The route we have planned can be seen here.
To get to the route the first leg was a flight from Manchester to Atlanta. Getting the bike boxes checked in was not a problem it was very straightforward and stress free.
So far it has not cost a single penny to take two bike boxes, this was the same as Canada last year. As airlines are operating with different partners I don’t think they care or know if you have paid or not. They have not asked about them on the last two trips. The flight was smooth, but going through Atlanta airport was not a friendly affair. You can hear staff telling customers off all the time, even on the tannoy. I also had my share of reprimands, it ended up being quite amusing and we just predicted where the next telling off would come from.
We had a night in Atlanta and got a flight the next morning to Liberia in Costa Rica. As we were waiting in the gate we saw our bike boxes getting loaded up which eased our concerns as they were held in the airport during the night and we nervous about them being left behind. But the systems they had in place worked magnificently.
As soon as we entered the Costa Rica airport it was a complete contrast to Atlanta. There was dancing and singing. The atmosphere was jolly and friendly. They could not do enough to help you out.
The taxi stand got us sorted with a large enough vehicle to take us and the boxes to the hotel where I would build the tandem up.
Again the hotel staff were amazing. They said I could take the boxes to the room to build the bike I was a bit unsure as I thought there would not be enough room and also how would we get the tandem down from the third floor in the lift when it was built up. I did not need to worry, the lift is massive and would fit multiple tandems and the room has just as much space as a workshop.
I got the bike built up and we have just come back from a nice meal by the pool. The temperature during the day is about 34 degrees but with 97% humidity it feels warmer. Sat by the pool at 1800 the temperature was very comfortable.
Tomorrow morning we set off