Our challenge was to ride 500 km across beautiful Costa Rica in aid of 'Dignity in Dementia' at Poole Hospital from 3-12 April. Back home and mission accomplished, we are publishing below our daily diary and photos as quickly as we can sort out the photos!
Click on any photo to enlarge it.
Click on any photo to enlarge it.
Day 2 - 4th April - Playa del Coca to Liberia
Today is the first cycle ride of our fund raising cycle challenge for Dignity in Dementia.
Today is the first cycle ride of our fund raising cycle challenge for Dignity in Dementia.
We awoke this next morning to the view from the hotel window and the bustle of the street below.
Breakfasting on fried plantain, pineapple, melon, scrambled eggs, rice and beans (which became a staple over the days to come), we glanced longingly at the hotel pool glistening in the early morning sun, and loaded the bus for the four hour transfer to our starting point.
On the bus Anna introduced us to our truly amazing support team, Juan Carlos (JC), Beto, Margarita, and Luisca.
Costa Rican guide, JC, ask him anything, absolutely anything about his beloved country, he had the answer. Ask him does the day start and end with a hill – the answer, always yes, but ask him how much farther, “only 12 km", or "only 15km" or even "only 25km"! His calculation and estimation of distance was highly suspect and more often than not, definitely not in our favour.
Quiet, but knowing Beto, chef extraordinaire, who could conjure up delicious meals for all of us using two portable gas rings and utensils stored in plastic barrels. He doubled as bicycle mechanic and support rider too.
Pretty Marguerita, who helped Beto but also accompanied us on some of our rides.
Finally Luisca, driver and practical joker. On more than one occasion someone became the victim of his pranks, which usually involved copious amounts of water or ice cubes.
Costa Rican guide, JC, ask him anything, absolutely anything about his beloved country, he had the answer. Ask him does the day start and end with a hill – the answer, always yes, but ask him how much farther, “only 12 km", or "only 15km" or even "only 25km"! His calculation and estimation of distance was highly suspect and more often than not, definitely not in our favour.
Quiet, but knowing Beto, chef extraordinaire, who could conjure up delicious meals for all of us using two portable gas rings and utensils stored in plastic barrels. He doubled as bicycle mechanic and support rider too.
Pretty Marguerita, who helped Beto but also accompanied us on some of our rides.
Finally Luisca, driver and practical joker. On more than one occasion someone became the victim of his pranks, which usually involved copious amounts of water or ice cubes.
He took a big shine to the hooter on Penny’s bike and would beep his bus horn when passing, she would hoot back. Penny gifted the hooter to Luisca, with much ceremony, on our final day.
Daily he would clean and polish the bus. It shone like new inside and out, even the tyres were pimped.
Daily he would clean and polish the bus. It shone like new inside and out, even the tyres were pimped.
Leaving the hotel we headed for the coast and Playa De Boco. We had a sneaky preview of what we had signed up for; our bikes were on the roof. It was all becoming very, very real.
The route to the coast took us out of town, passed a supermarket trading under the name of ‘Carrion’, and along roads lined with fruit stalls selling melons, melons and more melons. Some sold bananas and pineapples too and occasionally coconuts.
Through lush green vegetation, palms and tropical plants, on to more arid and dry grasslands. We stopped at a bar for a break, the heat of the day hitting us in a suffocating gush as we stepped from the bus - a rush to the bar for a cold drink.
Back on the bus, more miles covered then, finally, a tantalising glimpse of the Pacific Ocean, and the starting point of our adventure. But before we could be fitted with our bikes a second stop - Juanita’s for lunch. Rice and beans, beef and mushrooms, salad, chilli and plantains.
The team were getting to know each other, so Mark suggested we try one of his protein balls, but the heat and his backpack had taken their toll, they really hadn't traveled well. The chocolate, almond and sesame mix was sadly no longer in ball shapes, or any kind of shape actually.
Despite their unappetizing appearance and the very predictable jokes, the squashed mixture did taste rather good. However chocolate does not survive well in tropical climates, and by popular consensus the protein balls were sacrificed and unceremoniously dumped. They certainly proved to be an ice breaker.
Through lush green vegetation, palms and tropical plants, on to more arid and dry grasslands. We stopped at a bar for a break, the heat of the day hitting us in a suffocating gush as we stepped from the bus - a rush to the bar for a cold drink.
Back on the bus, more miles covered then, finally, a tantalising glimpse of the Pacific Ocean, and the starting point of our adventure. But before we could be fitted with our bikes a second stop - Juanita’s for lunch. Rice and beans, beef and mushrooms, salad, chilli and plantains.
The team were getting to know each other, so Mark suggested we try one of his protein balls, but the heat and his backpack had taken their toll, they really hadn't traveled well. The chocolate, almond and sesame mix was sadly no longer in ball shapes, or any kind of shape actually.
Despite their unappetizing appearance and the very predictable jokes, the squashed mixture did taste rather good. However chocolate does not survive well in tropical climates, and by popular consensus the protein balls were sacrificed and unceremoniously dumped. They certainly proved to be an ice breaker.
Onward - Playa de Coco, the beach and Pacific Ocean where some people took photos of the view, others, in true British style rolled up their trousers and went for a paddle, some posed, while others were so undecided about what to do next, they text a friend.
A last minute pose, on the beach with the Pacific Ocean in the background.
Team Dignity at the start of the challenge and keen to get going. But it would take some days and a lot of scrubbing for us all to look this clean and fresh, and a few days post return home to restore the 'bright eyed' look.
Team Dignity at the start of the challenge and keen to get going. But it would take some days and a lot of scrubbing for us all to look this clean and fresh, and a few days post return home to restore the 'bright eyed' look.
However at last, the moment had arrived. We were to put the hours and hours and hours of training to the test.
We were fitted with our bikes...............
We were fitted with our bikes...............
...but there's always one who deliberates and hasn't quite got the right bike, or the saddle at the right height, or is it the colour of the grass or the trainer on the left foot.
Whatever the problem it was quickly sorted.
Whatever the problem it was quickly sorted.
At the starting point a final pose for posterity, and then we were off.
Retracing the route we had taken in the bus to arrive at the beach we rode our bikes back, passed the shops selling beach toys and souvenirs, past the cafes, bars and restaurants and out of the little town.
It was two o'clock, the sun was at its height, the 37C heat reflecting off the tarmac. We climbed up the first steep hill and free-wheeled down the other side. It certainly was hot. Turning off the road we experienced our first unpaved dirt and gravel track. Little did we know at the time how familiar this type of surface would become.
Many times over the coming days we would pray to the 'great god of tarmac' to come and rescue us from the agony of shale, dirt, scalpings, boulders and railway sleepers.
Retracing the route we had taken in the bus to arrive at the beach we rode our bikes back, passed the shops selling beach toys and souvenirs, past the cafes, bars and restaurants and out of the little town.
It was two o'clock, the sun was at its height, the 37C heat reflecting off the tarmac. We climbed up the first steep hill and free-wheeled down the other side. It certainly was hot. Turning off the road we experienced our first unpaved dirt and gravel track. Little did we know at the time how familiar this type of surface would become.
Many times over the coming days we would pray to the 'great god of tarmac' to come and rescue us from the agony of shale, dirt, scalpings, boulders and railway sleepers.
The land was dry, brown and arid, but we saw cashew nuts trees, cashew nuts with their pod and roads lined with trees bearing yellow blossom.
It was hot, so hot we began to feel the effects, light headed, nauseous and downright weary. It was at this point the Costa Rican shower, as it became known, was introduced.
Method: Helmet off, sunglasses off, lean forward, ice cold water is poured over your head.
Top tips: Always lean forward or your padded cycling shorts will fill with water.
Pour the water over yourself, you know when it's coming.
Ladies, always wear waterproof mascara!
Ride distance = 38km, total ascent = 200m, 80% = paved, 20% dirt.
Method: Helmet off, sunglasses off, lean forward, ice cold water is poured over your head.
Top tips: Always lean forward or your padded cycling shorts will fill with water.
Pour the water over yourself, you know when it's coming.
Ladies, always wear waterproof mascara!
Ride distance = 38km, total ascent = 200m, 80% = paved, 20% dirt.
At last we arrived at Camp Site 1, exhausted and doubting our sanity. Waiting for supper we had a game of Frisbee with Dignity the Dog, who found it difficult to concentrate. We silently debated with ourselves whether signing up for this challenge really had been the right decision and would we achieve the end point - it seemed a very long, long way off.
Our spirits were raised when we heard there were showers on site. A luxury we hadn't expected. Basic and luke-warm but very clean. A special treat.
It transpired we had showers at each campsite but it was only on the final site that they actually featured the novelty of a shower head.
Our spirits were raised when we heard there were showers on site. A luxury we hadn't expected. Basic and luke-warm but very clean. A special treat.
It transpired we had showers at each campsite but it was only on the final site that they actually featured the novelty of a shower head.
It gets dark at 18.00 on the equator and quite quickly too. One minute it's light, the next darkness. We ate our chicken stir fry and mashed potatoes and veg in the warm evening air. The cicadas and tree frogs making one heck of a noise. Dignity had invited his new friend.
Anna gave the briefing for the next day. We stopped listening once we heard that breakfast was at five, we would leave at first light, which was six am - that meant getting up at 04.15!!!
We were all tucked up in our sleeping bags, inside our tents by 20.00, exhausted. Individually most of us tossed and turned attempting to get comfortable in stuffy sleeping bag, on a lumpy bed roll. We learned over time which was the most comfortable position and the best place for your head.
The local dogs barked incessantly but eventually we fell asleep. And so the snoring began, Mark's nightmare scenario. Then the need to go to the toilet - which you put off, and put off and put off. Finally you made the 200 metre trek across the field. Wondering why you hadn't done it before and thus gone back to sleep.
It was a very, very short night and the dogs were still barking when we emerged, bleary eyed from our tents before dawn, and our first full day of cycling.
Amanda
Anna gave the briefing for the next day. We stopped listening once we heard that breakfast was at five, we would leave at first light, which was six am - that meant getting up at 04.15!!!
We were all tucked up in our sleeping bags, inside our tents by 20.00, exhausted. Individually most of us tossed and turned attempting to get comfortable in stuffy sleeping bag, on a lumpy bed roll. We learned over time which was the most comfortable position and the best place for your head.
The local dogs barked incessantly but eventually we fell asleep. And so the snoring began, Mark's nightmare scenario. Then the need to go to the toilet - which you put off, and put off and put off. Finally you made the 200 metre trek across the field. Wondering why you hadn't done it before and thus gone back to sleep.
It was a very, very short night and the dogs were still barking when we emerged, bleary eyed from our tents before dawn, and our first full day of cycling.
Amanda