Departing Barillas for Golfito Costa Rica

Photos and text of the sailing voyages of Ketch 22

Walter and I flew into San Salvador in late December, arriving with a new marine grade head which I had to explain to the El Salvadoran customs personnel.   I don't think he believed my story until I showed the head to him.   From the airport, we took a private van to the Barillas compound .   Having flown all night, we relaxed for a while and then started the preparations for the sail to Costa Rica.   Unfortunately, a sensor in one of my bilge pumps had failed in my absence, activating the pump motor, and subsequently draining my batteries, all four of them.   That $50 sensor was going to cost me close to $1000.00 USD, not including the agravation.   I was able to get two automobile batteries in Usulutan, about an hour away from the Barillas Marina compound which Walter was able to wire together well enough to get us all the way to Costa Rica with only minor modifications to the configuration.   Subsequently, during a 6 week layover in Golfito, I made additional modifications which got Ketch 22 and crew all the way to Georgia on the east coast of the USA.   Let's start at Barillas and head for Puesta Del Sol Nicaragua, still using the GPS and Charlie's Charts of Costa Rica as my primary and back-up navigation guidance.  We had a good ride leaving El Salvador, but the   sail between   Nicaragua and Costa Rica was a special treat.

After a great ride to marina Puesta Del Sol in Nicaragua , we did some touring in the local towns.  There is a lot of poverty in Central America, but Nicaragua is statistically the poorest, which didn't interfere with our stay at the marina as the gate guards keep things under control.

Costa Rica

The Costa Rican Pacific coast

Golfito, Costa Rica

Near the Panamanian border on the Pacific Coast

Costa Rica with Naty

After Walter left, Naty flew down and we met in San Jose, were tourists for a while and then went back to Golfito via an absolutely charming bus trip to be tourists and get Ketch 22 ready for the voyage to Ft. Lauderdale FL.   It took longer than we expected, so we had a great time in Costa Rica.   Tiring of the Gran Hotel, we spent a couple nights at a charming little hotel, across the pedestrian walkway from the Gran Hotel Costa Rica, called the Hotel El Maragato.   Centrally located and half the price of La Gran.   Hard to beat.

Costa Rica with Naty

Then we went to the rain forest, where it rained and temperatures hovered around 60.   Transportation was easy, as Interbus will pick you up at your hotel and drop you off at your next hotel destination.

Costa Rica with Naty

We had enough of Arenal it being too cold and too expensive as well as touristy, so it was back to Golfito via Ticabus , where we weighed anchor and took a cruise just outside Golfito in Gulfo Dulce.   We stopped at Casa Orchedeas first, then Rincon and Pt. Jiminez before returning to Golfito.

Golfo Dulce Costa Rica with Naty

Leaving Casa Orchedia, we left for Rincon and Pt. Jiminez, all in the Golfo Dulce.

And that pretty much closes out the 2 months in Costa Rica, and our time in Central America.   We flew to San Jose (costa Rica) the next day, spent a couple days as tourists there and the we flew to Ft Lauderdale where waited for Ketch 22 to arrive on the freighter Federal Patroller, that we put her on in Golfito.   Then we motored up the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), all the way to Brunswick Georgia, the low country .

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