Training Log Archive: HubNukin'

Bug-out day: we had heard over and over again that Costa Rican roads can bring many surprises. The speed limit was 60km/h most of the way of our 100km and being actual independence day, we didn't know if there would be crowds and festivities in the towns we went through. The result is that we ended up at the airport over 4 hours before our flight and we were one of about 6 passengers in the whole airport. We were starving so we had to support the only restaurant in the airport: Quizzno's with their signature $11 subs. Ugh.

We got to San Salvador and instead of laying us over in the hotel 5 minutes down the road, they took 2 hours to load us up into a bus and drive us 45 minutes to downtown San Salvador. The bonus of that was that we were put up in a 5-star hotel at no charge. We had an amazing sleep in our feather-mattress king-sized bed.

Got up and had my morning Monster time on the beach, then had some breakfast and rented my surfboard again. I had some more success on the increasingly large waves. I REALLY need to learn to duck-dive better as I was really getting hammered trying to paddle out again through the big ones. I was getting toward the end of my available time and I face-planted in one of the bigger waves I have tried to catch. I got caught in the washing machine and eventually made my way out the back. Time to call it a day :)

We got back in the car and made a second attempt at seeing the animal refuge. We got there to discover that the advertised rates were wrong and she wanted $40 to enter her dinky little operation. We didn't have enough cash on us so she got pissed off at us and turned us away. No matter as there were a pair of brilliant rainbow parrots hanging out in a tree just down the road. Very cool that nature can make things that colourful!

We went back to town and caught the Independence Day parade by the school kids of Samara. Cool to wach :)

We got out of town first thing and went on our way towards Nosara. We tried to take the coastal road, but the first river ford was pretty deep - not something I'm going to try with a baby in the car! The next route we tried had some pretty banged-up roads, but all the river fords also had small bridges that we were able to use. We went all the way into the town of Nosara which was abound with action largely centred around the school. Kids of all ages were drumming, marching, playing instruments, etc. practicing for their upcoming Independence Day parade tomorrow. Very cute! We tried to make our way down to the remote Nosara Beach in the reserve, but we could only find river fords and never found the bridge (didn't have much of a map to work with). We headed back and decided to try to find lunch so followed signs for some hotel with the word 'hilltop' in it. Lucky we did as we had lunch with an incredible view over the jungle below and the crashing waves at the remote portion of Nosara Beach before us; good find! The crappy food was pretty expensive, but worth it for the view. The tough part was keeping TheMonster away from the non-childproof edges. She found a wheelchair ramp so she was happy (her new favourite thing).

From there, we went back to Playa Guiones. TheMonster played in the sand and ran around for a while and MooPoint and I alternatingly watches some impressive surfers on the massive waves (pitted man, so pitted) and the aimless wandering Monster.

When we got back, we had a bit of time before sunset so I found the only surfboard rental dude still open and he let me take a board until sunset. I was pretty happy with how quickly things came back. The only downside is how much my zipoid process was sticking into the board (first time on a hard-top board). Totally worth it!

We drove eastward past the beautiful Playa Carillio on our way to a wildlife reserve. TheMonster was asleep when we got there so we decided to keep driving. It turned out to be a fun driving adventure! I intended on sticking along the coast, but the road got really dodgy and a little too extreme for our Hyunday Tuscon so we headed inland. We went up, up, UP some really steep roads and got some amazing views of the hills around and the cost now below us. My Land Rover training came in handy a few times with the rutted roads.

We wound our way around and managed to find a town with a gas station. TheMonster woke up on our way back into town. We had a nice beach afternoon and discovered (again) how much she loves playing in the sand. I scoped out a surf board rental shop. Oh yeah.

We went for a walk along Playa Brasilito and to Playa Conchal, but unfortunately it rained and was overcast the whole time. We don't mind the rain, but the whole appeal was the appearance of the white sand and acqua-marine water in the sun. Given that there is a massive under-tow there, we just enjoyed our walk in the rain as opposed to swimming.

Off we drove down to Samara which was all on paved roads. Imagine.

We found a place to stay (4 for 4 on having king-sized beds at this point - oh yeah) went for a walk on the beach and found a nice place on the beach for lunch. More beach walking, a bit of swimming and a bit of town discovering before dinner and TheMonster's bed time.

The others had to leave ridiculously early which meant that MooPoint, TheMonster and I had the whole fancy-pants resort to ourselves. TheMonster and I went on a long walk to try to see the howler monkeys, but to no avail. So cool walking in the jungle - I love how massive so many of th leaves are!

Eventually our rental car arrived (delivered to us at not extra charge - oh yeah) and off we went towards Playa Brasilito and Playa Conchal. We found a cozy hotel room and some dinner in time for TheMonster's bed time.

Woke up, had some more tasty breakfast, then went down to the beach and played in the waves for a while. VERY fun! I face-planted in the sandy bottom when body-surfing a particularly big wave and got tacoed the wrong way. Powerful wave!

Walked down the beach and TheMonster got to play in the small surf and LOVED the warm tidal pools.

Back up to the resort for some more family time, pool time etc.