Enjoying my last days...

It is always hard coming to the end of a trip, especially one like this. I have been fortunate enough to make MANY friends and be apart of a few families. And knowing that my time here is about to expire, makes a flood of memories come back... My first trip down the Pacuare with Alejandro, My first waterfalls, numerous adventures with Jenni and Courtney, Panama, running many rivers with new friends, great parties and even better friends. These are the memories I will have for a lifetime. 

Courtney and Jenni enjoying the Natural foods of Panama

My first day on the Pacuare

Hanging with my two favorite bartenders, Roxy and Gabby

Hangin Panamanian Style

My first days of waterfalls

My Dutch brothers Rick and Daan in Panama

But with that in mind, I can´t feel anything but content with my trip here. Especially this last week. I got on the Orosi River (all 3 sections) 4 times, the Super Pascua 2 times, the amazing and beautiful Upper Pacuare for the first time. Plus got to party/chill with most of the good friends I have made here in this awesome country before I moved out of my house in Turrialba.

The Orosi:

I have to give a shout out to my good buddy Esteban Gonzalez for showing me down the Upper (Dinosaur) Section of the Orosi everytime I had the oppurtunity. That river never ceases to be fun, with High or extremely low flows. This river is the closest example to Cali boating I have paddled during my time here. There is always some sort of boof or sweet line to be had.

Esteban boofing into the Dinosaur

This river has its fair share of clean lines and fun moves. Even one they call "The Ojete"... It is a sweet boof INTO what I would describe as a giant sieve, small room, undercut, sweet ass rapid haha. After boofing into it (you boof while keeping your head away from the guillotine rock, land with the right angle while croutched waiting to flush), you have a sweet ledge at the exit to drop, catch a quick eddie, make a fun slot move then another fun boof over the final hole. Quality.

Boofing into The Ojete... Sieve undercut thing

I will definitely miss this river as well as the times I have had with Jason and Esteban. Thanks guys!

Super Pascua:

This river gave me the opportunity for the most fun playboating I have ever had. Even at low flow, it felt like one of the biggest water rivers I have been on. Some rapids would plunge straight through the jungle, completley enclosed for almost a half a mile. All while boasting amazing big waves to surf around almost every bend.

Pelon throwing a wave wheel for the camera

The first time I went with Julio, Pelon and a new friend from Italy, Fede. I think my favorite part of this day was just following Julio and Pelon while they threw some of the most impressive down river freestyle I had ever seen. Just a few days later I was able to get on this section yet again. But this time was basically a party on the river, we had EIGHT people! I joined up with Pelon, Pope´, Gumby (new friend from Florida), Cheyenne, Elena, Emily and Anika. These ladies were four great paddlers from the Montana area, and were an absolute ball to hang out and paddle with. Our day on the Super Pascua was my favorite.  We stopped to catch almost every wave and laughed at eachother when we would sometimes have a questionable line. We all had smile from ear to ear by the end of the day. 

Me getting my one and only playboating day in the country, GREAT DAY!

Upper Pacuare:

This river and this day was probably one of the best I had in the country. We had a blue bird warm day with a river to enjoy all to ourselves. I was able to boat again with my good friends Julio, Pelon and Fede. On a new challenging and beautiful river. This river had it all. Great clean boofs, Sweet pour overs, technical rapids, scary and giant holes and scenery to write home about. The entire day we wound our way through lush green forests then into the heart of some of the most raw and beautful canyons I have seen. The run and its surroundings kind of reminded me of a bigger more technical Giant Gap on the North Fork of the American. The run gave you plenty of time to warm up in the first few miles with fun and technical class IV-IV+.  We made quick time to the first gorge that held many quality class IV+/V rapids. We hopped out at the first substatial rapid to take a quick scout and get footage. This fun rapid was named, Hydraulic Blood. You had to punch one hole then get all the way right to drop down a tall sloping pour over and punch a big hole and stay away from the bad undercut. But we all had clean lines, so we continued down the river.

Me punching the massive hole at the bottom of Hydraulic Blood

We rallied through the next few rapids and came to Bobo, another rapid worth a scout. We ended up just running the top two drops. They held surprisingly strong holes that gave almost every one a massive back ender, or in my case a sketchy bit of down time. Then portaged another giant river wide hole.

Pelon getting a sweet ender in Bobo

After Bobo, we made our way down to Curtain falls. This was one of the cleanest rapids I have seen here in Costa. But did hold a pretty sticky river wide ledge hole that Fede decided to explore... I ran the rapid first so I could get down to film it. Fede hit the boof but was instantly flipped and sucked back into the grip of the hole. He fought for nearly 25 seconds getting recirculated and looped over and over again. Julio threw him a line while I retrieved his boat and paddle. The only thing he lost was a shoe that I saw disappear back into the hole.

Fede trying to fight his way out of the river wide hole at Curtain Falls

This was a day full of fun rapids and good times with great friends. 

Now I am spending the last few days in the country with Alejandro, his family and a few friends from California in Paraiso. We will celebrate Christmas the Tico way. And I get to relax and reminisce on the amazing experiences I have had. 

Even though this trip has been nothing short of incredible, in many ways, I am excited and ready to go home to see friends and family. I may not be too stoked on returning to cold weather, but that only means one thing. CALI WINTER BOATING!!! 

"Travels are like the plane, the train and the road. They are the destination and the journey. They are home."  - Anna Quindlen