August 12, Playa Avellanas, Cost Rica

 Two days in a row surfing, that's rare!  Day 2 of surfing in Costa Rica, we went just south to the little surfer community of Playa Avellanas.  It is actually a 30 minute walk on the beach, but we drove.  This is a more unforgiving wave that has short power.  I rented an 8 foot board.  It wasn't by favorite size and was a little wide for me.  Did a 2-hour rental for $15.  I surfed the entire 2 hours straight, but there was a lot of waiting for the right wave.  I caught a few, but it wasn't anything epic.  Luckily, it was cloudy, so avoided the sunburn.  We ate at Lola's on the beach afterwards to the music of Exodus by Bob Marley.  Evan got some great shots of me on my best ride.  At the end of this session, I was kinda racked up, by getting hit by the board in the shoulder, another hip bruise, sore ribs and rubbed knees from board wax.  I felt fulfilled after 2 days of surfing.  I'd definitely like to come back surfing to Costa Rica.  Board rentals are pretty cheap.

August 11, 2024 - Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica

 Yah, I surfed Costa Rica!  I'm now an international surfer.  This was part of our summer Cost Rica trip.  We were staying outside the town at the Marriott, so we drove in to check out Tamarindo and go to the beach.  Tamarindo is a relatively mellow wave that wraps around from the south and is good for longboards.  Water was 86 and this was probably the hottest, sunniest day of the trip.  I rented a 9' Robert August from a guy on the beach.  It was a 4 hour rental and he included a boogie board for $30 total.  These were just right size waves for me to get back surfing after back issues.  Probably about waist-chest high and pretty clean.  Nothing bigger or better than NH, but if this is the standard everyday for summer, it's pretty awesome.  Got several rides, but only one or nice long rides.  My ribs and knees got sore.  Love the tropical warm water surfing vibe!