Volcanos, Coffee and Rain...

Rain
drops....

on
roses...

and
whiskers
on
Costa
Rican
kittens...

It
wouldn't
be
rainforest...

without
the
rain.

The
line-up
for
the
day...





But
I
love
the
rain...

It
enriches
the
colors...

feeds
the
ferns,

and
gives
cool
bikers...

bright
colors!

And
we
are
so
brave....

to

dare

the

steaming

Poas

volcano.

For
such
a
small
country,

the
size
of
West
Virginia,

Costa Rica
has
220
volcanos!

Wow!

We
charge
ahead...

braving
the
elements.

The
three
ladies
together...


Robin, KT and Sharon.

They've
VBT'd
many
times
together.

Pete
and
Susan?

This is
their
first
VBT.

Tom
and I
have
VBT'd
Southern
France

Northern
France....

and
almost
Italy.

Can
Costa
Rica
compare?

Well,
CR
wins
on
the
wild
animals...

and
wild
plants....













but
what
about
the
biking?

We'll
find
out!

It's a
long
long
downhill
from the
Poas.

Uphill
for
these
Costa
Ricans.

On bike
we get to
notice
small
details...

like
the house
with
all the
firewood...

the
cages
for
the
trash

and
sad
dogs.

The
rain
is
picking
up...

Let's
stop
at
this
little
shop...

We
can
try
their
exotic
foods...

and
some
familiar
ones.

I
can
shop
for
souvenirs...

I
love
this
birdhouse!

But
we
can't
stop
too
long...

We
have
biking
to
do!

Tom
and I
trail
the
others....

We're
too
busy
talking
to
the cows....

and
local
puppies.

Look
at
all
the
covered
fields
of
ferns!

grown
for
my table
back
home.

Do I
want
them
cutting
down
rainforest...

so
I can
have flowers
that last
a
week?

We
need
to
protect
this
lovely
country.

Oh, no!
A
fork
in the
road!

What
do I do?

Downhill!
cries
Tom.

to
the
green
church...

and
our
fellow
bikers...

A
brief
stop...

then
back
on
the
road...

past
fields
of
coffee...

bright
hydrangeas...

and
fellow
adventurers.

Sometimes
a
dangerous
crossing...

requires
a
walk...


but

we

finally

all

make

it....

to
our
familiar
peach
church...

and
a
short
bus
ride...

to
our
coffee
tour.

But
first,
lunch...

and

a

chance

to

chat.

I stop
by
the
butterfly
garden....

















to
enjoy
bright
wings...

Everyone
has
the
same
idea!

Time
for
the
tour!

Jorge
is
here
to
tell
us....

all
about
coffee.

From
the
first
seedlings....

to
the
full-
berried
plants...

We
follow
the
process...

as
the pickers
lash
baskets
to
their
bodies....

capturing
only
the
ripe
berries....

for
their
precious
heart
beans.

Sorted...

Sifted...

Sprayed....


It
has a
sort of
Willie Wonka
feel
to it.

But
these
are
real
people...

and
coffee....

is the
life
blood...


of
Costa
Rica.

We've
had
a
wonderful
day....

exploring
volcanos....

coffee
growing...

and
rain

in
the heart
of
Costa
Rica.

Can
tomorrow's
ride....



bring

anything

better?