You were around the area (Piedra Blanca) we pass through going to my in-laws and SIL homes in the campo. We have been to Presa de Hatillo many times. Great pictures.
- Thread starter cavebiker
- Start date
Dominican Republic motorcycle adventure. The DR is much more than the beach– The Big Loop - Tom Junkans
Yogurt and water, I am ready. I will find more food on the road.
This guy is a moto traveler like me, rare. He's on a three-day ride from Puerto Plata in the opposite direction. He likes my bike. I like his, a 250cc
Freediver with speargun. So Flippen cool!
Nagua is a big city with a real DR feel, I like it. I have fun working my way through town on side roads enjoying the scene.
Super cool truck indeed, and very interesting history, This would be perfect to run the NORRA Mexican 1000 in.
it is fun watching how moto concho drivers carry various passengers. This driver is super cautious carry this woman riding sidesaddle.
At Nagua I head back into the island interior on back roads. The goal today is Moca, I have all day to enjoy it.
Looks like all the stuff I like and can eat.
I stay focused on filling myself with calories and protein, and coffee. I love stops like these. It gives me a chance to get a good feel of the village, and I enjoy chitchatting with the owners or workers, just perfect.
These are the types of places I like to stop at. I can see what they have without even getting off the bike. And I am getting better and better at identifying the different types of DR food I see in the glass cases.
Traveling further inland I see a lot of tractors and cowboys on horseback. This feed mill reminds me of Wisconsin. Interesting...
Always staying focused on hydration enables me to experience places I would have otherwise passed by. Super!
These guys wanted their photo taken. Fun chitchat. The guy in the yellow says he once lived in Florida. For some reason they guessed I am from the US. Fun...
This guy lost his load on a big dip in the road right in front of me. I helped hold up traffic until he gets it strapped back on the bike.
Do not get too close when you see this! You do not know if the truck is just backing in or backing in so he can turn left crushing your moto with his trailer. Just saying... Whoa!
So how are you feeling now? Hopefully better. I noticed that you noted you had to get something you could eat, so it appears there's still some sensitivity. Get better fast! However us ancianos heal slowly.
Fantastic thread and amazing images. The DR is much more than the beach.
Moca is bustling! I pull off into some shade in a big parking lot to get my bearings. This guy wheels his cart over and strikes up a conversation. Perfect!
My new amigo apologizes but he must head out and continue his work. What a pleasant dude.
I am looking at taking some days timeout so I can concentrate on healing the body and most of all healing the jaw. I need to be able to eat empanadas in comfort while traveling the DR! Please stay tuned, this most ultimate Dominican Republic adventure ride will continue... And thanks again everyone for following along, you all add so much to the fun of this for me
Yes it still hurts like the dickens to open my mouth but chewing is getting much better. I'm hoping a few days to recoup will get me back to eating my favorite DR delicacy empanadas. Thanks for the concern amigo.
Ooh I have no problems with that, be my guest. I used to ride motorbikes myself all over Europe years ago, BMW touring bikes. I have done some of your DR road trips in a 4 WD.
Dominican Republic motorcycle adventure. The DR is much more than the beach. (wish I could change the thread title. This reflects the thread more I think)
This Ride Continues! Today I am shooting for Las Galeras, a city I missed on first round because it did not meet the Longest Continuous Ride rules. I am over that now, Here We Go!
Riding through Villa Progreso I spot a familiar sight.
Dig the PCV empanada roller! I need to try this at home.
Not the perfectly shaped empanada I am use to but tastes just as good.
Empanada de huevo!
North coast Dominican Republic. Get Hooked!
Just cruising through paradise…
This Ride Continues! Today I am shooting for Las Galeras, a city I missed on first round because it did not meet the Longest Continuous Ride rules. I am over that now, Here We Go!
Riding through Villa Progreso I spot a familiar sight.
Dig the PCV empanada roller! I need to try this at home.
Not the perfectly shaped empanada I am use to but tastes just as good.
Empanada de huevo!
North coast Dominican Republic. Get Hooked!
Just cruising through paradise…
Village of Cabrera.
Small oceanside DR community.
The last time I rode through Nagua the traffic on the main road was intense. So again, I look for an alternate route, the town's coast road this time, the Malecón.
Good choice no traffic here.
I often see these tractors with the added mud paddles. Today I finally get a shot of one.
This farmer stopped to grab some food and coffee before heading on.
Fresh fish for sale roadside...
The sky is looking dark and the rain is starting. I spot this abandoned shelter and head in to wait it out.
I changed the title for you. If it’s not exactly what you wanted, message me.
Back on the road the sky is looking even darker and the rain starts again much harder. I duck under this shelter. Three other bikers soon join.
Soon a moto concho driver pulls under with a passenger. The rain is not letting up so the passenger gives it up and jumps on the first guagua that stops.
Super cool taillight! Always fun talking with people about bikes.
Unreal! an ice cream bike pulls in under our shelter!
Ice cream bars are flying out of the cooler!
Everyone partakes...
The rain continues. I take a few shots of passing moto cancho bikers.
See the little face, three-up. Nice solution.
The rain slows so everyone takes off. Then this guy rides in and strikes up a conversation. Sex alcohol and partying is all he wants to talk about. Then he tells me he is policia! Next, he walks off to get beer. My gut says pack up and fly. Off into the rain, away I go...
It continues raining sometimes less then sometimes more. I pull into Samana late and start looking for a hotel. I find several right away but none have secure parking or any parking at all. Someone on the street in the rain tells me there is a hotel with parking three minutes up the road. Perfect! I pull into a covered and gated parking garage under a nice hotel. A little spendy but breakfast is included and the place is super nice...
My hotel room has three menus on the table, one for drinks one for food and one for the free breakfast choices. Great I thought I can get food right here without going anywhere. While spreading out my gear in the room to dry I notice three women in funky dress parading past my window followed by a dude. One pass they stop and pause right in front of my window. I'm getting the feeling this may be a dual-purpose hotel...
Soon it is dark and I am hungry. But ha ha no food available until breakfast. I am a little bit out of town on top of a big hill. I start marching. It is a heck of a hike to find food. On the way back I pass this cantina blasting music with a group playing dominos. I pause to take in the DR scene, something I love to do here.
There is a small store next to the cantina advertising beer. I order a beer and take a seat with a view of the action next door. Soon a woman comes in and sits next to me to introduces herself. The way she is looking at me having turned her chair facing me I have the feeling she is waiting for me to buy her a beer. Not wanting to offend I quickly finish my beer and ask if I can take a photo of her and the woman behind the counter "?permiso sacar una photo bonita personas de Republica Dominicana?" That works. After, I say adiós and march off leaving smiles all around.
When it is this wet outside having an air conditioner in the room is the only way to dry out wet moto gear. By morning everything is dry. It feels good to go through all my stuff at the hotel to see what I got and repack it so I know where everything is.
Even after a great breakfast at the hotel I cannot pass up a popular empanada stand in town. More fuel for the days ride...
This stand is a buzz of activity. And my jaw is now functional for empanadas! Not perfect but working.
I ask the mother permission for the photo. All good
Great shot.
Heading out of Samana the goal today is still Las Garelas. It has been years and I want to see if it is still a place I want to return with Heidi.
Bridge to nowhere...
The population on this stretch of road seems to have increased times 5 at least. I do not recall all these little villages between Samana and Los Galeras in the past. Their so large now they even have painted signs!
We are still rolling hang on!
Take a ride out to Rincon. When you get close to Rincon, you’ll need to make a right hand turn to go to the beach. Since you are on a motorcycle continue straight it will be a paved road for about another mile or two then it will turn into dirt, keep going going going going going and eventually you will end up on top of the mountain overlooking El Valle. The views are incredible. if you get lost or don’t find it contact me when you return this winter.
The rain slows so everyone takes off. Then this guy rides in and strikes up a conversation. Sex alcohol and partying is all he wants to talk about. Then he tells me he is policia! Next, he walks off to get beer. My gut says pack up and fly. Off into the rain, away I go...
It continues raining sometimes less then sometimes more. I pull into Samana late and start looking for a hotel. I find several right away but none have secure parking or any parking at all. Someone on the street in the rain tells me there is a hotel with parking three minutes up the road. Perfect! I pull into a covered and gated parking garage under a nice hotel. A little spendy but breakfast is included and the place is super nice...
My hotel room has three menus on the table, one for drinks one for food and one for the free breakfast choices. Great I thought I can get food right here without going anywhere. While spreading out my gear in the room to dry I notice three women in funky dress parading past my window followed by a dude. One pass they stop and pause right in front of my window. I'm getting the feeling this may be a dual-purpose hotel...
Soon it is dark and I am hungry. But ha ha no food available until breakfast. I am a little bit out of town on top of a big hill. I start marching. It is a heck of a hike to find food. On the way back I pass this cantina blasting music with a group playing dominos. I pause to take in the DR scene, something I love to do here.
There is a small store next to the cantina advertising beer. I order a beer and take a seat with a view of the action next door. Soon a woman comes in and sits next to me to introduces herself. The way she is looking at me having turned her chair facing me I have the feeling she is waiting for me to buy her a beer. Not wanting to offend I quickly finish my beer and ask if I can take a photo of her and the woman behind the counter "?permiso sacar una photo bonita personas de Republica Dominicana?" That works. After, I say adiós and march off leaving smiles all around.
When it is this wet outside having an air conditioner in the room is the only way to dry out wet moto gear. By morning everything is dry. It feels good to go through all my stuff at the hotel to see what I got and repack it so I know where everything is.
Even after a great breakfast at the hotel I cannot pass up a popular empanada stand in town. More fuel for the days ride...
This stand is a buzz of activity. And my jaw is now functional for empanadas! Not perfect but working.
I ask the mother permission for the photo. All good
Heading out of Samana the goal today is still Las Garelas. It has been years and I want to see if it is still a place I want to return with Heidi.
Bridge to nowhere...
The population on this stretch of road seems to have increased times 5 at least. I do not recall all these little villages between Samana and Los Galeras in the past. Their so large now they even have painted signs!
We are still rolling hang on!
Ride through Paradise...
The ride is still super beautiful with a ton of places to pull off and get into the tropical scene.
Riding into town to the end of the road is way different from last time I was here. A lot of new (old) buildings ending at a guarded parking area. I ask the guard permission to go in just to take a few photos. No problem but a tip would be appreciated later he tells me.
This is the same spot Heidi and I took a photo of us with our motorcycle back in 1995. So cool, I remember us talking about wanting to move to this small island offshore.
This area has really developed for tourism, restaurants, coffee shops and bars. Tourists are preparing to load onto the boats some with scuba gear. Years ago, there was just one palapa bar here at the end of the road and less boats, mainly boats for local fishermen.
A woman notices me and asks if I would like some food or beer or pina colada. I say "coffee?" Si! Great DR coffee!
On my way out I slip the guard a 50. I get a much appreciated "gracias" in reply. "de nada"
On this ride I have seen several people riding horseback every day. Finally, I get a photo of one on a mule. Often, I take a photo just to remind myself to write about it. It is interesting and is way part of the local culture here. In Samana while looking for a room in the rain with motos racing all around I pass two guys riding horseback a few times riding through town looking like they are having a ball. So cool...
Los Galeras is not calling me to stay the night so I double back through Samana then head inland to continue this big ride of the island.
Samana, away from the tourist area is way more interesting to me.
This looks like the town's main guagua station, right where the towns outside market is. Mucha actividad (Much activity here).
Exiting Samana there is a lot of crazy moto traffic, like most tourist areas I have experienced here. Every day I witness things I cannot believe and today takes the cake! At one point I have a moto pass me and the car Infront of me while riding a wheelie the whole way AND the moto has three people onboard AND the driver has a bottle of booze in his hand! I catch up with them at a stop and witness the driver take a swig from the bottle. AHH! I blast in front of them and stay in front, they cannot keep up with me having three people onboard, but I think they were trying!
The fun Continues -->
The ride is still super beautiful with a ton of places to pull off and get into the tropical scene.
Riding into town to the end of the road is way different from last time I was here. A lot of new (old) buildings ending at a guarded parking area. I ask the guard permission to go in just to take a few photos. No problem but a tip would be appreciated later he tells me.
This is the same spot Heidi and I took a photo of us with our motorcycle back in 1995. So cool, I remember us talking about wanting to move to this small island offshore.
This area has really developed for tourism, restaurants, coffee shops and bars. Tourists are preparing to load onto the boats some with scuba gear. Years ago, there was just one palapa bar here at the end of the road and less boats, mainly boats for local fishermen.
A woman notices me and asks if I would like some food or beer or pina colada. I say "coffee?" Si! Great DR coffee!
On my way out I slip the guard a 50. I get a much appreciated "gracias" in reply. "de nada"
On this ride I have seen several people riding horseback every day. Finally, I get a photo of one on a mule. Often, I take a photo just to remind myself to write about it. It is interesting and is way part of the local culture here. In Samana while looking for a room in the rain with motos racing all around I pass two guys riding horseback a few times riding through town looking like they are having a ball. So cool...
Los Galeras is not calling me to stay the night so I double back through Samana then head inland to continue this big ride of the island.
Samana, away from the tourist area is way more interesting to me.
This looks like the town's main guagua station, right where the towns outside market is. Mucha actividad (Much activity here).
Exiting Samana there is a lot of crazy moto traffic, like most tourist areas I have experienced here. Every day I witness things I cannot believe and today takes the cake! At one point I have a moto pass me and the car Infront of me while riding a wheelie the whole way AND the moto has three people onboard AND the driver has a bottle of booze in his hand! I catch up with them at a stop and witness the driver take a swig from the bottle. AHH! I blast in front of them and stay in front, they cannot keep up with me having three people onboard, but I think they were trying!
The fun Continues -->