San Juan Del Sur Nicaragua to Boca Del Toros Panama

San Juan Del Sur  Nicaragua

A great little stop over on the beach , it reminded me of Bali , but without all the people . Unfortunately the beach was covered in rubbish , there had been a lot of rain so maybe I just got there at the wrong time . I also run into 4 American Guys doing the same trip 

La Fortuna Costa Rica 

The ride from San Juan del Sur to La Fortuna Costa Rica was a very long day . Started at 7am , reached the border by 8 am (good start) , then it all started to go pear shape . Those bloody borders are a nightmare , but I paid (again ),  because there was no way I was ever going to get through this one alone . Even with the help of 3 guys (robbing blind again , they must smile when they see us gringos coming ) it took about 1.5 hrs . And it is bloody hot , people every where , trucks , trucks and more trucks ( I have never seen so many trucks in one place ) .They were telling me that it can take up to a week or more for some of the trucks to get through . After being pushed a proded by the guys to get me through quickly it was finally over (and I was @#@& ,and hungry) . Off I go , about 15kms down the road I get pulled up for speeding (the speed limit is 80 kms Im doing 114 km ) . The Policeman says Im going to give you a ticket , I say OK , he says where you going , I say Panama today . With that he says,  well no point in giving you a ticket then , just slow down (lucky for me , sometimes things go your way ) . Any way about 20kms down the road ,I get to the first city and the first thing I see is the GOLDEN ARCHES McDonalds . (I though I must be in heaven ) McDonald for lunch I'm lovin it .  

Pacific Coast Costa Rica

I decided to go have a look at the pacific coast seems im now in Costa Rica , it was only about 75kms and if i liked it I would go on down that way , and back up to La Fortuna . When i got to the coast it just like del Sur , so I thought bugger this and headed straight back the way i have come and on to La Fortuna . The going is good ,  not so hot and Costa Rica is a lot more Western than the other Countries  . The roads are better and the drivers are marginally better . 

Next I took the wrong turn ,  ended up going about an extra 150kms for nothing .  I missed going through the Cload Forest which I wanted to do (by the time I realised it , it was to late to turn back , (that is the trouble with GSPs you have to use both , the GPS and a Map ) . 

About an hr out of La Fortuna it started to rain and shit it rained , like i have never had it before . I arrived in La Fortuna about 5pm (a very long day ) wet and buggered saying ,  what are you doing you silly old bugger , you should be at home on the couch with Charlie (no sorry with Ruth )

I stayed 2 nights in La Fortuna ( a great little town , I loved it ), so with a spare day I went for a 3hr walk in the Cloud Forest . All i can say is that it was the best bush walk ever . So many flowers beautiful lush plants and wild life , Fantastic .

 But on arriving at the car park I look all my gear to the rangers office to leave them with , excluding my summer riding gloves . I thought well im the only one here and they were wet from yesterday , what a good time to dry them in the sun (Dumb bugger ah ), well you know what happen YES they were pinched (see what happens when Ruths is not here, no way would she have let me do that , shes got more brains ) 

Next Stop the Caribbean 

The ride from La Fortuna to Puerto Viejo was another big day , but another great ride . The country side tropical with lots of Pineapple and Banana  plantations , also big Beef  Studs .  Puerto Vievjo is just what you see in the mags of the Caribbean . White beaches and lots of tropical vegetation .  

  

Tiger at da Beach 

This guy (a sloth )waved out on the road , he said how's Charlie , Basil and Gugie going . You know whats amazing  is guys these all speak English , if only everybody else did , it would make things a lot easier for me 

The Border at Panama 

CHECK THE VIDEO OUT , CLICK ON DA VIDEO  , IN THE VIDEO BAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE ,  THE BRIDGE CROSSING

This was a great little border to cross ,  it didnt talk  long at all . But the bridge to get to Panama is just out of this world (a nightmare ) . I will try to publish my video of the crossing .

Above is the Customs at the Panama side , they let me come in to there office where there was aircon . Everybody else had to stay out side . We had a great conversation , but the only problem was that they didnt speak English and my Spainish is bugger all .

Arriving Boca Del Toros Costa Rica

After the border (about 60kms )it is on to Boca Del Toros 

It is a Tropical Island Paradise , approx 15 mins by boat from the main land .

Above this is the young fellow who help me get here .

I was going to take the bike over to the island on the car ferry , but I missed da boat . So this young fellow got the bike stored ( i hope it will be there when i get back , well at least some of it anyway )and me onto a small boat for $5 out to the island  . 

The weather is hot and I have just about had enough of sweating and are longing for some cold weather . I would say that it is not that hot at the moment for the locals , but for me , hell sweat just runs out of me . Its alright while im on the bike , but as soon as I stop . Hell my boots just full up , my motorbike  gear just stinks like Vinegar , but Im lovin it , just like McDonalds  

Im sitting at my Hotel over the water,  looking out to the beautiful scenery and watching a Humming Bird suck nectar from a Honey Pot ,  'Paradise' .

THE BIKE 

Well It is a great bike to ride , now that I have gotten used to the weight and high Point of balance . It is so smooth and I can sit on it for hrs with no trouble at all  without getting a sore arse . Its great and i just love it .

ME 

Your biggest Enemys  on a trip like this is Yourself 

The  unknown and  loneliness, 

The unknown because you have no idea what is ahead or what to expect . This is what I think stops a lot of people from travelling  . Also all the misinformation (well probably not misinformation , but more too,  to much negativity )that has been pumped into our heads from the media . 

Loneliness 

This can be the worst , not so much as not being around people but not being able to talk with them in a conversation . Not specking the lingo can leave you alone at times . 

Traveling alone for me is a first and I knew it would be hard at times , especially at times like this out here in a beautiful place and not having Ruth here to share it with (but in saying that , I talk to her a lot, people must look and say crazy gringo )  . 

This is my real Enemy , being away from Ruth   

Next on to Panama City and to get the bike to Colombia