This morning we headed off to do zip lining, something I wasn’t at all looking forward to. However, after chickening out in Guatemala I was determined to at least give this one a go. The canopy zip lining had nine different lines which went over the valley with the longest line being 700m in length. There was also an abseiling opportunity and a tarzan swing.
We kitted out in our harnesses made it to the first one and I started to chicken out again, nerves getting the better of me, however Dan was determined to get me on the zip line and wouldn’t get on the line until I had gone. I did the first short zip line (and hated every moment of it). Dan followed behind me encouraging me on. We both did the short zip line.
When we got the third zip line that was 600 metres long we had the opportunity to go together, so we did.
Poor Dan copped an earful with me screaming at him to slow down (I’m sure he pretended he couldn’t hear over the scream of the zip line itself!!) The scenery was probably very nice, I couldn’t tell you I was too terrorized to look down.
I tried one more on my own, hurt my shoulder and pulled the pin, glad that I had given it a shot, but will never do that activity again. As my luck would have it, the only way back was on a 450m line so I hooked on with a guide and zipped back with eyes tightly shut to meet the other person who also pulled the pin. Over to Dan at this point to continue on about the zip lining.
Well, I didn’t close my eyes on the 465m long zip line. You are whizzing along with quite a lot of speed and in places up to 150m above the bottom of the valley below. It’s crazy. The next zip line was another long one back across the valley. This time the wind was a bit stronger and it was a little hard to control with your body at an angle to the zip line to prevent you spinning. This time, a rainbow appeared in the valley.
After a few more zip lines the group did a 30m rappel but it was a bit lame as the guide controlled the ascent. While on the platform I got to see some of the group do the 45m long Tarzan swing. Essentially you are attached to a rope and you fall off a platform and swing through the air and then they catch you.
I got to the swing and the guy asked me if I was an adrenalin junkie. I replied with a “Not really”. He said the best buzz out of this is if you go backwards. Here I was standing holding onto the rope with me toes hanging on the end of the platform. I wasn’t really ready when I started falling off the platform. It was a little scary but then I realized I couldn’t stop so I embraced it. The fall was quite a long way and quick too. Once you got into the pendulum motion it was okay. I pumped the first time and then started flying with legs spread. It was a lots of fun. Check out the video (to follow).
Oh yeah. Lucky I packed my hoodie. We both thought Costa Rica was going to be warm. How wrong were we!!
The final zip line was 750m long and it took some time to get to the other side. You couldn’t use your brake until the very end otherwise you would be stuck way out on the wire. No problems as I zipped along to meet up with Tan, a little less shaken than when I last saw her.
We got back to town to turn around again to go to Selvatura Park. It is marketed as a “Cloud Forest experience”. We got there hungry and late with only an hour to spare. Paul, Wendy, Elaine, Tan and I got some sangers and headed out on the canopy walk.
We crossed eight suspension bridges and it was cloudy and drizzly. Wildlife was next to absent except for a few birds and there were lots of trees. The walk itself was nice but it wasn’t as good as the morning before with Maria and the quetzals.
By the way, Wendy didn’t like the suspension bridges due to the height but Tan had no problems. Go figure.
We caught the last shuttle out of there, somewhat rushed and disappointed. Back at the hotel, I convinced everyone to go to the Frogasuem or Frog Ponds or something like that. We had a guide take us around on dusk who was frog mad. Our jokes, which Tan and I thought were funny, went over his head mostly. We saw lots of frogs and the ugly Cane Toad. The highlight was seeing some of the frogs that are on postcards and guide books for Costa Rica. This included the Blue Jeans Red Frog and highlight, the Gaudy Tree frog. The latter is a star on the cover of the Lonely Planet guide book. It might sound a bit lame going to see frogs but it was actually really good.
One thing we weren’t expecting to see was a scorpion on the way out.
We had dinner in the hotel (named Poco a Poco or little by little) where Sal showed his best WA Salvage Luigi impersonation and backed it up with his ultra-cool dude rag.
We kitted out in our harnesses made it to the first one and I started to chicken out again, nerves getting the better of me, however Dan was determined to get me on the zip line and wouldn’t get on the line until I had gone. I did the first short zip line (and hated every moment of it). Dan followed behind me encouraging me on. We both did the short zip line.
When we got the third zip line that was 600 metres long we had the opportunity to go together, so we did.Poor Dan copped an earful with me screaming at him to slow down (I’m sure he pretended he couldn’t hear over the scream of the zip line itself!!) The scenery was probably very nice, I couldn’t tell you I was too terrorized to look down.
I tried one more on my own, hurt my shoulder and pulled the pin, glad that I had given it a shot, but will never do that activity again. As my luck would have it, the only way back was on a 450m line so I hooked on with a guide and zipped back with eyes tightly shut to meet the other person who also pulled the pin. Over to Dan at this point to continue on about the zip lining.Well, I didn’t close my eyes on the 465m long zip line. You are whizzing along with quite a lot of speed and in places up to 150m above the bottom of the valley below. It’s crazy. The next zip line was another long one back across the valley. This time the wind was a bit stronger and it was a little hard to control with your body at an angle to the zip line to prevent you spinning. This time, a rainbow appeared in the valley.
After a few more zip lines the group did a 30m rappel but it was a bit lame as the guide controlled the ascent. While on the platform I got to see some of the group do the 45m long Tarzan swing. Essentially you are attached to a rope and you fall off a platform and swing through the air and then they catch you.I got to the swing and the guy asked me if I was an adrenalin junkie. I replied with a “Not really”. He said the best buzz out of this is if you go backwards. Here I was standing holding onto the rope with me toes hanging on the end of the platform. I wasn’t really ready when I started falling off the platform. It was a little scary but then I realized I couldn’t stop so I embraced it. The fall was quite a long way and quick too. Once you got into the pendulum motion it was okay. I pumped the first time and then started flying with legs spread. It was a lots of fun. Check out the video (to follow).
Oh yeah. Lucky I packed my hoodie. We both thought Costa Rica was going to be warm. How wrong were we!!The final zip line was 750m long and it took some time to get to the other side. You couldn’t use your brake until the very end otherwise you would be stuck way out on the wire. No problems as I zipped along to meet up with Tan, a little less shaken than when I last saw her.
We got back to town to turn around again to go to Selvatura Park. It is marketed as a “Cloud Forest experience”. We got there hungry and late with only an hour to spare. Paul, Wendy, Elaine, Tan and I got some sangers and headed out on the canopy walk.
We crossed eight suspension bridges and it was cloudy and drizzly. Wildlife was next to absent except for a few birds and there were lots of trees. The walk itself was nice but it wasn’t as good as the morning before with Maria and the quetzals.By the way, Wendy didn’t like the suspension bridges due to the height but Tan had no problems. Go figure.
We caught the last shuttle out of there, somewhat rushed and disappointed. Back at the hotel, I convinced everyone to go to the Frogasuem or Frog Ponds or something like that. We had a guide take us around on dusk who was frog mad. Our jokes, which Tan and I thought were funny, went over his head mostly. We saw lots of frogs and the ugly Cane Toad. The highlight was seeing some of the frogs that are on postcards and guide books for Costa Rica. This included the Blue Jeans Red Frog and highlight, the Gaudy Tree frog. The latter is a star on the cover of the Lonely Planet guide book. It might sound a bit lame going to see frogs but it was actually really good.
One thing we weren’t expecting to see was a scorpion on the way out.
We had dinner in the hotel (named Poco a Poco or little by little) where Sal showed his best WA Salvage Luigi impersonation and backed it up with his ultra-cool dude rag.
It was beautiful out on the water, so calm and quiet with the sounds of the jungle coming alive around us. We headed back to the hotel around 8.00am for breakfast.
The crimson frog, commonly shown on guide books for Costa Rica, actually turns more crimson with warm air blown onto it and if it gets stirred up. This little creature is quite poisonous!
Other things on the walk, other than the rain (well, it is a rain forest!) were the buttress roots on this large tree and a chameleon. 
Just as we finished the jungle walk it decided to absolutely bucket down. We haven’t seen rain this hard for a very long time.
These palm trees with an awesome fan of fronds are common as a decorative plant in all of Central America.
Wes took Brad, Corey, Brendo and I out to Wolf Lake this morning. We had to check the rocks at the end of a diamond drill hole and drop off Brad to do a downhole geophysical survey. This area has a huge bald eagle nest in the highest tree on the highest hill. Getting to fly close to it was good. 
The weather was great and we got to West Bear to resample old core. I love flying in the helicopter and Wes does a great job flying it. We have got him to say “Wanker” which is very funny. The chats about random stuff in the chopper are entertaining. At West Bear, we had to unstuck loads of core and mark it up for sampling. Everything was going well until the boys disturbed a wasps’ nest. Well, I ended up getting stung on the right eye brow and it did hurt, a strong stinging sensation and it swelled up very quickly. Brad didn’t know why I went crazy and squashed the remainder of the nest with my gum boots until I told him that I just got stung.
The sunny day turned into a stormy day and we had a couple of retreats back to the old generator shack. It is empty now and it was great cover from the heavy intermittent rain. The frogs were out and about again. 
By the end of the day, the swelling had gone down and it didn’t hurt too much so I’ll be alright. The late afternoon sun peeked its head from amongst the clouds. The Pronto flight come in, a small prop plane which will take me to Saskatoon when I take my first (and only) break of the program. Here’s a photo of the plane (mainly for Tan’s – I don’t like little planes – benefit).
P.S. I got to clip my right middle finger nail today. Something I haven’t done since the 20th March when I ripped it completely off!!! 
