Zip lining in Limon - June 8

We pulled into the port of Limon, Costa Rica quite early today and since I had forgotten to set my clock back an hour, I was up quite early too.  How vexing!  I was signed up for a 9:30 trip to go zip lining through the rain forest. How cool is that?

Getting harnessed

We had a 30 minute drive to the location and we were soon donning our painfully tight harnesses.  We consoled ourselves with the knowledge that we wouldn't be slipping out of those suckers as we zoomed over the trees but I was already looking forward to getting out of it at the end of the line.  We climbed into an open trailer with seats hauled by a Massey Ferguson tractor (that detail is for my father - Hi Dad!).  Once at the first line...or zip...or whatever, we faced a very long wait as we climbed to up to the first post.  There were 40 of us on the trip so this wasn't going to be a quick zip.

I eventually got my turn, was hooked to the line and off I flew over the trees.  So much fun!  It was a long line and I twirled around at least twice with my feet skimming the canopy of leaves below me all the while worrying that I would slam into the tree at the end with a huge splat.  The things that go through your mind when your demise is imminent!

First zip or line or whatever

Fortunately, they had a break system on the line so I didn't go splat and made a rather inelegant landing.  Dignity had already gone bye-bye when I donned the harness so I tried hard not to care about the picture I was making as I flew through the air.  Once I arrived at that platform, the ever so helpful employee, quickly got me hooked into the next zip, gave me a heave and off I went over a river gorge.  Yikes, we were up high!  The first line had been deceptive since the canopy of trees was immediately below us but this one gave us an excellent sense of exactly how high we really were.  We were HIGH!

We made our way through seven lines and had a wonderful time.  On the last line, the guide asked me if I wanted to do it upside down.  I don't know what possessed me but I said "yes" and he showed me how to lean back and hook my feet on the cable.  I know I looked ridiculous but it was so much fun.  He did warn me that I needed to do the landing in the usual position so I managed to unhook my feet in time and did an ever-so-graceful stop on the platform.  Finally!

Itty-bitty poisonous frog

While we were zipping, we got the added bonus of some wildlife including an itty-bitty, poisonous frog and a sloth sleeping in the tree above us.  We totally got our money's worth out of this trip!  (By the way, the frog is only poisonous if you hold it and have a cut on your hand or if you lick it. Otherwise, it's perfectly safe.)

Spot the sloth!

Once we returned to the ship, I wolfed down some lunch and then headed into town where I tagged along with some students and explored the area around the port.  Not a lot to see, unfortunately.  It was also stinking hot so by the time I headed back to the ship, I was having fantasies about drowning myself in the shower.

I refrained from the drowning part but luxuriated in the shower until I was nice and wrinkled.  It felt wonderful.  After getting a beer in the faculty lounge, I finally felt like I might survive.  The perfect way to end a very fun day.