?This crazy Tico keyboard! Wow, electricity! How exciting is that?
Yesterday I finished walking across Central America. From the Atlantic (or Caribean) to the Pacific. And boy are my feet tired!!
Two weeks of rafting coming up.
Wow, I haven?t blogged in a month. There?s so much to say!
Starting in Lim?n, we began marching west, carrying clothes, food, everything on our backs. Hiking an average of 12 miles a day, we started the 280ish mile journey from coast to coast. Mud. There was lots of mud. I don?t know why RAINforest never made me think the ground would be wet. Most of the trails we followed were more like very narrow swamps. I have never before stepped in mud up to my thigh. I completely destroyed one solid pair of hiking boots, one poncho, and three pairs of socks. And you know what? It?s really cold in the mountains here. After climbing 3000 meters of tropical peaks, I was glad to have packed long underwear.
I can now say that I?ve eaten gallo pinto (beans and rice) for 12 meals in a row. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nothing but beans and rice. I?ll never be able to look at that plate again.
We passed through dry forest, wet forest, rainforest, cloud forest, paramo, and bamboo forest. We slept in a boxcar. We slept on a mountain, and in 30 days, I had two hot showers and two sets of clothes. My legs have never known such a workout or such dirtiness.
The Ticos are wonderful people. Early in our trip, we were faced with crossing a half kilometer of rotting railroad bridge, stepping from one tie to the next, in the rain, carrying 50 pound packs. The locals made several trips across that bridge, holding our hands and helping us make the journey over the rapids below. Another day, when one of our group members could walk no farther, the Tico in the first car to pass offered a ride to the next town. Our homestays were excellent. (Um, beans and rice? no thanks) I want tico children.
Along the way there were many adventures, too many to list here.
See you all when I get back to the States.
Pura Vida!