Unfortunately, I can't install them during this downtime because our bike is buried deep in the truck.
-11:00 update -- The airline found the part that was needed for our airplane, BUT . . . . The new schedule is: Have dinner here from 4 to 5; leave for the airport at 5; take off for Santiago about 10 p.m.; land about 6 a.m.; ride to the hotel in Santiago; breakfast 8:30 to 9:30; free the rest of the day.
-Lisa left at 8:30 to find a cool dress. As soon as she returns we'll go to lunch. With breakfast at 5 this morning, I'm hungry.
-11:30, Lisa returns. The truck and bus can only wait until 2 to leave for the airport. Tim says no, he doesn't want people and bicycles arriving at the airport early. Have to unload the T & B.
-12:00, bike shop owner relents. Will hold the truck and bus for a 5 o'clock departure.
-12:30, left for lunch at a vegetarian restaurant. Delicious.
-1:15, Lisa went with Joan looking for a dress for Joan. Larry and I are "hanging out." We plan to be in line EARLY for dinner so we can get a seat on the bus to the airport.
-(What we've found to be most consistent on this trip is CHANGE. I'm curious what the next change will be.)
-3:30 Got in line for dinner.
-4:15 Reserved our seats on the bus.
-5:15 Police escort of riders, busses and trucks to the airport.
--The streets in Panama City are full of old fashioned school busses that are brightly painted in all sorts of designs, cartoons, scenes, etc. They are called "Chevas," which means, I am told, "little goats." They provide the local transportation (cheaper than taxis, which are VERY cheap) and fight for space on the streets just as aggressively.
-By the way, space on the street goes to the driver who is the quickest and most aggressive in going for it. That applies to pedestrians too.
-6:30 Arrived at the airport. Our baggage was pre-checked earlier today. Transferred the bike from the truck to the airport storage area.
-7:00 Waiting.
-8:15 Our plane has arrived.
-9:30 Thru the security gate. Lots and lots of shops -- mostly fancy and expensive. Several that specialize in M&M's types of candies and toys. Several "perfumaries" - Lisa's in heaven.
-10:40 Tim made an announcement that the plane isn't big enough and you guys (meaning us, the riders and our baggage) are overweight. So, the riders and baggage will fly tonight leaving in about 2 hours. Then the plane will return and pick up the TK&A gear and the rest of the bicycles -- ours included. He thinks the bicycles will arrive in Santiago, Chile, about 6 a.m. on Monday. That's not good news, since after the last flight it took an hour and a half to get our bike ready to ride -- and Monday is a 96 mile day.
-1-30-00, 12:30 a.m. Started loading the plane.
-1:35 a.m. We're off!
-It's been a long day.
-Love to all, David and Lisa
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