The White Hill Bar is located above San Nicolaas, along a country road where I normally ride my bicycle. It’s a tiny joint, attached to a house, and staffed by a single old chap who listens to the radio at full volume.

This place is different from your average rum shop in that it doesn’t have a busy trade. It’s mostly just a few guys talking early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The selection of beverages is small, too, a few different soft drinks, a few types of beer. Pastechi are on sale in the morning, but I’m not a fan of those. Either way, when I pass by on my bike around 7am it’s a relief to pop in for a cold bottle of water or juice. Thus, if you’re cruising about the island and want to meet some local people, don’t hesitate to give a place like this a try.

Bon dia from Aruba.

The Windy Side of Aruba, that is the eastern side, can be a challenge for man and machine. There is a road that stretches from San Nicolaas along the shore to the Arikok National Park and then into San Fuego. I see lots of small cars making this trek, much to their peril. Sure, you can make it. You can also get stranded if you’re not careful. Thankfully, that doesn’t happen very often.

I like to ride my bicycle from Savaneta over to the point where I took this photo. The route takes me past the location of the new windmills and several other interesting sites. There is very little traffic, which makes for safer riding, too. The landscape on the windy side can be dramatic, with cliffs, crashing surf, herds of wild goats, and the occasional ship far off at sea. If you take this drive, use caution, take water and a cellphone, and don’t go alone.

Bon dia from Aruba.

As mentioned in my previous post, I’ve been riding my bicycle here in Aruba. Was on the road again this morning, this time with a camera. So, here’s a look at my machine:

As you can see, it’s a full suspension mountain bike. This is more of a down hill rider than an all-purpose mountain bike. That rear suspension makes it heavy, which is good for my cardio workout. Plus, it takes all the abuse of riding on some of the rougher trails. Then there are the disc brakes.

I prefer the disc brakes. They’ll stop you on a dime and in my experience work better in wet conditions. My bike in the States has your standard friction brakes on the rims. They do the job, but if I ever upgrade that unit, I’ll go with the discs.

No here’s a view from the top of the Savaneta water tank hill. Climbing up that grade requires all the gears. Take a look.

Hard to beat that view here in Aruba. I take it easy going down. There is a herd of goats that grazes the area, a bunch of lizards, and various other creatures that have a habit of darting out at the last second. Plus, if you blow a tire or experience some other mechanical failure the tumble will not be pleasant.

Bon dia from Aruba.

Today was the first day riding my bicycle here in Aruba in a long time. I remembered the steady trade winds that Aruba is famous for. Similarly, I’ve been riding more than 125 miles per week in the States before arriving here. Nonetheless, those headwinds literally held me back. WOW! 15 TO 20 knots on the bow is enough to double the workout, which is a good thing. I figured I would ride into the wind on the way out, then turn with the wind for the ride back. This plan worked generally, but I was puffing that first half hour or forty-five minutes to the point where I was contemplating a good puke just to relieve the manifold pressure. Anyway, sailing back was easier but I burned out earlier so I was unable to take full advantage of the push.

If you need to train for a road race and want some challenging conditions, come to Aruba and ride mostly to the south, south east. Works every time.

Everyone likes to let loose during their vacation. That can be a good thing. However, be careful, especially if you rent a quadrunner or four wheeler or whatever they call these machines. Here in Aruba, people injure themselves on a regular basis. This last time, a helicopter had to be called in to evacuate the injured. Take a look at the Bon Dia newspaper report:

There’s nothing wrong with having fun. Just remember, if you cross the line between fun and insanity, you may find yourself in the hospital or worse. I hear that can be painful and expensive. So, take it easy.

Bon dia from Aruba.

This post is for my brother-in-law. He and his wife have a pair of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and enjoy riding them most everywhere. Of course, driving to Aruba would be difficult. The good news is you can rent a Harley here on the island and take a guided tour or go exploring on your own. One of the regular stops on the tour is Charlie’s Bar, my favorite watering hole. Here’s a look at the bikes parked out front.

That’s a nice selection of hardware there. While I’m not much of motorcycle enthusiast, I appreciate the vibe. It has to be a barrel of fun, especially on a Caribbean isle, just rolling along, sunshine on you, breeze blowing, taking in the sights. Nice way to ride.

There in the background you see Charlie’s Bar, a San Nicolaas institution since 1941. On or off your bike, join us here for some refreshment. And please wear you helmet!

Bon dia from Aruba.

Kite surfing is one of Aruba’s most popular sports. The steady trade winds and a tranquil lea shore make for ideal conditions. Here’s a video of a couple of kite surfers in action.

That guy did a nice jump there, plenty of hang time. There was also a woman who kite surfed from Venezuela to Aruba last year, a distance of about 17 miles. If you’re going to enjoy the spot where this video was taken, you better do it soon. There is talk of building a new Ritz-Carlton Hotel on that spot.

Bon dia from Aruba.

Seashell hunters will be disappointed if they come to Aruba in search of augmenting their collection. The geography of the island and surrounding waters does not provide much in the way of dramatic shells. The photo below shows the paltry pickings of a recent walk along Druiff Beach. This was after a passing storm churned up the bottom. Otherwise there would have been even less.

The pen is there to show scale. Not an exciting bunch. Still, the walk along the beach, especially in the morning is refreshing. Aruba’s beaches are among the finest in the world. So, forget about the shells and pull up a chair, or go for a walk, or just lie on the sand. You won’t be disappointed.

Bon dia from Aruba.

Aruba’s Arikok National Park occupies approximately one third of the island’s land mass. Recently, the road through the park has been upgraded. Portions of it have been paved with asphalt. The entrance at San Fuego, shown below, features paving blocks.

The park hosts some interesting wildlife, including the burrowing owls shown in an earlier post. There are trails to hike as well. Just take plenty of water, a good hat, and your walking stick. The fellow at the booth mentioned that the roads would be completed in “about a month,” which would mean around the first of April 2009.

Enjoy nature responsibly and bon dia from Aruba.

People ask me about fishing in Aruba. Truth be told, I don’t fish. I don’t like to eat fish. I know nothing about fishing. However, my friend Kent knows how to fish and here’s a photo of him during an outing in Aruba.

That’s Kent holding the fish. One happy guy on one happy island eh? Judging by Kent’s reaction, I would say the fishing can be good in Aruba. There are a number of boats to be hired by the day or half day. They can be found in the main harbour at Oranjestaad as well as at several marinas around the island. Again, I’m not an expert on fishing but Kent has a smile, which has to count for something.

Bon dia.