#3: [30-Nov-19]

#1: [25-May-05] (incomplete)

06-Jan-2010 --

Despite the fact that the holiday was a last minute idea I had time to look up the DCP and see that there was an incomplete point not too far from the resort of Varadero. We chose to travel by rental scooter and despite the cold wind we made good progress via the town of Caradenas (few cars - many horses) and eventually came to the turning off the main road before Maximo Gomez.

The route followed smaller and smaller roads though a couple of villages and then a large farm. The point lies near the coast on marshy land - some of which has been drained and cultivated - but not in the immediate area of the point. The waypoints for the trip were derived from Google Earth. Unfortunately at the last turn the farm road was blocked - it was disused and heavily overgrown with vicious acacia scrub.

Kate stayed with the bike and I made an attempt - I followed the overgrown road for a while and then broke out onto the marshland. This was easier but very wet and I was soon paddling through very wet patches. The going was not too difficult though and given time and warmer conditions it looked highly doable. Unfortunately it was getting late and there was a long cold ride ahead so I gave up with a little over 1km to go. At 23 00 37N 80 59 53W I was closer than the previous effort but the point remains intact!.

I think this is probably the best approach but be prepared for 2 km of bog-hopping and/or acacia fighting. Our waypoints for the route in were: turn off main road at 22,55,19N 81,05,26W, turn right at 22,58,31N 81,05 W, cross river at 22,58,25N 81,03,57W turn R at 23,01,04N 80,02,30W ,walk from 23,01,03N 80,59,51. Some of the last 10 km is a bit rough but all could be done in an ordinary car (whatever that is in Cuba).