Zip Line Under The Volcano

Here we are at Eco-Glide, a zip line canopy near in the shadow of the Arenal Volcano.  We're outfitted and ready to attend "Cable School" to get a quick lesson in the finer points of zip line techniques.  Like stopping at the end of each cable.

I'll write more about this later. It was an amazing experience; we both enjoyed the heck out of it. On the ride to the first platform in the back of a pickup truck we were soaked by a heavy rain shower.  I had my camera in a baggie with the wrist loop passing through a small hole in the bottom of the bag and then attached to my helmet strap.  

There was just enough room around the strap for a few drops of water to get into the baggie to kill the Nikon.  Briana's camera survived with the same protection and I'll put a couple of her canopy pix in the web album.  Then in the next day or so I'll work on getting another camera.  It shouldn't be a problem here where the country rolls out the red (and eco-green) carpets so magnificently.

A brief description of zip-lining:  It's simple. The guide clips your personal pulley-wheel onto one cable.  The pulley is attached to your harness; a safety line is attached to another parallel cable. The harness supports you in a sitting position hanging from the cable with the roller on it.  The guide holds your roller until the previous person arrives at the platform below (a matter of seconds).  Then he releases the roller and gravity does its thing.  You move rapidly from Point A to Point B.

You hold one hand on the cable behind you, wearing a thick leather device on your hand so you can slide along the cable as you go.  You wear a leather glove on the other hand and with that you grasp your harness.  That keeps you from spinning as you descend.  As you approach Point B you slow yourself down (in theory) by pulling down on the cable with both hands.  You're not supposed to brake until the guide gives you a signal.  Guides were stingy with signals so I used my best judgment.  I only stopped short of the platform twice.  When that happens you swing yourself around and pull yourself to the platform, hand over hand.

The journey from Point A to Point B can't be described easily.  You zip along at a breath-taking rate of speed while way below you is lush tropical jungle going by so fast you don't have time to notice because you are focused on watching for the "stop" signal from a guide.  Survive the majority of the zips from platform to platform and you're ready for the Tarzan swing--it's like a bungee jump without any elasticity in the cord.  It's guaranteed to evoke a primal scream and it's great fun to do.

We also went to Eco Termales near Arenal, a super nice and low-key hot spring.  I'll post pix taken at the springs in the photo album.

Today we have lined up another adrenaline-packed adventure.  We're taking a guided white water rafting trip starting at 9 AM when we meet the van and guide a couple of miles up the road at a gas station.  We're going with a company recommended by Esteban--one both of us read about in the guidebooks. I've been rafting before but it will be the first time for Briana--she doesn't have an inkling what's in store...  Should be a fun day!

Pura vida!