Adventures are what dreams are made of …. That is what Dan, Sandy, Kailee and Krislyn wanted - an adventure! So off to Costa Rica to visit …. a dream come true to travel to a tropical paradise!
Getting acclimated to boat life!
Dale and I really thought long and hard about their 5-day visit …. some sailing, some swimming, some relaxing, some fishing, some land touring and of course the ultimate (for me) - some zip lining!
We squeezed everything we could into each day - without making them or us to crazy …
Sandy asked me a couple of times - on different days - what time was it … I replied - oh about noon. We really had already had so much fun … she couldn’t believe. Said it felt like it should be 5pm … way to much activity and still more to do each day … welcome to my world - time just moves slower.
Our first “young people” to be on the boat - Kailee and Krislyn - was a real treat for this Uncle and Aunt - of course Krislyn addressed her uncle as “Captain Sir Captain” whenever she needed anything and that got Dale’s attention immediately (and no I do not call him that!) Kailee was willing after a little coaxing to try all sorts of new things and Krislyn is just plain fearless - ready at the drop of the hat to be the first in line for everything!!
Kailee learning how to tidy up the trampoline!
Captain Dale and his little first mate on this voyage!
After getting them settled into their berths - who sleeps where and how and what makes the boat work … and of course the class on toilet flushing, etc - they were ready for fun! Kailee, Krislyn and I got all of the prep work done and made three delish pizzas from scratch - we had a ball deciding on the ingredients … all tasted terrific!
The pizza looked good and tasted good, too!
After a good night’s sleep - ready for more fun - we actually just hung out at the pool - Dan was a little under the weather - Sandy was searching for as much sun as she could get - then we had this most remarkable surprise.
Krislyn - our early riser found the best seat in the house - usually about 5:30 am!
We saw the sunrise 4 out of 5 days!
Krislyn practiced for hours with new snorkel and fin gear!
Dale told me he had to go to the airport to pick up a package he had ordered … low and behold “the package” was really Glori - what a shocker!! I heard her voice before I saw her … we all couldn’t believe our eyes … apparently Dale kept Glori in the loop after Dan and his girls made their plans to visit so those two decided to keep it a secret from all of us … but like all good surprises - everyone else knew but us 5!
Our sweet surprise!! Glorianne!
The rest of that day was spent just being together - loved that!! Krislyn and Kailee enjoyed having two aunts to hang with!!
Part of the land excursion was a trip up into the mountains - Buena Vista to take a walk on the hanging bridges in that jungle canopy - a great little walk with 16 bridges and platforms … saw no monkeys there … but loads of birds and of course the jungle foliage.
On top of the jungle!
Dan and Sandy on their hike down from the bridges.
A picnic lunch, back into the car and a last minute decision to take a side trip to the “local waterfall” - of course changing into swimwear in the car is another story and one that is better spoken then written - so ask me sometime! The hike down to the falls is not an easy one - but Sandy and Dan were real sports about it and enjoyed this magical place that is not on any map … laughing, splashing and swimming under the cascades- simply took my breath away … now Krislyn decided not to change into her suit - but "Captain Sir Captain" thought she needed to experience the mist from the falls … oh well - she changed into her swimsuit after we got back to the car!!!
Two beauties - Kailee and the waterfall!
"Look Mom - Uncle Dale made me do it!"
These are the moments that make dreams into adventures!
The next stop - shopping in Play del Coco - a special little surf town and of course it had the sport fishing company that we needed to make our reservation for a charter with for Sunday afternoon … after cruising up and down the street and in and out of all sorts of shops - Dan treated us to a great dinner of fresh fish at Papagayo’s Seafood - outdoor dining overlooking the street. Really good local food!
Morning came early as the Captain has warned us that we will set sail by 7 am so we could get back to the marina early in the afternoon and why waste time sleeping. We had fun to be had! Sailing out of our dock is a breeze, into the bay was like gliding on ice - smooth as glass. Around the Papagayo Peninsula to our special bay we anchored and got ready to play in the water, go for beach walks, a dinghy ride, a little spelunking into a water cave, shells picking and of course getting our fair share of the UV rays - plus a little lunch on the back deck … what more fun could we ask for?
Sandy at the helm - taking in all of sights!
Dan surveying the land and seascape!
Mischief in somebody's eyes ... not mine!
Safely back at the dock - Dale once again had to run an errand - this time I knew all about it …. He brought Emily, Kyle and their two friends, Kori and Dan to the marina … another surprise for Dan, Sandy and the girls. With a crowd that size - we rented a condo from the marina for the overflow but had a great dinner on the boat of spaghetti and meat sauce - you know how I love to cook for a crowd!! Now that is fun for me!
Girls just chilling by the pool!
Sunday was our last full day - so with an early wake up call, breakfast eaten we had arranged for the Witches Rock Canopy Tour - the shuttle picked all of us up - 11 total … 8 of us (including me!) got ourselves all harnessed up and ready for a zip line tour of the canopy jungle … flying thru the air for about 1500 feet was the first “zip” - of course Krislyn was the first one in line … only 8 zips more to go! Kailee on the other hand was the only one to do a zip upside down … that is right; head down - feet up … oh my!! She loved it! It took us a little over an hour for all 8 of us to get done … what an experience! I only wish I would have kept my eyes open for the first "zip" ... that was the one that viewed the Pacific and of course it was the longest one!
The gang all ready for the first ZIP .......
Back to the marina in time for some lunch and then off for a charter fishing trip - Dan, Dale, Kyle fished - Emily and Kori just went for the ride!! Four hours later - they brought home a Spanish mackerel for us to cook another day!
Hoping for a really good "fish tale" when the return!
I just couldn’t believe it - how fast the time really went and that they had to pack up and leave the next morning … Dan, Sandy, the girls and Glori …. So glad they came to see life on Companion and to share in our dream … adventures - remember that is what dreams are made of!!
Thanks for wanting an adventure and sharing ours .... we loved having you on board Companion!
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