Wednesday, February 29, 2012

50:50 in Costa Rica






Costa
Rica
is
50:50
says
Heiner





50% 
Sun...








50%
Rain...












All
in the
same
day!










So 
we
pack
in the 
rain....









and
bike
in the
sun...







Aren't
we
lucky?











Nice
downhill
ride....







Nine
miles...






all
down-
hill.....




to the
lovely
town
of
La Fortuna.






We
park
our
bikes....






and
go
exploring...




lots
to
see...






in
La
Fortuna!







But
not
for me!





I
have
this
big
package
to
mail....







Shhhh!

It's
a
Christmas
secret!










So
Manrique
takes me
to the
La Fortuna
post
office.





Not a
place
most
tourists
go....

You must
secure this
package.
she
says....






...in
Spanish.

Luckily
I've
been
studying.






So
off
we go
to the
La Fortuna
hardware
store.










Not
like
the
USA
I'd say.







Want
a
machete?





No,
we
need
tape.







Now
we're
ready
to
go!






Weigh
it.






Label
it.




And
off it
flies
to
Indiana.




As
for
me?

All the
bikers
are
gone.





And
the
50% rain
has
arrived.




Manrique
rushes
me to
join the pack.


Or
at least,
Tom...





























Aren't we
having
fun
now?





Quick!

Turn
this
way!











The
road
less
travelled.









Here's
our
drippy
group...





A
great
time,
yes?
















We
huddle
in
shelter....







for
a
fine
picnic.





Ready
for
a
boat
ride?




Something
I
love
about
VBT....


their 
travelers
are up for
anything!



























Bring
out
the
rafts...






And
the sun
peeks
out.





By the time
we're
on
the
water....











Blue
skies
soar
above....




African
Queen-like
we
paddle...


down
the
jungled
river...



































Keep
alert
for
danger!









For
the
hungry
crocs...














howler
monkeys...










skeptical
lizards!









It's a
wonderful
memorable
floatable
journey...




Brief
lunch stop
at a
local
home.





a
glimpse
into
a
Costa
Rica
life.











the
coffee...






the
pitcher...













a
touch
of
holiday...






and
a
Costa Rica
Kitty.





The
others
eat....




While
Tom
makes
a
friend.








2005 in France




Doesn't
he
always?





Now
back
to our
ships....













coasting....



languid...







relaxed...








to
the
end...










of
our
adventure.















And
then,
like
clockwork....







the
rain
pelts
again.







That's
okay...





We're
relaxing
in
our
luxury
van...







as it
carries
us
North...






through
the
Costa
Rica
highlands...






to
our
final
hotel...







in
the
cloud
forest...








of
Costa
Rica.