I enjoy my stay in Montevideo and will miss hanging with my friends at Green Hostal. I reluctantly tear myself away from the old city and make my way north up the coast. I pass through a number of resort cities whose coastlines are littered with high rise buildings for the denizens of tourists who flock here during the tourist season. Life slows down and the road dwindles with every kilometer I ride north. Ferries connect me to a patch work of farms, fruit stands, and Uruguayan rural life and the perfect weather makes for an exceptional riding day.

I arrive in La Paloma without much difficulty. The small coastal town is a popular beach resort and I am happy to be here in the low season. The people are nice and life is tranquillo. After 3 months in big cities I welcome the change in pace.

After relaxing for a day I ride up the coast 70 miles to Punta del Diablo, a smaller and more tranquil version of La Paloma. The town is in the Rocha department which hosts miles of scenic coast line, parks, and ecolife and I waste no time exploring its offerings. When I’m not riding or hiking I soak up the beach life with the gang at El Diablo Tranquilo.

My timing has me arriving in the midst of a politically charged domestic struggle. The local government is evicting the residents of a small shanty town located on the town’s coast. The inhabitants of the humble abodes have been squatting on the property for a number of years, close to 20 years for some, and it appears they lie in the path of commercial progress. Emotions run high as the town’s residents, news crews, and police wait in anticipation of the demolition. The symbolic first home is torn down with little resistance.

I depart the following day for the Brasilian border, albeit in a more somber mood.

Tags: ADV, Adventure Travel, El Diablo Tranquilo, KTM 950, La Paloma, Punta del Diablo, SE, Super Enduro, Superenduro, Uruguay