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.

Visiting the Liberte’

After walking into town and having a final meal we said good by to Teri and Bill Burch and watched as they were whisk away in their taxi to the airport. Another sad time and we hate to see any of our friends depart. We know it will be a few more days until we do the same, it’s a quiet time.

At 4:00 pm we caught a bus to Barra and proceeded down town where Linda bought a small stuffed frog. She named it Bailey and then packed it away into the backpack. We were in Barra to meet David Kilmer at the Sands Hotel. Dave and his small dog, Sam, arrived in his small dingy right on time and we motored out to their beautiful boat, Liberte’. As we arrived Rebecca Kilmer greeted us and gave us a grand tour of their sailing vessel a beautifully constructed Beneteau 361. Dave took some pictures of us on board and we settled in for a wonderful dinner. Linda and I brought shrimp and fish so the meal consisted of fresh Chula caught just off shore, seasoned lightly and quick cooked on the boats grill. Marinated camarones on a bed of wild rice complemented by curried carrots with bananas. It was an unbelievable meal!

We talked, drank and ate while evening breezes cooled the lagoon. After dinner I presented Dave will a paper plate that he and Jacob Rothrock had used to document a bet back in the states. Jacob had asked me to collect on the bet and so I presented it to Dave, we heard his side of the story and we exchanged a monitory sum paying off the bet. We laughed and talked until it was time to take the dingy back to Barra, hop a taxi and return home.

If you have an interest in reading my interpretation of the events connected to “The Bet”, just follow the link at the bottom of this page.

"The Bet"
The true story by the agent assigned to collect, Dean Bennett.

Welcome 2010

Last night we had a blue moon and ended a decade all at the same time. A blue moon is simply the second full moon in month. This months full moons occurred on December 2 and December 31.

Melaque is the center of the universe when it comes to fire crackers. The loud booms last all night and sleep usually requires ear plugs. I tried to get photos of the fire works over the Grand Bay resort in Barra, my night photography success rate is not the greatest.

Yesterday Dave, Rebbecca and Samantha Kilmer visited us. They arrived the previous afternoon and found a mooring location in the lagoon in Barra. We plan to meet them and have dinner tonight (Jan. 1) on their boat. They must have had quite a view of the spectacular fireworks over the Grand Bay when the New Year arrived.

Oh, by the way, the Bennett's would like to wish you all a Feliz Año Nuevo!