12 January 2018 – Oh that 5:00 a.m. comes hard when you
don’t want to get out of bed. I mobilized myself enough to look out the door
and saw that one of the hotel patrons had backed his car up tight against my
motorcycle and there is no way I can get out. I hardly could get my cover off
he was so close. At the time I didn’t notice but he also blocked in a truck. Well,
I couldn’t be slowed by this so I took off my cover and rolled my motorcycle
forward to the curb. I then could walk around behind my motorcycle. I continued
loading it hoping the dude would show up and move his car. I was putting the
finishing touches on loading my bike when the Harley Rider hears me making
rustling noise with my bags and footsteps. He walks out of his room with his
blanket wrapped around himself. He looked like Yoda from Star Wars, just a
larger version. I’m sure like me, he was thinking somebody was messing with his
bike and he came out to investigate. I of course, was complaining to him about
the dude who blocked me in. I wanted to get going. The Harley Rider gives my
motorcycle a really good looking over and told me he liked it. I told him about
the disadvantage of the wide saddle bags. You can’t split lanes with it without
the possibility of rubbing the cars next to you. He agreed that was a
disadvantage. I had my bike loaded and ready to go. He went back to his room
and went back to bed. I also went back to my room and laid down until the
truck, the car behind me, or the car to the side of me moves out of the way. I
set my alarm to 7:00 a.m. hoping something would break loose by then.
I awoke to the sound of a diesel engine. I stick my head out
my door and the truck can’t get out, and he’s madder than a hornet. Finally, he
gets after the office to find the dude blocking us in. It takes them 10 minutes
to find the guy. In the meantime this truck driver is just fuming that he can’t
get out. Eventually the guy shows up, moves his car and disappears really fast.
The truck driver gets out and is now happy, and so am I. The Harley Rider show
up again all dressed up in his Harley attire. We talk some more and I showed
him my Harley-Davidson Cross Bones. He likes it. He then tells me it’s only a
5-hour drive to Panama City. He just rode it yesterday. He also said to watch
out for the Policia, they’re everywhere. He also said it is a new four lane
highway all the way to Santiago and old four lane from there to Panama City,
Panama. I asked him what he does for a living and he said he was an architect
and designed buildings. I told him I worked as a machinist for 37 years and was
now retired. He said if I had time to spare I could stay with him for a while.
I had to decline because I already had plans and I didn’t want to break them.
We parted ways and I was headed toward Panama City.
He was right about the road. It was all new and the road was
straightened. In the next 124 Miles / 200 Kilometers I slowed down probably 10
times to 40 Mph / 65 Kph otherwise it was 50 / 55 Mph / 80 / 90 Kph. It was the
best riding as far as making good time as I could remember. Man, that was an
uneventful ride and it was great. I must point this out. Like the Harley Rider
said, watch out for the policia. At the outskirts of every town they were there
with their radar guns. Every officer had somebody pulled over. The speed limit
was 31 Mph / 50 Kph through town and 50 Mph / 80 Kph on the highway. It’s Panamanian
law.
There was a stretch where I encountered a car that was
driving the exact speed limit. If it was 50 Kph he drove exactly 50 Kph. If it
was 80 Kph he drove exactly 80 Kph. He was always behind me, alongside me or
just in front of me. I just couldn’t shake the car. This went on for at 10+
Miles / 16 Kilometers. It was a fancy
car, with fancy chrome wheels like you see in the U.S. and totally blacked out
windows. I saw my perfect excuse to lose him. A McDonalds popped up and I turned
in to get something to eat. I was there for over 30 minutes and he was long
gone. I hate when cars track on me like that. It happened to me in Russia.
While I was stopped, I also filled up with gas and decided I
would make the run to Panama City. I was on the outskirts of the city by 3:00
p.m. and the traffic was moving nicely. I had Blanche navigating and she was
sticking to the major highways. Eventually the traffic slow down to 25 Mph / 40
Kph and by the time I was within 4 Miles / 7 Kilometers of the Marriott hotel,
it was stop and go traffic. I worked my way through the traffic as best I could,
but the wide saddle bags don’t allow for that very well. Eventually, I reached
an off-ramp to the hotel and Blanche took me to the door step. I thanked God I
was through with that stop and go traffic mess.
I take my helmet off and the people in the lobby look at me
like something the cat just dragged in. I go into reception and they looked at
me strangely too. I was armed with my reservation number and showed it to them,
which makes them happy. I get my room assignment and go upstairs to drop off my
jacket and helmet. While was setting in the stop and go traffic, I was sweating
profusely. I came back downstairs and caught all kinds of looks. My shirt was
soaking wet from perspiration and so was my hair. I got myself a truck / cart
and unloaded my bike. I pushed my baggage inside and people just stared at it.
I must be a novelty to some people. I got my motorcycle covered and sent a Spot
out into the universe. I have found of late my Spot device has become really
finicky about having open sky to pick up a satellite. If there are any trees in
the way it won’t find them. Anyway, I was ready to take a break from the
madness of the traffic and the profuse sweating. I ate something and went to my
room. I need to check on a sightseeing tour to the Panama Canal. I can do that
tomorrow morning: I’m too tired tonight.
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