I
love
the
Ticos!
(Ticos
are
the
nicknames
for
Costa
Ricans).
I knew
when I
came
to
Costa
Rica...
I would
love
the
nature...
I would
love
the
biking.
What
was
unexpected...
was
how
much
I fell in
love...
with
the
Ticos!
And
especially
with
little
Marlin.
Her
Mother
and
Father...
own
the
boat....
and
ferry
us
across
Lake
Arenal...
with
the
Arenal
Volcano
looming
in the
background.
Our
fellow
bikers
enjoy
the
scenery...
while
Tom
shares
pictures
with
Marlin...
and
I
play
Pat-a-cake!
We
see
wildlife...
and
a
rare
house
or two...
Look!
Over
on
that
hill!
Windfarms
in
Costa
Rica!
This
is one
amazing
country!
All
of
their
electricity
comes
from
wind...
geothermal...
or
hydropower....
No
dirty
oil or coal
for
Costa Rica!
Carbon
neutral
by
2021!
You
gotta
love
Costa
Rica!
And
what
better way
to
love
a country...
than
by
biking
it!
So
we
gather
at
our
bikes...
at
the
German (?)
bakery....
and
head
off
to
bike...
around
lovely
Lake
Arenal.
Peligro!?
Danger!
Road
in
bad
state!?
Oh, no!
Luckily
we
are
intrepid!
Even
when
the
road
is
washed out!
Nothing
stops
a
VBT
biker!
except
maybe
Smoothies...
and
shopping.
It's
an
absolutely
beautiful
bike
ride...
and
we
get to
meet
Ticos...
riding
horses...
using
machetes
to
cut
the
grass...
and
always
friendly!
And
look!
a
Swiss
chalet!
complete
with
Swiss
church....
Swiss
shutters...
and
Swiss
cows.
Reminds me
of my
own
Swiss
heritage!
But
for now
I'm
biking
Costa
Rica....
with
my
husband...
and
my new
VBT
friends.
Cranking
up
the
lakeside
hills...
Coasting
back
down...
And
as we near
the end
of our
ride....
The
Arenal
Volcano
impends!
A
few
more
curvy
miles...
and
we
arrive...
at
the
base
of the
lake.
I'm
ready
for a
break,
says
Tom.
But
not
Pete
and
Susan!
Susan
found
an
exciting
adventure
park...
Seventeen
bridges
through
the
canopy...
of
the
rainforest!
Bring
an
umbrella
just
in
case...
Eight
long
metal
bridges....
carry us
deep
into
the
jungle....
Suddenly...
The
heavens
let
loose!
Torrents
of
rain!
We
are
scrambling!
Muddy
slippery
paths!
Wait!
says
Pete?
What's
that
sound?
Is
that
rumble
thunder?
or
the
volcano
erupting?!
Oh, No!
Lightning
fills
the sky
and
we have
six more
steel
bridges...
between
us
and
home!
Luckily
we
survive....
and
get
to
spend
the evening
relaxing....
in
the
hot springs
of
Arenal.
