Here are some correspondence between Remus and Chris & Erin Ratay that Remus has forward : from Remus: Here's another
picture and a link to the ultimate journey site that has a couple of picture where you can catch a glimpse of me. http://ultimatejourney.com/chap137.html
In the New Year picture I am the one in he sky blue shirt all the way in the back. Also, make sure you read the story
Chris forwarded to me below. Have a good weekend. From: "Chris & Erin Ratay" To: Remus Preda Subject: Re: Costa Rica
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 10:07:30 -0600 Hola Mate! We did only southern Peru, not the north and not Ecuador. Chris and Simi
did these Lots of recommendations for S.Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile -- let us know if you want info. Updating our
site as we write this -- if you look really close, you can see your mug :-) Attached a separate photo my dad got of you...
Don't drown -- here is a note from a friend from just the other day (Laos on a R1150GS >Today I did something really stupid.
> >Arrived in Laos yesterday and had 200kms of dirt to do >today to get across to a town on the 'main' drag. >160kms on and
everything is going well. The conditions >are perfect and I'm really having fun riding this >beautiful dirt track. I get to
the umpteeth river >crossing and it's another long one which I can't see >the bottom of. I am just about to get off the bike
for >a look when to the left I see a disused log bridge 2m >above the water. The last few meters of planks are >missing but
I think I can ride it on the logs at the >side. Too lazy to get off the bike again. So I start >off but decide to stop half
way for a look. I put my >foot down but the plank just falls away and before I >know it I'm falling of the bike, helmet first
into the >river. For a split second I think the bike has somehow >managed to stay on the bridge but then there's a big >splash
and the bike tumbles in on my back. The water >was only about 18 inches deep but I find myself >pressed to the bottom face
down. I really struggle >hard but can't get free and then I think I am going to >drown. I put my hands under my chest and
with all my >strength I do a big press up and stretch my neck as >far as I can. My helmet is still full of water and I >don't
know whether to try for a breath. I have to, but >as well as some water I also get some air. I cough it >out and push up again.
This time it's all air, so it's >back under water and I manage to get a knee up and >twist out from under the bike. I can't
describe the >feeling! I was so elated. The bike is upside down in >the river but still running. I get the bike up, and >feel
that soon it's going to hurt. I work to get the >bags and boxes up on the bank, have a quick look to >the bike - the clocks
and mirrors are damaged and the >rack is broken, a few marks but it all looks OK. I use >the remaining adrenalin to dig a
track up the river >bank and then wait for help. After 45 mins 2 men turn >up on a rotorvator, and after laughing their heads
off >we set to to drive and push the bike up the bank. I >tip all the water out of the boxes and my boots and >slowly strap
everything back to the bike. I give the >guys 10 dollars each, a lot, but I feel so grateful to >still be here I could have
made it 100. > >So tonight I have a 3rd arse cheek growing on my back >and I ache everywhere else. The bike will be OK. >Nothing
I can't fix. Stuff will dry out, but >unfortunately my camera's had it. I hope when I get to >a shop they can save the film
as I finally took some >pictures of the bike in a long-tail boat when we went >across the Mekong. > >So the moral is: If you're
travelling alone in remote >places on a motorbike, don't do something stupid. >Tonight I feel very, very lucky. > >We all
are, you know. - >OK, Cheers and keep in touch! >C & E >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Remus Preda" >Sent: Thursday,
January 09, 2003 12:45 PM >Subject: Re: Costa Rica > > > Dear chris and Erin, > > > > Thanks for the picture. I am in Bocas
Del Torro with my folks and >getting > > my PADI open water certification so I can take advantage of the >Galapagos > >
Islands if I ever make ot out there. Me and my bike are flying to >Bogota > > (on separate planes) on Tuesday and I'll be
meeting some friends in >Cusco >on > > Feb. 14. Did you get to Ecuador or Peru? Any recommendations? > > > > I was wonderful
meeting you guys. I am sure I'll have plenty of >questions > > as I head south. > > > > Ciao, Remus > > > > >From: "Chris
& Erin Ratay" > > >To: "Remus Preda (R11GS)" > > >Subject: Costa Rica > > >Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 17:47:22 -0600 > > > >
> >Hope you are having a great time with your folks. Really enjoyed meeting > > >you, and look forward to catching up again
in the states! > > > > > >All the best on the next leg of your trip. > > > > > >Ride safe, ride far, ride often > > >Chris
& Erin Ratay > > > CURRENTLY IN COSTA RICA ** 1999-2003 World Tour on 2 BMW motorcycles
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