national-park | My Travels

Our group caught a tour/speed boat to Isle Saona, the southern tip of Dominican Republic. We spent a splendid day tour of the National park. There are only 600 inhabitants live in a 1000K radius.

The trip there was taken by Speed boat (as you can see in the video, I was in the front and taking the bounce of every break we hit!)

I have never had much experience with boats/rafts/kayaks/catamarans or any other kind of water or seafaring vessel- so riding in a speed boat and a cataraman in the same day was quite an adventure! the dance party aboard the catamaran on the return voyage as also quite delightful.

While on the Island, the tour company provided us with lunch and beverages, buffet style, and it was lovely–I also picked up a couple of souvenir conch shells as well from a local man.

Enroute to the Island, the speed boat stopped at the lagoon. We swam on and near the sand bars was a splashing good time. According to the tour guide/captain, the area was used for some filming of the movies “Blue Lagoon” with Brooke Shields and some scenes in the Pirates of the Caribbean Movies staring Johnny Depp. Once we re-boarded the speed boat, we left for the Island.

Several hours of play and fun on the island required a 1.5 hour return to Punta Cana, for the end of a splendid day.

The boats are “docked” on the lagoon while we splash and play

I am not sure of the history but dang, the area is absolutely stunning, not only the drive to get there from Pickens County, South Carolina to the National Park, even in early December, was beyond compare!

The leaves, what few remain, are still very colorful as the remininents of Autumn linger on and the weather very mild, sunny but with a cool breeze– perfect for a trail, a wooden staircase, and a wonderful waterfall just over the state line in the Blue Ridge Parkway and Nantahala National Park.

The trail walk and stairs to the waterfall and returning to my vehicle at the parking area took me almost an hour (which definitly got my heart rate up!) and it’s rated moderate.

Recently I was diagnosed with high cholesterol and prediabetic/diabetic and was put on medicaiton. With this diagnosis, I would like to kick it once and for all and get healthier, so choosing a fun way to get out and get more active, in addition to other lifestyle and dietary changes, more adventures are to come!