We’ve just reduced our prices following our 6th successful summer – and we’ve never been busier!

Now Spinning for residents is just 200 pesos ($6 usd) and for visitors to Cabarete it is 300 pesos or $8 usd.

Please check out our timetable here Cabarete Spinning

Cabarete Spinning is a town-center, air-conditioned facility with a state of the art sound system and imaginative lighting. We use Star Trac Spinner Pro’s which are in excellent condition. Whilst you are in Cabarete, put us on your to-do list. You can contact me directly from the website and I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about working out on a spinning bike.

See you in the Studio

It’s ironic really, that the beach is full of people who have had the reverse craving; escaping the normally chilly summertime temperatures (although everyone back in the UK tells me that the summer was lovely) and ending up on a Caribbean beach baked in scorching hot sunshine to get their 14 day sun-tan

The children go back to School on Tuesday and we are busy in the air-conditioned apartment getting their books and uniforms all ready for their next grade. They’ve had a great summer; 6 weeks in England and Spain with their Dad and the last two weeks of their vacation hanging out with their friends here in Cabarete. Last night we gave a farewell party at Swell for Kai, one of Drew’s friends who leaves today to go to school in Switzerland. It was a fun night and I’ll add some photos later on.

We had an evening surf session at Encuentro two nights ago; the first photo is of Drew – his surfing is getting pretty good now.

Drew’s off the lip…..

Simon

Souris (mouse), Karine’s new dog

Jim on the new Walden longboard

Jessica who stayed at Swell, having a go at stand up paddle-boarding (she did really well)

Dave

Geff – one of the three Aussies staying with us at Swell surf camp for a month

Oh dear, Euan (my youngest) not having such a great day in the water

Surfing Cabarete

Pictures courtesy of Swell Surf Camp

quick chat before…..

paddling out together

the whole family together in the water –

Yael has an easy style

Brett and Drew on the same wave

Maya

Orin

Jonathan

Orin

Jonathan

Luciano teaching Donata and Nina the correct way to jump up

Dad, Gideon

Mum, Yael

An interested spectator

V for victory!

Orin stylish

Sniffothon………

Jay….arrived as a stressed out criminal lawyer and leaves today a DUDE……

a passing weather front…….

just makes the day………

even more beautiful…….

That’s me admiring the view………

Jonathan is done for the day

Big smiles after jay’s last morning in the water for a while

Gideon and Jim

Brother and sister compare notes

Mother and Son

Jim proposed to me last week after almost 4 years together.

I never imagined that it was possible to meet the man who’s perfect for you in a tiny town in the Caribbean like this, but I did.

Since we met, we have rarely been separated; I’ve written about him before a long while back in this Blog and what an understated, intelligent, funny guy he is. He’s extremely modest despite being one of the most talented people I’ve ever met.

I am extremely happy that I’ll be his wife when we tie the knot next year, most likely in Bali.

picture courtesy Hugo

When you have a town like this with so much to do, being inside a manufactured corporation hotel is a complete waste of your holiday. There’s a ton of places to stay in Cabarete to suit all budgets – get out and see what’s on offer. Nearest airport is Puerto Plata (POP).

Pictures courtesy of Swell

He’d never been – until last night. On a super quick visit (just 24 hours) he’s packing in a ton of stuff in his first trip to Cabarete. He says he likes the town a lot. He was kiting with Laurel Eastman on a down-winder from La Boca to Encuentro. We caught up with them on a break at LEK where we also kite from.

Laurel Eastman (far right) enjoying the pool at Millenium

I never met her in person, but had many exchanges with her on the forums; the depth of her knowledge and understanding of all things Dominican was astounding. Instead of just living in someone else’s country (as many of us do) in the many years she lived on the north Coast of the Dominican Republic, she appears to have made it her passion to know and understand the country in a way that many of us merely wish we could.

She spent countless hours passing on her wisdom on DR1……….Questions on the forum would be answered by her intelligently, knowledgeably and above all, kindly, even when the questioner was displaying an ignorance that would have made lesser people give up on them. I cried last night when I read that she had died and I never even met her in person. When I read the tributes from her real friends, my heart broke for them and for her partner Grahame with whom she was obviously so very close.

A prolific and entertaining writer, I am sharing the link to her own website GinnieBedggood.com

What a terrible loss for everyone, especially Grahame and her family to whom we send our deepest sympathies. Clare and Jim.

Another nice swell is on it’s way this week (courtesy of an area of stormy weather north east of the DR, which did the perfect job for us; creating some waves and then dissipating). All’s good; we’ve been lucky. Jim and I watched some tourists setting off for Cancun on Sunday when we were at the airport; it was hard to believe they were still running flights there when H. Alex is creating so much havoc. I don’t think I would have boarded

My children are in the UK with their Dad for the next 4 weeks and I’m torn; it’s too noisy when they’re around half the time, but what a terrible silence when they’re gone Still we’ll make the most of it, trying some new SUP spots on the North Coast here – it’s an adventure.