After getting a ride along the unpaved roads, dust blowing through the air as I sat in the back of a pickup, arrived at a colmado with wifi. While doing some work here, I see a chicken running around the store. The chicken just jumped on a scale, perhaps weighing itself for sale.
You accommodate to systems -- bikes, computer hardware, software, places, people -- as you go.
You learn their ins and outs. You find the hidden advantages, and also the hidden disadvantages. You grow together, like an aging couple.
After a pleasant morning, walked out of town. By the banana trees. By the palm trees.
After deliberating on what to do, I started going towards what I thought was the next town. Still without a phone or map, going by guesswork. Seems generally west.
A pickup truck pulled up. Driver asked where I was going. I answered. Driver offered me a ride. I accepted. We loaded the bike and bags into the back of the pickup, where I climbed up.
We drove through the dusty hills. Stopped a few times, the driver chatting with locals. Along the way, a woman riding in the pickup truck got out and thanked the driver.
Later, the driver invited me to sit up front. We chatted. The driver asked for gas money. I gave him some, then spotted a rare place advertising free wifi, and asked to get out there. The driver pointed out a road that would take me to my next destinations.
The wifi worked, even when the electricity went out in the place. I got some work done, bought some snacks, and left.
Rode on. Sweet ride!
Now in a much drier place. Cacti and spikey plants around. More goats.
Now approaching the Haitian border. I feel like there are some Haitian/Martian wordplay jokes in the works.
I'm somewhat concerned (again) about getting too far too fast. I'm not ready yet for Haiti, in the sense that I want to do more work, sightseeing, riding, etc., in Republica Dominicana before getting into Haiti. Considering detouring to see more of RD before Haiti, but from what I've seen of the map so far, I doon't think there's much more in this area of RD that I want to see.
Maybe I'll just stick around one or two towns, e.g. Monte Cristi, for a while, before getting to Haiti. Seems like often when I plan to stick around a place for a while, I quickly get bored or for other reasons decide to leave early anyways. Also the opposite happens, that I decide to go quickly through an area but like it and stick around for a while.
Bike's going waaaay better. Now on 700 cc wheels, larger yet thinner than the 26" wheels of a mountain bike like the one I was using. Much faster, seems more resistant to punctures. I'm somewhat concerned here with all the thorny plants. We'll see.
Getting accustomed to my cargo bags, I've acquired a few new ones and gotten rid of some old ones. Still figuring things out here.
Trying a local insect repellent, with citronella and some other plant-based ingredients. These things usually seem to me quite ineffective compared with the corporate chemical ones. This one seems to be working quite well, however. Bought it as it looked different than other ones I've tried, considerably less expensive than the conventional ones, and it contains some ingredients I've wanted to test.
I feel like many areas of improvement, personal or professional or otherwise, require testing, comparisons. It's sort of like science, try a few experiments, see what works versus what doesn't.
I feel that much of travel is about experiencing different emotions. When you see, hear, smell, etc., different sensations than the ones available in other places you've been, it elicits different emotions. Also, different thoughts, behaviors, etc.
By the way, each place has its own insects or other nuisances, weather problems, etc., in addition to its own foods, music, etc. There are positive and negative pressures anywhere. Some people seem to think that if only they went elsewhere, they'd get rid of their problems, or find some reward. True, you may get rid of some problems, or find some reward, but you'll also find other problems, and get rid of some other reward. It's a tradeoff, about finding the balance of rewards and problems that fit your tastes.
For me, in addition to my personal preferences (e.g. warmer climates, spicy foods, etc.), I like variety. I like to spend a while in small towns or countryside, then a while in big cities. A while in desert, then a while at the beach.
Ran into a man I met a while back. We had talked briefly at the beach, he mentioned residing in this area. As I was riding, he called out to me. There he was, a his house!
Now doing some more maintenance, then work on my goggles project!
Better to have too much to do than not enough, in my opinion!
By the way, motorcycle noises annoy me. I like the exercise etc. of pedal bikes. Maybe one day go electric. Don't think I want a gas bike.
By the way, I think that often events (as with other things) follow a curve, like a wave. You get to peaks and troughs, with interesting rides from one to the next.