Utila, Honduras
Riding roads less travelled
Alberta resident Jeff Sherren describes his motorcycle tour of Utila Island
A series of events led me to Utila, one of the Bay Islands in Honduras, in March 2008. On the ferry to the island I sat beside Johan Urbina, an instructor at the Utila Dive Center. He told me about some of the courses offered at the facility and said he had a truck waiting to take people to their dive shop. I decided to go with him and that was the beginning of several weeks on Utila.
Tropical breeze: Jeff Sherren cruises along a dirt path on the north side of Utila Island.—photo by Kiva Lacterman
In general, Utila is not a destination for motorcyclists—it is a destination for divers; however, you can rent a bike and explore the island. The main roads in Utila are cement but most of the island roads are dirt mixed with dried coral. They are best traversed on bike, quad or the local favourite: golf carts sporting knobby balloon tires and a lift kit.
While I was on the island, Lance Bodden, who is the manager of a local motorcycle repair shop, rented me a 1994 XL 125 for the day for 760 lempiras, or $40 US. Also available are other bikes around 200-cc’s as well as golf carts. Lance let me choose from three dusty helmets. I was the first person to ever use one, and so I took two—one for my passenger.
If you are riding solo, you can see the entire island in about two and a half hours—double that if you put two grown adults on a 125.
The scenic route
On my tour, I took an off-road excursion to Pumpkin Hill Beach—a clean, isolated spot. There are some deep ruts on the path—signs of the last rainy season—but they were easy to cross. As we cruised along, I thought about the Canadian winter back home and I felt a smile form on my face. It was nearly 30°C and there I was on a dirt path riding parallel to a beach with the ocean crashing against coral on one side and the dominating, jungle-covered Pumpkin Hill on the other.
Another stop was at Swanish Bay—an area that has had the misfortune of being at the receiving end of some local oceanic currents. These currents have brought a mountain of plastic bottles and other rubbish with them.
Other points of interest
The ride from town to Swanish Bay will bring you past some farms and the island’s diesel-burning power station where you can stop to look at the new construction—likely spawned by foreign investment.
The roads near the airport provide an amusing time as you can watch several species of lizards and many iguanas darting across the path. The coral walls on this side also make for some spectacular scenes when confronted by mammoth waves.
The other road leaving town will bring you to Slumberland. This is where the always busy public beach is located. There are several little food stands here and typically, they are very good and reasonably priced. This can be said of all the island’s street food—the most notable being the nightly chicken served at the crossroad to the ferry dock.
The diving on Utila is brilliant, some of the best in the world if you believe the advertisements. And the island is a great place to dive with the elusive whale sharks.
Resources: • Lance Bodden Rentals: boddenlance@yahoo.com • Utila Dive Center: www.utiladivecenter.com • Cross Creek Dive Center: www.crosscreekutila.com
Motorcycle key contacts
Sicamous B.C.
H20 Motor Sports
Located in Sicamous, near some of B.C.'s favourite sledding areas, H20 Motor Sports is the place to go for all your sledding needs.
Whether you are looking for the ultimate touring machine or the most extreme mountain machine, we've got it all!. We are a Bombardier Ski-Doo dealer and specialize in sales and service of the best products Ski-Doo has to offer.
As a recognized platinum dealer, our in-house machining capabilities allow us to provide you with unbeatable service. In addition we have a snowmobile engine dyno complete with Dynomax software, weather station and brake specific fuel flow. We are avid sled enthusiasts and regularly test all our machines, products and accessories to make sure they perform as claimed.
Grizzly Ridge Honda
Situated at Slave Lake, Alberta, Grizzly Ridge Honda is your premier Honda dealer. Our huge inventory features all the latest and greatest sport, utility and youth ATVs, as well as Honda cruisers/Vtwin, dirt bikes, scooters and street bikes; browse our selection of pre-owned products to find your next nearly-new machine. Our parts and accessories department is equipped with the latest equipment and dress-up items on the market.
At Grizzly Ridge Honda, we have a rock-solid reputation of providing excellent service, support and satisfaction. We pride ourselves on giving our customers the best service available, the best parts and accessories, and a staff that understands all aspects of our business.
Grizzly Ridge Honda
DAWSON CREEK, BC
Welcome to Mile Zero Motorsports
We carry a selection of 4 wheelers and ATVs. Your needs may range from the hunting machine to the all-out racing ATV. Come and check out our Honda off-road and street motorcycles. We also carry a large selection of parts and accessories that include gun racks, coolers and pretty much any dress-up item you require. At Mile Zero Motorsports, service is everything and with experienced technical staff and a well-equipped facility, Mile Zero Motorsports is capable of servicing all of the products we sell.
Mile Zero Motorsports
B&F Sales & Service Ltd.
Your Honda headquarters
At B&F Sales & Service Ltd., located in Grand Forks, B.C., we specialize in superior customer service. Our large supply of Honda products includes ATVs, motorcycles, lawn and garden wares, generators, snowblowers, walk-behind mowers and water pumps.
Equipped with a fully stocked parts department, we'll help you find all the accessories and dress-up items you've been searching for. Our qualified technicians are ready and willing to help with any question or concern you may have.
Let our friendly sales staff and competitive service be the reasons why you choose B&F Sales & Service Ltd. for all your recreation needs.
B&F Sales & Service Ltd.
Greater Vancouver Powersports
At Greater Vancouver Powersports, you will find a huge selection of BRP's newest Ski-Doos, from the ever-popular Summit to the ultimate touring machine—and everything in between. Our full-service shop and highly equipped technicians are happy to provide assistance and answer any technical questions you may have. Be sure to check out our hugely expanded showroom and find any accessory or dress-up item you require.
We are an all-season powersports dealer and carry a massive selection of ATVs, PWCs, motorcycles and boats. So if you are in the market for a new toy, seeking the perfect accessory or need some technical help, head to Greater Vancouver Powersports for a superb selection and superior customer service.
Greater Vancouver Powersports#1 18565 96th AveSurrey, BC V4N 3P7, CanadaPHONE: (604) 888-8700
Alpine Country Rentals Ltd.
Explore the alpine
Home to breathtaking scenery, spectacular views and plenty of wildlife, the mountains around Valemount are an outdoor enthusiast's dream. Let Alpine Country Rentals Ltd. take you into the heart of this beautiful country. We offer two- and 3.5-hour ATV tours with experienced guides. Custom, private and more challenging tours are available upon request. For the adventurous who want to explore on their own, Alpine Country Rentals provides hourly and daily ATV rentals. Call now to book a tour or rent a machine and prepare for the experience of a lifetime.
Alpine Country Rentals
