Costa Rica: Outside my Comfort Zone

[EvilClown]

[Tslapper]

Howdy EC!

Nice work...

[Hannda]

Nice pic except for the lunar eclipse there on the left.

Originally Posted by EvilClown

If goodol' sez it's ok you can have a look at this. Going for the landscape but upon closer inspection...

[ADKbeemer]

We did manage to get some riding in yesterday...



U suck!

What a great ride!

...did I say how much you suck?

[BKMLWR]

better keep riding thru the weekend....nice trip

[NewHampWoodsRider]

Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lucky!!!!!!!!

[drc42]

Was down there just over a year ago but not for riding. Saw tons of bikes on the road, drove me crazy being in a car! Been thinking I need to do a riding trip down there someday.

[FreeTheBeast]

Looks like a great trip.

Where is the envious smilie?

[EvilClown]

Home safe and sound. SCS picked us up in Boston last night.

With homemade pizza to boot.

Delays due to weather in Orlando backed our CR departure up a bit. Woulda been a crying shame to have to extend the trip.

Between Customs and the delays we barely made our connecting flight.

Luggage didn't.

It did, however, arrive on the next flight which wasn't too far behind so a handful of us waited for it. Made for a late night.

Got in the truck to drive home and realized I forgot how. I know. Some of you claim I never knew how to to begin with.

Guess I'd better show my face at work today. Not sure who the idiot was who planned that but I guess it's all part of the reality that makes these things possible. Not to mention eating on a day to day basis.

I may post up a little more later. I've got a couple more pictures I think.

Pura Vida!

[UpST8]

Nice!!!! very interested in your trip, looking to do something similar someday. My good friend winters down there, but he's not a rider.

PM coming your way.

[MZcountryboy]

pass the salt, the wait is killin' me!




back to -

[EvilClown]

Originally Posted by UpST8

Nice!!!! very interested in your trip, looking to do something similar someday. My good friend winters down there, but he's not a rider.

Don't wait.

As far as the trip goes...in the words of George Wyle and Sherwood Shwartz, "Sit right back and you'll hear a tale..."



Día uno:

The day couldn't come fast enough. Ten days before leaving I started a count down and wondered if these next 10 days would take longer than the 10 days of riding we had originally planned. We all know how fast time flies when we're on vacation.

The day started early as we had to be at the airport by 4:30 am. Plus, we were leaving from Logan. That meant getting up way before even I usually do. Like either of us could sleep.

Since Dave (whizzerwheel) was coming down from the north country, our plan was to meet at the Airport Diner in Manch-Vegas then make the run the rest of the way to Boston.

It's amazing how many people are in the diner at 2am but then again, it's post 'Saturday night'.



Decided to try something I have never tried before...



Warning: if food shots in RRs trouble you, brace yourself.


Mr. and Mrs. Whizzerwheel...



Finally done breakfast, we finish loading up.

In traditional travel slide show fashion, here's Dave's packing the car.



He wasn't in a hurry or anything.

After an uneventful ride into the big city we get booted out at the curb.



After our final 'good-byes' it really begins...some of us are pleased as punch. The ticket counter girl apparently not so much.



All checked in we patiently wait, whiling away the time reviewing the map...



Our seat numbers are finally called to board.



We're on our way to Costa Rica, Baby!



...

[whizzerwheel]

Wait a minute...equal time here for La familia de Evil Clown.





All smiles, and maybe a little too eager to see us go.... whats up with that?

[EvilClown]

There you are, Dave! Wondering where you went.

Sorry about the interuption. Had a minor boiler issue here today. No heat or hot water. I tried to explain that many families in Costa Rica live that way every day. Guess how that ended?

Anyhoo...we're on the way to San Jose...



You knew that was coming. Couldn't think of her name to save my life last week. And, yes, I know they mean SJ, California.



...







We manage a few hands of cribbage...



...



A quick layover in Orlando...



Yeah. I know. But I like it.

Something to hold us over 'til dinnah.



...and we're back in the air...



A couple ours later we begin to break through the clouds and can see the ground. A little closer and we start to see roads. Beautiful dirt roads. Many along the ridges of the mountains.

Dood sitting by the window snaps a shot or two for me. Manages to capture some of the roads.



...



It takes forever to land as we're now pretty stoked.

None of these people realize just how big of a tear we are suddenly in.



Off the plane ...



...we we head over to deal with Customs.

Oh, good.



All these people headed there, too - declaration forms in hand.

We finally get up to the window and the dood sez in very clear English, "Pen." He then points us off to the side lines where we get to refill out that form we did on the plane with the only writing implement I had - a pencil.

Over in 'wrong Customs paperwork Purgatory' we learn that there is only one ballpoint pen in Costa Rica.



After a quick "Where's my freaking passport?!?!" self pat down by Dave, we agree to lend it out but only if they promise to return it to the "...guy over there..."

Luckily, Dave's passport in in the very capable hands of our Customs guy which gives us a fine excuse not to wait in that long line once again.

Finally, successfully through the guantlet, we collect our bags and make our way to the money exchangers for our first raking over. Someone in another Costa Rica RR posted never exchange more than $20 at the airport. A little late for us but he may be on to something. In the grand scheme of things it wasn't really that big a deal.

So, let's review. Bring a pen and don't exchange more than you need for the cab at the airport. There will be a quiz at the end.

Did I mention we were in sunny Costa Rica?



We make our way over to Wild Rider...



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Another tip that Dave was hip to: tell the driver to take you to KFC yes, the Colonel's place (only here it sounds like 'KFFC' - at least it does to me.) Wild Rider is right near it. More than likely the driver will have never heard of Wild Rider. The people running the hotel across the street didn't even know about it.

With a street festival in full swing the streets were closed so we got booted out a few blocks away. Imagine my excitement when kicked to the curb in 90° heat with more shxt than a Christmas goose in tow.



Lesson learned.

We make our way up the street carefully avoiding the missing manhole.



...



Not to fear. It wasn't that far and we were itching to ride!

Once there, Morten greets us and gets the process started. We also pick his brain about some of the routes we've planned.



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After some doing we finally have the bikes loaded and are ready to roll.



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Let's ride!

[PWRCRZR]

Looking great so far...