Homeward bound!!
We have landed at Houston, Texas where we will be for a 4hr stopover. Then home! The next leg of our journey (with flight tracker) will be published just after midnight, BST. Click on the photo above to track our flight. We arrive at Heathrow midday on Saturday 12 April. Please keep visiting our blog for more updates and LOADS of photos!! Finca Pacuarito to Boca del Pantano, and then back to San Jose The home stretch! This last 54km section continues through the Caribbean lowlands mostly on dirt roads, with the final 7km along a disused railway line which will lead us all the way to the Caribbean coast and the beach area of Boca Del Pantano - our finish line! There will be some time to celebrate our achievement with a dip in the ocean and lunch on the beach before we take the transfer back to San Jose. This evening we will hold our celebratory dinner and experience the nightlife of San Jose! Rita to Finca Pacuarito
The 66 km route today is long and some parts are bumpy but there are no hills. The lowlands are carpeted with banana plantations and their countless communities of workers that process the thousands of hectares of bananas. With the majority of the route behind us and the sun at its hottest, we stop for a relaxing lunch before making our way to Siquirres, the closest town to our final camp. San Miguel to Rita Today's 68 km ride begins with an exhilarating downhill paved section to the town of La Virgen from where we cross the Sarapiqui River for some great sections of dirt roads bordering the river. The team are likely to see several groups of monkeys and exotic birds on this section of the route. Sarapiqu, a region of rich diversity, is known for its lush vegetation and production of crops such as coffee, corn, cocoa, cardomon, tropical foliage bananas, heart of palm and various roots and fruits. The day ends in the community of Rita, firmly in the heart of banana country. Volcano Arenal to San Miguel Following breakfast at camp, the epic journey continues across Costa Rica. The ride today takes the team along the foothills of several volcanoes and mountains of the Central Range. Although frequent, the hills are very manageable. The entire route today (85 km) is along paved roads through lush agricultural areas and quaint typical Costa Rican villages. Guayabo to Volcano Arenal The theme for today's ride is volcanoes. The route traverses the base of both the Miravalle and Tenorio volcanoes. At the high point of the day the team will be treated to an incredible vista of Lake Arenal - a breathtaking lake hidden within Costa Rica, with an active volcano in the background. The camp for tonight is located at the base of Volcano Arenal. From the camp the enormous power of volcanic activity can be felt and heard. The volcano has been in constant minor eruption for the last 40 years and the display of smoke and lava is a sight to behold. As part of the Circum-Pacific Ring of fire, over 200 volcanic centres have been recognised in Costa Rica. The nearby Tabacon Hot Springs naturally heated by the volcano will sooth aching muscles after a day of 106km of tough cycling.
Guardia to Guayabo
The first 20km today takes the team to the bustling colonial city of Liberia, and they follow mainly flat paved roads. Liberia is one of the oldest cities in Costa Rica and is a long-time trading hub. Today it is the capital and economic centre of the Guancaste province. Liberia is nicknamed la ciudad blanca (the white city) due to the whitewashed colonial houses and white gravel once used on the roads. Here Team Dignity begin the first climb of the challenge - a gradual 18km ascent towards the foothills of the Santa Maria Volcano, the highest (6,385 ft) one of the nine contiguous craters of the Rincon de la Vieja. The rest of the day takes them along undulating gravel roads to the base of the Miravalles Volcano and their camp for the night. Following breakfast, the team will transfer to their start point on the Pacific Coast - Playas del Coco. The transfer will take approximately 4 hours. Upon arrival, they will have time to enjoy the beach and lunch before jumping in the saddle to commence the Coast-to-Coast Challenge!
A relatively flat 2 hour section will get them warmed up and prepared for the challenge ahead. The route passes through numerous cattle ranching communities as they head inland. They will camp near the sleepy little country village of Guardia, located in the heart of the Guanacaste cattle ranching area. Click on images below to enlarge. Team Dignity, the intrepid trio, fly to Costa Rica today via Newark in the USA. They left Heathrow at 12.18 and arrived at Newark at 19.45 BST. After a two-hour stopover they are due to arrive in Costa Rica at 21.15 local time (04.15 on 4 April, British Summer Time).
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Authors: Amanda & PennyPenny, Mark and I cycled across Costa Rica from 3-12 April 2014 to raise funds for Dignity in Dementia, a charity at Poole Hospital. We hope you will enjoy reading about our adventure and support our fundraising. Total raised:
£20,060!! Last updated 26 November 14 A huge thank you to all our amazing supporters. Still open for donations! Sponsor usRegistered Charity No. 1058808
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Background picture: The Guanacaste Tree - national tree of Costa Rica - http://tamarindodailyphoto.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/grand-tree.html
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