Been thinking that I should mention the people that have helped me along during this trip.
Rainforest World - Rafting company based out of Turrialba, Costa Rica. Run by American Phil Coleman. I have been on trips with the company and Phil supplied me with a kayak to use during my time here. Also Manfred one of the workers make fiberglass Kayak/Raft Helmets, so I have a new noggin protector. Check out http://www.rforestw.com
H20 Adventures - Rafting company in Quepos, Costa Rica. Again another company that let me tag-along on a river trip. Check out http://www.aventurash2o.com
Mundo Aventura - Outdoor Store and Climbing Wall, San Jose - good source of contacts nationwide, lots of gear and of course a good place to play on the plastic rock. Checkout http://www.maaventura.com
Feed The Rat - Australian Outdoor Company, a philosophy that makes what I do all seem logical and within reason. I have to paddle, climb etc or the Rat will consume me from within. These guys have set me up with a few pieces of clothing, stickers and a mission to share the Ratness. Check out http://www.feedtherat.com
Not to forget about the other people that have helped me along the way:
My parents, my brothers, Megan Foster, Abby Fuller & Sarah Malachowsky, My Tico family Rodriguez Arguedas and everyone else who is crossed my path in Costa Rica & Los Angeles.
Thanks everyone!
Antz
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Time to Relax
Only a few days left here in Costa Rica. Have forfeited to the river gods and accepted my fate with the Costa Rica Water, 4 rivers, 8 days in a boat. Not too bad when I look back it really.
Plan is to relax in Atenas until I fly to California, leave CR at 10am Wednesday arriving in Sacramento,CA at 10pm. From the there will head to Coloma in search of more whitewater, and possibly a side trip to Yosemite National Park if time allows.
Can´t wait to explore a completly new area and experience a different sector of America. Coloma will definetely be a stark contrast to Los Angeles, still will be on the anti-bush side of the country too!
Antz
Plan is to relax in Atenas until I fly to California, leave CR at 10am Wednesday arriving in Sacramento,CA at 10pm. From the there will head to Coloma in search of more whitewater, and possibly a side trip to Yosemite National Park if time allows.
Can´t wait to explore a completly new area and experience a different sector of America. Coloma will definetely be a stark contrast to Los Angeles, still will be on the anti-bush side of the country too!
Antz
Friday, May 26, 2006
Pacuare Photos
In the middle of Dos Montanas Canyon
Waterfall, entering the Pacuare.
Cabecar Indian House, perched high above the Pacuare River.
Octavio running the Cimmarones Rapid,
Octavio in the middle of Pinball
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Rio Pacuare
There are times when plans seem to simply fall into your open hands.
Thankfully I timed my return to Turrialba perfectly to sneak on to a 2day trip on the Pacuare River, not that you need two days. This meant that I got to camp out mid river in the Rainforest World Campsite, and get fed copious amounts of food.
The river itself was beautiful, now I understand way every paddler I had met from Costa Rica had told me to make sure I got down the Pacuare. Possibly the greenest valley I have ever been in, fauna of every shade of green in the spectrum. The river itself was beautiful as well, carving its way through the valley with of 28 rapids in 26km of water. grade 3-4 rapids that kept popping up everywhere.
Definetely the highlight of my trip thus far, what the next few days deal up I don't know. What California has to offer again unknown. So right now Im just happy, content with being a travelling kayaker, who will probably run out of money one of these days. The importance of money bears little significance to the outcome of my trip now. If I eat plain rice and drink only water what does it matter, i've been lucky to experience pieces of Costa Rica that not all the swarms of Tourists get to see.
Yet still there is 6 whole days in Costa Rica & 13 or 14 in the USA.
Still adventuring...
photos to come....
Antz
Thankfully I timed my return to Turrialba perfectly to sneak on to a 2day trip on the Pacuare River, not that you need two days. This meant that I got to camp out mid river in the Rainforest World Campsite, and get fed copious amounts of food.
The river itself was beautiful, now I understand way every paddler I had met from Costa Rica had told me to make sure I got down the Pacuare. Possibly the greenest valley I have ever been in, fauna of every shade of green in the spectrum. The river itself was beautiful as well, carving its way through the valley with of 28 rapids in 26km of water. grade 3-4 rapids that kept popping up everywhere.
Definetely the highlight of my trip thus far, what the next few days deal up I don't know. What California has to offer again unknown. So right now Im just happy, content with being a travelling kayaker, who will probably run out of money one of these days. The importance of money bears little significance to the outcome of my trip now. If I eat plain rice and drink only water what does it matter, i've been lucky to experience pieces of Costa Rica that not all the swarms of Tourists get to see.
Yet still there is 6 whole days in Costa Rica & 13 or 14 in the USA.
Still adventuring...
photos to come....
Antz
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Photo Update
Well I finally figured out how to con the computer into recognising my camera. So have got some photos online. Takes ages to load so only 3 for now. Will work on downsizing the images to speed the process.
Am heading to Turrialba tomorrow so hopefully on the Rio Pacuare and Reventazon this week, which were the main rivers I wanted to paddle here in Costa Rica. Also beginning to make plans for California, have to decide whether to fly or bus from Los Angeles up to Coloma.
Antz
Rio Chiriqui Viejo, Panama
At the put in - Rio Chiriqui Viejo, Panama (Photo Stacy Heer)
Iguana - Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
Am heading to Turrialba tomorrow so hopefully on the Rio Pacuare and Reventazon this week, which were the main rivers I wanted to paddle here in Costa Rica. Also beginning to make plans for California, have to decide whether to fly or bus from Los Angeles up to Coloma.
Antz
Rio Chiriqui Viejo, Panama
At the put in - Rio Chiriqui Viejo, Panama (Photo Stacy Heer)
Iguana - Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
Thursday, May 18, 2006
I´m still here
As I get further into my trip the time seems to be going faster, although i´m not sure if thats because im doing more. Or because I´m coming back sooner rather than later.
Last Thursday I changed my flights from Costa Rica, I now leave on the 31st of May. Then hopefully heading to Northern California for a couple of weeks boating around the Coloma Area. This change was brought on by overspending here and general lack of paddling (partially due to low water levels).
After sorting out my flight changes I felt like kayaking, so I headed to the Quepos/Manuel Antonio area on Costa Rica´s Pacific coast. Here I hooked up with Aventuras H20 and finally managed to get on another river.
This time it was the Rio Naranjo, a 3 hour section from the town of Narajanito to the pacific coast highway. A few nice rapids with lots of waves and holes all over the place. Had a bit of fun when the raft flipped sending 3 larger americans into the river, CARNAGE, great fun as i directed them to the side of the river. They seemed to be in a mild state of panic! All was well though and everyone was reunited in their little raft.
The river was really beautiful rainforest scenery with plenty of birdlife along the shores. Overall the river was graded 3-4 but once again nothing really difficult, one rapid would be awesome with more water, unfourtunately not to be at the moment.
So I stayed in the Quepos area for 3 nights, checked out the beaches and wildlife, got some nice photos and returned to Atenas.
Am having difficulty transferring my photos at the moment, the windows operating system is too old to recognize my camera. Hopefully will find a suitable system soon.
Having a couple days relaxing in Atenas now, catching up on friends from my old school. Will head back to Turriabla on Sunday, probably down there for the week.
Antz
Last Thursday I changed my flights from Costa Rica, I now leave on the 31st of May. Then hopefully heading to Northern California for a couple of weeks boating around the Coloma Area. This change was brought on by overspending here and general lack of paddling (partially due to low water levels).
After sorting out my flight changes I felt like kayaking, so I headed to the Quepos/Manuel Antonio area on Costa Rica´s Pacific coast. Here I hooked up with Aventuras H20 and finally managed to get on another river.
This time it was the Rio Naranjo, a 3 hour section from the town of Narajanito to the pacific coast highway. A few nice rapids with lots of waves and holes all over the place. Had a bit of fun when the raft flipped sending 3 larger americans into the river, CARNAGE, great fun as i directed them to the side of the river. They seemed to be in a mild state of panic! All was well though and everyone was reunited in their little raft.
The river was really beautiful rainforest scenery with plenty of birdlife along the shores. Overall the river was graded 3-4 but once again nothing really difficult, one rapid would be awesome with more water, unfourtunately not to be at the moment.
So I stayed in the Quepos area for 3 nights, checked out the beaches and wildlife, got some nice photos and returned to Atenas.
Am having difficulty transferring my photos at the moment, the windows operating system is too old to recognize my camera. Hopefully will find a suitable system soon.
Having a couple days relaxing in Atenas now, catching up on friends from my old school. Will head back to Turriabla on Sunday, probably down there for the week.
Antz
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
down panama way...
Since Friday i´ve been all over the show.
Again there were no rafting trips to the Pacuare, so i decided to leave Turrialba. I caught a few buses and ended up in Ciudad Neilly at the Southern end of Costa Rica. After a short sleep, i took up bumpy & scenic bus ride through palm & banana tree plantations to Pavones.
Pavones is a surfing town on the southwest tip of Costa Rica, basically on the border of Panama. Here is where the world´s 2nd longest left hand break can be found. Unfortunately for me it was one of the magical days where surfers have reputedly had 5-10 minute rides. I had to make do with 4-5ft waves that were clean and fast. My kayak handled the surf well, and got a few long rides, as well as some good airtime. The night was spent at some cabinas which a owned by a New Zealand surfer from the Mount. She wasn´t there though in Bali or somewhere tropical like that.
Sunday saw me heading back inland and down to the border. Through some random formalities, my first ever land border crossing in fact. I was in Panama, still am in fact, still right beside the border 24 hours later.
I met up with American paddler Stacy Heer & we tried to organise transport to the local river Rio Chiriqui Viejo. Lots of people tried to be helpful... but we ended up not knowing the time that bus actually arrived. So we opted to hire a van to the put-in.
All was well, the run was beautiful scenery with birds and butterflies filling the air. Occasionally coming upon local fisherman with bamboo poles. The run was grade 3-4 and had some very nice rapids. With more water it would definetly push up into the grade 5 realms and be a stunning outing. Nevertheless im content. Except for a bruised thumb from a not so friendly incounter with a rock. Hopefully it heals quickly.
Plans are still unknown for the next few days, will wait and see what we come upon.
Antz
Again there were no rafting trips to the Pacuare, so i decided to leave Turrialba. I caught a few buses and ended up in Ciudad Neilly at the Southern end of Costa Rica. After a short sleep, i took up bumpy & scenic bus ride through palm & banana tree plantations to Pavones.
Pavones is a surfing town on the southwest tip of Costa Rica, basically on the border of Panama. Here is where the world´s 2nd longest left hand break can be found. Unfortunately for me it was one of the magical days where surfers have reputedly had 5-10 minute rides. I had to make do with 4-5ft waves that were clean and fast. My kayak handled the surf well, and got a few long rides, as well as some good airtime. The night was spent at some cabinas which a owned by a New Zealand surfer from the Mount. She wasn´t there though in Bali or somewhere tropical like that.
Sunday saw me heading back inland and down to the border. Through some random formalities, my first ever land border crossing in fact. I was in Panama, still am in fact, still right beside the border 24 hours later.
I met up with American paddler Stacy Heer & we tried to organise transport to the local river Rio Chiriqui Viejo. Lots of people tried to be helpful... but we ended up not knowing the time that bus actually arrived. So we opted to hire a van to the put-in.
All was well, the run was beautiful scenery with birds and butterflies filling the air. Occasionally coming upon local fisherman with bamboo poles. The run was grade 3-4 and had some very nice rapids. With more water it would definetly push up into the grade 5 realms and be a stunning outing. Nevertheless im content. Except for a bruised thumb from a not so friendly incounter with a rock. Hopefully it heals quickly.
Plans are still unknown for the next few days, will wait and see what we come upon.
Antz
Thursday, May 04, 2006
finally got a boat
After about 8 days, and lots of muddling around I finally got my hands on a boat (Dagger Super Ego). Then proceeded to convince some locals that a river trip would be a great way to pass the afternoon. I convinced 2 others and one shuttle bunny! all good... We went to the upper pejiyabe (spelling most likely to be wrong). Water levels were low which meant it was about a grade 3ish run, pretty simple clear lines the whole way through.
The new boat handled well, great for whoopies and stern stalls, cartwheels were a little harder to initiate than im used to with the Rad. All good though hopefully tomorrow will be on the Pacuare, and plans are underfoot to head to Panama next week.
Antz
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
1st weekend in CR
So finally made it to the destination.
A weekend of brain'straining. Trying to decipher the spanish language once again. Its been all right but when i arrived mildly hangover and spent the 1st two nights tomando cervezas (drinking beers) i could expect perfection.
I spent the weekend in Atenas with my famila tico and now have caught a couple of buses to the town of Turrialba. Heres where i should end up in a kayak... Once i find one that is. looks like im purchasing one. Well probably sell before i leave again. To avoid the hideous cost of hiring.
So hopefully in a few days i will have fed my rat or maybe drowned it of sorts.
Adios
Antz
A weekend of brain'straining. Trying to decipher the spanish language once again. Its been all right but when i arrived mildly hangover and spent the 1st two nights tomando cervezas (drinking beers) i could expect perfection.
I spent the weekend in Atenas with my famila tico and now have caught a couple of buses to the town of Turrialba. Heres where i should end up in a kayak... Once i find one that is. looks like im purchasing one. Well probably sell before i leave again. To avoid the hideous cost of hiring.
So hopefully in a few days i will have fed my rat or maybe drowned it of sorts.
Adios
Antz
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