Adventure Cycling Inn to Inn-Puerto Rico Bike Ride, Dec 5-12, 2021.
(ride was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid)
Bruce & I headed to Dorado after landing in San Juan. We found a couple local restaurants after walking the entire length of the gated & locked community. Actually we ate at newly opened authentic Puerto Rican place . Nothing fancy but crowded & very good. They had excellent margaritas & fish tacos. We assembled our Co-Motion bikes then tested them out, heading to a local bike shop. We never found the shop but we did find several wild pigs, bike tire grabbing road grates, loud music booming cars.
The next night we ate at La Vaca & shared paella & chuckled over their TRUMP signs. A poster of Trump on a Harley Davidson announcing the restaurant as “The best little shithole restaurant!”
We went to check out the La Perla community which we went to in 2012. It sits right next to the ocean. At that time we were advised not to go "down there" as the police wouldn't respond to calls to the area. Thirteen years later the place had changed immensely. It had been cleaned up & re-gentrified. Lots of people walking around and this bar was hopping.
DAY 1-We taxied to Casa Blanca hotel in old town San Juan. The hotel couldn’t hold our bike boxes (which we all had) so we walked them a couple blocks down to our leader’s (Louis Hernandez) mothers place. Afterwards, we had a meeting of the group. Louis lives 1/2 time in upstate New York & 1/2 time in Baja Rojo, PR.Julie-a former ACA leader & her friend, Kathy both from Missoula, MT. Daniel-from Seattle, fired from Microsoft, 46 years old. Lauren from Akron, OH 60+ years old.Patty & Tom from Truckee, CA, had ridden ACA with us. Another couple Chris & Andrew from Fayetteville, AR, 50+ years old. Seems like a great group.
We ate our first group dinner down near the ferry terminal. Learned about MoFongo, fried plantains.
DAY 2-1st day riding. We walked our bikes out of the cobblestone roads & onto a great bike trail that took us to a point across from Hotel Caribe, where we stayed 13 years ago when we came for B’s work meeting.
Pretty intense riding until we got out of town-cars pretty close to us & passing us with oncoming traffic. We’d learned that was just how it was.
Stayed in Luquillo, a memorable place for the Fernandez cousins. We went to a local grocery store to buy beer, walked around looking for a restaurant, ate on the ocean.
We had to use service station's restrooms. We were encouraged to buy something,
usually water.
Luquillo had beautiful artwork on random buildings
Louis Hernandez, our guide
DAY 3- We rode 21 miles to the entrance to El Yunque National Forest. Bruce & I trekked through the forest back in 2013 and it was filled with beautiful orchids & impatiens. Our final destination today was Fajardo, a sleepy town that once served as a supplier to the sugarcane industry, as well as the pirate "trade."
DAY 4-We had a "layover day" the next day in the Fajardo area and explored the area. We found a beautiful Flamenco Beach, swam, and found a place to have a little snack.
That evening, after dark, we kayaked to Laguna Grande, to see bioluminescence.
DAY 5- Fajardo to Maunabo. We rode 41 miles through the towns of Ceiba, Aguas Claras, and Daguao.
Punta Tuna Beach, strong currents & no swimming.
As soon as we got here, the pool called us! Hot & sweaty, the cool water felt divine.
DAY 6-We rode from Maunabo to Ponce, 58 miles. Patillas, Guayama (also known as el pueblo de brujeria or the "town of witches") Ponce is Puerto Rico's 2nd largest city named for Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza, great grandson of the notorious conquistador. Ponce was larger than San Juan back in 1898 when the US invaded and occupied Puerto Rico during the Spanish American War.
One of my favorite dinners, brought out in styrofoam trays. A smaller container which looked like soup which I handed off to Louis. He encouraged me to try it and I did and come to find out it was beans and were remarkable!
Christmas decorations in the town square. We had a drink at a cart with fruity daiquiri's.
Another remarkable street mural.
DAY 7-Ponce to La Parguera, 36 miles. Our route today took us through Yauco, a town of great coffee. Originally the town was known for its traditional sugarcane & cotton farming gave way to low caffeine coffee popular for its rich flavor and exceptional quality. Guanica is where the Americans landed during the 1898 invasion.
Another refreshing well used pool!
DAY 8 - Layover day in La Parguera, Lajas
Many of the group made arrangements to go for a boat ride. We hung back, not sure exactly what we wanted to do. We ended up getting on a boat to Cayo Aurora, a small island visible from our resort.
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