After a good pelting of rain, it was back to room, and off to bed. My cottage was complete with a hot shower (something of a rarity in Costa Rica — remember this is a Third World country). There was a bed, a couch, and a table. That’s it. But like I said before, this is a simple lifestyle. At first I thought — where’s TV? The gym? The party? But then I realized that each day had naturally adventurous opportunities awaiting, and I was ready to take advantage of them.

Day 2. I wake up and go to have breakfast. La Mansion Inn supplies fresh quality food for all its guests free of charge! That’s magic to my ears, especially when budgeting to not spend money like it’s water. Speaking of water, La Mansion Inn’s water is safe to drink, unlike many small towns throughout countryside. So I’m served with a customized meal that puts Mom’s home cooking to shame. I had an avocado and gouda omelet, toast, fried cubed paprika potatoes, banana pancakes, coffee, orange juice and a pepto. Just kidding about pepto, but I did eat enough to feed a small family.

Facing day, hotel offers a choice of many adventures that leave right from hotel perfect for a vagabond like myself. They even let you add price of each of tours to your tab at hotel so you don’t have to deal with paying for anything until you leave. Some of packaged trips included:

Hanging Bridges — a walk through two miles of waterfalls, rivers, jungle, and spectacular views of Arenal Volcano.

Canyoneering — a repelling adventure that descends you into a series of four tropical waterfalls and on through magically tropical trails.

Selva Leona Virgin Rain Forest — This was one I decided on. It started with a 4x4 jeep tour that picked me up from hotel at 10 a.m. right out in front. I traveled down a narrow dirt road in a yellow jeep towing a boat down to Lake Arenal . Once there, we launched boat, hopped in, and began our cruise across glassy waters. The boat guide informed me (in Spanish) that some 15 years ago, there was a large eruption from volcano, which disrupted flow of river and flooded area where their town was. In other words, there is a ghost town at bottom of lake where people used to live. If I knew how to scuba dive, I probably could check it out.

Once across lake, we picked up our horses and began our two hour horse ride to beginning of Selva Leona Rain Forest. If you’ve ever ridden a horse before, you know that it can hurt first time, especially when your horse seems to have a mind of its own like mine did. For some reason, my horse would occasionally decide to take off running, bouncing me on its back while I would unsuccessfully yell “Alto!” “Alto!”

Nevertheless, guides and I did make it to our destination after crossing a river seven times, sliding up and down muddy embankments, and barking obscenities at innocent cows. The rest stop was needed as we had gone six kilometers up a mountain. From here, hike continued for another two kilometers into greenest, lushest jungle I had seen anywhere during my trip through Costa Rica .

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By Josh Edelson, Jetsetters Magazine Southern California Correspondent – visit www.jetsettersmagazine.com

Don't know exactly where KC10 went. Last I saw him he was turning for sout west, spewing gas in air and spewing words over radio. "Bossman" had no time for little 'ole me. One of his Air Force brethren was experienced in discomfort. Had to yell at him to get his attention.

At first (before I put top down) I thought I could make it home. "Okay, it's 650 away, I got 13.5....probably have to go pretty slow and kinda low. And that hunk o' shit on my nose can't be doing much for my gas mileage. This should warrant a ready deck. Yeah, one or two passes before they have to barricade me. And I ain't boltered yet so..."

Descended about three thousand feet and decelerated to about 260 by time canopy blew. Then glass shattered.

"Okay, Jacobabad it is. My boarding rate at a 10,000 foot airstrip is even better."

Went down to about nineteen K and put out speedbrake. Fitting was still beating up jet while passing through 240 knots. At about 230 beatings stopped and I started down, maintaining airspeed. Flight controls and engines appeared fine. Ball was a little out of center but that was it. Didn't have to turn to put JBAD on nose. It was straight ahead.

Nav system told me it was 260 NM away. My body told me it was pretty damn cold up there. The KC10 remains were still trying to get at my head so I started descending and decelerating (opposing states so I'm not sure I did either one that efficiently). Leveled off at twelve thousand. I stopped getting beat up, fitting just hung in slipstream by my canopy bow, at 230 knots. So there I was...Eight thousand feet above Afghanistan at 230 knots. "You know, If a guy really wanted to get shot by a MANPAD he'd fly a profile alot like what I'm doing right now." Oh well. It's at times like this when you just make a decision and go with it. If you pull it off then it was, "...outstanding airmanship, and in keeping with highest tradition of United States Naval Service..." If you don't pull it off, if you get bagged, well...maybe they'll name a safety award or new Base Gym after you.

Read this entire feature FREE with photos at http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/globe02/asia02/angst/usnav.html

By Navy Captain - Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent - at www.jetsettersmagazine.com