Over but not forgotten...........

 We are home.    It was a memorable 10 days and we are left with privileged experiences and opportunities.........................and one of us is still harboring a respiratory bug but it didn't slow us down one bit.    
Mindy, the artist, has been involved with the Sloth Sanctuary for many many years and includes it on her tours.    Judy, the owner, is originally from Alaska and married a Costa Rican and they bought beautiful land and settled in.    They received a sick and injured sloth and cared for it and thus began a life that now includes over 150 of these delightful creatures.   They receive sloths regularly and try and release as many as possible.   They have tiny babies in incubators to the oldest and original, Buttercup,    

 comfortable in her swinging lounge.   She is 18 years old.    I won't go into sloth details but they are very interesting in their habits and life cycle.    We did see one in the wild on our drive one day.  

The grounds are beautiful and so well cared for with birds and flowers.    Students come from the world to study and they welcome volunteers for short periods but mostly it is maintained by staff and supported by tours and donations.   If you go on a cruise and dock at Limon, CR, this visit is an option and I highly recommend it. 

 Oprah is this little girls name.     She is a different type than Buttercup as you can see by the hair.  

 After we arrived and had a wonderful lunch, we were informed that we were to be filmed as part of a documentary by the Discovery Channel.    Mindy drew and spoke to the camera and us about the details of a sloth and what to notice to make it authentic.   ( I have no intention of drawing one but I learned a lot while she was being filmed.)    We all had our cameras and Nancy instructed us on capturing a particular angle or exposure.  

 I tried to stay out of range as much as possible but with two cameras shooting, it was not easy.    It should be out in about a year.    Look for me, I'm easy to spot with the bad hair.  

 Leaving the Sanctuary, we headed to the coast and passed miles and miles of banana plantations.   They keep them in the blue plastic to protect them.  

 We stayed overnight on the Caribbean Coast in a lovely tropical hotel.    We all said that we would have liked 2 nights there but soon it was off to another rainforest and research center.   Nancy, the photographer, had a lovely butterfly choose her  in the Butterfly house.    
And so, we headed back to San Jose, a farewell dinner and the trip home the next day.   Our group was very interesting, very compatible and I learned so much about the country and the eco systems and how serious Costa Rica is in safeguarding their unique habitats and rich diversity.  
I would go back in a minute............but first I need to get rid of this bug.      

Flying objects

One day we headed out to a farm that rescues macaws.    The gentleman has a huge aviary but with no roof so the birds fly free.    Over the years, they have bred and the babies come back as well.    He stands and calls them and they fly to him, for peanuts of course !    It was amazing.    It was hard to get crisp pics, even with a tripod due to all the movement.    Due to time, I am uploading pics just as they are with NO editing..,.They are what you see.  

Besides the scarlet macaws, there were some chestnut mandible toucans.....

Trying to capture them in flight was very hard..    They are very large birds and were swooping within inches of our heads.   

There was also a great green macaw which is endangered and rare in the wild.    

He also acquired two jaguars about 15 years ago as they were destroying cattle in the area and were to be killed, so he took them in.   They are magnificent.....they are also very endangered.  

He raises brahman cattle and has a large water buffalo which Nancy had to ride.  

Yesterday, we went on a boat ride down the river nearby.        Along the way we saw this Green Iguana....He was about 3 ft long with a turquoise head and kept making strange motions with his head.....

Nearby was this smaller Green Iguana.    As the larger one advanced, we figured they were male and female and

we saw what we thought was pretty rough mating....note the smaller one on the bottom.    He kept biting the neck.    We stayed for awhile and he dragged it about.    It wasn't until we got back and viewed the pics, that Mindy said they were two males so instead of a romantic interlude, we witnessed a murder !!!!!!

A bit farther down the river, we saw this Emerald Basilisk along the bank.....about 2 feet long but not a good pic.  
We also went for a walk thru another rainforest ....we saw some lizards and many many orchids.   We were also in a cacao field and they made chocolate they way the early Indians made it.  

These are cacao pods....about the size of an acorn squash.  

Yesterday on the grounds, our guide found this lovely green and black frog.   About average frog size.   

Pretty flower but have no idea what it is.  

Today is our last day at the Lodge.   These are the walkways that connect our rooms with the main lodge.   Helpful in the torrential rain of which we have had not a drop.....they say this is unusual but we appreciate it.    I came down with a good head cold but I think it's fading and it hasn't hindered me at all.....

Today some of us stayed behind for art lessons and some drove to Waterfall gardens.   They said it was beautiful but we enjoyed the down time.    Tomorrow we head closer to the coast to see the sloths.  

Into the creepy world ..............

We left San Jose and on our way to Selva Verde Lodge, we stopped at a small local chocolate company called Cibu.    We were treated to a sampling with explanations BEFORE dinner.    The owners are using local products and gaining an excellent reputation in the international chocolate world.   

 Of course, we ordered some to take home.         We arrived after dark at this lodge in the middle of a rainforest.   It is quite rustic, rather like a Boy Scout camp with fairly comfortable accomodations.   The food is simple:    rice and beans, salad, fresh fruit and juices and fish or chicken.   I'm eating local so enjoying some desserts (flan ! ) and fish.    There is no A/C, TV or radio and at times, it would be nice  to have A/C in the rooms but there is always a breeze and the humidity is not bad.    I use bug spray but most don't....and they still bite me.     We went for a 3 hr  hike into the rainforest.    Aside from learning about the flora, we saw a snake, a red frog and spider monkeys.   That apparently is a rare thing.

 We had to go over a long bouncy suspension bridge.

 We saw an owl butterfly.....

 Later, our guide and a hotel guide, set up a photo opportunity with a red eyed tree frog and a blue jean frog.   The little red frog is very very tiny and is the same one I spotted in the forest.....less than an inch.

 The tree frog is larger....maybe 2 plus inches.    They are nocturnal so more cooperative in the light of day.

We spend time with Nancy on the outings, learning to shoot in different situations and then spend time with Mindy with art lessons in the afternoon during Happy Hour !!    They are a fun pair and I'm getting very comfortable with my camera and lens.     Gotta run....heading out on a boat ride  to look at birds.    

HOLA !!

So far, so wonderful.     After a short flight from Orlando into San Jose (the kids were oohing and ahhing during the roller coaster descent, the adults not so much ! ) we arrived to  dry sunny weather.    The Hotel Bougainville is lovely with art and sculpture filling every space and an 8 acre garden to wander freely about.
We met our eclectic group and I think we are a well matched group.    Mindy, the botanical artist from Gainesville and Nancy, the professional photographer from Durango are a perfect pair to guide us through this adventure.    Others in our group are a husband and wife from NJ...he a child psychologist and she a tutor....they both dabble in drawing birds and animals.    A Dr in research genetics from Yale who recently retired and also lives in Gainesville.   She layers microscopic pics of the cell structure of a plant and overlays a photo of the plant....all done using slide film.   She is having a show at the Natural History Museum in Gainesville in April.    A younger artist from NJ who does beautiful botanical art but earns her way by doing massage, reflexology and ancient body therapies.   A lovely woman who lives in Peru and Toronto and travels widely and does gorgeous colored pencil work....but mostly she adores her grandchildren.   She does work for Crayola and Thermos.   She is so interesting.   A tall , serious woman from Alberta Canada is a teacher of science of some sort and draws constantly and does very beautiful botanical art.    She is very happy in the warm climate.     And then there's us !     We also have a guide named Jimmy who has a degree in Tourism.   He is young and easy on the eyes.   He knows everything about the country, the flora and fauna and even photography.

 I am learning slowly about photographing flowers and they don't always turn out .    Blogger is giving me fits this morning so I am only posting a few to give you an idea.    These were taken using two different cameras, 3 different lens by two different people.   No tripod, just trying different settings.  And it was windy yesterday so much of what we did is not so great blown up....

This interesting item is a seed pod, hanging from a tree mostly barren of leaves.   We managed to grab one and Jimmy cut it open.   Normally, it dries a bit, pops open and the seeds are eaten and carried off by the birds.

 To discourage birds from opening them too soon, they are filled with a milky, sticky burning liquid which each of us managed to get on our fingers....its like tree sap and doesn't want to come off.   We asked Jimmy the name and he said scientific or common.....we said common and he said "whores balls"...it sounds better with a spanish accent.

 We got in our comfortable 20 passenger bus with our driver and headed over to Lenkester Gardens.   There we met the director and a lovely botanical artist from Italy who divides her time between the two countries.   Her work is light and fresh and lovely.    I had hoped to pick up a small card but the gift shop was closed by the time we finished.    This Botanical garden is known worldwide for its work with orchids and has over 1800 species.       It was very cloudy out so the colors seem subdued but you get the idea.  

One of the more interesting plants that we see everywhere, including in large pots at the hotel, is the helliconia.   It grows to be about 3 feet long and is a brilliant reddish orange.   

 It is related to the bird of paradise.

Today, we will leave here and stop at a small chocolate factory and then a Toucan Preserve before arriving at the rain forest.    No TV there so no Superbowl but since we can't even keep track of the days or the news of the world, we are enjoying our hours absorbed in the beauty of nature.

PS:   For those of you wondering about the hair.......and I know there are many....   It got whacked off some more and the grey is gone....well, diminished and altho I asked for blonde repeatedly, it isn't.   Its a light brownish, touched with my grey, a light blond and is gradually fading to an all over lightish brownish shade....sort of.   I prefer not to look at it or dwell on it but I still do a doubletake when I look in the mirror and wonder who I am.

PPS:   Not sure when we'll have internet again.... tried a new app for the iPhone...Mag light with magnifying glass.....or something like that.   Gives off a very bright light , useful for searching for things in the dark while your spouse is still asleep, or highlighting small things and it magnifys an object  for the camera.....try it, its free.      

Ruined........

Good thing I bought some new pajamas because I have NO plans to leave the house for as long as it takes for my hair to grow.!!    All I said today was to "cut it a bit shorter"  because I am planning on being in the rainforest and my thick hair blows up in humidity.    I noticed the damage before the one side was done but there was no gluing it back on.   So I suffered in silence as she cut the other side to match.   It looks like a bowl was put on my head and then the sides shaved.   Plus, my hair is lighter (read grayer) around my now exposed ears, so the strange cut really is obvious.    I almost said to cut the rest of my hair really short so it all matches but just wasn't brave enough.     I may think about that option for tomorrow.  
My only hope is that my hair grows really really fast and maybe...........it will grow in a bit before we leave in a week.    Too bad we aren't going north....I'd just wear a hat....actually I would need to since I have no hair to keep me warm.    
I realize that of all the problems I COULD have and of all the problems that others have, this is not worth whining about...................  but I really want my hair back.!!  

Home.....

Enjoyed an uneventful drive home with our shiny new caliper.    We had the best weather all week until the day we left and it was COLD.    We didn't pack for sweater weather so P had to wear my pretty baby blue fleece to keep warm while packing up and unhooking.   It brought out his feminine side.        

While hanging out in the campground, several of the coaches had the twirling balloons hanging off their exterior mirrors.    Sort of a sign that "you've been there".... We had ours out as well and can't wait to go back in October.    

Still waiting.......

No progress on getting out of here.    It's not a bad place to be stuck AND, we could just drive home and come back and get it but each day they seem to think the part will be in.     So, we loaf and hang around and eat and loaf and eat.......   Actually, yesterday we went to the HUGE RV show.    We walked for hours in the hot sun, climbed in and out of varied sizes and shapes of RV's and decided that we liked ours best of all.   No real changes in the new models and nothing we needed to add.    Then, as we were leaving, we saw someone with a bag advertising British Columbia tourism .    Since that is someplace we would be interested in going to, we backtracked to the  vendor booth on the opposite side and gathered up all sorts of good info.   But by then, our feet were done. !!
  Later, we gathered with friends we had met on the road.....the best part of this lifestyle.   One couple we met in Nova Scotia.   They are parked right behind us in the CG having their 1 yr warranty work done.   .....She also fell off her step this fall and broke a bone in her foot !!   And since they have a house in Colorado we have a lot of commonality.   The other couple we met in Colorado and he and Paul connected on the Tiffin forum.    So we had good catch-up time over Happy Hour.    Also, we were in a large MH at the show and someone said he was considering a Phaeton....I said that we have one.....as the conversation continued, he asked if we'd had any problems......I mentioned the tow and he said, I'm on the forum and I read your comment about the issue.....AND, I also saw you on the side of the road with the tow truck.    So, we're all connected out there in RV land.

We're ready to get home and start the prep for the Costa Rica trip.   I'm drawing and getting refreshed on my camera and mentally packing in my head.    Can't wait !!

The culprit.........

 It's the  caliper and yes, it can be a source of fire and damage.       We have sensors on the tires to give us feedback as to tire pressure and temperature.   It is part of our checklist to note the numbers.    It also has a warning sound if either of those parameters changes slowly or rapidly.    On departure day, the batteries were dead so the decision was made to go on ahead and buy replacements at our destination ........................................................!!!!!    Good choice, Bad choice???  Actually, it  wouldn't have changed the outcome but we might have had some earlier warning on temperature and pulled over before the panic mode set in.    But we still would have needed the tow and repair.    Yes, the batteries are now replaced and we will be very alert on our next outing.    Dean and Diane have had this happen twice !! and it was a defect and there was a recall on their calipers.  I would feel better if the other ones were replaced but know that won't happen.  

So, we remain at Lazy Days.    They need to order the part ( wouldn't you think that in a place of this size, they'd have one on the shelf ?  ) and then reschedule to put it back together so it will be the rest of the week before we can take it home.     We are debating whether to stay or go home.   It is very comfortable here with complimentary meals and Happy Hour  ( the chardonnay tasted like battery acid tho....)  Tomorrow is the HUGE RV show right down the road.    Since we were just at the big one in Hershey last summer and since we have a new MH, we don't feel a strong need to go .....  there are also seminars offered here every day on every imaginable subject related to RVing so that could fill the hours....plus the beautiful beaches are just down the road and we've never really explored this popular tourist area......but then there's the golf and pickleball at home and the getting ready for the BIG trip.   We'll have to flip a coin............. 

We are disappointed that we won't meet up with Mark and Annette in Naples but later in Feb we hope to try again.    And, the timing of this failure was much better than on some more organized trip.    And we know what to be aware of  in the future.     Jeremy , the hefty tow guy, offered that he'd rather tow a garbage truck in the rain at midnight than tow a big RV....said they are just too delicate.   Hopefully, we won't meet him again but we know he's out there waiting for us if we do.

It's never a good sign............

......when the tow truck pulls up in front of your MH on the interstate......!

We were about an hour from home, merrily moving down the highway.    Then, the steering wheel started vibrating and we noted a strong smell of something burning.    Fortunately, within a few scary  seconds we were off on the side of the very busy Interstate and stopped.   We have read really bad stories of fires in wheels, resulting in tragedies and total destruction.   I had the fire extinguisher in hand as we stopped and hopped out to look for the source of the smoke/fire or whatever it was.    I saw nothing but the acrid smell was strong and coming from the Lt Front tire area.    That side was the one next to very heavy traffic, so P was very cautious about sticking body parts too far out.    The wheel cover was dangerously hot to the touch.    After deciding there was no fire, we  re-entered the coach and made a phone call to the company ( like AAA ) to come and help us out.    And so, Jeremy and his heavy duty tow truck showed up  and towed the MH down the road as we followed in the car.    

There were guesses as to the nature of the problem but it seems centered around the brake.   And so, he brought us to Lazy Days, the huge RV sales and service company near Tampa where we bought the coach.    Early Monday morning, we'll hope they can diagnose and treat the problem and get us back on the road.   It's very very busy down here so not optimistic that anything will be done quickly.    But, since we are a member of the Crown Club , because we bought a  certain model of RV, we get free camping and meals at the Club....and a pool.   When we were pulled in, a small group gathered because really, how often do you see one of these big rigs being towed ?    One guy said his friend had to be towed 30 miles and it cost $1500 !!
We don't feel too bad tho.....it could have been worse.      Everything is covered by warranty, we are only 90 min from home if we have to leave it, and we had plans that are easily changed.......And the weather is lovely and we aren't in the middle of Wyoming.        So, we'll hang around tomorrow until they decide what and when and do some exploring and just relax.

Actually, there is one black spot on the whole thing.....I had plans to wear my Broncos shirt proudly on this trip....... !