I
jumped out of bed feeling excited about the possibility we will
finish all the paperwork associated with the shipping of my
motorcycle. I took a quick shower and choked down breakfast and was
out the door walking toward Mundial Import and Export Solutions
Office. Much to my surprise I arrived at the office 15 minutes early.
I walked back to the City Mall Area and sat for 10 minutes looking at
all the people walking by. I noticed groups of retired men seated
around and talking. Not too different from the United States. It was
a quick trip, and I was back in the Mundial Import and Export
Solutions Office a few minutes early.
I
talked to the receptionist and she informed Vinicius Mendes that I
had arrived. Yazmin the English-speaking woman arrives again and
tells me that we are waiting for Evelyn. She said Evelyn will drive
to the Mundial Import & Export Solution Office in the Aeroporto
- Terminal de Cargas. When we arrive, we all have to check in at the
Security Gate. Evelyn and I know the process of how you have to enter
the Terminal de Cargas. You have to show a driver’s license or
passport. Evelyn and I were already registered with the Security
Gate. I was registered the day I delivered my motorcycle. Yazmin had
to go through the process and we waited. 
Once
we all successfully passed through the Security Gate, we walked
toward the Mundial Terminal de Cargas Office. Along the way Evelyn
pointed out the different buildings to Yazmin. The ones that handled
the Import of goods, the ones that handled the Export of goods and
the Customs Office. She also showed Yazmin the route to Emerson
Farias’s office. He will guide Evelyn, Yazmin and myself through
Customs Inspection Process. When we arrived at Emerson Farias’s
Office, we went through all the formal introductions and Yazmin had a
chance to meet co-workers she has been working with for some time and
has never met. Everything was quite new to her.
So
off we go to the Terminal de Cargas – Exportacao. Before we could
enter Terminal de Cargas Exportacao we were issue a Personal Security
Badge that is signed out to you personally. We must turn them in when
we leave. We then have to pass through another security checkpoint
wearing the Security Badge. We couldn’t take cell phones, cameras,
weapons, keys etc. etc. Once through the Security Arch, we were
checked with a metal detector wand. Then I find out you can take your
cell phone with, so I go back and get my cell phone, flashlight and
camera. Apparently, their concern is about taking pictures of other
customer's exports. Well anyway, we walk through this very large
building / warehouse. It must have been the size of a football field.
Yazmin was very impressed by its size. It actually was two buildings
connected to each other. It was a hike till we reached the shipping
container / box that held my motorcycle. Evelyn and Yazmin couldn’t
believe the size of the box. It was large. Emerson requested the top
be removed for the Customs Inspector.
We
waited around for about 20 minutes for the inspector. When he
arrived, he immediately requested the paperwork. He then asks to see
the engine number. Well, with the sides on the box no way could he
see any numbers. The warehouse workers had to take off the side with
the VIN and Engine Number. The guys unscrew the whole side and took
it off. Evelyn and Yazmin were doubly surprised to see just how large
my motorcycle was. The only motorcycles they see are the 125cc /
400cc motorcycles ridden around town. I showed Emerson the VIN number
that the inspector was looking for and where to find it. I told him
to show the inspector the VIN number. He did and I held my flashlight
so the inspector could see the number. The inspector could only see
the first 4 letters and the last 5 numbers of the VIN number. The
rest of the numbers and letters were covered by the electrical
wiring, throttle cables and brake lines. I thought for sure he would
ask me to remove the clamps that held the cables in place. But he
didn’t, whew!!!! He then asked to see in my top box and right
saddle bag. He looked in but really could see anything without
unloading the box. The same was true with my right saddle bag. He
couldn’t see in the left saddle bag because the lid couldn’t be
opened because the shipping container wouldn’t allow it. He signed
off on the shipment of my motorcycle. I wanted to do the happy dance,
but didn’t. The warehouse guys re-attached the side and top. The
Inspector slapped on a seal when the top was screwed on. I should
have taken a picture of that but I didn’t. I asked the warehouse
guys if they could take a picture for me of Emerson, Yazmin, Myself
and Evelyn. They did so graciously. I then wrote my name on the box
and we all walked back to Security check point and turned in our
badges. They also did another metal detector wand scan of all of us.
We passed and I collected up all my stuff out of the locked locker.
We
then walked back to Emerson Farias’s office. He did some paperwork
on the shipment. It probably had something to do with the Air
Waybill. I asked for a copy of it and a website where I could track
the shipment of my motorcycle. I also told them about my motorcycle
trip around the world in 2009. They were quite surprised by that and
that I was still riding the same motorcycle. It’s a similar
reaction by people here who aren’t aware of adventure travel with
motorcycles. Most people think of a motorcycle as a working vehicle.
To make deliveries of propane gas, food, water and mode of
transportation back and forth to work etc. For some it’s the family
car / pickup. It’s not seen as a recreational vehicle only ridden
on the weekend. If you look closely at motorcycles here you
definitely can see they are only used as a utility / work vehicle
rain or shine.
With
everything wrapped up at Mundial Import & Export Solutions Office
Evelyn, Yazmin and myself left Aeroporto - Terminal de Cargas and
drove back to downtown office Rua Ma. Deodoro, 211. On the way there
we stopped to eat at Lonato Barbecue. We all talked about ourselves
and enjoyed a very nice dinner. We also ate way too much food. Evelyn
then drove back to the office. I just want to say Evelyn is a way
better driver than I am in Brazilian traffic. She handled her vehicle
expertly. If I remember correctly, she said her father had her
driving from a very young age. Maybe even younger than 10 years old.
She backed into tight a space with ease using her mirrors. It would
have taken me 3 tries to get parked. Evelyn got it right on the first
try. We parted ways when we reached the office. Yazmin said she would
send me an Avianca Brokers telephone number for Los Angeles,
California in case I needed a broker to release my motorcycle from
Avianca Air Cargo Terminal. We shook hands and I walked back to Hotel
Ibis Styles.
I
was basking in the glory that I had finally finished with all the
issues pertaining to the shipping of my motorcycle. James Meurer Sr.
and Elis contacted me about 8:00 p.m. They said they had just arrived
at their apartment one hour ago and were thinking about going out to
eat. They were wondering if I was interested in going out to eat at
the Lonato Barbecue Restaurant for an extended dinner. I had already
eaten my fill there earlier in the day so I wasn’t interested in
going there again to eat more food. I was stuffed. I told them I can
eat a small dinner but not a large dinner. They recommended eating at
the Mueller Shopping Center. We met at the Mateus Leme Street
entrance and then walked around in the shopping center. After the
scenic tour we went to the food court and ordered something to eat. I
ordered a hamburger and water. James Sr. ordered a hamburger with
fries and I think Elis ate some kind of fish. We talked for an hour
about our travels and some about the trucker strike over the price of
diesel fuel. James Sr. said they were returning back to Telemaco
Borba because the acts of a few truckers were making it very
dangerous to drive on the roads. We parted ways saying we would meet
in Sturgis, South Dakota in August 2018. I came back to the hotel and
went to bed well fed and happy.
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