Costa Rica: 1998

Trip Organizers: Bob Hathcock and Lee Liebfarth from NOC
Guests: Chuck & Nancy Brabec, Atsuko Chida, Vinny D'Angelo, Jeff Overton, Masako Tasaki, Myron Wettrich, Knox Worde and Marveen Cole

November 24:

We flew to San Jose Costa Rica via Atlanta for our trip with the Nantahla Outdoor Center (NOC). Checked in at our hotel and met the rest of the group to go to dinner at Maccu Piccu. We ate a mixed seafood cervechi and sea bass stuffed with shrimp and covered with a cheese sauce. Great dinner for the start of our aventure.

Costa Rica is on central standard time. Being close to the equator, they have sunrise around 5:30 AM and sunset around 5:30 PM all year round. It gets dark quickly. Chuck and I kind of stayed on eastern standard time, waking at 5:30 (6:30 eastern) so we could enjoy all the daylight.

November 25:

Everyone outfitted their boats before leaving San Jose. We paddled the San Lorenzo/San Carlos which had fast water and lots of sharp turns like the Rio Sarapiqui. We saw many birds while on the river - including herons, egrets and large kingfishers. After the river we drove to Fortuna (near Arenal volcano). That evening we went to hot river (heated by Arenal). It was a beautiful place with paved walks and man-made small (2-3 foot) waterfalls to sit under while the hot water soothed our sore muscles. There also were several swimming pools with water that was progressively cooler. There also were a few spots where we could see Arenal continually spewing lava. We stayed at the Hotel San Bosco overnight.

November 26:

After breeakfast, we drove to an art place with strange stuff in lots of bright colors. They we ran the Rio Tres Amigos. We saw howler monkeys, a sloth and lots of water birds. We stayed at El Touncano this evening.

November 27:

The breakfast at El TOucano was a buffet that included omelets. After finning ourselves, we drove toward Puetro Viejo and stopped at Rancho Leone where we saw lots of beautiful stained glass. Then we went on to Selva Verde Lodge. We did get on a short section of the Rio Sarapiqui before dinner to play a bit. We saw Bob startle a lizard and watched it get on his hind legs and ealk on water! It is called a "Jesus Christ" lizard.

November 28:

We paddled the Rio Sarapique today. It was high but we put on anyway - at a large metal bridge (the typical putin with a large tree on shore). This was our first real experience with "wall shots" where the river runs straight into a cliff and then makes a 90 degree turn. There were huge boils on the inside of the turn and a pillow where the water hit the cliff. Ther idea was to go toweards the cliff, ride the pillow and lean into it. We both had trouble getting the hang of it and ened up with lots of roll practice and a couple swims.

Novemnber 29:

We left Selva Verde Lodge after breakfast and headed to the Rio Sucio. "Sucio" is dirty in Spanish. The water was a milky brown from the volcano that was somewhere upstream. The first few rapids had big waves. A couple guests swam and we discussed taking off, but decided to continue down the river. Just before the 1/2 way point, Nancy ended up int he wrong channel when the river went aroound an island. She continued for about 1/4 mile and they protaged across the island to catch up with the rest of us. Lee went down the same channel that Nancy had taken, but didn't see her get off for the portage. We finally met him at the takeout. After a goulash dinner, we continued to Turrialba for the night. We stayed at Hotel Weigelia.

November 30:

It's a sad day when a good time ends. We ran the Rio Pejiabye and had an interesting lunch on the river - including pejibayes, hard boiled quail eggs, hearts of palm, macadamia nuts and payapa. The river was bluish and had a delightful ender spot. Nancy had some nice enders, Chuck didn't get the hang of it.

Dinner was at a restaurant in El Pueblo (Cocina Leone) before returning to San Jose for the night.

November 30:

It was a quiet morning. After breakfast, we walked and did some shopping for souvenirs and makings for our lunch. We left for the airport around 11 am for our 3 pm flight back to the states.