Got up this morning and started out early for San Jose. We wanted to get there early to see the Duke/Kansas game in afternoon. All was going according to plan for about 30-minutes until we hit another dusty, pitted, and rock filled road. Unfettered by the road, we pushed forward until all traffic stopped and we found ourselves sitting on the side of a mountain for an hour while a rock slide was being removed. It was best to let them finish! Upon arriving in San Jose, we found the first sports bar. San Jose is a bit rough around the edges to put it nicely. I can see where improvements are being made and where they need to work harder. In the end, we found ourselves in a bit of a dive bar, where a “hooker” was promptly getting drunk on a Sunday afternoon and trying to get our attention. Not the best scene but no one else was watching the game; so, we had the TV to ourselves. Rick took the Kansas victory rather well, as it was a good game. Our AirBNB bagged on us and we just stayed downtown, which turned out to be for the better. The next morning we were picked up at 5:45 am for our overnight whitewater trip. Those that know me well, know that I am not a water person per say. However, I will say that I had a blast for my first time. We started with a short 2-hour trip to the eco-lodge over fairly easy rapids. It was a great way to learn and develop the skills needed for the next day and to take in the scenery. The river and shores were spotless and I saw zero garbage. I was impressed at how well the people take care of the gift that they have. The river was on the eastern half of the country and emptied into the Caribbean. The mountains were several thousand feet and covered with lush forest and almost no bugs. It was perfect in every way, as we arrived at the lodge. At the lodge, I did nothing, I mean nothing, but lay around and relax when we arrived. We were the only guests, other than a wedding party. They mainly got drunk and slept late the next day; so, we had the place to ourselves. This allowed us to spend a lot of time talking politics and life with the staff. It was laid back and I was energized. A short hike halfway up a mountain the next day allowed us to get underneath the canopy and experience the beauty of the forest. The later whitewater trip was about 5-6 hours with all the classes of rapids. The water level was low with many boulders in the river. Rick and I were assigned as captions and rode upfront. Near as I could tell, this meant we paddled more and fell out more often. Rick bit it first but managed to not get hurt. I was supremely confident and cocky before I took a plunge and had to be rescued. We went through a few canyons and countless rapids before it became apparent that I was going to feel the hard work the next day. We travelled with about 8-10 other rafts and had a lot of fun mocking and splashing each other. All and all, I loved it more than I thought I would and would highly recommend it. The next day was bitter-sweet, in that, we were headed to Jaco Beach to see my old college roommate and leave the beast with him. We had come 4,300 miles together and seen so many sights. I was a bit sad to say goodbye. I was going to drive all the way to Canal and then back to Costa Rica to give him the car. However, to save time and allow another unplanned adventure (see next post and Darien gap), We flew to panama. I met Eric and his wonderful girlfriend, Keri, at his place in Jaco Beach. It is always nice to see Eric and catch up. Somehow, we have managed to stay in touch for over 30-years. His condo was in a nice gated community with a marina and beach club. I saw his last place on another trip to Costa Rica and this was an upgrade with so many more options. I think the beast will like his new home. A few photos later and we parted for the last time. Be safe, my friend, and I just hope Eric treats you well. Probably not, he is a bit crazier than me! Off to Panama tomorrow to see the Canal, City, mountains, and jungle.
From Arizona to Panama Canal 