On Friday afternoon I was returning from running errands. As I passed the Palmazul Hotel I noticed the employees there were posting signs announcing the BMW Motorrad.
I stopped to ask what was going on and was informed that BMW motorcycles was sponsoring a large event at the hotel that weekend and that motorcyclist would be arriving that evening.
Mary and I have lived in Ecuador for almost four years now and I do not believe that I have seen one BMW motorcycle in all of that time. Many people here own and use motorcycles, but they are generally small 125cc to 250cc cycles. Even the police in Portoviejo and Manta use 200 and 250cc motorcycles. So I could not conceive of a “large event” featuring big BMW motorcycles here in San Clemente.
But, I was wrong!
As I got closer to home I noticed that Veronica was supervising the posting of signs at Macedonia Hotel as well. Veronica told me that Macedonia was also an official hotel for the rally and many of the rooms at Macedonia were booked for the weekend. So I was not too surprised to find a schedule sign posted near our doorway at the upper Macedonia complex.
The schedule advised that there would be a presentation at Palmazul that evening including fireworks. The following morning cyclist would ride together to Crucita and return for a lunch sponsored at Palmazul in the afternoon.
Mary and I listened to the music in the evening and watched the fireworks from our balcony. Early on Saturday morning I hopped on my cycle (bicycle that is) and went down to get some pictures of the motorcycles. I wondered if BMW made 125 and 250cc motorcycles, but that thought was dispelled when I saw five large motorcycles in the lot behind out house.
Two of these looked just like the horizontally opposed 1200cc BMW bikes I was used to.
There were several more cycles parked down at the lower Macedonia Hotel lot.
But there were far more lined up around the entrance to Palmazul.
I went into the hotel area and learned from sponsors that many more motorcyclist would be arriving that day for the luncheon event. It was good to see so many of my friends getting extra work as they busily prepared the area around the pool for the luncheon.
I was able to meet and talk with many of the motorcyclist/participants. They came mostly from Quito and Guayquil and were all very friendly and cordial. One of the organizers told me that there would be over two hundred motorcycles here that afternoon and over three hundred and fifty people would participate in the event.
I took pictures throughout the day and went down again to see the group at the luncheon. No Hell’s Angles here. It seemed that all of the tables were filled with happy people enjoying San Clemente sunshine and hospitality.
Once again it was a joy to see friends from Charapoto, San Jacinto, and here in San Clemente working to serve the guests.
Here is what hundreds of BMWs look like parked around Palmazul.
Busses, trucks, and support trailers also parked along the roadside as San Clemente played host to this group of cyclists.
So, I guess I was wrong… There are lots and lots of motorcycles in Ecuador far larger than the 150cc bikes we generally see here in Manabí.
The weather played its’ usual role and provided a picture postcard clear day to greet our visitors. It looked to me like the event was well planned and all went well here where…
Life is good in Ecuador!
Interesting story and great event for local economy
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Thank you. I was really happy for all of the extra workers who got bonus wages during the event. There were quite a few people involved and it speaks well for our little village to be able to host such an event.
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You live in a beautiful place and it seems the people are always doing wonderful things for each other. Love the motorcycles.
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Thank you, JoAnn. It was a beautiful day and it was very interesting to see all of the motorcycles.
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Quite a display of Beemers there John. I take it that is your bicycle parked majestically in front. Great pics.
Cheers
Laurie.
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Yes, that twenty-nine inch Premaxi trail bike is my sole means of private transport down here. With the great bus and taxi service available we get by just fine with bicycles.
Glad you liked the pictures.
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I never had a bicycle as a kid. Hopped on a friends bike one day and careened down a long hill. Oops, no brakes. Bang, straight into a wall. The next time the pedal broke while riding uphill, took an acre of skin off the ankle bone. You’re lucky to have such good public transport John. Loved the pics.
Cheers
Laurie.
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Lovely Equador, does Jeanne Steele still live there too. We miss her so!!!
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Jeanne still lives here and she is well loved in her new home. We are lucky to have her for a neighbor!
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Wow, an impressive invasion upon your fair land. My elder brother had a BMW and loves it. If I ever get a motorcycle, it would probably be one of those too. Regardless, I rather enjoy your professed proclivity for the humble bicycle. Any chap who can make such work for their daily transport has got things figured out! No gas to buy. No insurance. No automotive maintenance. And you get some exercise to boot. Can’t beat that.
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You are right, my friend, but there are days when I would not mind having a motorized vehicle to supplement the exercise. Still, the simple life is working for us and we love it.
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Great pictures, John! Are motorcyclists in EC required to wear helmets? If not, do many of them do so anyway? Were you able to determine if there were a fair number of expats among the riders?
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I think that motorcyclists are required to wear helmets on the highways, but it seems that the rule does not apply to passengers and around town virtually no one wears helmets. I often see people without helmets on the main roads too.
I did not see any expats in the BMW rally group. There might have been a few, but no one came up to me when I was around taking pictures.
Glad you liked the pictures. It was quite an event to witness
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