La Fortuna and Cattle
The last trip we had our agenda was to head inland towards the La Fortuna area and explore the area around her volcanos. The factor influencing this decision was mainly the distance we would need to drive and I had wanted to give myself some time to acclimate to driving in a foreign country. Turns out for once I made a wise choice.
From our villa, it was an approximate 3.5 hour drive through narrow, mountainous roads. And if I thought the driving along the coast was challenging then I was quickly proven wrong. On our trip we ran into just about anything you wouldn’t expect on a road; ladies with wash piled on their heads. A man in his electric wheelchair in the middle of the road. Truck piled impossibly high with bananas.
But the one I really wasn’t expecting was to be surrounded by cattle being herded down the road by men on horseback. I honestly didn’t know what to do other than just stop the car, which in itself seemed foolhardy. The cattle certainly didn’t give us a wide berth. In fact, I expected them to take off the mirrors at any moment. At a few that were hemmed in by the herd had that crazed look and I was waiting from them to launch themselves up and over the car.
Support
Our mission is a labor of love, but it does come with overhead. If you’d like to support our efforts we’d certainly appreciate it. Currently, we’re actively participating in the following field research:
- COASST Beached Bird Surveys
- Wild and Scenic River Project
Thank you.
La Fortuna Hanging Bridges
While I drove, Theresa went through the material I had collected on the area and found something that looked interesting for us both. What she found turned out to be one of the highlights of the whole trip; the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park.
Before the Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna became a leading tourist destination in Costa Rica, it was a vast farming area. Blessed with such fertile and rich soil, locals raised livestock and grew crops as their livelihood. But everything changed when Arenal Volcano erupted and people attracted to the powerful volcano that made international headlines back in 1968 started to visit the area.
As Costa Rica become a top eco-tourism country, one family decided to preserve the 600 acres of land given to them near Arenal to maintain the rich biodiversity living within. This ambitious project grew immensely over the next decade and is now one of the top attractions in the Arenal area: the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges.
“
Member of the following
Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /home/customer/www/xexplore.com/public_html/wp-content/plugins/fetch-tweets/include/class/utility/database/FetchTweets_DatabaseTable_ft_http_requests.php on line 196
Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /home/customer/www/xexplore.com/public_html/wp-content/plugins/fetch-tweets/include/class/utility/database/FetchTweets_DatabaseTable_ft_http_requests.php on line 197
Latest Instagram
This is just one of many structures that fell into disarray after the closure of the gravel pit that once operated on the shores of Steilacoom.
Nestled in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, Mount St. Helens stands as an imposing figure, even in the depths of winter. The snow-capped peak, which famously erupted in 1980, offers a unique and breathtaking landscape for winter adventurers. With its rugged terrain, awe-inspiring vistas, and challenging winter conditions, Mount St. Helens is a must-visit destination for those seeking an unforgettable winter experience. Whether you're an experienced mountaineer or a beginner looking for a thrilling outdoor adventure, Mount St. Helens in winter is an experience you won't soon forget.
Some of the old structures for the gravel pit were once located in Steilacoom, Washington. Since I took this photograph, it's been replaced by a golf course.
Point Robinson Light is a lighthouse located on Maury Island in Washington State, USA. The lighthouse was first built in 1885 and has since undergone several renovations and upgrades. The lighthouse tower is 35 feet tall and is painted white with a black lantern room. It is situated on a bluff overlooking Puget Sound and marks the eastern entrance to Elliott Bay. The light's characteristic is a white flash every 5 seconds with a focal plane of 51 feet above sea level.
What started as a sunny day developed into thunderstorms. The thunderstorm finally moved off to the east. It had us binned in our tents for a couple of hours.
I've just posted an article over on our website. You'll find more photographs and a short write up on what we found. | "Dosewallips State Park Suffers Major Upheaval"
The south shore of Dusty Lakes is just outside Vantage. We've book our campsite for a return trip this spring.
Sunrise over Port Angeles. We’ll be catching the afternoon ferry over to Victoria later today.
Murhut Creek drains the lower Duckabush River valley. Although only the lower portion is visible the falls themselves are over 150'. ------------
Deep Lake at Millersylvania State Park
Theresa is gazing at sunset while beachcombing. The clouds added a wonderful touch of drama to the scene.
Sunrise at Ocean Shores
Theresa is looking downstream at Murhat Falls. This waterfall is easy to drive to and an easy hike in the Olympic National Forest.
Nisqually Wildlife Reserve
Skate Creek runs alongside Forest Road 52 in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This was just one of the many photographic sites that can be accessed from the road.
Sunrise at Fort Flagler State Park
The concept of the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges is simple: To protect flora and fauna while offering visitors a safe environment to discover the rain forest in a sustainable way. So if you’re looking to experience the famous hanging bridges of Costa Rica or want a nice hike in Arenal to learn about the rain forest and see wildlife, the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges is the best place to go.
Every direction we looked offered something new and exciting to observe, whether it was unique fauna or spectacular wildlife. The various hanging bridge along the trail not only give you a chance to catch a bit of cooling breeze but also provide a unique perspective to observe the jungle canopy. Some of the most interesting views of the Arenal Volcano were from the bridges. My notebook is full of the different species we saw along the trail and I’m fairly certain we missed some.
La Fortuna Waterfalls
The scenery was so stunning and the village of La Fortuna so quaint, that we decided to get forego returning to the coast and get a hotel. We couldn’t have been more pleased. From our balcony, we were looking right up the flanks of the Areal Volcano. I was seeing so many more birds than at the coast, or at least it seemed so. And not just seeing them but hearing them as well. I spend a wonderful evening taking in all the sights and sounds while watching the clouds sweep up the volcano.
With a long drive ahead of us, we woke early, checked out, and headed to the popular La Fortuna Waterfalls. Our guide book had warned of the long lines and we were hoping to beat them to the falls.
As luck would have it, we arrived a half-hour before they opened their gates, but when we saw someone behind the counter and approached to see if we could purchase our tickets early, not only did they do so, but they allowed us to head down the trail before they were officially opened. This afforded us a wonderful half-hour alone at the falls pool. I took full advantage and captured some rare photos without crowds of people. A photographer’s dream!
It also gave us a chance to really take in the beauty of the falls as well as the surrounding jungle. I fully appreciated this rare chance, and once more people started to show up they showed up in mass. We were fortunate indeed.
