Page 35: - Dominican Republic Again - Tropical Adventure /w Pics - From the beginning
The Border with Haiti
As I ride along, I realize that ‘no way’ could a four-wheel drive vehicle get through here, not without a chain saw, a way to move large boulders and a winch. The trail is too narrow and the gullies are too severe. The trail is ultimate for a small dirt bike though.
I have been on the trail for over 4 hours now. I finally reach the top and am now going down. I am always surprised at the gas mileage I get with this motorcycle. I only have a 2.2 gallon tank. I take precautions and ride down the mountain without the motor, to conserve gas. This is a fun way to go. It is a silent sport. I still have all the severe drop-offs, boulders and gullies to ride, I just have no need for more power. Gravity is providing me all the power I need and usually more.
I stealth down the side of the mountain, I pass a few very isolated homesteads and some very isolated people living in them. The homes are primitive, usually one room. The roofs are often made from palm tree bark and sticks. The windows and doors are simple openings, uncovered.
I pass young children riding donkeys packing heavy loads up the steep terrain, teenage boys carrying huge plastic buckets atop their head. Everything feels so mellow and natural here. Everyone lights up when I stop the motorcycle to just say hello. It seemes like many do not speak Spanish but a polite ‘hola, buen dia!’ (Hello, nice day) always works well. Every area I rode through I wish I would have stayed longer to just ‘hang out’.
The trail continues on and on seemly for hours. I can see a valley below with civilization, it is just taking me so long to get down there.
The riding continues to be technical and I am taking a physical beating. I try to rest often and eat the bread I am packing.
What a dream trail
The Dominican Republic Rocks
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