Costa Rica

We’ve had an amazing time here in Costa Rica.

Our first night here was spent in the town of Canas in the province of Guanacaste.  Found a little gym  there so we could get our workout on before heading towards the coast.

Cono Gym in Canas, Costa Rica.

From Canas, we spent a few nights around the Jaco area where we stayed just south in a little beach town called  Esterillos Oeste.

Sunset overlooking Jaco in Costa Rica

When we left Esterillos Oeste, we headed south to Pavones where we camped for a few nights right next to the beach. The majority of the days ride was on pavement but that last couple hours the pavement ended, my favorite!!!!

Had some bike issues heading into Pavones which delayed our arrival by a couple hours but we finally had some people from Washington stop and offer to help.  After about two hours we got the bike running and made it into Pavones where my bike got a flat tire.  Just the day for bike issues I guess.

A little unplanned motorcycle maintenance.

Our lifesavers from Washington

Long hot day but finally to Pavones….and discovered I got a flat tire somewhere along the way.

Our helper, Jackiedawg, taking a break.

From Pavones, we backtracked and then jumped on the PanAmerican Highway up into San Jose, where I had more bike issues and broke my communicator.  That days ride had us going over the highest pass in Costa Rica, Cerro de la Muerte, which has an elevation of over 11,000 feet.  It was beautiful with hairpin turns which we would come around and find people walking, riding mountain bikes, or riding horses along the sides of the road for the entire way.

In some areas, the fog was so thick, that visibility was severely limited.  Found out later that we just happened to be crossing the pass during the annual pilgrimage celebration of Virgen de Los Angeles where people come from all over the country, many on foot, to celebrate mass at Cartago.  Unfortunately we did not stop to take any photos so you’ll just have to take my word for it that it is one of the most beautiful lush passes I have ever gotten to ride on and it seemed to go on forever.

Spent one night in San Jose where we got to meet up with a local from the Costa Rica KLRos club who took us to his home to meet his family and his dad made the most delicious juice for us.

Jackie’s benefactors.

The next morning, we met some wonderful locals who insisted on giving us a little money for food for Jackie.  We didn’t need the money but I’ve learned that sometimes you just have to allow people to give from their heart in the way that they choose.

In the afternoon, we headed out to Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean side to meet up with a fellow rider, Chris,  from Australia who’s been traveling for over a year now.

Since we left late in the afternoon and we hit rain, which slowed things going over the pass but the ride was so beautiful we didn’t mind to much. As it got later into the evening we decided to stop for the night and were so lucky to find a a wonderful little roadside hotel about 30 minutes outside of Limon where we got a super cheap, clean room with a great meal.

Cabinas Del Rio

The next morning we set out early and within less than 10 minutes from leaving the hotel we were treated to seeing a sloth up close.  A local Tico cut down a branch and helped the sloth safely across the road.  Such an amazing creature.

Our little friend, the sloth.

We arrived in Puerto Viejo in early afternoon and both fell in love with the area.  It had everything, beautiful warm waters, a relaxed laid back feel, good Caribbean food, and reggae music. What more could we possible need. We ended up staying for two weeks and our last week there, our friend Chris, was our next-door neighbor and we spent many nights laying on the hammock’s, drinking ice-tea, and relaxing.

After two weeks we all three headed back to San Jose where we now are all staying in the same bustling hostel here.  We took the same route back as we took over but this time we stopped for a few photos.

Our friend Chris with the bikes (photo taken from the top of the tunnel)

We’ve had wonderful dinner’s with our friend Kenneth and his dad, Roger, and a couple other KLR riders who were traveling through.

We’ve relaxed here at this wonderful hostel called TripOnOpenHouse, met people from all over the world, worked out at the local gym, been on rides to one of the local volcanos (no photos from the volcano cause the fog was too thick), gone to the eye doctor and the dentist for cleaning and Jackie and I have taken long walks around San Jose to see the sites.

Our Aussie friend Chris checking the GPS.

Us with our friend Kenneth from the Costa Rica KLR club

Tons of bikes here at this restaurant on the way up to the volcano.

Tomorrow, we will be taking Jackiedawg back to the states and when we return for our bikes we will continue without her.  This was a difficult decision for us to make but she is 13 years old and the trip is getting harder on her and after a days ride, she is completely exhausted.

It is also hard to find lodging that will take her sometimes so we’re going to take her to Washington to stay with a wonderful friend who will give her plenty of love and attention.  Our friend Chris keeps joking that when she gets home she’ll tell all her dog friends about these crazy humans that decided it’s would be a great idea to put her on the back of a bike and take her riding all over through Mexico and Central America for 7 long months.  If dogs could talk, she’d definitely have some stories to tell.

Until next time, as our Aussie friend, Chris, always says, “Happy Days”!!!!