Careful what you wish for! (Piedras Negras and Rt 239 to La Cangreja)

As they say, “Careful what you wish for.” I had wanted practice on gravel roads, and today I got a full four-hour dose of up and down, rocky, gravelly, rutted-with-wet-clay riding! Hahaha! But I was OK because I was not alone. I was with Honda Red Riders. So I had fun and am glad my wish came true!

As I was riding to go meet up with them to go on this off-road trip today, I had to psyche myself up by telling myself that I was a “good enough” rider to go on such a ride. I was worried about not being able to do it or about slowing down the group.

BUT — I made it! Yay! No problem. 🙂

We rode quite fast over to the the area where the United Nations University For Peace is. The road to El Rodeo is like a tunnel of love! Gorgeous with trees and coffee fields hugging both sides of it, nice and green and lush now because of the rains. I haven’t been on this road in a while and may go just to take photos.

We headed down to Piedras Negras and up to Puriscal. The bridge was down on Rt 136 so we took another route. As usual, the views were incredible. But I couldn’t pause to look because I had to focus on the road up, down, and ahead.  So, no pictures of the trip along these fun and challenging roads.

Here is an 18-second video of the group, with me #5 on Ruby! 🙂 

Wow. I have to say I am proud of myself and my Ruby. We made it, even with not very good tread on the tires. She sure took a beating after her overhaul. We road rough and hard. But the truth is that she is made to ride these kinds of roads. She is, after all, a Honda XL 200. 🙂

From Puriscal, we headed down 239 to the third entrance to La Cangreja National Park. Lovely park. But me and another fellow, Deivid Sanchezz, did not go for a walk with the team. We turned around and headed back.

Finally hitting the pavement was a pleasure, and I enjoyed myself tremendously riding fast all the way home. Wish I could have stopped about 10 times to take pictures of the wide vistas. Yes, we got caught in the rain but it was no big deal. 

I do think I prefer company on gravel roads, but I am gaining confidence that the bike can handle them well. I just have to loosen up and trust it.  (And I have taken tons of rides on gravel roads alone since I usually ride alone.) I will take this trip down to Piedras Negras again, but will probably wait till the dry season. There were a few wet-clay areas.

I am happy to be part of the Honda Red Riders group of Costa Rica and grateful that they trusted me enough to have me come with them on these rough roads.

The adventure continues.

LIVE THE POWER!

Song: Take me home, country roads.

Here is an older photo of Rt 239 for you to get a sense of the views: