The show was without question fun, exciting and productive. I am signed up to go back. Thanks to IwantU for everything. I met more new people there than I have at any other show.
My pictures are a bit boring, I only took the camera out for some wildlife and some surfing.
Thanks to everyone that attended our cruise. That island was the absolute best.
Poppy and I hired a driver to take us from San Jose to Jaco Beach. He stopped in Crocodile Alley. Some of these crocodiles appeared 15 foot plus. They were laying out on a hot afternoon as some birds took advantage of their perceived sun-induced lethargy and took opportunities to steal food.
I got in close, you can actually see some wounds left from fighting for dinner.
For me, this picture represents that feeling you get when you first see the ocean. This was our first look at it. We pulled over and walked up to the local bar and I snapped this.
The evening waves pound Playa Hermosa's point.
As far as the surf report goes, we certainly had a great time. Poppy and I of course wanted a shot at some of the tougher conditions, we had no problem finding that. Playa Hermosa was tough, heavy and brutal when you went down. My shoulder is still pretty sore from a fall. I got a few shots of Poppy after I came back in.
If you have never heard the term "caught inside," well then this picture pretty much captures the essence. I love this shot. We paddled out in Hermosa forewarned by locals and Americans.
"Don't get caught inside."
Basically, it means you are inside of where the waves break. The problem is that rip tides pull you back to the waves and you get pounded over and over again. Playa Hermosa is a nasty wave. It is heavy and unforgiving. I got caught inside a few times, you spend a lot of time under water digging in for dear life. It is dark under water, but it sort of gives you an opportunity to think about life and how fragile it is.
In this shot, Poppy had been caught inside for a bit. He gazes at the sheer power of the wave and contemplates a new strategy.
Can you find Poppy? When you go down in Playa, you are shoved straight down into a dark tidal energy. It thrust you forward (essentially spitting you out). Once this happens, you need to take in air, the next one was by my calculations about 4 seconds away.
The sun setting over Playa Hermosa after a quick evening of surfing. Some things are just so right. From this picture, you seem to forget the pounding of unforgiving surf. You realize a greater more immense power.
The local wildlife was not shy in hanging out with us at the hotel.
