Yesterday we went by Van to collect our Motorcycles (called Moto's here) from Valparaiso Port, about 150 km west of Santiago, the capital of Chile, where we are staying.
We arrived to find a customs agent having an argument with the man who had to review all of our paperwork, and that did not bode well. The female security officer took us through a detailed site-induction and we donned the orange jacket, helmet and boot toe covers (over sandles in one case) and progressed to the shed, around tall moveable cranes and hundreds of sea containers.
I was picked out with one other rider, as our Registration paperwork looked completely different - ACT vs NSW varients. And yes they were. We explained calmly over the coming hour or so. Then we had a bike inspection, removing all and every item on our bikes and lifting the seat. We had no food, guns or drugs and during this long three hours, JC carefully worked with the official until they became best mates! It was a pleasure to watch the master in action. We had all bought a pair of extra tyres along, all "used" so that we could not be accused of selling them on the black market. In fact that was an error
Then, we rode off to get some gas, also a different experience as they have a person to fill your tank and take payment, and of course they wanted to talk bikes! The 150 km back to the hotel was on the expressway and expressway speeds as the limit is 120 km/hour. Nice.
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