Page 1: - Dominican Republic 2024'
Tom Junkans (cavebiker) - A Motorcycle Ride Report -
Alright! Dominican Republic North Coast adventure central. We are here for two weeks, my wife Heidi and sister Cassie (who gave me my first motorcycle at 14!) After settling in, my first mission is to locate a good rental motorcycle. Heidi and I jump on a guagua to Los Charamicos and get off at a moto shop we have frequented in the past. Great, they have helmets just like years ago. We are enjoying seeing a lot of the Dominican family businesses still here and not taken out by 2021’, street empanadas, homes with roasted chicken and the Sasua beach bars and shacks all still here. There is a ton of new development going on so we will see where all that goes, hope for the best for Sasua.
Let’s Go! I flew in with enough gear to pull off a proper DR dual-sport motorcycle adventure. No reservations or solid plans, just a want to go where I’ve never been. We will see…
Gear:
-Motorcycle boots,
-Gortex rain jacket and pants,
-Bike gloves,
-Poly turtle neck, t-shirt, travel pants.
-Survival kit & first aid.
-10 X10 tarp.
-SpotX satellite SOS & text box.
-Off-line DR maps on a spare Android phone.
-Large paper road map Dominican Republic.
-Two good cable locks.
Sasua has motorcycles for rent everywhere. The trick is to find one with light use and good tires. I’ve had my share of flat tires and bike problems in the DR. There is no shortage of bike repair shops or people willing to help here. Some of my most fun memories are getting help from or giving help to locals while on the road. Anyway this is a short visit so I want minimal problems. Haa! Big fun comes from the big rides with the big problems! Ha that is nuts! I think I can still have massive fun on a shorter more reliable ride. (I must be growing up) I could have paid half for other bikes at other places but I like this place, it’s a brick and mortar and I have a history renting here six years ago, they are still here and I like that!
The Bike: Yamaha Dual Sport 200cc or something? ~5,000 miles on the clock, Sweet!
The Plan:
Day-1: Sausa to Las Terranes A recon looking for potential rentals for next season while enjoying empanadas and fruit in route.
Day-2 through 5: Ride through areas that are new to me, just for the adventure and fun of it. There is a joke on advRider.com “Adventure rider, those who go boldly where other people live” I know that I respect that, the DR like Mexico and Central America we are in people’s front yards all the time and the goal is to be as non-intrusive as possible, respect and enhance dignity of local culture and norms as much as possible, all the time. The love and help Heidi and I have received from people we didn’t know or speak their language seems nothing short of a miracle and we will forever pass that forward.
Day-1: I’ve ridden this route many times in the past so the plan today is enjoy the ride as much as possible while looking for great Caribbean chillin’ spots (what I always love to do) and homemade empanadas, no problem. Near Sabaneta I spot the family run street stand attached to a small moto shop, I’ve been coming here for years.
The best empanadas de huevos (egg empanadas) in the world made right here. Score!
Making egg empanadas is an art. I’m constantly amazed how perfect these places turn them out. There are two or three places making them in Cabarete and at least two stands here in Sabaneta. Some are serving ham and cheese (jamon y queso), chicken (pollo) or just queso (cheese) empanadas at different parts of the day. I like them all but a fresh egg empanada is not to be missed.
Motorcycle adventure travel especially on a small machine requires constant chillin’, hydration, nutrition, map reading or just being Zen with the surroundings is good here.
One observation on this route is more beach development and cleanliness seems way up. No crowds of people today either so I really like this.
One of my favorite activities is stopping at mom and pop mini marts. Hydration is important and sometimes there are homemade empanadas at the counter, and I love practicing Spanish with locals. Just great!
Wow Cabrea has sure grown! The traffic is nuts I don’t like that but the town has a more modern feel and a cleaner look, that is positive.
Hang on! We just started much more to come :)