Day 316 Saturday 10th Feb Rest Day in Drake Bay 0km

Drake Bay has a typical Lay-back-un-commercial feel to it.

The sun cooked us out of bed by 5h00 and we had breakfast at 6h00. I then left following one of the staff and we walked down a path to e small little beach where I was collected by a small boat with outboard motor which could drive out onto the beach for me to get on. I was taken to a very big Catamaran and dropped off. Several other people joined us from other hotels and Lodges and then we sailed off to Cano Island, about an hour away into the sea.

We were only 2 Scuba Divers and there were 6 Snorkelers. I did not know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised, the diving was really good. The visibility was good and although there was very little coral left (most were knocked down and broken off by storms and the sea-floor was covered in broken coral,) there was lots of rocky outcrops which were covered by small reef fish. This island is a safe haven and mating place for turtles and we must have seen over 20 turtles on the 1st dive. On the 2nd dive we must have seen about 20 White Tip Reef sharks, and one of them very big, at least 2m long. The couple who runs the operation are both from Greece and they are very experienced and professional, and so friendly. Sometimes staff in the dive-industry can be so arrogant, but nt Costa and Milla, I could recommend Pirate Drake.

Drake Bay was discovered by Sir Francis Drake in the 16th Century, he was like a pirate for the Queen of England and because he sailed under the Union Jack he could act like a pirate but and plunder all the Spanish ships he could find.

The rest of the guys decided against doing an organised tour into the National Park and said they had seen enough Toucans and Macaw Parrots flying around our little resort and just wanted to do a long hike through the forest and swim in the river and ly on the beach. They stumbled on a Turtle Research Centre where the turtle eggs are also harvested and kept until they start hatching, they are then returned to the beach where they were harvested to walk into the sea. I don’t know how many eggs in each nest:

The Toucan :

The sand is very dark in colour and the rocks on the beach looks like lava that must have set after an eruption, Central America is also the place where the two tectonic plates pushed the land together and squashed it and forced it up, so very interesting shapes, not like our rounder and smoother rocks along our beaches in RSA.

Cano Island is visible in the photo below:

This is the view Milsy and I woke up to this morning.

This animal is very common here, it is called a Tapir, we never saw one but most people here at the lodge saw them.

We saw lots of Iguanas all over in the trees and walking across the road, lots of different colours and sizes.

The speed of the wi-fi has not improved but today I have time on my side. So I have decided not to go and have an afternoon nap like the others but to push-through and have another beer while I try and upload a few more photos to post.

Yesterday was a big day, after we got lost we found a road that had been washed away and was closed, we were re-routed to a water-crossing which was not that deep but was rather long. I just kept on thinking that if I hit a hidden rock under the water I should not try and save the bike from falling over but rather make sure it falls over to the left as my computer which enables this Blog is in my right pannier which should stay dry al all costs.

Tex concentrating a bit:

They use satellite dishes for most signs and advertisements, probably because they are made from rust-proof material:

DadAss still the best looking KTM on this tour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who needs flowers on the table if you can put a pineapple on it:

As no one ever takes photos of me, unless I am in the horizontal position next to the bike, I have to take a few of myself:

Tomorrow we have an interesting little challenge getting the bikes out of here and over the hills through the forest and mountains, we head for Golfito, not too far away, but a challenging morning awaits us.

Have a Good Sunday

Fleisch