Great Outdoor Blog

by Rudy Hayden – Charlotte Shop Manager

It seems as though these honeymooners were caught off guard while swimming in the nude off of the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. While enjoying a relaxing swim they realized they were not alone. Natives of that part of the world were soon upon them. Were they shocked? Of course! And delighted to see a Toucan, black faced monkey, other tropical birds, fish and even a sloth on their adventure. Learn more about this georgeous part of the world and this couple’s experience in Costa Rica…..

Costa Rica is a vast land with to plenty to see and do! From rolling countryside, volcanoes, deserted beaches and friendly locals you are sure to have a fantastic travel experience visiting this country. Pura Vida they say! Es muy tranquilo!

We chose Costa Rica as a destination for our honeymoon for it’s close proximity to the states and the ability to surround yourself in areas with very diverse flora and fauna as well as an abundance of wildlife. We encountered numerous species of monkeys, birds, fish, and other mammals including the two and three toed sloth. Costa Rica invigorated our sense of life being immersed in a land so in touch with all it’s living creatures.

We were continually greeted with “holas and buenos” as local ticos and native carribbeans were very welcoming. A smile and willingless to learn the language carried us far into the lives and stories of this simple friendly heritage. For Sarah and I this is the heart and soul of traveling. Or as I would say, “The University of Life”.

An 11 day stint traveling to La Fortuna, Cahuita, and Puerto Viejo gave us the ability to soak in the culture and arts of each different area in a short amount of time. Time and weather permitted, we would have love to have ventured to the Pacific coast to check out Manuel Antonio as well as the less traveled, more remote Osa Peninsula. Or for that matter Tortuguero or Bocas Del Toro on the Caribbean coast.

From horseback riding, canopy tours, fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, biking and hanging out with locals we experienced each area to it’s fullest in a short amount of time. For ease of travel we used Interbus and local taxis to tour these three separate areas. At no point did our travel time exceed more than 5 hours from one area to the other.

We especially enjoyed the nature and beauty of the rainforests and the wide-open, secluded beaches. All of the food and drink were to die for and I particularly appreciated watching the effort and simplicity of providing and making food thru the use of their own labor, tools, and ingenuity. Everything is local–right from the sea or jungle!

My least favorite part of traveling in Costa Rica was witnessing all the poverty and trash but evidently C.R doesn’t have nearly the problem that many other countries in Latin America have. It certainly is a very REAL place–what you see is what you get. Friendly natives and a relatively undiscovered area with many treasures. Enjoy!

Trip Logistics and Itinerary
We highly recommend all of the services we experienced in Costa Rica. All of the guides, lodging, transportation were very professional and service oriented. Con mucho Gusto!

2 days Arenal, Hotel Silencio Del Campo
Services Used
Interbus — private shuttle service used for transportation on trip.
Sky Tram – the safest most professional zip line tour in all of Arenal!

La Fortuna Falls

3 days Puerto Viejo, Cashew Hill
Sea Kayaking and hiking in Manzanillo with Puerto Viejo Satellite Tours

Snorkeling with Reef Runners

LuLu Berlu fine art gallery

1 day San Jose, The Dunn Inn

If your a kayaker and seeking to scout out the infinite number of river options in this country check out Call It Progessionalism

More photos on Flickr

Plant a tree and save some green! With a donation of $2 or more, Great Outdoor Provision Co. is offering ESNC tree seedlings for customers. Donate and receive a Colorado Blue Spruce Seed & Planter. Enjoy it on your window sill for the holidays and in your yard by spring! All proceeds benefit Earth Share of NC.

Nancy Mitchell sent this interesting MULEpic of her grandson…

Send in your adventure pics year-round to
mulepics at greatoutdoorprovision.com

Check out our FLICKR album of recent staff adventures

Tucker Whitesides, member of Boy Scout Troop 218 of the Cape Fear Council, has designed his Eagle Scout project to benefit those in need.  Tucker is encouraging others to bring in their worn out Crocs to be recycled into new shoes that can be donated to people in need around the world.  Under the program, SolesUnited, Tucker will collect shoes at Great Outdoor Provision Co. in Wilmington on Saturday (12/13) from 9-3, and Sunday (12/14) from 1-3.  Please help support Tucker in his effort to make a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Bittu Ali – Great Outdoor Provision Co.

I must say that after reading Bill’s article on Cold Weather Paddling, I got so scared that I considered giving up winter paddling for good. But then I remembered that I had been having a blast for the last 15 years -safely enjoying winter paddling. By no means am I trying to down play the seriousness of padding in cold weather; however, winter paddling is not merely doable but also enjoyable.

In fact, some of my fondest paddling memories are from winter paddling trips. A few years ago, a friend of mine named Steve Strange had converted an old school bus into a padding rig. About 8 guys piled into this bus and took a trip to the NY Adirondacks in late March for a week of padding. This had to be one of the best trips I ever did. While we had many excellent runs on rivers like the Oswegatchie, the most memorable was a trip down the Bottom Moose under snowy conditions. With an air temperature around 27 deg and the water temperature barely above freezing, getting out of your boat to scout or film some of those Class IV-V drops was unforgettable! While I can’t say that we were sweating under those conditions, I can say that we were all properly equipped and reasonably comfortable.

Equally rewarding were some of my flatwater winter paddling trips. With low humidity, few bugs, crystal clear skies and preternatural quiet, winter paddling can be a Zen experience for those who seek to escape the crowds. For example, some of the best kayak birding opportunities take place during both ends of the winter migratory periods. Whatever your paddling preference, my point remains that winter paddling can be an enjoyable adventure if properly equipped. Here is an overview of 4 different clothing systems that will effectively keep you warm while paddling in cold water.

Full Drysuit System (Gore Tex Drysuits are preferred) with Fleece, Skull Cap and Gloves/Pogies

• Suitable for all varieties of cold weather padding, including Open Water and White Water
• Suitable for cool November-December & April NC weather if layered lightly.
• Suitable for cold January-March NC weather if layered more thickly.
• Body stays dry and is the most comfortable and flexible of all cold weather systems
• Easy to swim around in the water if one “burps” the air out of the drysuit

Paddler’s Wet Suit System (2-4mm w/reflective coating or 4-5mm with non-reflective coating) with Paddling Jacket, Fleece, Skull Cap and Gloves/Pogies

* Similar suitability as the Drysuit system above
* Less expensive than the Drysuit system above
* Less comfortable than the Drysuit system above since the body stays wet (but warm)
* More bulky and less flexible than Drysuit system above
Cumbersome to swim if one gets enough water in the paddling jacket’s sleeves

Hydroskin Neoprene System (.5 mm w/reflective coating) with Drytop, Paddling Pants or Drybib, Fleece, Skull Cap and Gloves/Pogies

• Similar suitability as the 2 systems above
• Priced in between the two systems above
• Drier and more comfortable than Wet Suit system but not quite as nice as the Drysuit system
• System will only work in conjunction with a neoprene sprayskirt
• Not suitable for Canoes or SOTs, since sprayskirts are not worn
• Easy to swim around in the water for brief periods; however water begins to slowly “seep” up the sprayskirt tunnel

Hydroskin Neoprene System with Paddling Jacket, Fleece, Skull Cap and Gloves/Pogies

• Suitable for most SE cold weather paddling in November, December and April
• Suitable for non-Open Water and non-White Water NC paddling in January and March
• Not recommended for February-like (or similarly demanding) conditions in NC
• Very affordable and versatile system for most paddlers
• Cumbersome to swim if one gets water in the paddling jacket’s sleeves

Additional notes regarding cold weather paddling systems:

• A tight fitting skull cap is the most cost effective way to slow heat loss
• Your hands will always be cold if you are losing too much heat through your head
• Did I forget to tell you to wear a skull cap?

In a nutshell: Read Bill’s article so you understand the risks of cold weather paddling but know that being prepared for cold weather paddling is fairly easy to accomplish with the right knowledge and equipment. It’s also highly enjoyable!

This article is a follow up to Bill’s “Cold Weather Paddling“