Ciudad de Panama

Rolled into Panama City as my trip odometer rolled past 7800 km (5000 miles). Snaked into the old city (just because) and saw a few sights, got hung up in traffic (and confused) until I found a group of motorcycle cops doing the Dunkin Donuts thing at a gas station - asked for help - and after the obligatory show them the bike routine, I got a lane-splitting motorcycle escort through town to the autopista on-ramp. They were testing me because they were cutting through traffic on little dirt bikes at speed.
Found my way to the cargo terminal at the airport and learned that Mr. Moto (a proper noun) can be on a plane to Bogota Colombia tomorrow AM and available to pick up on Monday morning - or - ship it Monday and pick it up on Thursday in Quito. Not bad as I could fly ahead and be a tourist for a few days while it catches up to me - if I can leave it tomorrow for monday's flight the next entry you read will be from Ecuador.
Found a small repair shop with a great bunch of guys. Funny that they had the tires I needed (and no other tires), another story. I'm now running a set of Perelli Scorpions in AlMoSt the right size for a good deal price! While they were changing the rubber I tightened everything I could, fixed a bent luggage attachment and changed the oil. Mr. Moto is happy.
If I don't leave tomorrow I've been invited to a motorcycle group party in the mountains on Saturday afternoon/evening - its carnival here with much of the country shut down this weekend so I'm heading into al centro to see what's shakin'.
Nick
via BlackBerry