Trail 6 - Seroe Largu 10 k
Keep your eyes open for old daub-and-wattle houses built centuries ago by slaves. Many of these houses sit amid groups of century plants. Although commonly mistaken for a gigantic aloe plant, the juice from its leaves is anything but soothing to the skin. Also called agave, the century plant derives its name from the fact that it takes decades ( although not quite a century) to flower.
Reaching a high point on the now rocky
road, the highlight of our tour. Seroe Largu looms ahead. Prepare to use
both brakes down this rocky hill. Watch for those tuna cacti in the middle
of the road.
Just past an old concrete well is an obvious arroyo leading to a freshwater pond that almost always has ducks cruising its placid surface. Goats and donkeys drink here and the surrounding trees and brush are home to many species of Bonaire birds. Beautiful red dragonflies dart about and on your left in the holes of that big dark boulder live lots of iguanas. It's sort of like an iguana condo. The very young ones are vivid solid green and aren't smart enough to be afraid of humans yet. The older ones are striped with muted browns and dark greens and grow to over three feet long if they aren't caught by young boys, trussed up and sold for stew meat.
Taking the
next paved road, you'll see a soccer field and bachi ball court (boles
criollas in Papiamentu) which is the site of the first airfield in Bonaire,
built by Americans in WWII. Oldtimers say towers were manned by soldiers
who scanned the island's windward side for signs of German submarines.
This was the scene of great excitement when the American bombers took
off in hot pursuit of Nazi U-boats.
Get ready for torquing at a snail's pace up the long, steep road to the top of Seroe Largu (Long Hill). When you reach the top you'll know it was worth the sweat. You can see to infinity from here, or Curacao at least. You'll rest under the tourist trees (so-called because they always turn red and peel) watching the resident goat herd and fending off brazen lizards looking for a handout.
The descent is treacherous, fat tire cyclers. It's long, it's steep and what's more, the magnificent view is distracting. Keep your eyes on the road.