April 8th, 2009 – Days like today are the reason I bought the motorcycle. The drive across this island was superb and included mountain backdrops, seaside views, and emerald green rice fields. I rode for about six and a half hours, the longest stretch I’ve had on the bike. I likey. I really, really likey.
The Lonely Planet guidebook describes the main road across the island as ‘surfaced all the way and in generally good shape’. Ummmm….close but not quite accurate. Although there are stretches that are on par with roads back home there are also stretches that resemble the lunar surface (Never actually been to the moon but I hear its lovely). Luckily, the latter is the exception otherwise I’d still be driving.
Hazards to be cognizant of along the way: potholes, bigger potholes, large piles of rocks and sand, goats, horses, cows, monkeys, chickens, more goats, shadowy corners, potholes in shadowy corners, people sitting in the road in shadowy corners, cidomos (horse drawn carts), women on bikes stopping abruptly in middle of potholes, and people in vehicles slowing down along side you to say hello.
The last one is a curiosity/smiling hazard. A small car with a family pulled up on my right (two lane road) as if to pass but instead of doing so merely shadowed me so everyone in the car could wave and get a closer look. The most dangerous element of that situation is not driving parallel to me in the wrong lane but forcing me to quell a uncontrollable fit of laughter that would inevitably lead to 'Dukes of Hazzard' catapult into a nearby ditch.
