Our plan for primary transportation was the two bicycles we “rented/bought” from the owners of the home we are renting. First, remember that we are in a Central American country, and then we are living on a island. Every thing is 2nd/3rd rate quality, think Huffy rejects; and then it all rusts, a lot. So, the bikes were a little suspect, but we are the proud owners of an inexpensive mountain bike for me, and a cruiser with a basket for K. Sunday, we actually rode to the closest dive shop to try them out. We had a couple of really nice dives with the shop, but we had a recommendation for another shop to try….on the other end of the road from our house…literally.
There is one major road that runs from our house in the East along the coast through “town” to the West end of the beach where it ends. About 3.75 miles long, and the dive shop is situated exactly at the western end. Monday morning we headed out to the dive shop bright and early on our trusty steeds. We pedaled leisurely through the early risers and kids heading to parochial school studies in uniforms. Carrying about 30 lbs of scuba gear with us, we cruised past the end of the paved road, marked by the dock bar aptly named Rehab (there are 12 steps from the land to the dock bar entrance); and out the dirt road to the dive shop. At approximately 3.7 miles from the house, my bike cassette falls off the hub and jams against the bottom rail. The bike has become instantaneously useless. I walk/push the bike the final 100 yards to the dive shop.
We have two glorious dives with an energetic little Brazilian dive master. But the pressing problem of having no transportation put a damper on the end of the trip. Kerry took off on her bike, I shoved the bike and me and dive gear into the back of a tuk-tuk with the wheels hanging over the sides left and right. Remember those 10′ wide roadways with traffic and pedestrians? It was an interesting ride back to the house. I grabbed the homeowner, he scratched his head and said to give him a day to investigate.
Tuesday was a regroup day. Late wake up, finish unpacking, sorting, reevaluate the living space and storage. I know Kerry likes to be unpacked immediately, but some things take precedence, such as getting on a boat and jumping into the water. So Tuesday we regrouped and got ahead of our chores. Also allowed me to work a bit and keep some clients happy.
However, I did take time for some exercise. And honestly, it was the coolest form of exercise ever. We have 150 yard long lagoon in front of our beach. The east end has a little reef which curves south to some exposed rocks(baby islands) with vegetation and critters. The west end is another shallow reef. In between is about 125 yards of 3-6 foot deep water. It is constantly fed by the push of water and waves over the eastern reef by the tradewinds; and exiting out the western reef. The result is a nice channel full of coral heads, fish, plants and current. Seriously, a salt water endless pool over a coral reef. The velocity depends on where in the channel you are, slower on the edges, a good 50 sec/50 yard hard pull in the middle. I found that swimming against the current for 100 yards, then floating back down current to gaze at the wildlife, to repeat at the bottom of the lagoon was a great hour workout of swimming. Kerry caught some video below
Tuesday night I got the bike back, fully repaired. I guess bike parts are insanely cheap on this island, mainly because they break ALL THE TIME. We are now all ready to head out on Wednesday morning to the dive shop at the other end of the road to begin our Advanced Open Water class. The class consists of five dives over two days, all specialties or fine tuning dive skills like buoyancy. I will let Kerry explain the dives in more detail. I bring it up because on the way home from the dives on Wednesday afternoon, the rear tire went flat…about 200 yards from our home. So, I walked/pushed the bike for a second time. At that point we had yet to make it to and from the dive shop we like on the bikes. We cannot walk the distance or pay for tuk-tuk rides each day. Luckily, I found bike tubes to be cheap at the local hardware store and was able to repair the tire at the dive shop before our night dive Wednesday night. Our instructor was kind enough to load all three of us on his quad for a ride two-thirds of the way home resulting in a short walk in the night air, under a carpet of stars.
Today, Thursday, we take our bikes out to the end of the road one more time to finish up day two of the Advanced Open Water class. I am happy to report that the bike, tires, and rider all made it out to the end of the road AND home in one piece and working order. Maybe, just maybe this will work out. As long as you accept the likely breakdowns, flat tires, dodging kids, dogs and tuk-tuks, and rough as $#@* dirt roads, we may make it there on island time…but with a sore ass. Did I forget to mention the bikes are rigid frame steel with paper-thin seats? Still, the best $50 we have ever spent, because walking nearly eight miles a day in flipflops kills my feet.
Luckily I have a warm salt warm “pool” out front to soak my sore body in.