Posts Tagged ‘backpacking’

Days 15 Surfer Beach

{ April 17, 2013 @ 2:47 pm } · { Central America 2013 }
{ Tags: , , , , } · { Leave a Comment }

We spent the majority if the day driving to a beach we had heard was beautiful from an employee at a hostel in Monteverdi. Along the way we stopped to get water and supplies at the store. We didn’t know what the beach would be like and wanted to make sure we had what we needed. In this process we filled our water supplies. However, we got too much water. Not wanting to waste and not being able to return the water left us with the option to use it then. So with a bit of embarrassment we changed into our swimsuits and took a quick shower in the parking lot.

Everyone though we were a bit insane but we used the water on a needed rinse and were on our way. We arrived to the beach in the early evening. It was very populated but lovely. We set up hammocks under the palm trees. As happens from time to time with 5 people in one car for Lon periods of time, tensions were high. However, after some of us getting a hostile room and taking a night to sleep on everything everyone was much happier the following day.

Day 14 Repelling Waterfalls and Hiking the Cloud Forest

{ April 17, 2013 @ 2:19 pm } · { Central America 2013 }
{ Tags: , , , , , , } · { Leave a Comment }

We arrived in the town Monteverdi in the early afternoon. We had stopped at an office for activities in the way in and had an idea of what sorts of activities were available in the park and how much they cost. From what we understood there was a park entrance fee if you went in without paying for an activity before hand. While all the activities were amazing sounding they all cost quiet a bit of money. Being as we are an a tight budget we each had to decide what we would do and that we as individuals would chose our own activities. I found out later that if you bring a student I’d the park entrance fee is half off. This may apply to other costs as well, but I didn’t have a student Id on me and was not able to test this information myself.

Than, Angela, and I chose to pay 50$ per person to go on a waterfall repelling adventure. They picked us up from town and much to our surprise and joy, it was just us on the tour. We drove for a fairly short time before area reaching the location. All the employees were very nice and we bantered back and forth before we walked to the training area. They also had a small dog there who was adorable and playful. Here we were given s short demonstration on the safety measures. The hike down to the waterfall its self was rather daunting but the way was very beautiful.

They strapped us in and down we went on the first and smallest of the six waterfalls. The water was cold but felt amazing in the days heat. We continued repelling down each waterfall till we dreaded the largest in the set at s height of 114ft. I went down first and loved it. My adrenalin was pumping and the water was splashing. I slipped a few times but it want smoothly. When I reached the bottom I looked up and was amazed. It hadn’t seemed so high going down but looking up I was shocked that I hadn’t been more scared. Thad and Angela followed next and it was amazing to watch them make there way from such a great height.

After we we done we returned to town where we meet up with Dave and Jeff. There was still sunlight to burn so we took a hike up a random stream. There wasn’t a path so we had to jump along the rocks and over the logs. It was beautiful. You could smell the freshness and plants. You could hear animals moving just outside of our path and the leafs rustling in the wind. We tried hunting for frogs on our own but didn’t see any about. So we agreed that we would go to an amphibian exhibit to see live specimen of some frogs including the red-eyed tree frog.

The exhibit was amazing and we got some great photographs but it was late and everyone wanted to eat. I was nit ready to fold in just yet so I stayed behind to use the internet then walked to our camping spot in the free parking lot. The night air felt great and when I got back I realised I was not quiet ready to fold in. So while everyone went to sleep I walked up to town and got a coffee at a cafe. It was a good coffee and they even drew a bear face in the foam of my latte. Finally I felt tiered and slipped in while the others slept and went to bed.

Day 13 Cloud Forest and Camp Fires

{ April 17, 2013 @ 4:02 am } · { Central America 2013 }
{ Tags: , , , , , } · { Leave a Comment }

We had learned that there was no way to drive the rest of the way around the lake as the bridge that used to exist has been down for some time. This resulted in our driving back around the way we had come. I needed the internet to send some important emails and so we stopped at a little tourist trap location that had a cafe. It was quiet a cute little place with souvenirs and coffee. I bought an iced coffee, which is rare to find and everyone else had some breakfast.

We spent the rest of the day driving to our next destination Monteverdi. We drove until we were close but gave into hunger and stopped for a snack. Here we took a dip in a fresh water river and played around. Thad and I set up a hammock under a bridge near by, just for the hell of it. Jeff and Dave helped while Angela took some amazing photos. After we goofed off for a little while we drove back up the road a bit and found a nice little camp site on the side of the road. Jeff and Dave made a fire and we all slept in wiggles. The weather was cold and the air was filled with a mist. We were in the cloud forest and the elevation made the environment a bit chilly. I had trouble sleeping but eventually drifted off.

Day 12 Arenal and Glowing Bugs in the Rain

{ April 17, 2013 @ 3:02 am } · { Central America 2013 }
{ Tags: , , , , , } · { Leave a Comment }

We had gone to the store the day before and bought butter, which was a luxury expense and paid off. The sun shown bright, the rain had passed, and we were rewarded with bulls-eye toast (which is eggs inside of the toast) and toasties (the bread taken from the toast). Soon we were off for several hours more of driving. In order to get to Arenal we had go around the rest of the rest of the lake. Along the way we found more animals on the side of the road such as a White-nosed Coati, which I had never seen before. They even eat from my hand and were quiet photogenic.

We arrived at the volcano Arenal in the early afternoon where we had lunch. After Angela, Dave, and Thad gathered information on the hike and the surrounding area I waited to hear the news. The hike, it turns out is quite expensive at ten dollars per person. Despite the fact the trail went no where near the top, it was pretty. You can take one of two hikes (the long one or the short one) both ending at the same place. We took the longer way, which was fairly steep but well worth the extra time and effort.

We got to see many small animals, such as birds and bugs, as well as a wide verity of beautiful plants. The humidity made it a little harder to treck up the path and the mosquitoes were quiet bad. If you take this hike I recommend that you use sunscreen as well as bug spray. Our hike was well timed, we reached the top of the trail as the sun was beginning to set and the view was breath taking.

We quickly descended and were back at the parking lot where we had been granted permission to camp there for the night. We bathed in the hose that was provided and just as I was about to set up my hammock I felt rain fall. So, as with the previous night I slept on the floor of wiggles listening to the rain and watching the bright glowing beetles that had illuminated the skies the previous night and were joined by fireflies as well tonight.

Day 11 A Waterfall, a Lake, and Animals oh my!

{ April 15, 2013 @ 4:31 am } · { Central America 2013 }
{ Tags: , , , } · { Leave a Comment }

I woke early and watched the water reflect the sun as it rose and peeked through the trees. Even though I had suffered at the hands of the mosquitoes and ants the previous night, I was relaxed and enjoying the sounds of monkeys above the running water. Eventually I rose and everyone ate breakfast together. Given we had fresh running water, we took advantage of the opportunity and bathed ourselves in the stream. It felt great to finally get to take a full bath rather than just a rinse. We also gathered all of our dirty laundry and washed it with soap in the river.

Once everyone had a chance wash their cloths and wash themselves we packed up camp and headed to the waterfall. When we arrived at the waterfall, Llanos del Cortez, we had a small hike down. It was beautiful and there was a place to swim at the bottom. We played in the wat and even climbed behind the fall and jumped through. It was here we meet and spoke with a man from Rome. He was very nice and we exchanged information. After a few hours we decided to move along.

Hours later we were still driving in an attempt to get to volcano Arenal. However, the treck took longer than we thought. Along the way we saw some animals including monkeys. As the night drew to an end we were tiered and managed to find a camp site that was amazing. It was just above a lake on rolling green heals. In between the grass where several colonies tree cutter ants lived and the water where beautiful red dirt made for an amazing range of color. I was in love with the view and was happy to sleep in my hammock.

Around 4 am the rain storm hit and eventually I surrendered to the fact that the storm would not die out. Crawling into wiggles I snuggled up on the floor and fell asleep.

Day 10 Monkeys and Hammocks

{ April 11, 2013 @ 4:54 am } · { Central America 2013 }
{ Tags: , , , , } · { Leave a Comment }

We woke early in the morning as the locals began their commute on the road we had parked next to the previous night. The area was not spectacular but we got to see some local flora and most importantly were not still at the boarder crossing. The day began like most of our others: eating breakfast, packing up wiggles, and doing our hygiene. We didn’t have a plan other than to drive south, so that is what we did. Kepping our eyes open for places to camp or things to do we drove for several hours.

Eventually we found our way down a little windy road where there was supposed to be a waterfall. However, when we got there we found a locked gate and a sign that said it closed at 5 pm. So we decided to check it out when the gates opened in the morning and started hunting for a place to camp. Continuing on down the road we were on, we crossed a little cement bridge that was slightly overrun with water. Driving over it we asked a local boy if he knew where we could swim along river. He sent us to a spot the locals often swim at.

When we arrived, the place was amazing. It was a short walk ffrom the swimming hole and there was a place for my hammock by the river. almost as soon as. got out of the care heard noises from the trees. When we looked up we realized we were camping under a company of monkeys (they may have been howling monkeys, but we are not really sure). The sun was setting quickly so while Angela made dinner, the others and I set up the hammocks. I grabbed my blanket and settled into bed while listening to the monkeys settle into bed also and the sound of the river drifted me off to sleep.

Day 9 Boarders and Angry Officials Nicaragua/Coasta Rica

{ April 10, 2013 @ 1:39 pm } · { Central America 2013 }
{ Tags: , , , , , } · { Leave a Comment }

Everyone woke early, around 5.30 or so, and spent some independent time. I walked out to the beach where I enjoyed my own company while doing some stretches and exercises.  After our personal time we all met back up at camp, ate breakfast, and packed ourselves up. We were on the road around 8 and caught up up on shopping. While in the Maxi Pali super market we decided to take a bathroom shower, which is an art form I am quickly mastering.

While scrubbing ourselves down a women walked in and looked rather offended by our act of hygine. She left and talk an attendant, who popped her head inside but didn’t say anything. So, we finished shopping and were on our way to the boarder.

When we arrived, everything started off smoothly. In every line we hit we were just before the rush and had no problems. It was when we got to the last stage, getting the vehicle across, that the trouble started. The first warning sign was that we were told about a guy who had been stuck at the boarder for 3 days trying to get his title so he could cross and we didn’t have ours either.

We moved through the first few stations with little problem, it was when we went to get wiggles, the vanagon, checked they told us to get the title. We had to go back to the main office were two workers decided they didn’t like Angela and I. They informed us that we were going to have to get the original title. They were very unprofessional. Angela left to gather some documents while I stayed in the office. The man and women who we had been talking to openly mocked Angela thinking I didn’t know any Spanish. When she returned, I informed her of what they had said. They seemed embarrassed and said nothing more. We made it clear we would sit in their officer until we got this resolved.

Eventually we were introduced to the boss. Thank god Angela is fluent in Spanish because she found a loop hole the boss was willing to accept. He was very helpful and actually understanding when we explained that our vehicle was also our house. The women attempted to fight his decision, but he made himself clear that she would accept the paperwork. this was about 5 or so hours unto this process.

We ended up hiring a lawyer to authenticate some documents. this took a little over an hour. However, the day was not over yet. We were getting push back from the two people who had mocked us earlier. But as we were explaining the deal with the boss a group of bikers from Utah were crossing. We started talking and made some friends among them. When Angela and Thad went through the line, they went right behind them and as a result there was not any push back. Though, Angela had to hid in the last stage. One of the employees had stayed late to look out for her and try to reject the papers to cross. Finally after 7 or so hours, we crossed the boarder and found a small dirt road to camp on. We had done it, we had made it to Costa Rica.

Day 5 Night Time Stress and a Sea of Stars

{ April 5, 2013 @ 8:26 pm } · { Central America 2013 }
{ Tags: , , , } · { Leave a Comment }

We packed our things and said our goodbyes to our hosts and friends. On our way out of San George we stopped at a small bakery that was out of the owners home. They had the large brick ovens in the back yard. The bakers had all sorts of fresh bread and desserts but we decided on two bags of fresh loaves. There are few things I love more than eating local and fresh food. In general I am not a huge bread eater but crush oven baked bread is a must have in every place I have gone to. Nicaragua is no different.

We moved on to find a beach where we could spend a few days and relax by the ocean. We couldn’t find the location and the sun was setting quickly. Even though we continually asked where a place to camp was, we didn’t find one. Frustrated Thad went a little faster than i would have preferred. However, he got us to where we needed to go safely, which is a huge accomplishment. Driving at night here is difficult; there are cows, dogs, and people walking in the street along with rough road conditions.

Once we were parked everyone felt much better and began setting up camp. David, Jeff, and I started a fire on the beach and cooked hot dogs. The sea rhythmically beat upon the shore and seemed to glow on the horizon. That night was still high with tension and sleep came as a welcomed reprieve. Tomorrow would be fresh day and so after several hours walking along the water line in the star light, watching the reflection of the stars in the tide. Eventually I let ideas of the sea of starts drift me off I drifted off to sleep.

Next entries »