Page 23: - Dominican Republic Again - Tropical Adventure /w Pics -
Dominican Republic Ride Report Continued:
Cavegirl & Cavebiker do Punta Rucia
While tooling along the highway we unexpectedly see a sign ‘Punta Rucia’ pointing down a side road. We pull over to talk and to look at our map. I can see it on our map. This route is over twice the distance from the main highway. We talk
“This may be a better road then the road I plann but at the same time, it may be worse”
I make the call; we ride ahead along the main highway to the road I know. This route is the shortest distance from the main highway to the beach, I know it, it is the least amount of risk.
We arrive at the village where our turnoff is. This is our last chance to get gas and supplies. I ask for premium gas but they were out. I ask if there is another station close. The attendant informs me that is it far “lejos” I fill up with regular gas. Heidi teases me and says “I’m going to tell Coulter (Hipster) that you filled up with regular gas!” We laugh.
We stock up on a few supplies at the colmado, mainly water. We ride off down the side road toward Punta Rucia. The road is paved for the first two miles but then turns to dirt. I try to slow it down so cavegirl will not get beat-up so bad.
I get the ‘single poke’ signal meaning pull over soon. Cavegirl is taking a beating. She says “You deceived me! This road is torturous! I am never going on any more motorcycle trips in the Dominican Republic again!” I try to explain how I must have forgotten how bad the road is. I told her that I will slow it down more. “Take off your rose colored glasses! That is not going to help!”
We pushed on. I try hard to ride the line with the least amount of washboards and large rocks but it is impossible at times to avoid them. Another ‘single poke’ we pull over. The seat on our bike has zero padding. Cavegirl is taking a hammering. I am facing a mutiny. “You told me the road was bad, but this is beyond bad, it is torturous!” We rest, we hydrate, we push on. That was a close one…
We are riding for over an hour. The morale is low. We crest a hill and BAM, we see the ocean!
I zoom in for a shot. “I bet that’s our beach!” This brought the morale up. We push on. We both know we still have a long slow ride ahead.
Local traffic
The young boy who is herding the cows has a dog that is too tired to push on. The dog decides to stop and rest in the shade. The boy gently picks it up and carries it.
We finally ride through the small fishing village, Papayo. This village is only a kilometer or two from the beach, YES. We check into a $31 hotel and prepare for a day at the beach.
Punta Rucia.
Our visions of a secluded romantic beach is soon vanished. The place is packed! Loud music is blasting everywhere. It is a battle to see who can crank their volume the most.
Every table in front of the lobster shacks are packed with people.
The beach is swarming. There are even jet skis here? It was not like this when Hipster and I were here. Oh yea, this is a weekend. My plan to get here on a Monday changed when I came up with the brilliant idea to leave on Saturday instead. Duh! What was I thinking!
We turn around and ride along a sand path away from the main part of the beach in search of a secluded patch of sand and shade.
We find it, perfect!
Heidi sets up our tarp and beach towel in the shade while I walk off in search of a couple ice-cold beers.
Cavegirl will still not let me take any photos of her in a bikini. She claims she still has work to do. I disagree and take a couple sneak shots.
Lobster shack with cold beer
This is a great day
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