Saturday 14th June 2025 Jaco to Judas
We did not venture too far last night, just down the road in another hotel restaurant, bit posher than out hostel, nice Italian meal loads of pasta and garlic bread, great stuff, then back to hostel, well got back there and forgot to get the breakfast stuff for the morning, so Bingo went back out at the unearthly time of 8:30 in the evening.

All sorted for the morning now, good lad, once again breakfast at 5:00, ready for an early shift on the bikes. roll out the hostel around 5:30, much to the surprise of the blury eyed night porter, said good byes and we are off.

Heading North east a to El Roble, then have a thought see if we carry on or book a a place there, early doors yet, just pedal and see what happens, first part a little bit lumpy, nothing serious just a couple of climbs only a couple of miles long, so we take them in are stride. keeping up a good pace, I called the first stop at Restaurante Nidia, just at the top of a 2 mile climb, nice coffee and soft drink, still early, but the road is getting a bit busier, not much of a hard shoulder to ride on, so we have to concentrate. Off we go again, it is difficult to do any animal spotting as the road is tight and busy, basically just hanging in there.

We soon turn off the highway 34 onto highway 27, be careful what you wish for, looks like this is a full blown motorway, with a sign saying no cyclists, just ride, if we are not allowed on here they will soon get us off, lot better though big hard shoulder and no issues. Staying on here for a good 10 miles or so, felt very safe, but not sure what will happen when we go through the next tolls, so we decided to come off at just before Caldera, look at the maps seems pretty straight forward, famous last words. Follow the little road, then it starts getting really steep, sure this is not the way, check the maps again, looks like we need to turn right, by some old railway tracks. Yep we follow them through thick and thin, massive puddled, big holes in the unmade road and worst of all stodgy sand stuff that just stops the bike dead, just kept ploughing through it, could have done with a tractor, I know Steven the editor will ask what was the gauge? [Railways in Costa Rica were built to 3’6″ gauge. The Caribbean to Pacific railway became operational in 1910. Other lines were built by United Fruit to transport bananas. An earthquake destroyed much of the network in 1991 and services were suspended. Plans are in hand to restore some lines: Ed] No way was we measuring, from my point of view it was two puddles and a bit, thats an old track term when you can’t be bothered to measure it correctly. Also thought I would have Ralf Palmer (Aylesham station guy when we were younger) chasing me as I only had an under fourteen ticket! Those were the days my friend, when i used to travel to Chatham dockyard on a child’s ticket, mate showing my age with Mary Hopkins and Chatham Dockyard in the same sentence how good is that. Back to the riding only a couple of miles long, that was enough, soon got the bikes and us, covered in muddy sand back on to the road, sod the tolls, it’s easier.

First cafe we spotted we turn in covered in mud, what a sight, now we are filthy dirty and smelling, not the greatest combination when you are asking for a coffee and soft drink, as Bingo settled down I went next door to the tyre fitting place, soon had a hose rigged up and washing the bikes and myself, Bingo did the same when I came back all good, coffee and a soft drink and check the maps again, no more off road! Loads of MTB lads and lasses then came in with immaculate looking bikes, you would have thought they had come from Big Dave’s mantle piece, he knows!

Off we go again in search of more adventures, how can we handle all these escapades, easy just have a beer, see why we tried to get off this road, its very leary, tight and busy, but fair play the drivers are giving us as much room as possible, that not a lot mind you. We pass loads of bars and restaurants, but both keep going, not going to have a few beers then ride this road, so push it on hard and fast, its only 20 miles soon be done.

Sure enough we climbed the last little incline, little restaurant and petrol station on the top, both pulled over as we knew we had hit the junction, felt so good, pulled over to the restaurant, by the time Bingo had arrived I had downed mine and his beers, he was sorting out some WD40 in the garage next door, so quickly ordered some more. Nice meal noodles and vegetables with chicken for Bingo, great stuff.

The next issue try and find the farmhouse we have booked into, nearly went passed it, turned back here we go, one great ranch straight out of the Dallas catalogue, big automatic gates, kindly opened by the caretaker, lovely old guy about my age, took us in with open arms, showed the vast farm, including swimming pool, outside BBQ great set up, we just smiled and said a swim and a beer mate thats all we need.

Stunning setting, watched the rugby with a few beers, typical Saturday then, even cooked in the communal kitchen a nice pasta dish, so nice to have a relaxing evening, good day all around, even with the trainspotting.