I booked two 3-week trips: November 27 to December 18 and January 8 to 29. The 10 Pies Airbnb’s were unavailable so I booked into Salt5.
Trip #1. My LIR arrival time (6:30am) did not match up to take a standard shuttle so I booked with Sergio, a person that responded to me on a Facebook group. I was apprehensive (not knowing him) but it worked really well. Good communication, on time, and a good driver. I got to Nosara very early – too early even for early check-in so I had brunch at OI and killed time.
 |
| Brunch @ OI |
I got into Salt5 just as the cleaning crew was finishing. Then I went to Nosara Surf Shop to pick up my boards. Previously I had emailed them last year, saying due to Covid I wasn’t going to be there (and pay them for another year). They never responded to several emails which had me worried about my boards. Turns out that’s not an issue, just true up your bill when to arrive. I tuk-tukked the boards to Salt5 then profusely sweated as I put on fins and wax. Then I realized I have an air-conditioned home I could be doing this work. Dooh! So much cooler. Only took me 10 years to realize this.
The trip duration had perfectly sized waves – not too big or small. It took me a few days to dial-in on the waves but it did come to me. Socially, the Gulleys were there and Jim Dagata showed up later. I met Tony Chevalier while sitting at a table with Maggie at OI, while listening to Terry perform. Tony and I later had a dinner discussing life and investing but got too much wine involved.
 |
| Terry Singing @ OI |
A trip downside was that Salt5 was burglarized while I was out to dinner with Jim on the Wednesday before my departure. They took: a laptop, watch, GoPro, and cash. Obviously they were pros and left anything that would be traceable like credit cards. I contacted the Airbnb owners. It first appeared they got in by using the gate and door passcodes. Later, the Airbnb owners discovered a window was forced open. Lessons were learned: a safe was installed, I added my own security devices, and didn’t leave anything out in the open. The Airbnb owners felt bad about the situation and credited me 3 days on the stay.
 |
| Entrance to Rob's place. |
 |
| Quiche Dinner @ Rob's |
 |
| Sunset Drinks at LaGarta Lodge |
Trip #2. I felt comfortable in returning to Salt5 after learning the burglars did not use the passcode. I used Avis (thanks ASML!) to get to an LAX direct flight then took a scheduled shuttle. Wow, the number of planes and people arriving overwhelmed LIR Customs. We deplaned on the tarmac then were directed to a l-o-n-g line outside.
 |
| Customs line, after 1.5 hours outside on tarmac |
This was a 1.5-hour line before we even got into the Airport Customs room. Some people needed medical help while waiting in a tarmac line due to heat and not being prepared (dressed warmly). I had 2 hours to get to the shuttle from when the plane landed and made it by 12 minutes. I knew we would not leave on time since there were others still in line. But after waiting 40 minutes the driver said we were leaving. I got to Salt5 just in time to get to the market for provisioning (needed water!).
Another trip with prefect-sized waves. Nothing killer. The Gulleys were here. Later, Lisa and Gary escaped Canada and joined The Tribe of the Log. And Chris, Sarah, and Amelia from Del Mar joined for a week.
 |
| La Luna lunch. Good Times. |
Chris killed it in the water, and most nights the Dorans and I had dinner somewhere in Nosara (10 Pies, El Chivo Fish House, Gilded Iguana, and La Brasa Argentinian Grill). Good conversations. Great to see Amelia growing up and being independent. Rob and Jim returned the last week so I got a surf session with Rob and dinner with Jim before departing.
