Page 2: - Dominican Republic - Tropical Motorcycle Adventure /w Pics -
Cordillera Septentrional MountainsAll right, Today I wake up early for a solo off-road ride. My survival gear is all laid out so Heidi can give it a look.
- World cell phone: So I can let Heidi know incase I cannot make it back tonight for some reason, or need help ASAP.
- 1.5 L of water: For hydration or cleaning a wound
- Water purification pills: Incase if I run out of drinking water and need some
- Rain jacket: Incase I have an emergencies and need to stay warm
- Emergency space blanket: Can be used as a blanket or emergency shelter
- 50’ of emergency rope: To make a splint, make a shelter, or receive or give a tow
- Water proof stick matches: Incase I have to spend the night and make a fire
- Cotton balls soaked in Vaseline: For making a fire
- Sharp Swiss army knife: For anything
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At the last second, I grab two sanitary towelettes. Heidi says “Those are our last two!” I tell her that I do not plan to use them but just incase I need to clean a compound fracture or something. She agrees and says “Well OK, but only for a compound fracture” We laugh…
Heidi helped me oil the chain before I take off. She tips the bike over on its kickstand while I spin the tire and squirt 40W oil on the entire length of the chain.
I investigated the entrance to a trail up into the Cordillera Septentrional mountains a few days ago. The map I have shows a trail going across the mountains and connecting to a paved road on the other side but it was not clear where it starts. I think it starts at the village Bombita. In Bombita a few days ago, I talked with a group of locals who had chairs set up along the trail and they told me that yes, this trail goes all the way up into the mountains and goes a long way. They were very friendly to me and I was glad I stopped the bike and talked with them. Today on my way out, I see the same group, about a dozed people. I paused to thank them for helping me the other day. Every single face lit up with a big smile. Bombita is just a small community with maybe two dozen homes and a store or two.
The trail turned from bad to worse in no time.
It was soft mud, wet clay, crushed or slick large rock. My rear tire wanted to slip from side to side when I goosed the throttle on the steep wet rock. I decide to cool it a bit because I do not think crashing on rock would feel good.
The cows are getting a little excited when they see me coming so I kill the engine and get way over to the side. The cows all lined up on the opposite side before they passed me.
I pass another small home on my way up. There is no electricity up here.
Soon all the piglets rush over to its mother.
A couple kids ride past on their horse.
The trail improved as I ride further but we had torrential rains all night last night and everywhere is slippery. I meet several small road bikes. Sometimes when they are riding 2-up the passenger hops off in the slick spots.
Today is Sunday so I am hoping to meet up with some groups of people hanging out. Heidi and I worked on my Spanish phrases to hopefully convince people into letting me take a photo of them and to help me not feel like a jerk for doing so.
“hola! Buenos dias” (smile and wave) “soy esquitor por sitio de web para viajero aventura. gusto sacar photo personas amable de republica dominicana”
This is what I think I said
“Hello! Good morning. I am a writer for a website for adventure travelers. I like to take photos of the nice people of the Dominican Republic”
(Anyone who can really speak Spanish, please help me out here so I can get these phrases down better :)
Anyway, no matter what I actually did say it worked. I could have stayed here all day and night and was made to feel totally at home with friends.
I think they told me that the top of the mountain is two or three Ks up the road.
Yup, I am going down now.
Another group. They are all sitting on the bridge railing when I pull up and turn off my engine.
“hola! Buenos dias. soy esquitor por sitio de web para viajero aventura. gusto sacar photo personas amable de republica dominicana”
No problem here. These guys are into it.
Oh, but not me…
I pass through another small community with beautiful plants around the homes.
Tomas dumped a lot of rain here over the passed few days as it did in Haiti.
I made it! I hit the paved road on the other side of the Cordillera Septentrional mountains, highway 2. To the right, the road leads south to the large inter island city Santiago. To the left, the road leads north, to the north coast road, Highway 5 that will bring me back to Cabarete.
Road block! I always try to have change in my pocket for just such an event. The sigh they were holding up said something about a school “escuela” but I asked what this was for anyway.
“?porque’?”
Yes, to help the school. (I just like to chitchat:) I get off the bike and dig into my pocket then ask if I may take a photo. Big smiles all around, they drop the rope.
I stop for a bite at our favorite Dominican restaurant at the intersection of highway 2 and 5. The beef here is tender and packed with flavor.
My boots are caked with so much mud you cannot tell they are black. A shoe shiner asked if he can shine then. I say “yes, but first I will eat” Then I ask him to please take a photo of me.
We always go out of our way to support locals. These people are just trying to feed their families, not just get richer like many of the foreign business owners.
Here is one of the many fruit stands we frequent. I stop to buy a huge papaya, $1.05. Heidi sees the photo and says
“They have fresh squeezed juice there!” (“Vende Jugos NAT” We sell natural juice.)
We always look for fresh squeezed juice. We will stop back here with our liter jug for some fresh squeezed OJ or passion fruit or guava.
Almost home.
A few blocks from home. I stop to slam some water that I carry for emergencies, not a bad way to end a ride. How did I get so lucky!
I hope you enjoyed my little adventure exploring the back roads of the Dominican Republic near the village Cabarete. Lots more to come…
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