Time to say farewell to the VFR and Cape Town

Soundtrack: Kings Of Leon – Sex On Fire

… and see you abroad for more adventures and curvy roads.
I can’t say I’m the fastest rabbit in town but today I really shocked myself.
You might have noticed the amount of time it took me to get from Denmark to South Africa. But I have to tell that the shipping arrangement of the bike seems to be going very fast. After a 30 minutes meeting with Michelle at the local FCL (they did Ewan and Charlies bike when they had to ship them back home) office in Cape Town just a stone throw from the backpacker place on Long Street in center of town where I am currently staying (2Oceans - not gready compared to other places during the World Cup). It seems like I am already sorted out and ready to deliver the bike in during the week and step on a plane to Buenos Aires. But first I have to get some things done, hopefully get a new passport order from Denmark by visiting the Danish embassy here in Cape Town. Further more I need to get a new spring on my Hyperpro damper, it is too soft and the tool to adjust it is damaged. After that it is a trip down to the local tyre shop, but you can read about that further down this post.
Down to the shipping details for shipping a bike from Cape Town (Durban) to Buenos Aires, Argentina to those who could have the interest.

Facts about shipping a bike abroad
1: It is all calculated on dimensions and not weight as I first thought.
2: Will take 14 days to arrive by ship.
3: You can chose to build your own crate or by one from the shipper (they get them made on the dimensions you supply them).
4: Gasoline need to be drained from the vehicle and battery disconnected (It is not necessary to drain the oil).

The estimated price for my bike was: 6030 ZAR (incl. crate)
I will tell you the final price the next following days. 1 Euro is roughly 10 ZAR.

The price for a crate is: 2500 ZAR and is built on the dimensions of your vehicle.

If you wish to build your own crate it will cost you a fee of 150 ZAR for them to disinfect it before shipment.

Untill now I am most up on renting a crate as it also take time to build one, and the accommodation prices down here are sky high during the world cup. I will try and give the local Honda dealer a visit tomorrow to see if they should have a crate they get the new bikes in to save the 2500 ZAR.

If everything goes after plan I will say farewell to my bike on Thursday 17th of June and jump on my plane to visit Argentina the 20th of June. Right now I only have troubles looking for a ticket abroad at a reasonable price. 

Important: Ask you shipper if there is any hidden fees in the shipment. Customs that have to be paid in each end of the shipment at departure or upon arrival. You might end up with a more expensive shipment than you expected.

I will come up with more info once I have tried my first shipment across sea with a motorcycle!

FCL Shipping (PTY) Ltd
Riebeek Street 8
Southern Life Building on 3rd floor
Cape Town, South Africa
M: +27 79 675 9417
T: +27 21 425 1234
F: +27 21 421 2221
Email: michelle@fcl.co.za
Web: www.fcl.co.za

If you find any of the above information given, please consider helping a motorcycle traveller – See info under page “Support” on how you can help.

And a little story from today
What do you do when you have to measure you bikes dimensions and you are not willing to spend 2 Euro on a cheap measurement tape. Well you walk to a clothing store on Long Street and try your best. If that is not a success you ask JR at the Back Packer place called 2Oceans and he will help you out. Thanks ridicules name by the way!
Before leaving the World Cup town in 2010 I will get my rear tyre changed, today after strolling down the center of the city I manage to find a tyre shop, that would do it for 5 Euros, they might even do it for free as the owner is a motorcycle rider himself. I might also look into doing an oil change if I can manage to find a descent price on oil. Otherwise it is enjoying the good football atmosphere, walking around  town, speak with my English friend John (thanks for telling me about the shipper) over a beer at the Ethiopian place with dancing and singing girls (They miss you Bea, hello from them). I already have seen most of the places worth to visit here with Bea, while she flew in for a week, the Table Mountains (long walk up to the cable car), Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela served 27 years and other political activist’s were imprisoned - and not Nissan Mail Dealer, Ian), The V&A Waterfront, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. To be frankly honest, I am not a city kind of type. I feel bad of staying here, mostly because of the prices they charge you, and of course my not so good financial situation, I might be looking out for a job i South America if they can use my terrible skills?… ;oP

Rene if you read this. WTF are you? I would like to get a beer with you before I am leaving. Rene contacted me on my way down the west coast. He found out about me after a visit at the Zebra Bar in Senegal, when he spoke to a German woman staying there. I have never seen the dude, only spoken with him by sms.
To Noel and Reka I met in Namibia, thanks for a great evening and even greater braii, nice to get some real food again…
And last for Tom (currently travelling up the west coast after a trip on the east coast). Hope you are doing good up there. You made Angola more durable for Ian and me when we spend a night with you at the Portuguese bar north of Lobito. Hope to see you in Canada… BTW: Where are the nice girls you spoke about, it’s all fat American’s here in CT.