3. Customs in Colombia
Day 89
Today is big day. I am going to pick up my bike from customs at BOG airport. There are 5 of us who had our bikes shipped from Panama City. We have a fixer who will do all our paperwork for us and deal with everything on this end.
It didn’t start too well as there was a confusion with pick up. No big deal and we are all off to the airport. I am the last one to be picked up as I stay very close to the airport. If you ever complain about traffic in Vancouver then come to see Bogotá. It is NUTS. And I am not the one driving … We got there in one piece. Now the hard part. The shipping company and the customs are on secure side of the airport. That means we need to get a temporary passes allowing us to go there. That would be nearly impossible task at Vancouver Airport. But not here. All of us got finger printed, checked, pictures taken and given temporary badges in 5’. WOW. Now we head to the shipping company. A very nice office with lots of stickers from adventurers from all over the world on the walls. I gave them mine, so I am immortalized there as well. All the paperwork was ready so only a few signatures and we are done here. Now the hard part, the customs. That’s dealing with the government and we all know how that works.
We have to go through more security checks in a different building. We would be totally lost if not for William, our fixer. There were already lots of people in Aduana (customs) waiting room. William told us we might be here for a few hours. OK, I have nothing else to do today. Waiting game begins. That gives us a chance to talk to other riders. Mike & Leanne are Kiwis, as nice as they get as all Kiwis are. They are 2 up on their Husquarna Norden 901. Another guy is Ralf from Germany whom I’ve already met in Panama on his Honda Africa Twin. And the last of the bunch is Tizziano from Miami on his BMW 1150 GS. We all have the same destination, town of Ushuaia in Patagonia. But we are all on different schedules and routes. So we talk shop, swapping stories and sharing info what’s ahead. Weather outside is nice with only few clouds. And we wait, and then wait more. At one point William fell asleep … There are lots of people in the offices but we have no idea what is going on. We at total mercy of the local bureaucracy. After about 4 hrs I asked William what is going on and he said that number of inspectors are away on vacations and there is only ONE inspector available. Great! We might be camping here. OK, I’ve slept in worst places… I didn’t have any breakfast and it is past noon. We’ve found a coffee shop in the building so at least we are caffeinated.
Everything around goes with a speed of a lazy turtle. Meantime it gets cloudy and I can see a big storm is approaching. I predict that we will be done here right when the storm hits us. I hate when I am right! I track the storm on weather app and it is nasty. And when the first rain drop hits the ground, it is our turn with customs. Actual paperwork for all of us is done in about 10’. But the waiting was brutal. Paperwork all done and we have to go back to the shipping company to get out bikes released. As soon as we step outside the customs building, the heavens open. A classic tropical thunderstorm. There is no gear for this kinda onslaught. By the time we get to the warehouse we are soaked to the bones. Everybody’s rain gear is inside the warehouse with our bikes anyway … Wet like chickens we get to the office of the shipping company and get our bikes released within minutes. All paperwork is done and we go to pick up our bikes. Our separation anxiety will be over soon. We get inside the hangar and there are our bikes. All together like a proper wolf pack. One by one we get our bikes on a forklift and down and in front of the hanger. But not before a cute little dog sniffs them all. He is all disappointed he didn’t find anything but we are happy that we are reunited with our bikes.
We quickly check the bikes and all seems to be in order. Few compulsory pictures and we get in our raining gear. Few moments later and the rain is over. Perfect timing. We say our goodbyes and we are all off in different directions.
It is 5 in the afternoon. It took is over 8 hrs to get our bikes. The actual process was done in minutes but the wait was long. I will have to do it in reverse going back home. But the next time I’ll bring some food, drinks and my laptop to entertain myself. One thing is certain, it is almost impossible to clear the customs here on our own. We paid $60 each to our fixer William. The best money I spent in a long time.
I live only 4 km from the airport so I am home in no time. I am starving so I drop off the bike and head for a dinner already in darkness. It was a good day!