This is just a little update on my typically long-winded report from yesterday.  It looks like we have a bit of plan, and will be sticking together.  Eric decided that he would rather go to South America than work his way back up to North America.  Altogether the distance is similar, and he gets to see something new.  So the Triumvirate of Steel will remain the triumvirate.  We have decided to stay in Costa Rica for a few days, and perhaps the day after Christmas ride into Panama and to the airport in Panama City as fast as possible.  Today we travelled from Heredia to La Fortuna, near the Arenal Volcano.  Unfortunately the top of the volcano is in the clouds, but may clear in the evening to show the lava flowing out of the crater and the fireworks of lava bombs being shot into the sky.  If not then we will probably stick around another day until we see this show.  From here we will go to, um, some beach in the Limon state on the Carribean Sea, which is near the Panama border.  At some point we will cross into Panama, maybe the day after Christmas, and travel a road that does not show on our map, but does show up in the Lonely Planet guide.  I want independent confirmation of the existence of this road - sometimes Lonely Planet lies!

Tuesday December 20, 2005 - 01:23pm (PST)