I realized today that I didn't tell anyone about my trip to the treehouse community. It is located on the other side of the Golfe of Dulce, just north of Golfito. I am telling you the location as this was our first... challenge. To cut through the timeline, we ended up convincing this dollar-driven taxi driver to venture into the unknown and drive us to the location. All went well
till we turned off the so-called highway. How should I describe this situation... old 4-wheel drive, uncertain driver, oblivious
passenger(us), and a mountain of mud. Half way up we bailed. Luckily met up with the
property caretaker and he drove us the rest of the way.
More red mud.

The couple who own the lodge are young confident Americans. After a short talk and a showcase of some of our work, we were inspired to take a ride. They felt this would be the best way for us to see the tree houses deep in the forest. And now here is the tricky part. I am not usually prone to lying but when two women, who are freely putting on their gear, ask if you have ever gone zip-lining , you have to automatically say yes. I mean it's the law of the jungle. So I watched them, and I mean watched them, and just did the same. At this point it did not seem important to tell them of my complete inexperience.

The view from the top of a giant-jungle-tree overlooking the rainforest is quite the sight. And there you have one small, or so it felt, cable going out over this immense rainforest. The last time Martine went zip-lining, she ran into a spider monkey having a great time swinging up and over the cable. Anyway, off the girls went, just like that. The leaning out over and letting go wasn't the hardest part. It is remembering not to put your hand on the cable in front of the metal wheel zipping you out over and slightly down through the jungle. Also if any of you have seen the movie 'Cliffhanger' where the girl falls, well that is the image going through my head all the way across.

There where 8 of these... challenges. But the best was saved for last. And you know how I knew this, because the owner Erica told me this last one still scares her. This is the point where I wanted to break down and tell both Martine and Erica I have never ever zip-lined in my life and I don't want to die. Yes I know, over-exaggerating. Not really.

This last one went over an open river valley with this raging rocky water below and a cliff along it's side. No soft land in a jungle bed of vegetation. This is how I tricked myself so far. But across this Costa Rican Grand Canyon was the treehouse. You zipped right into it.

I just thought how cool... don't look down.. and remember, chris, you had a good life.

Labels: Treehouse Experience