Friday 13th June 2025 Uvita to Jaco
Never one to be superstitious, was born in 13 Woodland Ave, 13 always been good to me.

Meal in the little takeaway place just outside the hostel, not great but did not want to walk far and had a nice meal at lunch time so all good. Breakfast in the room again, just after 5 in the morning, then sort the bikes out and off, looking around for the breakfast that Jacques the owner said he would leave out, typically French bloke, bet he thought we were leaving at 6 in the evening, once a Frenchman always a Frenchman tired!

Left in the pouring rain, still very warm, but stretching the imagination to call it sexy rain at 5:30 in the morning, cunning plan this morning ditch the glasses and use my contact lenses cause its raining, all good for the first couple of hours, easing in to the ride, heading north up the coast to Parrita and maybe a bit further, who knows, we certainly don’t. Just ride and see where we end up, that’s what we normally do, if you have a plan it will only fail, if you don’t have a plan you can’t fail simple as that. Good old Spike.

First part of the ride is still in the national park Parque Nacional Chirripó, Established in 1975, this massive national park features trails, mountains and rainforests with a plethora of fauna and flora, hoping to see some wonderful animals again this morning, not to be disappointed Bingo spots a lovely couple of Toucans (Yellow-throated Toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus)) in a lone tree, perfect spot, it was that good it could have been a Guinness advert, that would have been great an ice cold Guinness, always something to dream about. On we go eyes peeled, spending more looking in the hedgerows and forest than watching the road, all good though just a few little lizards and some weird coloured toads, bright purple, then we come to the end of the national park, few little villages, stop for a coffee and soft drink in Savegre de Aguirre, little check on the maps all good, decide to have another coffee it’s that good, just watching the world go by, the two bikes in the foreground so we know we have to get back on them soon, no worries got all day, week, month whatever.

Finally get going again, it’s never a chore, just love it, we think we have another 20 odd miles to the end of the course, mainly through palm oil plantations now, not great, but least it keeps the locals employed, love the signs on the road “Beware of cyclist carrying long sheaths and machetes” these are the lads who cut down the palm nuts for processing, we see loads of them cycling to the different plantations, always give us a wave and a smile, good lads. Coming to the end of this route we have on the Garmin, so pull over just outside Parrita, only just past 11:00, so forgo the beer and have a soft drink and coffee, not a great place getting pestered with flies which is nothing unusual, seemed to like us as we smell like a rotting toad!
Bingo does the right thing, I think checking hostels further down the road, while I give my darling wife a call, allegedly she is in the Anchor having a beer with my brother Steve, lovely call catch up with both of them so good to have a nice chat, while Bingo swats the flis! Right I finished with the lovey stuff, Bingo has sorted some digs 25 miles away, mate he is having a laugh, knew I should have concentrated on the ride, but the deed has been done.

Off we go, me muttering in my head i was thinking 10 maybe 15 at most, but hey ho dig deep and pedal in the midday heat, it’s not bad at all, very hot but steady riding, pulling in the miles with ease, before we know it done over 16 miles, have a little chat a decide to find a decent place to eat. Which is not too difficult in Costa Rica loving the food, sure enough we found a roadside restaurante Nuestro Pueblo, first thing 2 beers as normal, then 2 more while she gets the menu, only egg cup size beers! Once again a great menu for me, I am being spoiled, sure Sandra has sent a message over to feed me! Vegetable pasta and Mozzarella cheese salad perfect, Bingo has a chicken pasta dish, lovely meal, with lots of liquid refreshment sorted. Back on the trusty steeds for the last 8ish miles, one little stop to have a last picture of the pacific ocean, farewell my babe loved the Pacific coast, tomorrow we head inland, next time we see the sea it will be the Caribbean, how good is that [Probably be the Gulf of Mexico – and remember to keep calling it that when in Texas!: Ed]. Just amble into Jaco, find the digs all booked in a great afternoon resting, going through the animal collection, doing the laundry, enjoying the holiday, good day 77 miles with some great sights.

Just get sorted outside a few beers in the communal fridge, they will not be there that long so no need to worry about other travelers having them, they would be welcome anyway! then the heavens opened again only a shower I said, yep it was but it did come down hard so moved under cover, so I could concentrate on the matter in hand, writing this prolific account of our travels and tribulations, that’s not a reference to a song, well it may be, just need to change a few words, watch this space!

Ready to eat again.