During our first motorbike day trip from Port Barton to Caruray, we figured out one thing: the region’s roads are not to be driven on a scooter (that is, if you want to reach far and don’t end up with all your muscles and bones sore the day after). So for our second day trip, we decided to go proper with enduro bikes instead. As we couldn’t find any real motocross for rental, we had to do with the best alternative. We rented two CRF’s 150, which are offered by several bike renters in Port Barton. For our destination, we chose Minalpla Beach, situated 79 km away from Port Barton along the coast to the north.
The way, as expected, was extremely rough. It would have been rather impossible to drive it both ways on a scooter within a day. Apart from some short intervals of asphalt and concrete, most of the way was made of coarse, stony and sandy dirt roads and tracks. We had to cross a number of impromptu wooden bridges. One of them was made by two narrow, long and dodgy planks alone, some three meters over the river. It was wiser to push the bikes across instead of attempting to drive.
The entire route was scenic beyond description. It had a bit of everything. Narrow passages through dense rainforest; views of broad white beaches and remote green islands; lush, imposing mountain peaks; picturesque, sparsely-visited, cute little villages with genial inhabitants…
The best viewpoint was located on the grassy hills right north of the village of Alimanguan. There was a small kiosk-shop that charged a small entry fee for letting you to the viewpoint. But we just parked a few meters after it and climbed up the hill from there. We stopped on our way back, shortly before sunrise, and got to wonder at some really epical views over the palm-inundated Bokbok Beach and Long Beach.
We made it to Minapla Beach at around noon, some 4 hours after we started from Port Barton. The few locals attended our arrival with keen curiosity. They greeted cordially, without trying to sell us anything: a great thing after having stayed in Port Barton for some time. We got the bikes on the beach and drove to its south end to find cover from the merciless meridian sun by the rocks. Other than that, there wasn’t any shade to be found all along the beach. We spent there some time enjoying the serenity of the place, having refreshing dips in the clear waters, and playing a bit with the enduros on the sand. Then we took the same way back.
Just like we did for breakfast in the morning, we stopped in San Vicente Port for dinner. It was the only place we managed to find food along the entire route. We watched a most marvelous sunset and drove the last leg of the trip through the dusk.
That was it with the enduro trip. Next was a 3-day kayaking trip around the bay of Port Barton.
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