Updates post Arenal Visit

We went to Arenal Volcano. No lava since the start of the year. It had a lot of clouds on it 99% of the time but it did clear up a bit here and there and you can see the stem on the peak to the left side. 






We went for a horse back ride while there, the kids loved it!









The kids did a 2.5 hrs hike, we saw spider and howler monkeys but taking picutures of monkeys in a tree is hard to get.  We also saw a water fall.  Up at the hotel there were all these really tall eucalyptus and pine trees.  They were planted for lumber to save the native trees that take longer to grow.

We then drove to the 'Cloud Forest' a nature preserve.  Saw the contential divide and lots flowers.  We didn't see any of the frogs but we did a zip line tour.  It was the highlight of the trip.  They have cables strung between trees and platforms and you put on a climbing harness and zip from tree to tree.  EVERYONE loved it!

Enlarge this picture to see the fear in momma's eyes, this is the first one.  The kids were supper excited.  Since we were up at the rain forest there was a light rain, that's why the coats.



Momma just went and she thought it was fun.  There were 8 or so tree to tree lines, two rappels and a tarzan swing.







The kids all had to go with a guide.  You use your gloved hand to brake at the end of the line.  You go fast.  The kids did go on a couple solo and also did the rappels solo  Not enough photos or video because of low camera battery. 




We plan to go again when the Q family comes to visit.

Having a rental car for a few extra days after the trip let me to explore a few other surf spots.  Got some good surf in Hermosa, Esterillos West 10min drive or 1hr walk from the house, and Jaco (no good didn't get in).  Surf was smaller and really fun/good today!  No luck fishing yet but I keep trying.



Drive to Arenal Volcano

We spent 2 weeks at the house straight surfing, swiming, fishing and watching TV in between to rest.  So momma made a plan and got out of the house and drove in-land to Arenal the big active volcano.  Still haven't seen the lava flow, need the clouds to clear first but will post pics if we get them.

On the drive up we stopped at the local swimming hole.  The river wasn't that big but this was one big deep hole with a few nice small cliffs to jump off.  Kids all freaked out the first time but then all wanted to do it again and again.  Momma got worried they would go solo, this probably wouldn't have been a good idea with the strong currents.

I surfed this morning but will miss my daily habit the next couple of days.

The rope swing was good times!  Check the well executed can-opener finish.

Surf Pics for John

See the nice inside wave, looks easy but that's not even close to outside.  Behind it is the big waves, look how hard they crash the water and spray back up.  Those faces are in my estimates 6-8' maybe more and pitching hollow.  That's what snapped Red board into 3 pieces.  I've been hammered a few times and done a few air drops into the bottom of waves on late take offs, none succesfully.  But the water is warm and its been big and solid surf like this for two weeks straight now.  I took these pics right after a surf session and could not see anyone else on the beach in either direction.  No crowds is a bonus.

New Board is a C.I. Gravy

Kids caught some sand crabs and aren't afraid to hold them.

Maccaw's fly in big flocks from tree (species of Almond) to tree where the eat the seeds. They are loud birds especially so with 15-20 in a tree. Plus there are also parakeets that fly around in the evenings.

Momma really doesn't get too relax much...

heavy surf

We have the mosquitos in check.  Nets are working and liberal use of bug spray and they become a non issue.  We have lots of wild life around; 2-3 iguana's run around on the roof, lots of lizards, tons of toads at night and several geckos inside the house.  There is no shortage of bugs for them to eat.

Pictures of water like sea, ocean, rivers just can't do the size any justice.  You just can't get it on 2-d film from the beach.  But since the day we arrived the surf has been big.  I've only surfed our beach break every day and it's hard work to swim out.  I probably should have gone looking for a point break to manage the situation but heading out the door to the beach is awesome.  On Tue while trying to swim out a wave lip came down on me and my old board, it broke in 3 pieces.  The board was the more durable, heavy duty epoxy board vs. the lighter fiberglass.  Outside looking down the face of these waves its 6+ feet of water crashing down.  I have a rental board for now and am still waiting for the board I ordered to arrive.  More careful swimming and body placement will hopefully avoid any additional broken boards.

Ham it up on the hammock!

Costa Rica Pics

First day at the pool.  Note the stray dog hanging out with us.

No shortage of fresh green or mature coconuts, beer or mango.  I bought a $6 machete to get at the goods of the coconuts.  The mango fruit out front is all rotton by time it hits the ground and we can't survive in the grass due to mosquitos eating us alive just to check the fruit on the ground.  Other tropical fruits are also around.   

Lots of stray dogs in CR and they are better minded than our Roxy and do not jump up on us.  There are at least 6 or more that cruise past the house regularly.

Different beach in the national park where we saw a sloth and spider monkeys in the wild.

Beach this morning.

Worn out and doing our best to beat the mosquitos.  Next in the fight is taking Vitamin B-1

Check out Ella Surfing

CR is good. Our only stress is the mosquitos. We spend a lot of time putting on DEET and trying to figure out how to beat them. Good thing Anita bought/brought mosquito nets for the beds. The house is good. Its been hot and sweaty but not unbareable except when we lock ourselves inside from the mosquitos. Kids are getting the worse of if covered in bites. I built the plastic bottle trap but it attacts nothing. Anita read the vitiam B does the trick so we are going to go into town to see if we can get some.

Surf has been BIG which means hard to get out on a beach brake but its GOOD! Fishing with the big surf of course is pointless but I've spent more than a couple of hours trying so far. Its fun here and tyring to get into a rutine. Kids swim to exhaution each day. Pool and beach both. Internet connect is s-l-o-w so uploads take time