To South America!

I've made it to South America! What a ride it's been. My lest leg, the Panama stretch, was hot but pretty. I followed the Pan-American Highway across the whole country. Much of it was under construction and the work crews were always happy to fill my water and look at my bike. I found nice camping along the way, passed through dense jungle and wandered the huge sprawling air-conditioned grocery stores. Crossing the Panama Canal felt good. I could see one huge container ship below and in the distance, Panama city. From there I was just one day away from Colon and my ferry to South America. 

When I arrived at the ferry dock a dozen motorcycle tourists were already there. Followed later by a dozen more. Two cyclists eventually arrived too. It was great to share stories with so many like minded people. The ferry made the passage to Cartegena through the night in 18 hours. I spent most of that time on deck enjoying the ocean breeze. Back on dry land I am excited to tackle another continent. 

 From my first morning in Panama.

 A pleasant hammockeering night.

 Panama mountains.

 Bridge over the Panama Canal.

 One of these things is not like the other.

 It says it all.

 New motorcycle friends.

 New bicycle friends.

 Cartegena dead ahead.

 Container ships can be so colorful.

 Tug boat!

 Ports have a lot of big things to take miniature pictures of.

 My ride to South America

Apparently they will let anybody into Columbia.

Wedding crashing in Costa Rica

Costa Rica was great. I bought homemade cookies at the border on Christmas eve. It isn't Christmas without cookies. I followed quiet roads through the hills in the north before turning south to climb into the mountains. A six hour climb brought me into cool air, then clouds, then I climbed over the clouds and found one of the most spectacular sunset panoramas I have ever seen. In the valley below the clouds rolled by, churning like boiling water as they swallowed the sun. As it grew dark the twinkling cities in the distant valleys mirrored the stars above. A friendly grounds keeper offered I stay in the expo center that night. He was concerned I would get cold. He admitted that he has never seen snow in his life, we had different ideas about cold. The sixty degree night was plenty warm for me but I took him up on his offer anyway. In the morning I biked back into the town of Alfaro Ruiz which had a wonderful topiary at the town center. The church there too I liked the styling and colors of more than any I've seen so far. Leaving town I descended 4500 feet to a coastal jungle where I camped with the spider monkeys, wild pigs and some sort of small furry creature that waddled when it walked. Probably snakes, spiders and crocodiles too but I never saw any of those. 

I also spent New Years in Costa Rica. My friends from Colorado, Tim and Regan, happened to be Manuel Antonio for New Years and a wedding afterwards. Lucky for me the timing worked out that I could meet them. I spent nearly a week with them, eating good food, sleeping with a roof over my head. We went surfing for a day. My first time ever. I was able to stand up but I wasn't graceful about it. I met the bride and groom when they got to town, and was quickly invited to the wedding. The rumors of a cycling wedding crasher spread quickly and everyone wanted the story. The wedding was lovely and a good party. It took place at sunset from a balcony high on a hill with an amazing view overlooking the Pacific. Congratulations Susan and Phil! 

Following the wedding it was just a couple days to the border. One more central America country crossed!

 Typical Costa Rica

 A long hang on a palm oil plantation

 The large clumps of leaves in this tree are from separate plants. I guess there is less competition to grow up in a tree.

 Pacific sunset from Quepos.

 A mini super for sure.

 Pineapple farm.

 A flower for you.

 A nice lunch spot.

 Climbing into the mountains.

 A cloud vista.

 Such a wonderful view.

 I liked the colors if this church.

 Inside the church.

 In the front of the church.

 Awesome bushes.

 It does not get better than this.

 Topiary!

I really liked this place.

Let's keep it confusing.

Looking for camping.

It is very humid here.

Jungle hammockeering!

A cool place for sure.

Congratulations Susan and Phil!

Here we go Panama! 

Through Nicaragua

I've crossed Nicaragua now. These central America countries really don't take long to cross. It was a beautiful country full of friendly people. I even took a few days off to enjoy the beach and the volcanoes.

The first volcano I visited was just outside of the city of Grenada. A pretty tourist town on the coast of the largest lake in Central America, Lake Nicaragua. I camped near the foot of it and harvested a few coconuts there to have with dinner. The next volcanoes I visited formed an island in the lake. They are twin cones connected in the middle, the largest rising to nearly a mile in height. They were wonderful to look at. The clouds seemed to catch on the tops day and night. Monkeys swung through the island trees and the road I followed cut a path directly between the two peaks.

Between visiting those volcanoes I detoured to the beach. I spent a night in Popoyo, a famous surf beach. The nice guys at Somos Surfistas handed me a beer first thing when I arrived then let me put up my hammock for the night at their hostel. It was a great place and I watched the most spectacular sunset there. My next stop was at El Gigante. I only went there because the name of the town made me think there was a giant tree to see. There was no tree, barely a town even. Instead I found the fantastic Gigante Bay bar and hostel. The owner, Captain John, a fellow cycle tourist, saw me arrive and invited me sailing on his 38 foot catamaran and to hang my hammock on his porch. More picturesque sunsets, swimming in the warm Pacific waves, vivid stars mirrored by bioluminescence in the surf, it was tough to pull myself away. But I did. I hear the Costa Rica beaches are nice too.

 Welcome to Nicaragua

 Winning-the-Pooh bandit

 Grenada church

 Another Grenada church

 Inside the blue church. Blue is my favorite color for churches.

 These trees are amazing

 The largest tree I found in Nicaragua

 Thank you Somos Surfistas!

 Sunset from El Gigante beach.

 My drawing of driftwood on the beach. The large catamaran in the middle is the boat I went sailing on.

Thank you John and Gigante Bay hostel. 

 The Gigante Bay hostel bar. It's casual there.

 The ferry to Ometepe, the volcano island.

The twin volcanoes of Ometepe. 

 Sunset from the ferry.

 One Ometepe volcano

 Petroglyph near where I camped on Ometepe.

 A wind turbine blade. They are so big.

Now Costa Rica!