Puerto Rico: Day 7 Aguadilla, Crash Boat

We decided to take our travels further north since the waves at Rincón were unimpressive, a bit like a lapping lake, and the beach was a bit gravelly. (Rincón is normally THE surfer mecca). The town of Aguadilla hosts many surf beaches as well, and has the now civilian redeveloped Ramey Airforce Base. The former military housing are now private homes and the area is laid-out in a grid pattern, I was a bit more in my comfort zone.

Hellbent for the feel of wax under his toes, my husband bee-lined it for a surf shop named El Rincón. Chris, an ex-pat from Corpis Christi, TX was a great help. Maps, surf reports and ad nauseam possible winds influences all made my already wave-hungry hubby ravenous. Thus far we had found very little souvenir shopping except in San Juan, his little shop had just about every gifty we needed to bring home.

From here we went to the beach named Crash Boat, a former docking area for refueling and collecting wayward pilots from airstrip landing errors. The docks are now dismantled and only the cement posts remain, we hoped to find some decent curls. We were out of luck but this area was populated with locals, some small vendors, a couple snack shops and banós. The sand was fine white next to some lovely limestone cliff sides. 

As well as the surfboard, we also rented a boogie board and the kids had a blast. We saw more Tarpe fish in the water and, due to their sheer ginormous size, scared the kids right proper although the fish were hardly interested in us. Obviously fishing is prevalent in the area per evidence of the landing of fishing boats on the beach (see video above). 

After a couple hours and zero waves, hubs felt the time was right to grab lunch and try a different beach. PR-107 is one of two main feeders to Aguadilla. And just north of the road to Crash Boat is a little chocolatier named D'Rose. The servers wear candy-striper like uniforms and the truffles and sweets seem nearly endless. Not exactly lunch material but, hey, we're on vacation.

After our delectable detour we went to the Punta Borinquen beach. Here we finally found waves, no improvements and a beach all to ourselves, except for a ferrel dog and one local going for a walk. The airport nearby is still active for private use and FedEx shipping. On this day there was a cargo plane practicing touch-in-gos. He flew around us several times in his forays. It felt a bit like "From Here to Eternity" with the rolling waves, the bamboo grass, limestone cliffs, palm trees and the steel green cargo prop engines playing background music. (see video above)

Nearby are the remains of a 19th Century lighthouse also leveled by the 1918 earthquake. It's worth a quick drive-by when in the area but rough road prevented our minivan from investigating the other side of this beach area. (I frinkin' love minivans - not!) 

 

As far as catching waves, they were a bit too choppy (and he says I'm fickle). Giving up after a few stalwart attempts, we headed home.