San Isidro

October 10th San Isidro
A very boring day, but mainly uneventful, so that's good. The town has really nothing of any great interest other than a modern, rather large church, all of which can be viewed within a few minutes tour. It also rains a lot with it being in the mountains. 
The positive things from today was I met Juan Angel, a friend of Joseph and Mariya. He speaks good English and is a biker from Argentina and has done my trip a number of times. He has been helping me with the purchase of tyres and getting a service. We met late afternoon after he finished work and chatted over my tea and his coffee. He excited and tempted me with the story of his travels, the places he'd visited and the roads he'd travelled. I will be heading along the same route so should have my own experiences in these amazing places. From the lay lines of the Nazca plain to a church built on top of a river and mountain bends that are built at right angles! After much chat we turned our thoughts to the tyres and it transpired that the tyres which I am waiting for are not suitable, though the right size and everything they are designed for a tubeless rim. So having waited for two days it looks like I'm going to have to move on without a new front tyre (which is the one that really needs changing). They have also ordered an inner tube so at least I won't be too vulnerable. Our plan B is to take off the tyre and put a patch on the inside where there may be a split (need to check). I will also get the punctured inner tube patched and buy some more sealant. I should be able to get a new tyre in Panama, as it is a far more affluent country and far more 1st world.

I did put the day to good use, researching shipping my bike into Columbia and it appears I have two options available to me. There is a German sail boat the Stahlratte, that takes five days that leaves on the 25th October. Which would mean me hanging around Panama for two weeks, it looks a super trip but with the extra cost of staying for two weeks makes it a very expensive option. My other option is to fly and there are flights daily that I can take. This would get me out of Panama quickly and I'd be in Bogota (further inland than the boat would drop me off) though on the surface more expensive it would save me money because of the savings on hotels etc.
Having hung around for two days in this place I don't think I could take two weeks of it, so almost certainly I'll take the plane. With this option I will have to book a plane ticket with a commercial airline for myself. Juan said they always say the freight plane will be there the same day but be prepared to have to wait a couple of days. It will just be nice to be in South America, which he assures me has a very different feel. I will probably stay in Panama another night and take the Bogota flight the following day, enabling me to pick up my bike on arrival at the airport.
So tomorrow I will concentrate on patching up the bike and finalising my onward shipping and accommodation. The bike will not be looked at until late afternoon, when the tyres and inner tube arrive. I don't think the tyre guy will be happy as they will have to be sent back to San Jose. 
So Im sorry I have nothing exciting to share with you on my blog, but you've had too much excitement in my opinion! I will let you know how the tyre story unfolds.