I can think of a few significant milestones we’ve reached on our trip thus far. Setting out, after so much work, saving, and planning was a huge one. Reaching Inuvik, NWT, Canada, the northernmost point of our trip, before turning around and heading south was another. Crossing into Mexico, our first non-English speaking country on this trip was also big. After five months in Mexico and only one stamp in our passport to show for it, entering Guatemala was another.
Today we crossed the Puente de los Americas, the Bridge of the Americas, across the Panama Canal. It’s not like we entered a new continent (that will happen when we fly to Columbia in a week’s time, but it marks the farthest we’ll drive before shipping the Sparksmobile across the Darien Gap.
Backing up, I’d be remiss if I didn’t share the last few days of the Myrick visit. After we left the tree house hotel we drove to Jacó, a surf town on the Pacific coast. We were only there for one night, but we enjoyed some beach time and just hanging out by the pool.
Playing in the pool at Jacó Beach
Marianne kickin’ it poolside
Looking down Jacó Beach
After one more night in Alajuela we drove Mike and Marianne to the airport for a reluctant goodbye. We’re so happy they made the trip down to join us, and we had a great time with them.
By a fortunate coincidence, our friends Will and Cate, whose house we occupied for three weeks in Panama, happened to be flying out of Costa Rica the night before our departure, and we got to enjoy an evening with them on their way through.
What’s been at the forefront of our minds lately though is shipping the van. We’d been awaiting dates from our shipping agent, and we found out last Thursday that the shipping date was to be September 12, and that the next date wouldn’t be until mid-October. So after hastily packing up the van we said goodbye to Frank and Mike, our hosts in Costa Rica, and headed out of town. We left on Saturday and had to be in Panama City to start the shipping paperwork by Tuesday morning.
Yellow Puppy getting to know his new friend, Froggy the Monkey, that we picked up in Costa Rica.
We decided to cross the border back into Panama using the only one we haven’t yet crossed, inland near the town of Rio Sereno. Although we became a little concerned when the last few km of road on the Costa Rican side were dirt (we were concerned that the road on the Panama side would also be unpaved, which may have made us late arriving in Panama City), it turned out to be the right decision, as the roller coaster road took us through some beautiful hill country. And as a bonus we stayed out of the heat for one more night!
The central highlands of Eastern Costa Rica and Western Panama are full of lush greenery and home to lots of coffee farms. A few hours after this photo was taken we were driving through a downpour!
Sunday was a long day – we finished crossing the border and eating lunch at 1pm, and drove to within 100km of Panama City arriving at a campsite on the beach after dark.
We were close enough to our destination to allow us to spend a few hours playing in the waves before our departure the next morning.
We arrived in the city and got to cross over the amazing Bridge of the Americas, watching a huge container ship cross beneath us. We splurged on a week at a nice hotel right on the water, since we intend to visit the Canal museum and do some other touristy stuff while we’re here.
Driving across the Bridge of the Americas into Panama City
Downtown Pamama City
We can watch container ships sail into and out of the canal from our room. (And the pool’s not bad either)
Ola from Hobotrail. I’m curious how the shipping will go. All the best !
Hi! We’re going to the police station tomorrow for the first step – a vehicle inspection prior to leaving Panama. There will be updates on how the whole process goes.
Yellow Puppy has been in the Sparks family since Witt was a child. Before leaving Colorado, Quinn decided that he might be a good traveling friend and decided to share his adventures with YP. We are so glad that Yellow Puppy continues to be part of the family and looks so happy with Quinn and his new friend, Froggy. Thank you, Quinn for taking such good care of Yellow Puppy and it looks like you are feeding him well. We love and miss you! G&P
Great post Witt. It is almost as if you guys are starting a new adventure. Keep the pics coming. Dad
We stayed at the Country Inn and Suites on the Canal a year ago. Very much enjoyed it. Great ship spotting opportunities.
You should get into the miles and points game…. that CIS is a pretty decent value with Carlson points.
(I linked our trip report to my name.)
Can’t wait to hear about the change of continent!!!
Good luck with shipping and watch out in Colon where you will drop the vehicle (likely). It is a very non gringo place and not good to stay in, even for a night.
R
Thanks Rupe!
Yeah, we dropped off the van in Colon yesterday. Agreed, it was not a nice place. Even our cab driver who dropped us at the train station for the ride back to Panama City said it wasn’t safe. To our family who is probably reading this, we were always with a group of people, and usually had a local guide with us, so we weren’t in danger ourselves. We just would want to go out walking around the city!
Hey guys! Hope the shipping goes well! Rachel spent nearly a year in Ecuador right after college so we’re excited to see if you pass thru any of the places she lived (Quito) or visited.
Hi Bazzi!
Thanks for checking in. We’re not sure how long we’ll be in Columbia, but if Rachel has any recommendations for Ecuador, we’d love to hear them!
Hope you guys are doing well,
Witt, Jen, and Quinn
Hi Guys,
I met you in the parking lot of the Country Inn and Suites where I was buying a truck. Hope all is well with you. What an amazing adventure your family is on, which we were in a van right behind you! Quote for the day from a Bonnie Raitt song “you only see the world you make”. Go for it and Best of luck!
Bob Young
Hi Bob! It was such a pleasure to meet you! Hope to see you on the road sometime in the future! Meanwhile enjoy your new digs in Panama — I’ll bet the vistas are amazingly beautiful!!!