bushwack

Part of the reason I enjoy living in Costa Rica more than the US is the unpredictability of life due to the obvious relationship one must keep with mother nature.  Tropical storms, mudslides, huge swells with insane waves, empty surf breaks calling to be surfed, wild animals everywhere you turn, the list goes on.  Having said that, here is a photo of me with my truck, stuck axel deep in a ravine within the Zephyr finca.  

 

I was there with my partner Chris as well as a new friend and work colleague named Bradd. Bradd is a zip line construction consultant, he's built zip lines all over the world.  We flew him down and spent a couple of days designing the zip line course that Chris and I are about to build.

  

I would never consider doing something like this without a consultant involved.  His company not only oversees the construction but performs the training of the employees, normally scheduled safety inspections of the zip lines and equipment to name a couple of them.  He said that this would be one of, if not the biggest project he's ever been a part of.  We're planning six zip lines, with the mother of them all being a half-mile zip line from one mountain top peak to another with about 300 feet below your feet.  I suggested to offer the Zephyr diaper as its going to be crazy, a biodegradable diaper that you later bury and a tree grows.  that was a joke. Anyways, again we were on horses and touring the finca, the clouds opened up and torrential rains started to pour down.  A LOT of water.  I'm surprised my phone didn't break.  We worked through it, then Chris and Bradd were taking the horses back to my neighbor Berny and I was driving the truck out of the finca.  There is one spot in the road where the guy who cut the road a year and a half ago went over the edge and almost died, in other words he didn't finish the road.  It was here that I, in an attempt to stay on the inside part of the road, got my tire stuck in a ravine that swallowed up my truck.  With no way of getting the truck out during the storm, I hiked back to Berny's house.  Berny has this old-school Toyota landcruiser pickup and offered to drive us back to Tamarindo.  As we got back to the river crossing on the way from Alemainia to La Florida, the river that was a foot deep had swelled to over a meter high.  Berny charged it, the truck did great regardless of the fact that water was entering from under the doors and into the cab.  It was pretty sweet actually, bushwacking it in the back country of CR, thinking of how I'm always getting myself stuck in the most obscure parts of this country and experiencing things most people never get a chance to experience.  I sent back three of my drivers yesterday and they got the truck unstuck, but now I've got a sound coming from the front-right corner and have to take it in to the Dodge dealer, bummer.  I'm planning to take off, perhaps with Johan, Ricardo and Luis, and drive to Pavones for this HUGE south swell that is about to hit-  check out the report-

So, after the truck gets repaired, I'm taking off.  This work stuff is fun and all, but all I really have on my mind right now is surfing.  I think it would be wise to get this swell, then go back to San Diego and sell some surfboards to continue this surf life.  Since the boards are in SD, if anyone up there needs a board, I've got plenty, you can buy them or rent them if you're in town while staying at the Ocean Beach Cottages (www.theoceanbeachcottages.com)

Prices vary, check my last blog for details.  I'm also selling my truck and looking for a home for my dog.  That sounds like the beginning of a good country song, don't it?

Here's a pic from Luis Castro's fundraiser so we can pay for his knee surgery.  We have already raised $2500 and need only another $1000 to go!  He is VERY stoked to know so many people care so much (including my dad who spent the time to organize the event), thank you all very much for your contributions :-)  PURA VIDA