On to Panama....

Some video commentary added at the bottom

We've finally packed our side bags once again to continue our journey south towards the Panama Canal and Panama City.  The stay at Pura Vida Missions in Heredia, Costa Rica (CR) was a marvelous time of relaxing, catching up on laundry, meeting new people, and experiencing the local culture.

Heredia, CR

Cahuita, CR

Panama Border

Monday morning (Nov 8) we left the cool mountains of Heredia to wind our way south, southeast to the Caribbean side of CR to cross into Panama.  Due to the heavy rain last week in CR, there were quite a few road closures and bridge failures on the Pacific side, so we were advised to try the Caribbean crossing.  Monday night we stayed in Cahuita, CR on a shore of the Caribbean.

We got to the border early Tuesday morning and had to wait on the officials to arrive to get our passports stamped.  It ended up being a 4 hour ordeal (which isn't bad) till we were motoring along the Panamanian highways, which are a whole lot better then CR roads, WAY BETTER!! (Keep that statement in mind)

Our first two hours of riding went find, as we wound through the mountains enjoying the jungle and waterfalls along the way.  The roads started to deteriorate a bit as we neared the top of the mountains but were still okay.

I (Nate) had been leading since the border crossing. We had just crested a mountain when trouble appeared in the form of a corner. The road was a bit wet and curved down to the right.  I saw all that but didn't see the hump in the road.  I entered the curve and went airborne just enough to shoot me into the other lane, braked for whatever reason and hit some loose gravel which finished me off.  Laban was following and was able to avoid any mishap. Dwayne was following Laban and during some heavy braking got into the same loose gravel which shot him and his bike off the road. Both of us are find. We hope to be in Panama City today (Wednesday Nov 10).

  Hopefully we can keep itt sunny side up!

~ Nate