Alan's Coach Driver

Thanks for nothing Copa !

alanscoachdriver — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 04:29:00 +0000

So up early this morning to leave the hotel at 05:30 and the transfer to the airport. Left with the group who were flying back to the UK whereas I was headed for Jamaica.

At the airport nothing on the board for my flight and after finally they opened the checkin found out they had cancelled my flight some months beforehand and I’d never been told !

After some “efficient” service (I’m sure there must be a Harris law here somewhere) they issued me with a rerouting and tickets after over a hour and a half.

So then on a flight to Miami and the joys of US immigration and then the baggage. Despite being told numerous times by several people at different airports that my bag would be checked though I thought I would check and sure enough it got unloaded in Miami. So another horrendous checkin experience including going through one of those new full body xray machines and then an extra special check as well. Finally got to my hotel in Jamaica at 8pm, so 14.5 hours to travel about 650 miles as the crow flies.

Anyway the Red Stripe called at the bar …

Panama Canal

alanscoachdriver — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 04:21:00 +0000

Well, the cycling is now over and after leaving Boco del Torro we continued onwards to Panama City. A few more hills and still plenty of rain to contend with.

Bit of a struggle the first day after a day of cycling to get those legs working as well and 9 miles up the side of a mountain didn’t help either. Much nicer coming down the other side at 45mph, although a touch dangerous in the driving rain when you can’t see anything and a few hairpin curves.

We ended up in Panama City itself for 2 nights and the last days cycling alongside the Panama Canal. Saw several huge ships and how they navigate the locks with just 2 feet to spare on either side. A really nice way to finish the trip and my legs are very happy after 750 miles of cycling in the last few weeks.

Cycle Routes

alanscoachdriver — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:27:00 +0000

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

alanscoachdriver — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:14:00 +0000

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

alanscoachdriver — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 05:06:00 +0000

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

alanscoachdriver — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 04:54:00 +0000

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

alanscoachdriver — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 23:14:00 +0000

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.

Grand Cayman

alanscoachdriver — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:02:00 +0000

Well, got here yesterday after a long journey. Started off badly with an accident on the M25 and my taxi driver doing his best to fall asleep at the wheel. Got to Heathrow in one piece albeit quite late and rushed through the check in but then got annoyed by complete idiots on the Travelex and security. So went straight to the plane but cheered up immediately by a glass of champagne as the plane taxied down the runway

Stopped off in the Bahamas where is was lashing it down so glad to see the rain had not made it to the The Caymans. After another jobsworth at Cayman Airlines in picking my ticket up for Cuba I eventually made it to my hotel and a nice cold beer.

Had a relaxing day doing jack shit here, just swimming and taking a few pictures. Here are a few and I’ll try and add some more as I go along.

South Africa

alanscoachdriver — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:37:00 +0000

Well, as some of you are aware I’ve returned from my 5 weeks in South Africa. Sorry I did not post much but wasn’t able to do so as we were so cut off. It was really a fantastic experience and something I enjoyed immensely. The days since leaving there have been quite empty in many ways and I really miss not going to track down a lion each day.

I’ll be getting some of my pictures together and posting some of them in due course but haven’t had much time as I’ve been preparing for my next trip to the Caribbean and Central America. This is mainly for a biking holiday but have tagged on a few islands at each end though for relaxation.

Lions, Lions and More Lions

alanscoachdriver — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 08:35:00 +0000

Well, 2 weeks further on and I’ve seen plenty of lions now. Working 6 days out of 7 and our main focus is to track the lions and monitor their behaviour. A bit different yesterday when we spent all day at a waterhole undertaking a census of any animal that made a visit. Quite a tough day, up at 03:30 and not back to the camp until 20:00.

But a day off today and my turn for a visit to the nearest town at Messina. So catching up with the football scores and off to get the weeks shopping shortly and a meal as well.

We also spent 4 days at Lesheba Wilderness which is about a 2 hour drive south from here in the mountains. This made a nice change and was a bit cooler as well. Getting very hot here indeed now, about 35 degs most days.

Seen a few white rhino now as well and even had a wallow in the rhino pool. Still finding mud 3 days later.

Sorry I have no pictures to upload. I have plenty just not easy from the place I’m in.

Anyway, probably won’t have another update until I’m back in a couple of weeks but then I’ll have plenty of pictures to post.