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. 
Boquette is popular spot. We are staying in a very nice place called the Pantomonte. John Wayne, Ingrid Bergman and Richard Nixon have all stayed here. It was built in 1915. The Pantamonte is pretty darn nice: 
We are going to stay in Boquete a couple nights. 
We rode the Inter American Highway to San Carlos and then headed inland to El Valle. El Valle is at 2000 feet and it is about 10 degrees cooler than on the coast. It is extremely comfortable at this moment. El Valle is very laid back. It doesn't feel very foreign to us. We stopped by the Yellow Frog B&B and found that a couple Americans were running it. Then we stopped by the local sports bar and found a couple Canadians running that. There aren't that many tourists around. We are the only ones at the place we are staying. I can't say that the Inter-American Highway is the best place to ride a bike. It's 4 lanes with shoulder that is not very consistent....sometimes the shoulder is ok asphalt to ride on, but other times it is gravel. I find myself darting on and off the shoulder depending on what is coming up from behind. I think it is safe to say that we will look for EVERY opportunity to get off the Inter American and on to lesser roads. There are some...they just don't necessarily take you anywhere. Most extend off the Inter American like fishbones and end at the coast or in the mountains. I have noticed that they love their junk welding artwork. You know the kind. Prehistoric birds or whatever made out of car parts welded together. I have a certain admiration for it, but I don't think it is anything you would want to put in your own yard. 
Oh yeah, I did find the Bears - Packers game. The commentary was in Spanish, but given the way the game went, I think perhaps that was a good thing. 
Dominque and I were the only ones to stop by this temple. There was a Black Buddha inside. Unusual to say the least. 
Buddhas ringed the entire temple. 
The whole thing overlooks the Mekong in dramatic fashion. 
This was our lunch stop on the way to Chaing Khong. 
It's actually not hard to take. They grow their own stuff here. I noticed that as soon as we ordered a young girl ran out to collect some onions and lemon grass. 
