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SR's Siempre es Tranquilidad y Olas

Rod's Report, March 9-17, 2010


Here's just a brief synopsis of my trip to Costa Rica

Monday, March 08, 2010 - Anticipation. The forecast shows improving conditions later in the period with SW, longer period swells moving in.

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  Model Cycle: 2010 MAR 08 12Z         
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             SURF    SURF DIR  SWELL  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/9   11am   3 -  7   SW 211    4.0    15.6    4 -  5  ESE 118
3/9    5pm   2 -  5   SW 218    3.3    13.9    8 - 11  WSW 249
 
3/10   5am   3 -  6   SW 211    3.6    14.4    7 - 10  ENE  54
3/10  11am   3 -  6  SSW 209    3.8    14.3    4 -  6  WNW 287
3/10   5pm   3 -  6  SSW 206    3.8    14.1    6 -  9  WNW 291
 
3/11   5am   2 -  5  SSW 207    3.7    13.3    5 -  6   NW 316
3/11  11am   2 -  5  SSW 205    3.7    13.2    8 - 12   NW 314
3/11   5pm   3 -  6  SSW 204    4.1    13.1    8 - 11  WNW 307
 
3/12   5am   3 -  6  SSW 194    3.6    14.2    8 - 10    N 350
3/12  11am   3 -  6  SSW 194    3.6    14.3    7 - 10  WNW 296
3/12   5pm   3 -  6  SSW 194    4.2    12.9   12 - 16  WNW 308
 
3/13   5am   3 -  6  SSW 199    4.0    12.5    6 -  8  NNW 336
3/13  11am   2 -  5  SSW 194    3.9    12.2    8 - 12  WNW 303
3/13   5pm   2 -  5  SSW 194    4.0    12.1    7 - 10  WNW 304
 
3/14   6am   3 -  7   SW 214    3.7    15.9    8 - 11    N   8
3/14  12pm   3 -  7   SW 215    3.8    15.8    8 - 10    N   6
3/14   6pm   3 -  7   SW 214    3.9    15.5    1 -  2  NNW 330
 
3/15  12am   3 -  6   SW 213    3.8    14.6    6 -  8  ESE 104
3/15   6am   3 -  6   SW 214    3.9    14.5   10 - 14  ENE  58
--------------------------------------------------------------



The Trip

Tuesday, March 9, 2010. The phone starts ringing at 2am. I interpret it as the 4am alarm which means get up quickly and hustle for the 6am flight. Start the shower, look at my watch - it is 2am. Damn! It was a call from the airline about a gate change. Can't get back to sleep... log-in to the airline site and find an exit seat next to the window for my first leg from BWI to MIA and take it.

Shower at 3:15am and out the door at 3:45am. Arrive to airport and nobody is at the airline check-in counters yet. Around 4:15am we start processing. No charge for the paipo board, check. Go to the security zone and nobody is there for the next 15 minutes. Why is they say to be at the airport 2 to 3 hrs in advance for international flights???

Concession finally opens at 5am. I need my expresso fix, finally.

The day continues how it began, SNAFU. We board late. We pull away from the gate late (we only have a few mechanical things to check - shouldn't be more than a half-hour). While rolling to the takeoff zone the plane encounters a sizable line of trash... pilot announces another slight delay. We finally take-off about an hour late... we have a one-hour connection in Miami. We miss the connection. Thankfully, my cell phone message from American Airlines tells me we have been re-booked on the next flight, about 2 hours later. That will have us landing about the same time as Brett. Thankfully that all went smoothly.

More SNAFU. Super long line at the San Jose Airport immigrations took us just over an hour to clear. Nasty. We drove the Pan American Hwy to the Amistad Bridge route and north through Nicoya. Nasty. Too many trucks going 10mph up and down hills on the Pan American Hwy. Heard there was another route via a new Puntarenas toll road and discuss that as an option for the return trip. All and all, Liberia is so much easier. We pulled in to the villa about an hour after dark... did I mention coming into a village at dark and slowing down but having no idea that tons of people were out in the street - no fair warning of approaching the village and no lights on to speak of. Nasty. I don't like driving CR at night.


Wednesday, March 10, 2010.
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             SURF    SURF DIR  SWELL  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/10   5am   3 -  6   SW 211    3.6    14.4    7 -  9   NE  40
3/10  11am   3 -  6  SSW 209    3.8    14.3    5 -  7  WNW 305
3/10   5pm   3 -  6  SSW 206    3.8    14.1    8 - 11  WNW 293
--------------------------------------------------------------

The forecast was accurate for this morning's waves at The Wash (3 to 6 feet). A good fun time was had by all, but Paul wasn't very dialed-in. The inside was walling up nicely and I caught a few in-the-tube takeoffs 20 yds in front of the Rock. RPM was performing flawlessly.

Afternoon update: Overhead waves coming in waves (sets) on the northside of the rock this afternoon. Fun drops, and drives, but not long rides.

Had a great day in the water today during both morning and afternoon sessions. Am already attempting to manage my sun exposure... the eyes are always vulnerable. Two fun sessions today in the land of Pura Vida. Am dead tired but feeling good. Bedtime at 8pm this evening? Doug Norris: Wish I was there!!! Next year. By the way its way bigger south!! Well over head in a couple of spots with people all over it. You guys by yourselves?? My reply: Yep, just the 3 of us at The Wash today. Tomorrow we will probably be at Turtleheads as the swell goes more SSW. I'm not missing down south with "people all over it!" This afternoon we had some well over head with the lefts breaking on the northside of the rock and 20 yds out. P.S. We miss you, too, Doug "BG" Norris.


Thursday, March 11, 2010.
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             SURF    SURF DIR  SWELL  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/11   5am   2 -  5  SSW 207    3.7    13.3    5 -  7    N 355
3/11  11am   2 -  5  SSW 205    3.7    13.2    8 - 12  WNW 309
3/11   5pm   3 -  6  SSW 204    4.2    13.1   10 - 14  WNW 306
--------------------------------------------------------------

Overhead at Turtleheads this morning. Wind was on it by mid- to late-morning. Brett owned the session, Paul was still acclimating himself, and I had what was probably one of my most mediocore sessions in CR, topped off by a sandstone reef scrape on my right shin when getting sucked back out to sea in what became six inches of water instead of 3 feet! First blood.

We all did ok this afternoon back at The Wash, but it was Paul's breakthrough session. Up until that point he had been very timid. Brett and I talked to him about it at lunch and told him we were watching him and not to worry. Seem to have worked.

The "typico" breakfast is the included meal - eggs, gallo pinto and two small tortillas - my choice the past two mornings. The boys had the fruit plate this morning and don't care for papaya and cantelope so I also had some fruit. I had BLTs for lunch both days - stacked with good bacon - yummy. Last night I had the chicken casado but the chicken seemed like parts - not great. The filet mignon the first night was delicious. Tonight's choice is yet to me be made - want something light - the chef's salad is too much. Oh, avocado and hearts of palm salad I split with Paul on our first night - wished I was sharing it with my wife!
   

Friday, March 12, 2010.
--------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR  SWELL  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/12   5am   3 -  6  SSW 194    3.9    14.2    5 -  7  WNW 296
3/12  11am   3 -  6  SSW 194    3.8    14.3    8 - 11  WNW 307
3/12   5pm   2 -  5  SSW 194    3.9    12.9    7 -  9  WNW 287
--------------------------------------------------------------

Fun session at Turtleheads this morning - glassy early and tubey, 3-5'. After the wind picked up it started sectioning more. Great special order of arroz con pollo for lunch, I am ready to take the afternoon and do some reading and napping. The boys liked it so much that we special ordered more for dinner!


Saturday, March 13, 2010.
--------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR  SWELL  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/13   5am   2 -  5  SSW 199    3.8    12.5    6 -  8   NW 320
3/13  11am   2 -  5  SSW 194    3.8    12.2   10 - 14   NW 311
3/13   5pm   2 -  5  SSW 194    4.0    12.1    8 - 11  WNW 287
--------------------------------------------------------------
Small and windy this morning - may hit The Wash on high tide. Tomorrow the SW swell is forecast to arrive.


Sunday, March 14, 2010.
--------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR  SWELL  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/14   5am   3 -  7   SW 214    3.7    15.9   10 - 13  ENE  56
3/14  11am   3 -  7   SW 215    3.8    15.8    5 -  6  NNE  22
3/14   5pm   3 -  7   SW 214    3.8    15.4    1 -  2   NE  30
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Still a very low tide at 9:30am. Swell is not showing yet - winds are light offshores.


Monday, March 15, 2010.
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             SURF    SURF DIR  SWELL  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/15   5am   3 -  6   SW 214    3.8    14.5    8 - 10  ENE  69
3/15  11am   3 -  6   SW 214    3.8    14.5    1 -  2  NNE  18
3/15   5pm   3 -  6   SW 214    3.6    14.4    5 -  6  WSW 240
--------------------------------------------------------------

Surf Report from the Southern Latitudes. Winds held up and the swell picked up with the incoming tide for avery fun session today, one of the better of the trip according to theboys. Waves were 4 to 6 foot.


Tuesday, March 16, 2010.
--------------------------------------------------------------
             SURF    SURF DIR  SWELL  PERIOD   WIND    WND/DIR
             (ft)       (deg)   (ft)   (sec)   (kts)     (deg)
            -------  --------  -----  ------  -------  -------
3/16  11am   2 -  5   SW 215    3.7    13.3    5 -  8   NE  32
3/16   5pm   3 -  7  SSW 196    3.6    16.1    1 -  2   SW 218
--------------------------------------------------------------

Look similar to yesterday as the tide drains out. High tide is late in the afternoon so it looks like a noon or 1pm paddleout (posted at 10:20am). Later... Today, our finale, turned out to be the best of all. Surf was running in the 4-7 foot range and very clean with the papagayo winds blowing. We started out at The Wash, I rode a few from the southside of the Rock, and then as the tide filled in big we rode the clean, steep Inside Wash. All Good.


Wednesday, March 17, 2010.
Yesterday we spent about an hour charting the drive home via the new Amistad Bridge and the new Autopista de Sol that runs from Puntarenas to San Jose. Vague directions. Too many questions, and the boys are not much with the maps, so we decided to leave yet earlier in the morning and drive back along the Pan American Hwy (via Nicoya & the Armistad Bridge). The alarm bell rang at 4am (the night watchman knocking on our doors) and we hit the road by 4:45am. It was dark for the first hour or so, but the roads were relatively empty compared to the people, dogs and vehicles on the drive down. Our timing must have been good since we only found ourselves behind slow trucks twice and not for very long in either instance - believe most of the truckers were taking a breakfast break. Also noticed about 3 police check points but we were not flagged. We made it to the Alejuela in about 3-1/2 hours.

Directions to the car rental return were a little sketchy - we did well until our last turn when we found ourselves driving down a 2-way, barely 1.5 lane street. After reversing direction we found the car rental return. Processing out took about a half hour.

Airport in San Jose: Buying the exit stamps at San Jose was a breeze - quick and smooth. Our check-in line was another matter as that process took more than an hour (probably because of an earlier 4 hr ppd flight that forced many people to reschedule?). I really like American Airline's checked baggage rules in Central America - two checked bags for free. No extra fees for my bodyboard/paipo. We had several hours to kill so I sampled the Britt coffee and later bought a couple of espressos to tide me over until a cubano sandwich in MIA. The boys killed time playing scrabble (their nightly pasttime in CR). Flight was on-schedule.

Airport in Miami: Clearing immigration didn't go too bad - maybe 15 minutes. Picking up our bags/boards and clearing customs and re-checking our bags took another half-hour or more. The boards eventually arrived and we proceeded through the "line" at Customs. Then we had to re-check our bags following the Yellow Dot line; whoops, now follow the Orange Dot line; whoops, after waiting in the que they accepted our normal luggage but told us to go upstairs to Area 4 to process the boards (bigger screening machine). Then it was on to security for our gate and walking to another terminal. We had plenty of time with a 3-hr layover. Paul and I dined at the Cuban Restaurant inside Terminal 4 - nice and large space. Flight home was on-schedule.


General Comments:

We had a k*** SUP dude there for about 3 to 4 days. Thankfully he was a total **** and was never out when we were out. His ass would have been handed to him during the last two days swell.

Met an interesting woman from Palo Alto, Calif. She and her husband spend several months a year (spread out over multiple trips) in Costa Rica - she is able to work if she has a decent Internet connection. After a few days chatting in the main Internet station, the coffee/dining area, I come to learn that she used to ride a paipo board in Santa Cruz. Small world!

DuCharme's only picture circa 1970's - the paipo is not visible. Location is
probably in the Santa Cruz area. She says, "I am amazed to see me in a
wetsuit (makes me think this is 1972 or so...)."


Tide Table for This Year's Spring Trip



Some Photos I Shot During the Windiest, Trashiest Small Day. You guessed correctly: I took the day off from waxing the board and paddling out to the line-up. Here is a link to the photo dump.


Back to Costa Rica 2010 Home Page


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