Flying through the Air

March 29, Wednesday - After the usual breakfast drill, we loaded into the bus and drove about 10 minutes south along the coast to Vista Los Suenos, a zip line outfit. They efficiently fitted us into our gear (harness and chest rigging, helmets and gloves with a extra thick layer of leather in the palm of the glove). One guy gave us a briefing on safety and technique, including where to hold the cable, what to do if we start swinging, and how to manoever up the cable. They loaded us into a ‘hay’ wagon and with a tractor, hauled us up a steep, clay dirt, road, maybe a 1000 feet up into the forest.

The zip lines were laid out in a zigzag pattern running back down to the base and included 10 runs. Betsy and I brought up the rear of the group and thus had to wait while the staff hooked up and released the rest of the group. The main gear was a pulley that fit over the cable and could accommodate three carabiners. The center hole carried the main line from our harness, passing up through the chest harness, the second hole was for the safety carabiner and the third hole and carabiner kept the pulley connected to the person.

Each of us was connected to the cable by a staff person who held us in position until they got a signal that the cable was clear. We then sat back with knees bent and feet crossed, and the stronger hand resting on the cable behind one’s head. This position stabilized the body and didn't allow it to twist. The hand on the cable could also be used for braking. The other hand grasped the main strap below the pulley. Then we went whoosh— traveling from 300 feet up to 1000 feet along the cable to each platform built around a large tree. We detached from the cable and the safety line was hooked in a cable on the platform to prevent any falls while we waited for our next run.

A photographer was posted at the end of one run (no, we didn't buy the photos - $15 per photo or $35 for all on a DVD seemed expensive) and another run we could have hung upside down but chose instead to do it with no hands. As we approached each platform, there was a braking system and padding on the landing surface with a staff person to catch and unclip you. On two runs, we were instructed to brake after reaching the bottom of the cable arc, which involved pulling down on the cable with the upper hand. All other runs were made free fall, requiring the full momentum to reach the platform. Betsy had to pull herself up to one platform.  I came screaming in on most of the platforms, giving the braking system a workout.

Some of the women were initially anxious but after a couple runs, everyone was having fun and enjoying themselves. We were flying along up in the trees that we have been seeing from below and also had some good views to the ocean, albeit quick. We would do it again, given the chance.

We returned to the hotel for lunch. The afternoon was free time and we spent most of it at Playa Blanca (the white sand beach), nicer than the one we visited yesterday. It had soft white sand and turquoise water. We started by walking to the farthest point on the beach and then swam/floated in the bath temperature water. We traveled to and from the beach in a hotel shuttle bus. We were out long enough to pick up a little pink color but not burn.

We returned to the hotel, and took drinks to our neighborhood pool. While we were sitting there, a troop of white faced monkeys (Capuchin) came swinging in through the tree tops. The restaurant must put out bananas for them. They gave us quite a show of antics as they swung through the trees, and played and drank at a small water bath. They were alert to threats (including aggressive bigger monkeys) but did not seem concerned about the humans watching them from a few feet away.

After showering, we joined our group for a talk about living in Costa Rica from an American ex-pat who runs the outrigger boat rental operation we will be using tomorrow. He talked about practical things like buying property, taxes and finances, etc. Then it was time for dinner and then bed.