Adventures in travel with Robert Watcher and Anne Watcher
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Earthquakes Visible Presence

by Anne Watcher on Wednesday February 11th, 2009 at 12:55am

While accompanying Bruce and Nadine to Volcan Poas today, we wondered if we would see any after effects from last month's earthquake. Although the road we were taking was not traveling through the worst hit area (that road is still closed), we were close to were the epicenter was. Earlier in the week we had traveled a stretch of road were you could see visible new patches of asphalt where the road crews had patched small cracks.

Just before the town of Frajuanes we saw our first visible sign of damage. There was a large crack along the road right up through the dirt bank. Many of the large black nettings (leather ferns growing underneath) were ripped and torn - now blowing in the wind and left to be repaired another day.; Upon glancing up the mountainside you could see fallen trees and sections of newly exposed soil, once covered in lush forest.

Earthquake Costa Rica
Areas where the earth sheared off - exposing fence posts and tree roots

Areas where the earth sheared off - exposing fence posts and tree rootsWe continued on our way to Poas and coming around a corner looked at the road and saw a wide deep crack traveling along the road and then along the road for about 100'. Stopping to take a picture we realized sections were 4' or more deep and about a foot wide in places. As we looked along the curve in the road, we all commented that with a little more shaking and the whole side of the mountain would of been history.

Continuing down the road we came to a patched piece of highway, and as we drove over it and looked at the crevices on both sides we realized that it had been cracked open right across the road.

Earthquake Costa Rica
Earthquake Costa Rica
As we continued on our trip, we came to one of the many bridges along this road. The bridge was in tact but the trees, rocks, dirt and debris that had traveled down the mountain was awesome. We then realized that the closed gate beside the bridge was a lane way to someone's house.

We looked along the river's edge and soon saw what once was someone's home. Although the house looked safe it was surrounded with debris and with so many aftershocks they probably felt it was better to leave for a bit. Hopefully they can return as it was a beautiful area

Earthquake Costa Rica
Some Video Footage of the damage is here

We arrived safely at the park but, the weather didn't cooperate like it did last year for us. This trip the clouds covered the main crater and the air was cool, with a stiff wind. However we had a great time and the clouds did blow out for a brief time allowing Nadine and Bruce to see Laguna Botas. The sun shone and they got to see the beautiful emerald green of the lake's water.

We were also treated to some feathered friends along the way!!!! I think I could get into this bird watching thing!!

Rufous Collared Sparrow at Poas

Rufous Collared Sparrow at Poas


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