Highride Nature Adventures
One of the better excursions to do on Dominica is the horseback riding or ATV-ing offered by Highride Nature Adventures. David and Melanie Winston own and operate this tour, and they do an amazing job. They are located in the mountains just outside of Roseau, and both tours take you through the rainforest and up to scenic outlooks. David and Melanie are the nicest people and their property is so beautiful. We managed to make it up to their place three times during our stay in Dominica, and each experience was new and exciting. Ian was even able to do some photography for them, and his pictures are now being used on their posters and in the Dominican Tourism office. To learn more about Highride Nature Adventures, please click here.
Our first trip to their place was to do ATV-ing with Jamey and Amy, two of our good friends whom we met our first day in Dominica. We went in August 2002 just before Ian's first semester was to begin. The temperature change between town and the mountains was the first shock - we could actually wear pants and not sweat to death. Since it had been raining quite a bit, we got loaded up with rain gear, and after finding a suitable helmet and goggles, it was off to learn how to ride. David led the tour and did an amazing job. We rode through the rainforest on his property, coming out to lookout spots on the mountain where you could see both the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. The tour lasted a little over 2 hours, after which we went to Cocorico's in Roseau for lunch (yummy food, highly recommended). Pictured below: Ian, Kelly, Amy and Jamey looking cool in our raingear; Kelly getting a 4-wheeling lesson from David; part of the rainforest that we rode through; Kelly getting muddy; one of several "mud" shots that Ian captured of Jamey and Amy for the Winstons to use in their promos; us standing at the mountain overlook; a mountain scene with the Caribbean Sea in the background; and us in Roseau at the waterfront in front of Cocorico's.
In July 2003, during our third semester, we returned to Highride Nature Adventures to try out horseback riding. We went riding with our good friend Fatima, and then stopped for a late lunch at Fort Young afterwards. The weather was so perfect, and the horses were beautiful and well trained. This was the first time for Kelly to go riding, and Ian had only been once before. Fatima is quite the expert, so between her and David, we were in good hands. We followed the mountain trails, and came out to a lookout spot over the Caribbean Sea. Pictures below include (first row) one of the horses in the stables, Ian making friends with the horses, Kelly (riding Prince) getting last minute instructions from David, the two of us and our horses. (second row): Fatima on the trail, Ian (riding Star) with David and Fatima in the background, Kelly and David on the trail, the two of us at the end of the journey, and Fatima, Kelly, Ian and Star.
On the third trip to Highride Nature Adventures, Ian took a group of our friends (Dave, Natasha, Matt, Cat, Sean, Margie, Ansu, and Jeff) and actually found some new trails. Kelly was in the states at the time for her best friend's wedding, but Ian and the gang made the trip out there towards the end of third semester in August 2003. It had been a year since we did the first ATV-ing excursion, and during that time, David and Melanie opened up a new trail that took the tour through a village. As before, David did an excellent job leading the group and everyone had a great time. Pictures below include: (first row) The group at the start line; Ian standing on the tree that fell on the path just barely missing him; an action shot of Matt playing in the mud; Sean out on the route (second row) The group at a mountain overlook; The forest trail; A view of the new trail; and the village that the new trail leads through.
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