Did not have a good night. Tossed and turned all night. ¨Should have gone home with Shirley¨ was the predominant thought. Married for over thirty years and it was great having her with me. ¨Shouldn´t be so selfish and put the family through the stress of my travels¨. ¨Can I keep myself safe?¨.
My spitits were lifted as soon as I mounted the saddle and on the road poking along slowly checking out the scenery.
Took a couple of hours to reach the border crossing. Nothing different from all the other border crossings best described as hectic. Back to being resolute about not using the unofficial helpers come scam artists. A dozen men crowded around grabbing me and my gear. Just kept repeating ¨No¨ but the that means they just have to try harder apparently.
Got through the Nicaraguian side unscathed now to the Costa Rican border crossing.
Hot, sweating profusely, personal space invaded but still resolute I ventured forth. Doing the business was going to be differcult but not anymore so than other border crossings. Standing in a queue for an Immigration stamp I met an American. He started the conversation saying that he and his partner were parked behind my bike. He asked where I had travelled from and told me that they had travelled from New York and were headed for Argentina. I suggested we travel together and he agreed.
My new travel partners had agreed to use a ´monkey´. Apparently that is what the unofficial helpers are called.
The helper found a problem that could only be overcome by paying a large sum of money. One of the guys had his rego. plate stolen in Mexico and had replaced it with a realistic looking copy. The sum being asked was $100 USD. They paid it together with helpers fee of $20 USD. I paid the same helper $4 USD to get me through the vehicle control.
Hey we are in Costa Rica.
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