Jungle Adventure

Jungle Adventure!

Take an old Land Cruiser on a 4-wheel drive super bumpy road into the jungle. Roberto, Andres, and Pablo are our fun and knowledgeable guides. So much fun to practice my Spanish with as they practice English. Reminds me of how much I love the language and wish I could use it more. 

Zipline first…fast and tricky to slop. Slam! Pablo catches me. J Tour and hike into jungle, stop to talk about indigenous and medicinal plants like ginger and leaves with orange sap to paint our nails and seed pods (that resemble the shell of an urchin) used as monkey combs. We learn of the “moving tree” roots on top of ground move in search of the sun before they plant their roots. I like that idea. So much wildlife. Huge spiders, including a tarantula hiding in her nest, plus a deadly snake (with eyelashes like a viper) awaits one of our first repels (catch me... I’m slipping!)  Vultures and lizards abound. Fairy-like blue dragonflies, Morphos, red poison dart frogs, centipedes, and incredibly brightly colored bugs of all kinds. Crazy, ear-bending cicadas. So much life, treasures waiting to be found. Second repel into a waterfalls, cool water cradles us at the end.  Ahhhh!!! Up and downhill hikes more ziplines, rope bridges, tree-climbing, and a Tarzan swing. Yippppeeee! 

End with the Superman Zipline and as I fly over the canopy, I can see my shadow below. A human-sized dragonfly, soaring into her dreams. It’s magical--hot and humid and biting bugs are not too bad. So exhilarating and fun—full of laughter and adventure for us all.

Sloths and Hammocks

Drive to Playa Cocles—thank goodness for Wayz—is much easier than anticipated.  A little jumpy in the 4-wheel drive Toyota RAV. There’s an accident—semi truck—and we wait and wait. Finally moving again. Rain pours and pours as we cruise through cloud forest and gradually drop down to sea level. Costa Rica feels good.

Stop at the Sloth Sanctuary in Cahuita and meet Buttercup, their star sloth, a 20-year-resident, who wears a smiles 24-hours a day.  Many sloths here, both 2 and 3 fingered, are unable to be released due to injury (electrical wires, care accidents, falls) or abandonment. They are precious.  Learn so much about these remarkable creatures and the differences between the two species—although the one thing in common is what rings true with our connotation with the word sloth itself. They are energy savers—and move as little and as slow as possible to survive.  In the sloth nursery, the babies are quiet, most snuggling in or under a blanket—all want comfort in this lonely world.

A boat ride down the rivers reveals many secrets to us—a caiman, lying camouflaged in the river, eyes watching us all the while. Water hopping lizards, howler monkeys and more sloths huddled at the tops of trees. It is a quiet and magical ride, making our own path through the lily pad-covered river, leaving no trace but our hearts.

Villa Ananci is a paradise. Gorgeous home, wood and color, designed with such intricacies and detail. The owners are on site (Isis and Kean) ready every morning for a charming chat and advice for the day.  Surrounded by lush trees, hanging moss, lizards, butterflies, frogs and birds singing day and night. The veranda. The pool. The hammocks. The sweet, sweet smells are heaven.

Delta Debacle

First attempt. Red eye flight. Packing done. To airport early. Then something starts to looks suspicious in the Delta Terminal. Flights are being postpone. Planes de-boarded. Then it hits our flights. World-wide power outage at Delta. All flights grounded. Ahhhhh! Try to sleep on airport floor all night. Snacks ravaged by unorganized and I guess starving passengers. Finally, we board the plane at 5:30. “Hurry!” they tell us. “You have 30 minutes to board. Pilots can only work 12 hours shifts.” And yes, of course, after the last person takes his seat, we are informed that we did not make boarding in time and the pilot cannot fly us.  Off we go back to terminal. After a LONG wait in customer service, we get on the phone with a rep. We refuse the flight they offer us with COPA Air—another overnighter and 3 stops. We end up with Alaska 2 days later. Bye-bye 3 days of vacation. L

Second try and we finally make it to San Jose, Costa Rica. As we rent our car, though, we realize that making the five-hour drive to Playa Cocles on the Caribbean side is too far and too late to brave at that hour. There goes another day on the beach. Argh.  Our only option tonight? Holiday Inn Express and Dennys. Blah. Not the Costa Rica I have been waiting for!

Red's Meadow Rest

Heading "home" to Red's Meadow

After a beautiful shower and great night's sleep in a BED, I meet friends and family in Mammoth and head to our annual summer trip to Red's.

Ah, the lupine

Sotcher Lake hike reminds me of the beloved, gorgeous, emerald sheen--still a precious gem--just like the first time decades ago. Happy to be home!

Still in hiking and moving mode--hiked Minaret Falls, 7 miles and a bit more.  Lucy tags along (and me, being in denial, forget how hot and rocky this trail is.) She loves it, but on the return flight, her paws have had enough. Wrecked the old girl again... Sorry Lucy! Biting flies bad here too--something we've never had a problem with (http://sectionhiker.com/black-fly-season/) and never want to experience again.

BFFs

black flies biting as we posed!

Get a bout of hives on legs and blisters and heels crack even worse. Maybe this old body need a bit of a break.

So happy to be with my family...resting and taking in more of the Sierras I love.


Last stop--hot springs near the Green church. One big deep breath as I say goodbye to the Sierras for another year...