Day 2: Dos Rios to Guayabal

I may have set a new low distance record for a bike trip day today. I made it just shy of 60 km, not for lack of trying. The hills in these parts are steep and the roads are commonly either very loose gravel or something like the evil twin of cobblestone. Things don’t happen fast in Costa Rica and there’s a reason for that.

When not trying desperately to simultaneously keep my sanity and forward momentum, I was able to appreciate the gorgeous scenery. I was in a rainforest.

Lush, dense and very green, full of very unusual sounds, some beautiful and some pretty obnoxious to be honest. I haven’t seen much in the way of wildlife, save a few tropical birds and many neon blue butterflies. I’ve heard a lot of lizards scuttle in the foliage. Many dogs napping in the road, so far too lazy to bother with me.

Late in the day I came to end of the first segment of the ride and had to choose one of the three options I mapped out to get me to the coast. I opted for the shortest and most direct!

As much as I’d love to ride near the big lake, I also want a reasonable amount of time in Samara. I figure taking the short route will get me there Thursday or Friday which was my original intention. I had no idea the riding would be so slow. Let me take that back, I should have known what the riding would be like since all signs pointed to that, but I’m a slow learner and/or a stubborn fool. 🤷‍♂️

Tonight I’m camped a what appears to be a resort for ticos. The pools are fed by hot springs (and are very warm). They have a wood fired pizza kitchen which was the draw for me. It was great.

Tomorrow looks to be downhill and/or flat all the way to the coast. I think I’m going to take Chris’s suggestion and give riding in sandals a shot. My shoes are destroying my feet! Wrist is still pretty swollen but feels better than yesterday.