MAP     We spent six months in Costa Rica.Our first four anchorages in the northern area were beautiful tropical bays. One bay, Portrero, contained a surf spot, Ollie's Point (named after Oliver North) with good waves. Murcialagos had clear water for snorkling, and Culebra had flat calm water and access to stores etc. After spending some time here we went to Playa del Cocos, a small resort/fishing town. This is where we saw the first monkeys called howlers. From here we toured the interior of the country with Don, Debra and Darci of Starship, one of the boats we met in Guatemala. We drove through tropical rainforests, lush valleys and mountains to Monteverde. The road to get there could be more aptly described as an unpaved dirt path that was barely wide enough for a car. When two cars met, which was seldom, one had to pull off and let the other pass. People in this area live simple lives in almost primative houses in a beautiful setting. In Monteverde we did the canopy tour. This is where they strap you into a harness and you glide 100 feet above the rainforrest on a cable streched between two trees. It was fun. The scenery is stunning. Peaceful rivers run to placid lakes surrounded by high mountains. Small farms called fincas are nestled in the valleys. We spent the night in a beautiful hotel and drove to Arenal the next morning. After visiting the Arenal volcano, which we could barely see through the clouds, we took a nature hike to a waterfall. The volcano is active, but clouds covered its rim, so only the slopes were visible. While in Playa del Cocos, we met Joe and Holly, the people who operate the Witch's Rock Surf Camp. It was time for Leigh to visit her mother, and while she was gone, I went a few times with Joe to Witch's Rock for some good waves. Later, after Leigh returned, we took First Star back to Witch's Rock with disasterous results. The surf was hugh and the offshore wind was howling. I forgot that I wasn't 25 years old any more and paddled into the ten foot swells. I got two good waves, but the third wave got me. I got tumbled and pounded. The wave broke my board. After a lot of effort, I finally made it to shore with my half of a surfboard. A few days prior to this, a surfer friend named Dave had run aground on this beach, and remained to salvage gear from his boat. He was surprised that I was still alive, and let me borrow his board to get back out to First Star. Meanwhile Leigh is sitting on the boat, scared that she might become a widow. Anyhow, I made it back safely, but swore off surfing big waves from now on.

Suiting up for the canopy tour	aiueaiueaiiue!!!
White face monkey in Manuel Antonio Park	Board-eating Witch's Rock