This is Why We Ride: An Unexpected Friendship in Panama - EP.377

Good morning from my beautiful house. I really enjoyed my stay here. It's like being in a tent but larger and you can walk in and turn on the light. Anyhow, well, when I arrived here I realized I completely missed this town that is so popular. It's called Santa Catalina. It's a surfing town. It's a popular tourist destination here in Panama. So now I'm going back. Five hours. That's okay. I think it's going to be worth it. And this afternoon, I will also catch up with Troy. Troy is my mate that I met on the road in El Salvador in a hostel. And now Troy is in Panama. So we're going to catch up in Santa Catalina. So it should be a good day. Let's do it. It is so hot. You have no idea. Let's press I'm okay. So my mom knows I'm okay. I don't know. 35 maybe. But so humid. Unbearable. We need to keep moving, Troy. We gotta go. Not that today where we're going was going to be better. This is just the way it is. Your class? It's a long way today. I've got myself really good ones. The counsellor knows quite well from seeing what I'm online. They're very good. Oh, I can't hear you now. Right. That's done. That's done. So hot. Let's get out of here. Head northeast. In 150 meters, turn left onto Avenida Dr. Belisario Porres Carretera Nacional 2. Yep. Yep. Not this way. The other way. That way. Thank you. Good girl. Good girl. Thank you. Adios. Gracias. This is something very interesting about Panama. They use this type of tree as a fence. So basically they grow them like two meter high and then they trim them. They keep trimming them. They keep growing but they keep trimming them and then in between they just connect the wire so it's a fence. See? And this type of fences is just everywhere in Panama. So clever. Let's keep going, Jimmy. We still have 200 to do today. Okay. I think this way. In 200 meters, turn left onto Via Aquia Route 50. There are a lot of horses in this region, I might say. Hola. Right. We're very, very close by. Hang in there. We're nearly there. I think we made it. This is Santa Catalina. My accommodation. This way. Got my groceries. Apparently Troy is already there. We only have 700 meters to do. So let's go. I'm very curious about this accommodation because it was very affordable and I think it will be very cool. Here we go. Oh. Wow. Fancy. And we're nearly there. Ah. Again. Containers. I like it. So clever. Right. I believe we are somewhere here. Ah. There he is. Hey, mate. Long time no see. Look. It's good to see you and thank you for this. It's bloody awesome. Is it? Do you like your accommodation? Yeah. Look. It's really, really cool. It's awesome. Are we ready? I'm ready. Are you ready? Is everybody ready? Ah. Everyone meet Troy. Hello. Hello. Troy is from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. I'm going to show your register. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. That's fine. We have both Australian bikes. They've been, how long are you on the road now? I did two years in South America. Yeah. Did about 65,000 k's. 65,000 k's. I went up and down twice, up and down the island. I call it the island. So I went up and down. But it's a big island. But it's a big island. You know what I mean? Bigger than Australia. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So I went up and down twice and then she's been in storage here in Panama for a year and a half and I've just been reunited with Roxanne. That's right. Her name is Roxanne. So you're saying 66,000? Yeah. 66,000 k's in South America. Today back on it and just, you know, there was highway coming up and even the highway was nice and as we were just saying, it's just the best therapy ever. It really is. Yeah. It's awesome. So she feels good and I've changed the oil before I took off. The lithium battery is posing a little bit of a problem. So I don't really have anything working on the dash, but everything's going and everything's working. So, so now. Good job, Roxanne. Yeah, good. Great to have you back, Roxanne. And I think we've reconnected, you know, like I think the bond's still there because we have a love-hate relationship and they're always difficult. Yeah, you mentioned that you were not with a bike because you are not used to adventure bikes, right? Before I left Oz, yeah, I'd never really ridden one. And, um, and we in, in South America, I, I wouldn't, I wouldn't have a, if I had my time back again. Cause your background is enduro, right? Yeah. Enduro motocross, you know, a long time ago and whatnot, but, um, it just didn't because it just so top heavy, they are. And the first, the first thing I got back on when I rode it from the storage unit, sounds great, good power and all that, but I just straight away, that first thing that hit me, just top heavy. And going in the slow stuff and up and down the hills and in the mud and all that. I love you. We're going to have a different relationship. She's just happy to be on the road. So the story of our friendships that in El Salvador, we met at the hostel, right? Yes. That beautiful hostel. I was camping. He was jealous because he didn't have Roxanne with him. No, I didn't. I've been following you since you left Sydney, you know, and then I saw your head walked out. I went, I can't believe that. There she is. That's the hair. Anyhow. So I convinced Troy because he's like, you are not, Troy's rushing now. He's trying, she's trying like you're going to be how, how many days do you want to get to Mexico? I want to be in California. So Nine days. He's going to be nine days in California. Five countries in nine days. That's crazy. But he's got stuff to do and he needs to fly back to Australia and leave Roxanne in California. Lots of stuff. A lot is going on. That's why you're rushing. Rush, rush, rush. So thank you for stopping by. Thanks. And coming to Santa Catalina. Yeah. Well, I'm about to see our accommodation. It was $15. I think it's a bargain. Yeah. Cool. Anyhow. All right. So, uh, let me unpack now. This is Alvis, the manager owner of this place. So Alvis, why there are so many horses today and why they're making so much noise? Oh, because they are celebrating the death of St. John. So that's why you see like people riding horses around. Right. And so today, like it's not working day. Yeah. It's a public holiday. Actually, it's a working day. But on top of that, people celebrate this as a Catholic Catholic event. Right. And what do they yell when they're riding horses? They say San Juan de Loy. Actually, I don't know what it actually means. I don't know. But it's just like really just to say. Yeah. As cheers. Something like that. So cool. Because it's not just here. It was in all the villages when I was coming here. It was and everyone was dressing up nicely, like nice cowgirls. It's so nice. Some of them have beers in their hand. It's so cool. They look like they're having a good time. Yeah. Probably at night there is a party. Yeah. Sometimes. Yeah. Well, there you go. It's a perfect, perfect time to be here. Thank you so much for this explanation. And now I'm ready to check in. Let's do it. Here they are. Hola. Hola. Cheers. Salud. There's a lot of ladies riding here. I noticed. Yeah. Wow. OK, so here we go. We're sleeping in these rooftop tents. So this is, I'm guessing. Oh, Troy has former Terra too. Good boots. Right. So this is Troy, clearly. And my rooftop tent is Estero 3. This one. Let's see. Let's go up. Oh, so cute. I love it. And all of that for $15. What a bargain. And this is papaya. Troy, show us coffee. Coffee. How big is it? How big is your coffee for the morning? Yeah. Yeah. That's one blast. That should get me through tomorrow. Well, maybe all the way to California. This is the best travel thing I've ever, ever had. And I would never, ever, ever, ever get on a bike. I can do without food. What is it? What is it? I can do without food. But this here for making coffee, you put your hot water in there. Hot water in there. You put your hot water in there. That's how much coffee you're going to get. And this has got the double espresso. You put your coffee in here. You pat it down with a little patting machine in there. You put the top on there. Wow. Fancy, mate. Fancy. And then you turn up sometime and boom, boom, boom. I've used that every day for about three years. Nice. Yeah, you've got to have it. You've got to have it. You've got to start the day off early as the sun comes up with the coffee and just get on it. Yeah. That's it. Well done. Best thing ever. Without a question. Without a question. That's your luxury item. And I'm reunited with my old gloves. Seven bucks. Seven bucks. These are your riding gloves? Yeah, I use these all the time. Why? There's no fingers? Yeah, exactly. No fingers. I like the feel. No protection? No protection. No, I don't. Like a thin motocross glove is good, but they've done probably 30,000 Ks. Yep. Not bad for construction gloves. Yeah, seven bucks. From Bunnings? No, Columbia. Emily Bunnings in Columbia. What's it called? I don't know what it's called. I can't remember. Stage two. We are here in the restaurant and we are eating something that I've never tried before. Of course, I have plant-based version. Troy has meat version. Meat version? This is not bread. This is... Well, it's not bananas. Plantos. Which is those big bananas. Yeah, big bananas. Exactly. So this is not bread. This is burger with plantos, which is a banana. It's like a dry banana. I'm going to tell you how it is. You know, sometimes it's hard, but this is actually, it's not. It's not hard. In South America, this is everywhere. I know, but here it's everywhere, but not on a burger. Not on a burger. I didn't know they'd do that stuff. Look! It looks quite awesome. Uh-huh. I have lentil burger. This is so delicious. I was going to say, and that looks absolutely delicious. You know, normally I would eat half of the bread because it's just too much bread, but this, it's a plant. You can eat it. It's good for you. Good morning. Troy made me a fancy coffee. Let's try. Perfect coffee, I'll tell you. Not bad. Not bad. Oh, it's very strong. Oh, very strong. Yeah, I get it. I get it. If you're into coffee, totally. It's a must to have. Look at that. What a beautiful morning, Troy. How lucky you are to leave when the sun is shining. I truly enjoy your coffee. Thank you for this. Not a problem. And you think this is not strong? Well, I put extra water in it for you. Yes. This is strong. Is it? Yeah. Yeah. So you drink strong coffees, hey? Yes. Yes. Well, I just think just double espresso is pretty standard. It's getting crowded here. We have a family of five joining us here, guys. Thank you very much, neighbors. This is your side of the fence. Thank you. Thank you for your cooperation. He really likes your area. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. You guys, he's quite large. Like, I think, like, oh, I don't know, like, like length with the legs. I reckon seven centimeters. I don't. I don't. Yeah. I don't know. No, we don't like you. You can go away, Mr. Spider. I'm not going to even give you the name because we're not friends. We're not friends. You want to give me a hug? Terry, you've got beautiful eyes and very nice hands and all of that. And you're not scared. My camera is in your face and you're not scared. I think crabs have thing for me, I must say. It's not the first one that is very friendly. Okay, you go, mate. You go. You go. That way. Yeah. Oh, you are so good looking, I tell you. Troy, Google map it. Google map it. How many k's are you doing today? I don't know. I'll tell you in a sec. Because you're crossing to Costa Rica today, right? Ah, yes. Yeah. Troy's on a mission. I'm on a mission now. Just Google map it. Rapido. Spider's still here. Rapido. Is my hair all right? I think your hair is lovely. Thank you. All right, I'll walk you out. Oh, she's running. Jesus, you're really ready. Yeah, I'm ready. Whoa. Okay, I want to take a last picture of you and Roxanne, okay? Just sit on here, Roxanne, and I'll take a picture of you. Please. You got it, mate? We will meet again. Work it, baby. Work it. We will meet again. We'll meet again. Hasta luego, amigo. Yes. Ah, professional. Look at that. Yay. And he's gone. Here we go. Troy's leaving now. Our stories continue, senorita. I'll see you later. See you later. Thank you. In Venezuela. Thank you for everything. The conversations have been beautiful. Always. I love your time talking bikes and life in general. Of course, always. We're such good friends now. That's okay. We'll meet again, Troy. We'll meet again. Come on, I'll walk you out. Hey guys, thank you so much for watching. If you enjoyed this, please do all the magic that helps the channel grow. 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