We made our way all the way to Bocas del Toro from Boquete. We took the back roads as much as possible. However, I missed a turn and did an extra 20k or so (Chantal saw it and waited for me to double back). It didn't really make much difference as there was no way we were riding all the way to Bocas anyway. It's much too hard and much too far. We planned on just getting a bus in the town of Chiriquicito. However, we soon learned that there really wasn't anything in the town of Chiriquicito so we went right on past. The road was fine but parts were steep and the only way up was to push the loaded bikes. There were no services along the road. We shared a few power bars. There weren't many cars either. We did finally flag down "Jonny" and his friend who were pulling a small trailer. They agreed to give us a lift. We soon learned that they were going to Chirique Grande. That is right on the way to Bocas. They thought the police might stop us (they did, but they only asked questions and wanted to see our passports). They were very nice:
this is the view from the trailer I was riding in with the bikes: 
The view from the trailer was spectacular. No shocks on the darn thing. It would hit a hole and KABOOM! 
We rode our bikes into Chiriqui Grande looking either for a place to stay or the ferry that our map indicated went the additional 70k to Bocas. The hotels were all dumps and the ferry had stopped operating so we road our bikes back out to the crossroads and hired a guy in a pick up truck to give us a lift. At one point the driver turned off on a rough gravel road and went a couple miles into the bush. He apparently had a delivery to make...a couple bags of fish for the local indians. Anyway we made it to Almerantes, where you can catch the water taxi for Bocas del Toro. It was a long day of traveling. I think it was the first time I have ever traveled by bike, cattle trailer, pick up truck and boat in one day. For anyone considering biking across the mountains to Bocas with a loaded bike....forget it. There is zero along the road and you are highly likely not to make it...although there are buses and folks who will give you a llift.
this is the view from the trailer I was riding in with the bikes: The view from the trailer was spectacular. No shocks on the darn thing. It would hit a hole and KABOOM! We rode our bikes into Chiriqui Grande looking either for a place to stay or the ferry that our map indicated went the additional 70k to Bocas. The hotels were all dumps and the ferry had stopped operating so we road our bikes back out to the crossroads and hired a guy in a pick up truck to give us a lift. At one point the driver turned off on a rough gravel road and went a couple miles into the bush. He apparently had a delivery to make...a couple bags of fish for the local indians. Anyway we made it to Almerantes, where you can catch the water taxi for Bocas del Toro. It was a long day of traveling. I think it was the first time I have ever traveled by bike, cattle trailer, pick up truck and boat in one day. For anyone considering biking across the mountains to Bocas with a loaded bike....forget it. There is zero along the road and you are highly likely not to make it...although there are buses and folks who will give you a llift. 
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