Costa Rica-Day 3 part 2

Hi Guys,


As we were hiking, this was part of the beautiful country we enjoyed.


The further we went the mountains, trees, valleys and mountains were breathtaking.

Below is a shot of our trail as we went further into the jungle. The roads got smaller, muddier, the bugs came out, the bugs and birds got louder and louder.

Here is the village we stayed out one night. The village was quite small, had one covered area, a patio for cooking and a couple of tables. The people were very nice, friendly, and the place was spotless. A cold shower felt soo good. The surrounding areas were coffee fields, which are really mountains.

Enjoying electricy, I got a kick out of this meter. Note the 120V disconnect switch with exposed leads, bare wires going into the switch and cable right next to a metal roof with NO ground. Oh yah, the school was next door and little kids played here...

As we were walking a Tucan fly by and into a tree. The shot below is from 100meters with a 300mm lens. Give it up for RAW format for croping.

If it looks wet this day it was...90% humity and 90 degrees.

The higher we went the more mountians valleys and trees came out.

This creek was soo nice to stop and get some shade and cool. At 90 degrees and 90% humidity the shade is a welcome moment.

The higer we went, the more valleys were visable.

Jairo was our guide by day and chef by night. He wipped up some really good food.

The valleys, mountain ridges, trees and farming fields were everything and more like Athe image of Costa Rica in my mind.

Across the valley we spotted this waterfall. This was at least 1/2 mile away.

A closer shot of that Tucan. The stripped underside is more visable here.

C

Delay in Posting

Hi Guys,

I haven't posted in awhile because I have been traveling like a mad man. A quick catch up. Once I got back from Costa Rica, I had an opportunity to go to Japan for a couple months and left the next day. After Japan, I used frequent flyer miles to visit Hong Kong and Macau. I've decided to stop traveling and enjoy a summer at home...or at least 1 days drive around home. Hong Kong Blew me away...never have I seen such a diverse place. No wonder English in the Business language, there are so many you have to have one common.

Should have pictures comming soon of continuing in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Day 3: Leaving Pacific

Hello Everyone,
I will start this day out with leaving the Pacific Coast from Quepos Costa Rica. The three of us were energized ready to go. Early morning start, but that turned out to be a good thing as the heat for the day would soo increase to astronomical levels for a guy who less than 3 days previous was in snow. The brochure mentioned a swim in the morning, but that water was kinda nasty for swimming. No thanks, but enjoyed the water at Manuel Antonio







As we rode on, we past all sorts of interesting signs, houses/shacks and then we would find the random electrical
boxes that were not so on the safe looking side. I had to take a picture of these for the electrical safety guys out there.
















We transitioned to mainly gravel roads, much softer on the body than the Morocco Bike Hike Adventure. This was much easier MTB, but still good. Every time we stopped the Scaidas (spelling) would make such a racket. They were these little tiny cricket sized animals that made this horribly loud buzz. If you didn't know better, you would thing an electrical fence with 150kV was buzzing all around you. Never did see one of the little guys, but they kinda creep you out at first.









All, the lovely hills. I would soon appreciate the hills of Costa Rica. They don't mess around. None of this nice gentle up and down they just went straight up and straight down. Made for a good challenge. Glad I got a few good rides in before I left.















This was our first transition area. I kinda felt like I was just getting warmed up, when we stopped I learned we were switching over to hiking. Biking was kinda short on this day. Nice covered area and had a very nice egg breakfast. This was the first of many days of Memo's good cooking.








The views were awesome when we switched over to hiking. The sun was boiling us, but the area outside was beautiful. If it wasn't 90 degrees and super humid, this would have been an awesome place to come relax.








As we continued to hike, the greenery was awesome. The palms were great, the ferns were awesome. This began such an amazing adventure of hiking.
















Our first break didn't come soon enough. We were sweating buckets and this slowly running water was very welcome.



















All the random shadows made for difficult photography, but also makes it neat when you finally get it.
















After a nice break, we continued on and the natural beauty of the surrounding area only increased.









This is part one to day 3. The hiking continues with Toucan sightings, and the first night camping in Naranjillo.

I cannot image how hot and difficult the Ruta de los Conquistadors is on day one. This is a 5 day stage XC mountain bike race that is said to be one of the most difficult and the hills are straight up or straight down.

Costa Rica Manuel Antonio Part 2

Hi Guys,

The adventure continues. I do believe this is the day the Montezuma oro Pendula began taunting me. This bird by the end of the trip became my photography adversary. Showing itself only long enough for me to scramble with a camera, only to fly away out of range or behind a branch...

We hiked up to a vista and had a gorgeous panorama of the area. The beaches below are where La Playa de Puerto Escondido (Puerto Escondido beach) is located.


This little butterfly landed right next to use, only these things are quite twitchy and very had time getting a photo.
The view from above was so great I almost forgot to look down when one person mentioned he look at that 3ft long Iguana below.

We found this guy at Puerto Escondio beach laying on a log. Surprising how close you could get, though I stayed back and used the 300mm lens. By this time, the temp had risen to Hot and humidity was way up there. The water at the beach was barely cool....and to think 3 days previous, I was in snow in Washington.

On the way out of the park we came across this beach leading back to the town of Manuel Antonio. What a gorgeous area. When I come back to Costa Rica some day, I am headed out to the West Coast for sure. Very nice coast line and relaxing atmosphere.

In Quepos, we walked over to the levy wall and watched the sun go down. This area didn't look so hot for swimming, but very nice for sunsets.

A couple of kids were in a boat riding the surf in. They all had big grins on their faces.

This ends Day 2 of the Coast to Coast adventure. Day 3 starts the trans Costa Rican adventure with Mountain Biking and lots of Hiking. Day 2 of the taunting by the bird.

Costa Rica-Manuel Antonio Park-Part 1

Hi Guys,

Sorry for the delay in posting. Here is part 1 of Manuel Antonio National Park. We got to the airport 30 minutes before the flight left, drove up within 100ft of the airplanes got in the terminal handed over our passports and were given a yellow plastic ticket the size of a dinner plate with the number 1 on it. I guess they re-use these tickets. Security consisted of a guy opening a zipper on your bag, feeling around and waving you through.


Then came the plane...12 seat Cessna single prop. What a fun flight. You could see the Ground Prox system next to the pilot and GPS course pre-programed in. The landing was crazy. We circled around at a crazy steep bank then saw what looked like a small 2 lane road cut out of the jungle just wide enough for the wings to clear the jungle on the side of the road. Well that was our runway...

Our plane was in the background. Yes, this is the airport.

We dropped stuff off at the hotel and headed for Manuel Antonio national park. The maps were quite good here.

We saw a sign for a catarata (waterfall) and took the side trail because the masses weren't taking it. We stumbled across this 3-Toed Sloth.

He or she was quite active actually moving.

When they sleep 18 hours a day, kind of nice to see one awake.

See the three toes...this one didn't have a care how fast he got anywhere.

So we hiked all the way to the waterfall, only there was no waterfall...dry time of year there. Nice hike though.

Back on the main road, this deer decided to cross the road and say hi.

On the walk up to a vista, we heard something in the trees and found around 12 of these guys bouncing around the trees.

Seeing something run across the path, it took 5 minutes, but we finally spotted this guy. This shot I was at a full 300mm to pick this up.

Part 1: Lots of walking, through jungle paths, down to nice beaches seeing all sorts of wildlife. No need to pay for a guide because the groups are so big you can walk, catch up to one, look at whatever they found, continue to the next group and group guide hop not having to spend 10 minutes watching a hermit crab.

Costa Rica - Feb 14

Hi Guys,

Here begins another tale of adventure. Prior to this trip, I had a horrible time getting to Morocco and got a $750 voucher with NW Airlines. So I found NW had a flight to Costa Rica and Bike Hike Adventures happened to have trip crossing the entire country by human power. Sounded fun.

Day 1: Feb 14
My Luggage made it! Yeah! Arrived in San Jose and got to the hotel around 3pm. Met up with Erica, one of the other travelers and decided to walk back into San Jose. So nice to go from snow to 80's T-shirt weather.

I forgot my map so, I hope I get the names correct.

Initial view is that Costa Rica has a significantly higher standard of living conditions than other parts of Central America. Here is the local theater and main square of town.

Proving true to just about every other major city square, there were Pigeons. Here I am on 4 hours of sleep in the main square (red eye flight) and pigeons. Still don't get the attraction to have pigeons crawls all over you.

I love putting together panorama photos. My auto stitch program does some pretty cool stuff sometimes. Look at the red car on the lower left. Really plays tricks with ones eyes. The see-thru person is also pretty neat.

Near the square there were these neat looking fountains. Next to them was a McDonald's, Starbucks, KFC, and equivalent of Chick Fillet. The more I travel, the less I want to go to fast food.

The street vendors were quite friendly. They lay their spread out of the street and hope you buy something. Small leather goods, necklaces, and random stuff I had no clue on were for sale.

On the way back from town we saw this Mediterranean looking building. Turns out it was a restaurant. After walking nearly 2 miles at night looking for a place to eat, we went back here for dinner. Good food. Kind of reminded me of Morocco in Costa Rica...odd combination.

Day 1 was pretty short. Still tired. For those going to San Jose, El Pueblo had a bunch of nice restaurants and when you go on Valentines day, the middle-high end restaurants are packed. Also ask the front desk. They recommended several. If you go with Bike Hike, their recommendations were very nice as well.

Our walk back at night was very interesting. I think we passed 3 disco-techs with lines 200 people deep, a punk rock bar with Glen Plake style Mohawks, and finally the Guy/Girl (not sure)-hooker-drug dealer corner. If I was walking alone, may have taken a cab.

Did not see the Bird that would mock me the rest of the trip: Montezuma Oro Pendula. I would show you a picture...but that would give this bird too much credit.

Sweet taste of sucess!

Hi Guys,



It is 90, humid, and the beach is way warm in the Caribeean. Just finished crossing the entire country of Costa Rica by Cycling, hiking, Whitewater rafting, and sea kayaking the last 50 km on the Pacuare River. The Class IV whitewater on the Pacaure lived up to its namesake. I learned a new definition of Hot while hiking and have a lot of respect for those who pick the coffee that soo many consume. Bike Hike Adventures and Coast To Coast Adventures did a fantasitc job.


Sloths are so slow, the 2 toed guys have moss growing on their backside. Howler monkeys make the funniest loud sounds and a Bird Montezuma Pendula (spelling) mocked me this entire trip


So weird, cannot access any email, but facebook is the only thing I can get out on except rarely get out on my website.



Due to a lack of internet or phone access, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!



Side note, the spell checker is in spanish, so everything was mispelled.

Adventure

Hi Guys,

What a nice feeling to be in a warm 80 degree place and have your luggage join you on your flight. All is well

Mike

Moab-Golden Spike-Poison Spider

Hi Guys,

Here is another post of Moab! The snow has finally left and got out for a 25 mile road ride this weekend. I nearly lost feeling in my toes by the time I got back. I guess at 38 degrees, riding on the road takes it out of you pretty quick.

If you haven't noticed, the world tracker on the left of the screen has reset.

Being the rockclimber he is, Scott likes to get close to the edge of the cliff.


Scott talks about his base jumping idea with a mountain bike. Not really, but the photo makes it seem that way. These cliffs were steep.
Mike B from San Diego riding the rock edge.
Here I am riding down the same rocky ledge. This is one place you really don't want to fall.
Here is the entrance to Arches National Park as looking from the Moab Rim.
Looking back up the highway from the entrance to arches, here is the rim that we were riding.

These rocks were fun to play on. Still not a fan of these kind of heights, but it was neat to see the rock crawler jeeps go right up and over here.

Matt and Scott hanging out on a ledge.

Hope you enjoy the photos. More to come later.

Mike