Costa Rica - Sunday – January 21, 2018

Well, when we arrived the previous night, the rain slacked off to a mist and we got us and our gear into the house without incident.  Almost as soon as we got in, the rain and wind resumed as it had been for the last 15 days!  Near hurricane winds and horizontal rain featured through the night and most of the day on Sunday. 

We would later learn from Stephen that this location was where all the Costa Rican weather would land and get stuck on the mountain tops. 

We had choices, we could brave the elements and head out and down the dirt roads to Quesada or we could chill.  We decided that we needed to catch up with ourselves and that R&R would be the order of the day.  John hadn't been feeling well and it was just what he needed.  Cheri initially resisted and then suddenly got it...this is what she had been longing for too.

 

We were sitting in the middle of an intense storm.  The small chalet we are in is mostly made up of windows and the wind has been howling at near hurricane speeds with horizontal rain as well as sun showers since we arrived at the top of this mountain.  I find comfort in the ever blowing wind, the rhythm of it, interspersed with rain pounding the roof.  The trees bowling over and releasing. 

For a while, Cheri watched drops of water slide down a wire.  The patterns are interesting and characteristic of life.  Sometimes lots of drops all together and then a lull with one or two drops and then no drops. Sometimes they blow onto the back of the wire so I don't see them and then come back."

It was intensely peaceful this full fury storm.  Just being with it made all the difference.  Surrender it said.  Take what comes and be in the Now.  

There was a covered porch on one side of the house and a veranda on the front. Both provided opportunities to shoot animals under cover depending on wind direction.  Believe it or not, hummingbirds would fly out to snack on the purple flowers on the side of our chalet. We got some great shots and John tried out is new doubler giving him 1200 mm of possibility.  

 

Breakfast arrived right on time.  By the time lunch rolled around, we decided to be brave and chance the storm.  The village of San Vincente was about 30 minutes away over the dirt roads.  It was raining cats and dogs, but we waited until there was a lull and jumped out of the car to go into the Soda.  This small establishment had a family cooking and serving food.  It was clearly the center of the town and many were there enjoying a Sunday afternoon.  We managed to order off the menu and even ask for the check properly.  Again, when we finished, we waited for a lull in the rain and ran to our 4x4. We saw some great birds on the way back and got some super pictures. It was one of the times it continued to rain, but the sun shone through.  

At sunset, the rain stopped, the clouds shifted and opened a hole in front of us.  Spectacular sunset!! And the stars....oh my!

There is no heat in the chalet.  Just a real wood fire place on offer and with hurricane winds the down drafts would force smoke back into our little slice of heaven.  We opted to go with out and snuggle instead.