Cycle Routes

I’ve updated some of the cycle rides I have done in Cuba and Central America so far. There are a couple of missing files at the moment and the battery ran out on a couple of runs but if you download one of the KML files on the right hand side where it says Cycle Routes these can be loaded in Google Earth to show exactly where I have been.

Panama

Well we have now cycled further through Costa Rica and to the border with Panama on the Caribbean Coast. Crossed over a almost derelict bridge which has to be seen to be believed for the 21st Century border crossing.

Cycled further south and then we caught a small speedboat over to the group of islands known as Bocos del Toro. Here we hav spent 2 nights and our first day off from the bike after 7 straight days.

Had a nice day today where we saw Dolphins, snorkeling a nice lunch and then a great beach. Topped it off with a nice Thai meal and some cocktails as well.

In the morning it’s back on the ferry to the mainland and then about 35 miles heading South as we inch our way towards Panama City.

Actually had a few days of sun now but still get torrential rain as well, probably early tomorrow when we leave !

Costa Rica

Well we have crossed the border and again the change is distinct.

Much more money here, you can see it in the cars which are driven and the state of the roads.

We have cycled a bit and yesterday ended up about 5000 feet up at Mont Verde. Walked round the cloud forest this morning before starting a 40 mile ride after lunch.

Lots and lots of very steep hills. The problem with a country with so many volcanoes is that is not at all flat !!

Was just 1 of 3 to actually finish the ride today. In a huge thunderstorm in the pitch black but we’ve been out to some fantastic hot springs at a town called La Fortuna near Lake Arenal and drunk very very strong Pina Colada’s. Certainly a fantastic way to spend an evening after a hard days cycling.

Many more miles to do in the morning and up at 6am to start cycling nice and early before the heat rather than the rain arrives.

Very wet but certainly a lot hotter than home and the beer and rum are good !

Cuba To Nicaragua

Well, I didn’t get any opportunity to do an update for quite sometime.

Have now travelled through more of Cuba and cycled just over 400 miles and ended up back in Havana. Left the group and then spent 5 days by a beach about 20kms away form Havana.

It has been a fascinating place to visit to see life here here and experience different extremes. The food has varied from the excellent to the awful and some of the hotels defy description. Feels like going back about 40 years or more. But the people have been so friendly and you always feel so safe.

The weather has been atrocious as times and it was torrential rain for the majority of days, Some really tough cycling days and plenty of very very steep hills. I like he downhills

So after a a few days at a very nice beach dominate by Germans I’ve left Havana and flown into Managua in Nicaragua.

Then it was a an hours drive down to Granada to meet up with the next bike trip group.

The instant change even in this very poor country was major. The signs for Shell, Esso, Burger King etc. Seen none of that for 3 weeks.

A very nice hotel and then straight into cycling again.

Couple of easy days with no great distances but a few hills again. Weather again was atrocious on the first day and the view of the volcanoes was totally obliterated by the clouds.

So we have spent 4 days in Nicaragua and really enjoyed them. Nice and cheap and some good food and beer as well. We have now cycled to the border with Costa Rica and moved into a much richer country,

Cycling Cuba

Well, this is the 1st opportunity I’ve had to get online in the 10 days or so I have been in Cuba.

Started in Havana and have now cycled about 250 miles down to Santiago having visted quite a few towns.

Enjoying it although the cycling has been getting harder and harder as the days progress. Nice and flat to start with but plenty of hills for miles and miles with lots of it off road in torrential rain !

Anyway, just off for the evening meal and a day off from cycling tomorrow. When I get back to Havana at the end of the week I might be able to post some pictures and some more details of the trip.