Thursday 15th November:

Although that is its unofficial name it is not as bad as it sounds. The Pan-American H’way (CA2) straddles the Central American mountain divide.  It climbs to 3,200 metres with the Pacific Coast only 35kms to the west and the Atlantic Ocean 75kms to the east.

The name was derived from the number of deaths that occurred from Hypothermia with the severe cold at this height.

However it should refer to the number of deaths that occur because of the crazy drivers passing in dense fog.

In some cases our visibility was down to 50 metres.

The road passes through thick cloud forest, well actually jungle. So thick that it is actually rare to glimpse the view.

At 3200metre we break out of the cloud forest and into open heath country.

At N9*34.229 W83*45.244 took the dirt road to an outlook that is just covered with radio towers.

Our maximum height 3,524 metres.

From here we could see the active Turrialba Volcano in the distance.

If you can stand the altitude some good camp sites here also.

We are chasing some sun so head to the coast at Playa (beach) Dominical. A sleepy little surfing & backpacker village.

Our camp is under the trees right on the beach.

The afternoon and half the next day is wafted away just lazying and swimming in the surf.

Camp 275:  Beach Camp Dominical

Cost: Nil

N09* 415.067    W083* 51.811

Today :  174 Kms.  

Trip Total: 95,003 Kms

Friday 16th November:

A couple of swims this morning and a beach walk or two. Finally breaking camp in the afternoon to move so we are closer to the Panama border ready for an early morning crossing on Saturday.

We were hoping the old banana port of Golfito would offer us a water side camp, but to no avail. Camp was on a side road just out of town. The police came by and they gave us the OK. Only 50kms to the border.

Tomorrow into Panama

Camp 276:  Road side in Golfito

Cost: Nil

N08* 36.605    W083* 08.373

Today :  154 Kms.  

Trip Total: 95,157 Kms

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