Trail 3 - Goto Meer 15.5 k
This side
of the coral rock wall just before the entrance to the oil storage facility,
take a right where you begin a gentle uphill climb. Follow the road running
along the edge of Goto Meer, Bonaire's inland salt lake which is home
to thousands of flamingos.
Twisting, turning trees that line stretches of the road are native divi divi trees whose seed pods in days gone by were harvested for use in curing leather in the tanneries of Curacao and Europe. Nestled in holes and crags of the volcanic rock cliffs are Turks caps, small squat turban-shaped cactus with reddish knobs on top. They seem to grow right out of the rock because they do. Several types of Bonairean cacti line the road. Among them are the kadushi cactus, a "hairy" type of cactus which begins as a single vertically fluted column but grows 10-20 "arms" reaching over 40 feet high.
Cool off at Dos Pos, a large windmill-powered spring of good drinking water. Water is precious on this little desert island. People come here to fill containers for use on their kunukus. You may need a refill yourself by now. Across the road is one of the rare well-watered fruit and vegetable plantations. Those are coconut palms, mango and papaya trees.
The road provides some slow out-of-the -saddle uphill climbs twisting and turning along the edge of the lake before taking you straight into the village of Rincon.
The road back to the Bonaire Caribbean Club is a roller coaster of deeply eroded dirt and loose rock with a thrill a minute. You may have to dismount for a few meters here and there.