Biking, Boats and Barra

Today everyone gathered next door with their bikes and we went for a bike ride that wandered through the farms and flat lands, hill and marshlands around Melaque and Barra. We started by following the road that Linda and I had previously taken on our country bike ride. It winds through the area across the highway. We followed one of the folks who led us in a large circle around the farms, but eventually we crossed the highway and traveled northeast of the lagoon into the hills and farmlands to the southeast of Barra.

The roads were very primitive and we had to climb over a gated fence at one point, eventually we coasted down a hill and into a cantaloupe farm. The riding was very pleasant and about every half mile we let ourselves through fence gates to the next field.

When we hit the main road into the villages along the coast near the Isla Navidad Golf Course, we peddled along until we entered the guarded area of the lush green fairways. The cobble stone roads were all almost four lanes. The course was immaculately groomed, with wide fairways and smooth greens. As we rode I spotted only one golf cart on the course, Larry pointed out that this was the norm and that they had never seen many golfers on the property.

We reached the club house and entered the outside restaurant where we ordered a wonderful breakfast. Two waitresses took our orders and served us, attending to our every need. It made us feel very important, even though we were in our sweat soaked ridding gear. We ate and talked; each meal a delight.

After breakfast we road about a half mile to the village by the lagoon where we caught a water taxi back over to Barra. At the dock we unloaded our bikes and followed the city streets through Barra and out to the highway back to Melaque. It was one of the highlights of our vacation and will look forward to other bike adventures in the future.