Pura vida Costa Rica

Now and then I visit mom (and sister!) at their home they built nearly thirty years ago on a farm in Costa Rica. I don’t go often but when I do it’s always delight for the senses.

Costa Rica has maintained its beauty despite creeping development and “American-ification” (my word for gentrification). In our area they’re dealing with developers (currently a few from Texas!) lying on their permits and illegally clearing primary rainforests which are protected and ruining water sources for villages.

Unfortunately illegal deforestation (and some corruption) remains an issue despite Costa Rica’s overall care and protection of its pristine environment.

A minor earthquake rumbled through while I was here — a vivid reminder of earth as a living, breathing body we happen to be living upon.

(Pura vida means Pure life — Costa Rica’s unofficial slogan)

Here’s a few photos.

Bird’s eye view from flying a puddle jumper over Costa Rica

A closer look at one of Costa Rica’s vast rainforests. Amazing, abundant beauty.

View of the famous Whale’s Tail @ Uvita’s Marino Ballena National Park. That’s an old (yummy) mango tree on the right.

Horses on the farm on the way down to the river

Swimming down at the Morete river (older photo, lost mine whoops)

Iguanas get big around here… Some are quite colorful too

Another view of the coast on the Pacific side of Costa Rica.

Isla Ballena off the beach at Marino Ballena. Perfect for quiet, serene sunsets

Next time I must remember to bring my zoom camera — there’s so many different colorful birds and wildlife (monkeys, sloths, snakes, etc.) to share.

Ocean Pond

Altitude 0 ft
Sanderson, FL
58°F (feels 56°F) Clear (wind 3.3 mph)

Went from Open Pond in ’bama to Ocean Pond in Florida. Finally good to be back amongst swamps, alligators and yes mosquitos.

Lake Perry

Altitude 30.633 ft
Beaumont, MS
73°F (feels 73°F) Partly Cloudy (wind 12.3 mph)

Reminds me of rustic old Florida fishermen camps, complete with Bald Eagles, alligators and a lovely nature trail. Perfect.

Valentine Lake

Altitude 81.228 ft
Boyce, LA
59°F (feels 57°F) Sunny (wind 5.7 mph)

Beautiful Kisatchie National Forest rustic campground, now one of my favorites.

Pleasure Point (Sabine River Authority)

Altitude 70.458 ft
Florien, LA
44°F (feels 39°F) Cloudy (wind 10.5 mph)

Finally I am out of dastardly long Texas and the sun came out a few minutes to play.

Twin Dikes park

Altitude 55.085 ft
Jasper, TX
66°F (feels 66°F) Cloudy (wind 5 mph)

On Sam Rayburn lake

Cagle campground in Sam Houston national forest

Altitude 69.409 ft
New Waverly, TX
64°F (feels 64°F) Cloudy (wind 5.1 mph)

View down from camp. Surprisingly tranquil for a developed campground but most Ntl forest ones are.

Classic Rock Coffee Co.

Altitude 90.772 ft
Navasota, TX
70°F (feels 71°F) Cloudy (wind 5.4 mph)

Very cool to come across a place like this in the middle of cowboy country.

Rocky Creek campground

Altitude 76.787 ft
Burton, TX
57°F (feels 56°F) Sunny (wind 4.7 mph)

…a few days rest as I wind my way towards Florida.