TRURO – Finding the nearest swim-up bar is a primary source of exercise for most Caribbean vacationers.
Not so for Bob Williams.
When the 65-year-old Truro resident visited Cuba last month, he didn’t stay at an all-inclusive hotel. Instead, he spent 16 days bicycling by himself around the country.
“I enjoyed the challenge of it,” said Williams, of the 800 to 900 kilometre journey, approximately the distance from Truro to Quebec City.
Having heard great things of the Cubans hospitality, the recently retired businessman wasn’t the least bit daunted by travelling solo.
“If I waited for someone to join me I’d still be sitting on the couch.”
Williams rode through the western province of Pinar Del Rio and the cities of Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Sancti Spiritus and Trinidad. He found accommodation at small establishments that provide paid lodging.
“It’s Cuba’s answer to B&Bs,” said Williams, who has lived in Truro for 35 years. “You get a good place to stay, a shower, breakfast, supper and you get to meet the Cuban people.”
Williams said a couple of books played a part in his decision to go to Cuba, including one entitled Bicycling Cuba, by Wally and Barbara Smith.
In fact, he even visited the Smiths at their home in Vermont while planning his trip.
“They couldn’t say enough about how nice it was biking in Cuba,” he said.
“There are all kinds of different landscapes and the roads in general are paved and in good shape. I was never on a dirt road.”
The biggest challenge for Williams was communicating with the Cubans. He doesn’t speak Spanish and had to rely on phrase books.
“It was a challenge. But when you have to communicate you communicate. It worked out fine and once in a while there would be a person around who could speak English.”
While Williams spent much of his trip cycling in rural areas, he found Cienfuegos to be quite cosmopolitan.
“It’s known as the Paris of Cuba,” he said.
Cuba wasn’t the first bike trek for Williams who has also toured in Colorado, France, as well as a trip across Canada in 2006.
He hopes to cycle up the eastern coast of the United States this spring and then return to France for a two-week trip in August where he and his wife Glenda will ride many of the same climbs as the Tour de France racers.
Williams is now teaching himself Spanish and says he plans to return to Cuba next winter with Glenda.
“I want to see the parts of the island I didn’t get a chance to see this year.”
