The stretch of Ecuadorian coastline on which we live is situated about half-way between the city of Manta on the south and Bahia de Caraquez (at the mouth of the Chone river) on the north. The coastline forms a rounded U-shape area bordered on both ends of the U with large hills (really small mountains) enclosing the towns of Crucita, San Jacinto, San Alejo and San Clemente.
The distance along the coast between the northernmost town, San Clemente where we live and the southernmost town, Crucita is probably less than nine miles along the coastline, but the mouth (boca) of the Portoviejo River divides the north and south restricting land travel and requiring a detour around the boca and the mangroves there into Charapoto and through an area known as Corre Augas.
I have driven by bicycle many times to Charapoto and a few times have ridden around the Corre Agua area, but had not as yet made it to Crucita by bike. So I was happy to accompany our friend Ray when he suggested we take a ride over to Crucita.
We met up at about 9:00 AM and rode easily over to Charapoto. The drive through Corre Aguas is always beautiful because the area is filled with rice fields and the roadways meander along numerous creeks and bends in the Portoviejo River. We were even still feeling fresh when we got to the south (main city area) end of Cruicita. There is a very steep roadway leading up through a residential area and then to an area where hang-gliders gather and we (for a moment) thought about riding up that hill to the hang-gliding area.
After a short while I realized that Ray might make it to the top, but I would be wise to stop instead at the first overlook area. Ray decided that we had enough riding ahead of us so we both rested at this overlook for a few minutes.
It was a beautiful, clear, sunny day and we could see for miles!
This photograph shows San Clemente just before the point known as, “Punta Bikini” and roughly where the mouth of the river is situated.
After a brief water stop, we got back on the bikes and headed down the malecon (beachfront roadway) through Crucita.
The roadway petered out after a few miles and we detoured down to the beach to ride the rest of the way up to the boca. Riding on the beach can be tricky. Usually the sand is pretty well packed down at low tide, but every now and then, for no clear reason, the sand gets suddenly soft causing the tires to sink down and making the going rough.
Six or seven miles from the main city area of Crucita lies the south side of the boca.
You can see some of our friend’s homes on the San Jacinto side of the river.
I wonder if the vultures on the shoreline were hoping we would try to ford the river so they could pick our bones? We cheated them out of an easy lunch and decided to grab a bite ourselves at a restaurant in a pavilion nearby.
For reference, here is a view looking southward back toward Crucita from the boca.
We cut back toward Corre Aguas by a different route and drove through the community of Las Gilces. By the time we made it back to San Clemente we had traveled over thirty miles (fifty kilometers) in the beautiful Ecuadorian sunshine.
Ray probably was ready for more riding, but I was more than ready to spend some quality time resting poolside here where…
Life is good in Ecuador!
Very nice beach!
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Thank you. We think it is one of the most lovely stretches of beach property in the world. It is unique, because at high tide there are areas of almost no sandy beach, but at low tide there is a wide expanse of packed sand. The twice daily tides work to keep the beach clean.
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We live in Salinas and Chipipie is nice. Hopefully can make up to see yours one day. Nice photos!
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Please look us up if you make it this far north. Glad you liked the photos!
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Awesome write up John – I had a great time riding with you and I look forward to our next ride!
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Thank you. We really had some fun. Thank you for setting a great pace. I too look forward to our next outing.
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Good to see you back in the saddle again. 🙂
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Thanks. You can’t keep an Ecuatoriano down long. Yo soy Manaba!
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Some great pics here John. Those vultures were definitely hopeful of a free lunch. The only thing wrong with going somewhere on a bike is that you have to pedal back home. 🙂
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Yes, that was especially true when I lived in the foothills of the Rockies. Wherever I went I had an uphill climb in store for coming home. Here on the coast things are mostly flat, so the trip is good going and coming home!
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There comes a time in life when all bicycle rides should be downhill John. It’s much easier on the system. At least in the Rockies the scenery would have been good.
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Good to see you enjoying the ride…nice way to spend time there on the coast
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Thanks, Eileen. We had a great day and look forward to another outing soon. We drove passed right in front of the home in the Rancho area of Crucita where you and Jeff visited on your last trip down here.
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John,
Thank you for taking the time to post to your blog.
Could you please comment in a future posting on the speed, reliability and availability of the internet service you receive in San Clemente? It’s my ambition to escape the climate here in the UK and settle in San Jacinto, San Alejo or San Clemente at some point. Currently trying to master Spanish.
Great to see you have recovered from your accident and are enjoying once again cycling around the area.
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Steve – I replied to most of your questions directly via email. Thanks for the good wishes – no problems remaining from my accident. All is good.
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John, I regret that I have not received your email in answer to my questions concerning internet availability in San Clemente. I would very much appreciate it, if you could kindly resend it.
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I love the picture from the overlook.showing where San Clemente Beach is located. Nice perspective.
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Thank you, Sis. It does help people see how far the towns actually are apart. Made for a good long bike ride.
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Wow, that is quite a distance. My husband used to ride (too fast for me, haha) long distances. It is great exercise!
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A few of us are riding back to Crucita this Monday. It is a fun and easy (flat) ride.
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