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.
Whoopee we start @ 05.30 - a lie in! Breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon with fruit, pineapple, melon and fruit juice.
Rolling hills to start, mostly through banana plantations and mainly off road.
Rolling hills to start, mostly through banana plantations and mainly off road.
Once in the plantations there is little else to see, apart from many, many, many, many miles of banana trees, each with their banana crop in blue plastic bags.
It's not pre-packing on the tree, the bags create a micro-climate for the crop and reduce the number of insects which might damage them.
It's not pre-packing on the tree, the bags create a micro-climate for the crop and reduce the number of insects which might damage them.
There are small communities within the plantations, schools, small shops, and cafes. The communities are isolated, the roads mostly unmade which trucks constantly travel with their load of pineapples or bananas. The modes of transport available to the workers in the plantations are limited - mainly mopeds.
Due to the vast distance to the 'outside' world I wonder how often the workers and their families leave the plantations.
Due to the vast distance to the 'outside' world I wonder how often the workers and their families leave the plantations.
We stopped as a line of bananas in their blue plastic mini environment crossed the road in front of us. Tomorrow we would learn more about the banana trade and the methods used to get bananas to our supermarkets.
We cycled through the banana plantations for hours, but it felt like days, despite this we were still making good progress and elected to miss the lunch stop at 10.30 to keep going. JC mentioned something about having a picnic a little later in the day. Sounds good, we all agreed.
It was relatively flat now and although the surface was rough and uneven it was manageable - we had definitely experienced far worse.
We cycled through the banana plantations for hours, but it felt like days, despite this we were still making good progress and elected to miss the lunch stop at 10.30 to keep going. JC mentioned something about having a picnic a little later in the day. Sounds good, we all agreed.
It was relatively flat now and although the surface was rough and uneven it was manageable - we had definitely experienced far worse.
Finally we rocked up at a supermarket, ready for lunch. JC, Margarita and Beto went inside. Bikes safely stacked, we waited in the large entrance area, it looked as though it would rain. It did, and heavily.
Meanwhile a feast was being prepared. In the front of the shop. Out came the blue barrels and tables. While we waited and watched our lunch gradually took shape. It didn't matter where we were, presentation was key. Our lunch was prepared, presented and served in the awning entrance of a supermarket, in the middle of a banana plantation, in the middle of nowhere.
Imagine setting up lunch for 13 in the entrance of your local Tesco store!
Meanwhile a feast was being prepared. In the front of the shop. Out came the blue barrels and tables. While we waited and watched our lunch gradually took shape. It didn't matter where we were, presentation was key. Our lunch was prepared, presented and served in the awning entrance of a supermarket, in the middle of a banana plantation, in the middle of nowhere.
Imagine setting up lunch for 13 in the entrance of your local Tesco store!
Despite the banal nature of the plantations we saw plenty of birds, and animals, and the plantation workers and their children were incredibly friendly. "Hola, hola" they would call as they walked the roads to work and school. Their houses though basic had well tended gardens growing crops,
and they used almost anything to decorate their plot.
Further up the road we stopped at a junction for a welcome rest and to get our bearings.
Further up the road we stopped at a junction for a welcome rest and to get our bearings.
Daren offered to climb to the top of the nearest thing we had to a crows nest to point us in the direction we should travel.
I think he might be pointing left or is it right, he's using his right arm and leg. Luisca seems indifferent to it all.
I think he might be pointing left or is it right, he's using his right arm and leg. Luisca seems indifferent to it all.
The area grows palm oil crops, evident by the surrounding fields. A cow grazing contently in the midst of one.
Around the corner a small building was being constructed and wallowing in a muddy pool a large water buffalo. It's owner was clearly proud of the mighty beast and even more proud that a group of cyclists should take such an intense interest in it.
The buffalo was also pleased to have an audience, swishing his tail in the pool and flicking it at unsuspecting bystanders who came too close to its arc. His pool wasn't only mud - he had independently added a heady mix of ox dung and his aim was rather good too.
Around the corner a small building was being constructed and wallowing in a muddy pool a large water buffalo. It's owner was clearly proud of the mighty beast and even more proud that a group of cyclists should take such an intense interest in it.
The buffalo was also pleased to have an audience, swishing his tail in the pool and flicking it at unsuspecting bystanders who came too close to its arc. His pool wasn't only mud - he had independently added a heady mix of ox dung and his aim was rather good too.
We arrived at the end of the ride this time to camp inside a community hall, on the corner of a village square at the edge of a main road. A bar was open and trading next door.
Hot and dusty we reached for a cold beer.
Distance = 84 Km, ascent = 340, 30% paved 70% dirt.
We pitched the inner shell of our tents in the hall. The washing facilities were an improvement on the previous night and there seemed to be a male and female too. We were tired and everything was a little vague so once again we opted for mixed sex facilities. At this stage in the trip we had given up worrying and what was good for one, was good for all. And anyway there was a colony of bats in the boys toilet and, it wasn't as if they kept themselves to themselves either. We arrived just as they were making plans to leave for the night, which they did after a few test flights in the hall.
There were birds too nesting in the open eaves of the roof, so picking the right spot to pitch your tent was important. As they roosted the birds 'tutted' and tweeted at the bats as they settled.
After supper, to bed. The party in the bar continued next door, after all the night was young at 20.15, but soon someone was snoring.
The beat of the music and the noise of the banana lorries which sounded as if, at times, they really were taking a short cut through the hall made relaxing a challenge. But the snoring was consistent and continuous. One person was asleep at least.
An 05.30 start again tomorrow, 'Oh Lord please help me get some sleep tonight please'.
Hot and dusty we reached for a cold beer.
Distance = 84 Km, ascent = 340, 30% paved 70% dirt.
We pitched the inner shell of our tents in the hall. The washing facilities were an improvement on the previous night and there seemed to be a male and female too. We were tired and everything was a little vague so once again we opted for mixed sex facilities. At this stage in the trip we had given up worrying and what was good for one, was good for all. And anyway there was a colony of bats in the boys toilet and, it wasn't as if they kept themselves to themselves either. We arrived just as they were making plans to leave for the night, which they did after a few test flights in the hall.
There were birds too nesting in the open eaves of the roof, so picking the right spot to pitch your tent was important. As they roosted the birds 'tutted' and tweeted at the bats as they settled.
After supper, to bed. The party in the bar continued next door, after all the night was young at 20.15, but soon someone was snoring.
The beat of the music and the noise of the banana lorries which sounded as if, at times, they really were taking a short cut through the hall made relaxing a challenge. But the snoring was consistent and continuous. One person was asleep at least.
An 05.30 start again tomorrow, 'Oh Lord please help me get some sleep tonight please'.