Or I should say bike the line. Aside from the coastal highway, roads in Costa Rica are largely missing a bikable shoulder. So it reduce to how far you want to bike out there where you belong, as with all other forms of moving heavy metals. I elect to ride on just to the left of the white little line separating the road and the tiny bit of space before gravel and mud begins. Most of the time truck and buses are fairly good about giving me a heathy passing margin, but then there are always exceptions. I love the one, the very skilled one, like the topgun of truck drivers. They can litterally shave my side going at 80km/hr without causing bleeding, now that is skill.
So far I have had two flats, replaced my rear tire and chain...Everything is working out nicely, all except my tent. It´s superlight, and fragile. I hope it´ll last the trip.
Diet wise it´s been nothing but bean and rice, everything else is deepfried to hell. All the same to a hungry bike really.
I will be crossing into Nicaragua tomorrow...wohooo!!!!!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Going Coastal
The first thing I have to figure out in Costa Rica, aisde from what is their currency, is to decide whether to take on the mountain of death to San Jose or the coastal road through Jaco. As soon as I found out that the western coastal road is all paved now...the decision was an easy one:-)
The coast is a wonderful mix of gringo tourist all vying forn a piece of the ecotourism aaction, swing in the canopy, laying about on the beach, secret hikes in the forest to some unknow waterhole, game fishing in the sea, yoga in the clouded virgin forest, all the while the locals toiling away for a mighty dollar clearing the over growth on the side of the road, or harvesting the endless row of imported Arabic palms trees in 30 plus degree heat.
After two weeks of riding, I have finalkly regain my cycling touring form...specially in the morning coolness, I can easily tap out 60-70km before noon time. Afternoon is for siester and playtime, it´s simply too hot to ride. Thundershower usually rolls in around 3-5pm and lasts about an hour or all night long. I hope my tent will hold together for the remainder of the journey. So far freelance camping is going well, I have had some really interesting spot and have met some really cool locals.
Hopefully the next time I write, I´ll be in Nigaragua.
best to all
The coast is a wonderful mix of gringo tourist all vying forn a piece of the ecotourism aaction, swing in the canopy, laying about on the beach, secret hikes in the forest to some unknow waterhole, game fishing in the sea, yoga in the clouded virgin forest, all the while the locals toiling away for a mighty dollar clearing the over growth on the side of the road, or harvesting the endless row of imported Arabic palms trees in 30 plus degree heat.
After two weeks of riding, I have finalkly regain my cycling touring form...specially in the morning coolness, I can easily tap out 60-70km before noon time. Afternoon is for siester and playtime, it´s simply too hot to ride. Thundershower usually rolls in around 3-5pm and lasts about an hour or all night long. I hope my tent will hold together for the remainder of the journey. So far freelance camping is going well, I have had some really interesting spot and have met some really cool locals.
Hopefully the next time I write, I´ll be in Nigaragua.
best to all
Friday, May 7, 2010
Escape from David
Yes, I made it...I have successfully escaped the enchanting city of David. Under the cover of monring that is not yet bright and the attentive eye of smoking budha(Karol from Poland), I quietly packed and was quite sure I was to eascape in peace. Even in the morning haze that caused by excessive indulgement of fine wine from a box, most poeple came out in attempt to stop me from leaving. With great determinence, I weaved my way out of the crowd, shed the caring stares that was darting at my back. I rode away. Freedom at last! Freedom that was paid in full and then some.
Maybe one day I describe all lost souls that came together and created this big bang in the enchanting city of David, hostel bambu-in fact, if anyone is already part of the evil empire facebook, you might be able to do a search on ¨the enchanting city of David¨, there might be a bunch of pictures up already.
It´s interesting that everyone is drifting aimlessly looking for something, and everyone one´s something is drastically different. How desperate are we to wander through the end of the world only to be back exactly where we were.
OK, Costa Rica, bring on those fire stations.
Maybe one day I describe all lost souls that came together and created this big bang in the enchanting city of David, hostel bambu-in fact, if anyone is already part of the evil empire facebook, you might be able to do a search on ¨the enchanting city of David¨, there might be a bunch of pictures up already.
It´s interesting that everyone is drifting aimlessly looking for something, and everyone one´s something is drastically different. How desperate are we to wander through the end of the world only to be back exactly where we were.
OK, Costa Rica, bring on those fire stations.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The enchanted city of David
Greeting to all,
I am somehow stuck in the David, so now the name of the game is to "Escape David" The original plan was to stop here for a two day rest, send back some of the stuffs that obviously is unused dead weight, CLA the bike and onward/forward into Costa Rica, but now is the fourth day I am here, the bike is still untouched...
David is the second largest city in Panama, it's about as bland as white rice served with white rice, with white rice as side dish. But being here in the wonderful hostel of Bambu, one Canadian, one Aussie, one Irish, one Slovenian, two Polish, one American will have a big BBQ fiesta, reason, we hijacked the fish delivery truck this morning and scored us a load of fresh sea bass and now the menu has expanded to steak, chicken, corn fresh salad green and vino in multitude of colours...just another day in Paradise, life in the enchanted city of David.
As a mini conclusion to Panama, it far more than I first envisioned it, there were talks of bikers being robbed on the Pan-American hwy but I am certain those were crime of opportunity which can happen just about anywhere in the world. The roads are relatively flat. There were one big climb around Santiago, climbing in the 35 degree heat is mucho mucho no fun. I found the trick is that one need to get up around 4.30am, and hope to get on the road by no later than 7am. Only then one can put in the big gear and get to a century day without expose to the mid day heat and the almost certain late afternoon shower. Freelance camping has been easy, and priming with alcohol from pharmacist before burning automobile gasolina with the MSR is working beautifully.
Panamanian are a wonderfully friendly, an enthusiastic greet will earn you a heart melting smile and salute...a few words of inquisitive in Spanish will get you a world of insights to the life in Panama, if you are asking about their foods...to prepare to sample, no argument will get you off the hook, tigers milk is about as awful as anything I have drank in my life.
So if I should manage to get out tomorrow, I will be in Costa Rica by night fall...I hope I will escape the enchanted city of David, I am determined!!!!!
Roberto, writing from the enchanted of David
I am somehow stuck in the David, so now the name of the game is to "Escape David" The original plan was to stop here for a two day rest, send back some of the stuffs that obviously is unused dead weight, CLA the bike and onward/forward into Costa Rica, but now is the fourth day I am here, the bike is still untouched...
David is the second largest city in Panama, it's about as bland as white rice served with white rice, with white rice as side dish. But being here in the wonderful hostel of Bambu, one Canadian, one Aussie, one Irish, one Slovenian, two Polish, one American will have a big BBQ fiesta, reason, we hijacked the fish delivery truck this morning and scored us a load of fresh sea bass and now the menu has expanded to steak, chicken, corn fresh salad green and vino in multitude of colours...just another day in Paradise, life in the enchanted city of David.
As a mini conclusion to Panama, it far more than I first envisioned it, there were talks of bikers being robbed on the Pan-American hwy but I am certain those were crime of opportunity which can happen just about anywhere in the world. The roads are relatively flat. There were one big climb around Santiago, climbing in the 35 degree heat is mucho mucho no fun. I found the trick is that one need to get up around 4.30am, and hope to get on the road by no later than 7am. Only then one can put in the big gear and get to a century day without expose to the mid day heat and the almost certain late afternoon shower. Freelance camping has been easy, and priming with alcohol from pharmacist before burning automobile gasolina with the MSR is working beautifully.
Panamanian are a wonderfully friendly, an enthusiastic greet will earn you a heart melting smile and salute...a few words of inquisitive in Spanish will get you a world of insights to the life in Panama, if you are asking about their foods...to prepare to sample, no argument will get you off the hook, tigers milk is about as awful as anything I have drank in my life.
So if I should manage to get out tomorrow, I will be in Costa Rica by night fall...I hope I will escape the enchanted city of David, I am determined!!!!!
Roberto, writing from the enchanted of David
Friday, April 30, 2010
Panama
Panama city
It´s a much more cosmopolitan and very developed city than first envisioned.
It´s not very cycling friendly but like any where else where they are rush to play catch up in traffic management, one can pretty do anything on a bike. The only place is new roads that are like highway but not designated as so, chaotic traffic is not an issue foe cycling, fast moving chaos is.
The old colonial part of Panama city is fabulous, but come and see it soon before it´s all bought up by yuppies. As of right now, there are still a heathy amount of working families living and partying there on the street, once the yuppy takes over, it´ll all be trendy cafes and expensive shops and private residents, very private.
I am about 200km outside of Panama city by now, it´s hot, hot and very hot!!! Freelance camping is good thus far, getting to sleep at night in the heat is tough but eventually one passes out. The roads are generally good with good marging of well surfaced shoulder, but being the only major hiway connecting the country, one can imagin the traffic. Eating is good, lots of rice and beef and chicken and beans. There are lots of chinese here in Panama and they seem to have a monopoly in the supermacado business here. Very bizzar.
I am heading toward Buca del Toro on the Atlantic side of the ocean...it suppose to rain less on that side.
cheers
It´s a much more cosmopolitan and very developed city than first envisioned.
It´s not very cycling friendly but like any where else where they are rush to play catch up in traffic management, one can pretty do anything on a bike. The only place is new roads that are like highway but not designated as so, chaotic traffic is not an issue foe cycling, fast moving chaos is.
The old colonial part of Panama city is fabulous, but come and see it soon before it´s all bought up by yuppies. As of right now, there are still a heathy amount of working families living and partying there on the street, once the yuppy takes over, it´ll all be trendy cafes and expensive shops and private residents, very private.
I am about 200km outside of Panama city by now, it´s hot, hot and very hot!!! Freelance camping is good thus far, getting to sleep at night in the heat is tough but eventually one passes out. The roads are generally good with good marging of well surfaced shoulder, but being the only major hiway connecting the country, one can imagin the traffic. Eating is good, lots of rice and beef and chicken and beans. There are lots of chinese here in Panama and they seem to have a monopoly in the supermacado business here. Very bizzar.
I am heading toward Buca del Toro on the Atlantic side of the ocean...it suppose to rain less on that side.
cheers
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