29 Apr 2004

INSTRUCTION: ORCA CT Instructor Level 2 Certification: La Verendyre PP, PQ

A Certification

LOGISTICS (PQ,  CANADA)
Partner: Fred 
Private Vehicle: Kanata & Perth > Bear Creek
Accommodation: Bear Creek Outdoor Centre, Campbell's Bay, Quebec
Director: Jill Baxter
Instructors: Shawn Hodgins, Francis Boyes
Shuttle: Driver Mike from Bear Creek > La Verendyre PP put-in @ Lac Fusel and return
Route: Lac Fusel > Lac Fabrezan > up Riviere de Rapids > Lac Poulter > south end Lac Poulter > Lac Jean Pierre > Lac Richet > Lac Antostagen > Take-Out @ Secondary Road #20
Tandem / Solo Canoe(s): La Verendyre PP lakewater trip, PQ - flatwater, 5 days, 43kms
Certification Obtained: ORCA Canoe Tripping Instructor Level 2
Private Vehicle: Bear Creek > Kanata & Perth

3 Apr 2004

Starz Azzurro Resort, Cabarete, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Location: Cabarete, Dominican Republic
We Enjoyed the People the Most

Accommodation: Starz Azzurro Resort, Cabarete, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Currency: The official currency is the Dominican Republic peso. A small commission may be charged for exchanging CDN $. US dollars are accepted in some businesses.

The Dominican people are wonderful. They are sincerely friendly, happy and pleasant, but very poor. The only Caribbean country poorer is Haita. Our visit was focussed primarily around the resort and adjacent town area. We travelled the highway from Puerto Plata but never visited the city. The only part of the countryside we visited was during the bike tour. Subsistence farming is common and the people live at a very low standard. They do what they can to make any money at all and that includes trying to sell just about anything, however we didn't witness any begging. The tourist industry has caused much of the economic growth and a move to the coastal areas. Families have relocated from the farming and mountainous regions to find higher paying jobs.


Crusty ...