Got Noodles?

This has to be my favorite Flash animation ever..

Pole Pedal Paddle Mk. II

The Meatgoats, enjoying the draught of victory!

If you remember the race last year, you will know that my X-C skiing leg left a lot to be desired. Like a low time. Equipment that survived the leg, etc. Well, this year I am very happy to report much more of a success! While I know I could have shaved a lot more time off the ski leg, it was way better than last year. Real skate gear made the difference, but being my first time, it still wasn't fast. Luckily the rest of the team was. Mark on the initial downhill, Mark and Michael on the tandem bike, Todd on the run, Camilla and Andy on the tandem paddle, and Alison on the sprint. With their speed, we grabbed 3rd place and the coveted makes-whatever-you-drink-out-of-it-better mugs. Good job Meatgoats! Check the pictures.

Costa Rica in Pictures and Video

Right out our door in Samara

Well, no text for you yet, but the picures are up and, for the first time on billanderson.name, a video:

Back Home

It's almost 3:00 in the morning, but we're back safe. More to follow...



 

Samara

Samara (pronounced Sam-ah-ruh) is very nice. Long beach. Palms for shade. Our bungalow opens right onto the Pacific. Days spent deciding between beach, hammock or surf. This morning was my first surf leasson, and I got up without too much trouble. I will be out there in about an hour when the waves are more reasonable again. This is nice!

In the Cloud Forests

The roads around here are truely and experience, but the payoff is great. What a lush world it is here! We have done a suspended bridge tour, a 5 mile hike in a nature preserve, saw a frog exibhit with over 20 spiecies of frogs and toads and went on a tour of a coffee farm. Whew! Tomorrow, we leave the mountains (we are currently at about 5,000 feet) and head for the beaches of Samara...

Alive and well in Costa Rica!

Meg and I flew into Costa Rica on Saturday night and stayed in San Jose. It is the largest city and there really isn´t much to do there, so we took a taxi to a hotel and left the next morning for La Fortuna. La Fortuna is the center of the "adventure area" around the Arenal volcano. After getting here the first day, we explored the town, the second day we did a canopy tour on zip lines which was very fun. More about adrenaline than seeing wildlife! Yesterday we went white water rafting on the Rio Toro, which is a ´class 4´ river, but it is the end of the dry season here, so the flow rates were way down. Still very fun.

Today we are leaving for Monteverde and the cloud forests there. Planning on a couple days there, and then off to the beach! I´ll post more details, along with the pictures, when we return.

Of note, however, is I am down here with only my little Casio. The big Canon system is resting at home. I must say I love it and hate it. It´s nice not to have another 25 pound bag weighing me down, but I have missed some pictures...