Link to google map

Trip summary:
Approximate miles
Miles cycled = 101.66 miles
Miles Hiked = 18 miles
Miles driven in rental car = 300 miles

Expenses ~= $2022.34

Wedding literary

Day 1, Tuesday, June 10, 2104 – Portland to San Juan, Puerto Rico
I woke around 5:15 AM and took a shower. Then I loaded my car and drove to the airport. My first leg of the trip was to fly to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on that flight I was reading my Puerto Rico guide book and decided I should rent a car. I wish I would have decided that sooner, I could have eliminated the Blackburn bike rack. I might have also decided on a different hotel. While at the airport I found out I could probably use my sprint cell phone service in Puerto Rico without any additional charges. That was not what I was told by the Sprint representative at Lloyd center in Portland. I also reserved a rental car and called hotel in Puerto Rico to tell them I would probably not arrive until at least 10:00 PM. Next flight was to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The airplane taxied out to the run way and then returned to the gate due to mechanical problems. Then we had to change planes, the flight left over 2 hours late. Then the plane arrived in Puerto Rico around 1:30 AM and I tried to get my rental car. All the rental agencies, except Thrifty circled the departure zone of the airport. If turned out Thrifty was the only one that closed at 10:00 PM and Thrifty was the company I used for my rental car. Therefore, I had to take a taxi to the hotel. When we arrived at the hotel at around 3:00 AM the check-in office was closed. The taxi driver told me he knew someone that would rent me a room for $80.00. I had already paid for the other room and was able to find an afterhours number on the door. I called the number and woke someone up. About 10 minutes later he let me into my room.

Day 2, Wednesday, June 11 th, 2014 – San Juan - El Yunque national rain forest - Fajardo
I woke up around 8:00 AM and took a Taxi to the Thrifty car rental to pick up my rental car. Then I drove back to the hotel and cycled to McDonalds for breakfast and then to Walgreens to try to buy a phone charger. They did not have one for my cell phone. When I left Portland, I did not bring a charger, because I thought I would not be able to use my cell phone without international charges in Puerto Rico. I bought some supplies at Walgreens and then biked back to my hotel and packed the car. Then I started driving to the rain forest. Once at the El Yunque national rain forest I checked out the visitor center and it was too crowded to ask questions, so I got a tourist map and drove up the road. I found a trail called La Coca Falls trail and decided to hike it. The trail was long and I only saw one other person on the trial. The trail ended at a private property sign and there was no waterfall to be seen. It was a waste of time hike. I then drove more into the rain forest and found 2 of the big attractions, Yokahu Tower and Big tree trail areas were closed. Not sure why the trail was closed, the tower had a sign that said dangerous conditions. I then hiked the very crowded La Mina Falls trail and had lunch at the snack shop. I then drove to the end of the Rain Forest road and hiked to Mount Britton Tower. The park gate closed at 6:00 PM and it was already after 5:00 PM, I continued hiking toward the top of Mount El Yunque. I got to a point with a sign saying 1.3 miles to summit. I’m not sure how bad it would have been to get locked into the park and I sort of wanted to see what would happen. But I decided to head back to the gate. I arrived back at the gate about 2 minutes after 6:00 PM and it was still open. I found a grocery store and bought some supplies. When I arrived in Fajardo I used my GPS to find a hotel. The hotel was expensive, they gave me a little discount. It was a nice hotel and I did not want to spend time looking for something cheaper, so I paid the price. Once in the room I looked up the hotel on Orbitz and found I could have saved $10.00 by booking on Orbitz. (Biked 1.41 miles; Hiked 10 miles)

Day 3, Thursday, June 12 th, 2014 – Fajardo to Ponce to hotel El Fike
I woke up around 6:00 AM and tried cycling to Laguna Grande Bio Bay. I should have brought my paper map; I could not find it on my GPS and ended up biking around in a big loop. I was able to find a nice water front park, Parque Los Croabas. I also found a Burger King for breakfast using my GPS. I ordered a number 2 and they gave me 2 breakfasts. Then I cycled back to my hotel and loaded the car. I started driving towards Ponce and missed a turn and had to turn around. Once in the city of Ponce it had heavy slow-moving traffic with narrow roads. In the downtown area I could not find free parking and drove to a park near a police station to park for free. I marked the location of my car on my GPS and then started biking to town. I cycled up a hill to a mansion and a tower. I also checked out the town square before biking back to my car and good thing I marked the car with my GPS, otherwise it would have been very difficult to find again. I continued my drive around the island of Puerto Rico and looked for a hotel on Orbitz around Mayaguez. The cheapest one I could find was $109.00, but that one was a long way from San Juan. The cheapest one closer to San Juan I could find on orbitz.com was $122.00. I tried finding the hotel closer to San Juan before booking the room, but could not find it. I then tried using the lodging function on my handheld GPS and was able to find a room with a garage for $20.00 a night at the hotel El Fike. The motel had some interesting furniture – a table to stretch people and mirrors all around the bed with several XXX TV channels. It seemed like a place to take a lady for the night. (Biked 22.89 miles)

Day 4, Friday, June 13th - Hotel El Fike to Isabela to Cambalache forest to San Juan
I drove to Isabela and found a bike trail, per my touring map. It was a great paved bike path to dirt trails. Near the car I saw several iguanas crossing the road, I was able to get some great pictures. After over an hour of biking I returned to the car and found more iguanas crossing at that location. It must have been an iguana road crossing trail. The paved bike trail was very nice, but short only about 5 miles each way. I then drove to Cambalache forest looking for a bike trial. The park was found by using my GPS, I would not have been able to find it using the road signs. The bike trails at this forest were not paved and there were mountain bike grade trails as well. I would not recommend this forest, not that scenic and no wildlife to speak of. It would have been OK for a picnic if it was closer to the main highway. I then drove to Reserva natural Laguna looking for a bike trial. I did a lot of driving, but found no bike trail. It looked like nice beaches, but I did not stop to check them out. I then headed to San Juan, it was not a fun drive to the hotel and I could not figure out the parking. I ended up finding a place to temperately park and call the hotel. They said the parking was at the $25.00 lot at the mission across from the hotel. I should have returned the car and taxied back to the hotel. The traffic in town was heavy with narrow roads. I was not happy with the hotel, but it was the one used by the wedding party (My niece Kate was marrying Will, that is why I went to Puerto Rico). I was able to get hold of my brother Jay (Kate’s dad) at the hotel and we walked around town. We checked out the outside of the 2 forts in downtown San Juan, Puerto Rico. Then we went back to the hotel and I took a shower. After that I met up with the Wedding party for happy hour. I heard my ex-girlfriend, Andrea Pace was invited and that was why I was not being invited at first. I did not know she was actually going to the wedding until I saw her at happy hour. We talked for most of the night, it was nice to be friendly with her. I think I may still have a small amount of felling towards her, she treated me better than anyone else that I had ever dated and was also very fun with respects to travel and activities. I am not sure why I dumped her, but it seemed like what I wanted to do at the time. No big regrets, I guess I like the signal life! (Biked 13.32 miles; Hiked 1 mile)

Day 5, Saturday, June 14th - San Juan
I returned my rental car and took the taxi back to the hotel, I figured it would be too tough to figure the bike ride back to the hotel. The next day I cycled past the airport and found the ride would have been easy. I had planned on waking up a lot earlier and driving to this part of the island near the airport with a bike trail (which I cycled to the next day, when I biked past the airport). Well my alarm did not go off and I woke at 9:39 AM, instead of the planned 5:30 AM. By the time I gassed up the rental car and got the car back to the airport car rental it was 10 minutes before the required returned time without getting changed an additional day. I had returned the car at 8:50 AM, it was due at 9:00 AM. After getting back to the hotel in San Juan I biked west, past the hotel where I stayed the first night of my trip to Puerto Rico. On the way back to the hotel I found a nice waterfront bike trail with bridges following the river. I returned to the hotel in San Juan a little before noon and meet up with the Wedding party to tour El Morro one of the old San Juan fort. Then I went back to the hotel rested, took a shower and then we had happy hour at the hotel. I was talking with Andre again, we had a lot of old good memories to talk about. Then everyone went to eat at a restaurant in San Juan, it was not possible to get everyone in to the same restaurant to eat. Half the people ate in one restaurant and the rest of us ate in the restaurant the groom wanted everyone to eat at. Then we went back to the hotel and regrouped. After that we all went on the La Bumba harbor boat trip at 10:00 PM. To me it seemed way too loud, but it seemed like a very interesting cultural experience with a nice night harbor tour. I would have liked to have done the same boat ride in the day when one could see the sights. (Biked 15.78 miles; Hiked 2 miles; Total car miles = 413.4 KM)

Day 6, Sunday, June 15 th - San Juan/ Loiza
I cycled to McDonald for breakfast. I then cycled west again this time for a long way. I went past the airport, past Loiza (town with the trail I wanted to cycle) and then to the end of the bike trail. I did not have a lot of water and it was tough finding places to use the restroom. I went to the restroom in the woods near the end of the trail and did not find anything to drink until I was about half way back to the hotel. The wedding ceremony for Kate and Will was at 4:00 PM and then we went out to dinner. At 10:00 PM everyone was going to meet in the lobby of the hotel and go Salsa dancing. I waited until about 10:15 PM and people were still not leaving, so I went looking for the Salsa bar. I did not find it and returned to the hotel. By then it was about 10:30 PM and some people went to the bar and more people were in the hotel Lobby about to head to the Salsa bar. I really did not want to go, so I told the people leaving I was not going. Andrea was one of the people headed to the bar and I told her I would see her latter. She responded by saying, maybe. I figured I would see her in the morning, but I did not see her. I probably will not see her again. That makes me sad, but I did not want to start things up again with her. However, she was probably the best lady I have been with and I wished we could still be friend. It is for sure my fault that we were not friend after I broke up with her. She is nice to everyone! I’ve really never been able to be friends with ex-girlfriends. (Biked 33.6 miles; Hiked 2 miles)

Day 7, Monday, June 16 th, 2014 - San Juan
I biked to a park and then back to the hotel. I thought my flight out of Puerto Rico was leaving at 3:15 PM (not sure where I came up with 3:15 PM). As I was sitting at breakfast with everyone, I looked up my itinerary on orbitz.com and noticed my flight out of Puerto Rico was leaving at 1:40 PM, so I quickly got ready to go to the airport. I left for the airport with my brother Jay, we shared a cab. He was going to St. Thomas to meet up with Greg, Caiden and Misty. Dave and Caleigh were also going over to St. Thomas on a later flight. I would have liked to have also gone to St, Thomas, but I had work commitments and had to head back to Portland. My flight from Puerto Rico to Portland had an overnight stay in San Francisco, so I tried to change the flight back at the San Juan airport. The lady at the check-in was very helpful, but when they told me it would cost $200.00 plus any additional cost for fare I decided not to change my flights. In the long run the flight would have been missed due to delays leaving Puerto Rico. I did feel a little sad after seeing Andrea over the weekend and I never did tell her what she meant to me. Probably better for her in the long run. I do think Michele is better for me, but Andrea is way easier to get along with. I would have probably been better off staying with Andrea. Oh well life is what it is! My flight out of Puerto Rico was delayed by 20 minutes. I only had 50 minutes between flights in Miami. You need to be at the gate 10 minutes before boarding, me and several people went to the gate in Miami for our flight to San Francisco as quickly as possible after landing in Miami from San Juan and saw the plane in the gate. There was no one loading the plane, it was about 10 minutes before the flight left. Some of the other people on the flight were calling American Airlines to have them let us in the plane. No luck, some people were very mad and we watched our flight leave without us. Most of the people were complaining heavily to American Airlines, I was just glad I did not pay to get my flight from San Francisco changed, I would not have made it on a changed flight with a different flight from Miami. They gave me a $12.00 meal Boucher for the flight delay, so I used it to get a burger at the brew pub. The Boucher was not valid for alcohol, so it had to be used for the burger. Once at the San Francisco airport I took a sleeping pill and tried to sleep. I was in my shorts and had packed all my warm clothes in my checked luggage. The air-conditioning at the airport made it very cold and I could not sleep. I asked someone at the American airlines customer service for blankets and they gave me two tablecloths, which I used as blankets, and then I was able to sleep. The flight from San Francisco was supposed to leave at 5:59 AM. The plane boarded on time and then they announced there were mechanical problems. I was supposed to be back in Portland by around 8:30 AM for some important meetings, so I called Tom Shikina and left him a message telling him I would arrive late in Portland. Once in Portland I drove home took a quick sower, changed clothes and then biked to work. I arrived at work around 9:30 AM. Tom was already trying to get a hold of me for meetings/workshops we had with Continental that day. (Biked 14.66 miles; Hiked 3 miles)

Route traveled in Puerto Rico	El Yunque National Forest	El Yunque National Forest
El Yunque National Forest - La Mina Falls	El Yunque National Forest.	El Yunque National Forest - Mount Britton Tower
El Yunque National Forest.	Ponce, Puerto Rico.	Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Ponce, Puerto Rico.	Ponce, Puerto Rico.	Lizard near Isabela, Puerto Rico.
Iguanas near Isabela, Puerto Rico.	Cambalache, Puerto Rico.	El Morro fort in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Cemetery near El Morro Fort in Juan, Puerto Rico.	Building in San Juan, Puerto Rico.	Beach near San Juan, Puerto Rico.
El Morro fort in San Juan, Puerto Rico.	El Morro fort in San Juan, Puerto Rico.	El Morro fort in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
El Morro fort in San Juan, Puerto Rico.	Iguana at the El Morro fort at San Juan, Puerto Rico.	El Morro fort in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Fountain in San Juan, Puerto Rico.	Banyan tree near San Juan, Puerto Rico.	Lizard near Loiza, Puerto Rico.
Bike trail near Loiza, Puerto Rico.	Lizard near Loiza, Puerto Rico.	Ted at the end of bike trail near Loiza, Puerto Rico.
Bike trail near Loiza, Puerto Rico.	Jay, Dave, Ellen, Caleigh, Natalie and Ted at Kate and Will’s wedding.	Kate and Will’s wedding ceremony.
Kate and Will’s wedding ceremony.	Ted’s bike on trial near San Juan, Puerto Rico.	Banyan trees near San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Trip expenses

Trip Total $2022.34 = $1341.58 + $85.00 + $206.58 + $52.42 + $14.09 + $112.53 + $57.15 + $ 152.99

Pre-Trip Expenses
1) $69.15 - Oceana Hostal Playero - 1853 McLeary Ave., Ocean Park, San Juan, 00911 PR
2) $530.80 – Flights a) US Airways 669; PDX 8:10 AM to PHL 4:17 PM; Leave Tue, Jun 10, 2014 b) US Airways 757; PHL 5:50 PM to SJU 9:56 PM; Leave Tue, Jun 10, 2014 c) American Airlines 397; SJU 1:40 PM to MIA 4:25 PM; Leave Mon, Jun 16, 2014 d) American Airlines 69; MIA 5:15 PM to SFO 8:05 PM; Leave Mon, Jun 16, 2014 e) United Airlines 205; SFO 5:59 AM to PDX 7:45 AM; Leave Tue, Jun 17, 2014
3) $741.63 – Motel in San Juan, PR - Hotel El Convento;100 Cristo Street Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00901, United States
Total Pre-trip expenses $1341.58

Day 1, Tuesday, June 10, 2104

1) $60.00 for extra bag on plane.
2) $22.00 Cab ($20.00 fare + $2.00 tip)
3) $3.00 Tip to guy that let me into the hotel and carried my bags to my room.
Daily Total $85.00

Day 2, Wednesday, June 11 th, 2014
1) $17.00 cab from hotel to Thrifty car rental.
2) $4.23 – breakfast at McDonalds – Mcgriddle with ham and eggs; Hash browns and a small coffee.
3) $15.05 – Walgreens – Large jug of ice tea, Chocolate bar and Cigarette lighter to USB converter.
4) $4.00 – Rain forest visitor center.
5) $3.99 – La Mina falls snack shop – Hot dog and drink.
6) $12.44 – Econ grocery store – Corn Flakes, gallon of water, box of breakfast bars, can of tuna and 32 oz power air drink.
7) $22.43 – Walmart – Tostados, phone charger, 2 cans of Sardines, Ice tea and bread.
8) $127.44 – The Fajardo Inn – Hotel room for the night.
Daily Total $206.58

Day 3, Thursday, June 12 th, 2014
1) $5.40 – Burger King – ham Crescent, hash brown and coffee.
2) $20.00 – Near Ponce – Gas
3) $2.75 – Near Ponce – Cola and Power aid drinks
4) $4.27 – Churches Fried Chicken – Chicken sandwich, fries and coke
5) $20.00 - Hotel El Fike
Daily Total $52.42

Day 4, Friday, June 13th
1) $7.17 – San Juan Walgreens – Wedding card and Hawaiian Punch
2) $6.92 – Amigo – Orange soda, red drink and chocolate
Daily Total $14.09

Day 5, Saturday, June 14th

1) $13.00 = La Bumba boat tour
2) $6.00 = Wedding card and fruit drink
3) $93.53 - Thrifty Rental car - Luis Munoz Marin Intl (SJU); 10030 MARGINAL LOS ANGELES, CAROLINA, PR 00979
Daily Total $112.53

Day 6, Sunday, June 15th

1) $4.50 – McDonalds – egg Mcmuffin, hash browns and coffee.
2) $3.33 = 1 gallon of water and small vitamin water.
3) $4.50 = Small bread, ice cream and chocolate brownie
4) $40.00 – For Kate and Will wedding gift.
5) $4.82 – 2 scoops of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream in San Juan
Daily Total $57.15

Day 7, Monday, June 16 th, 2014

1) $42.00 – Misc Hotel fees - $20.00 parking plus possible overcharge (not sure what the rest is?)
2) $14.00 – Taxi shared with Jay to Airport ($14.00 each)
3) $17.99 – Chocolate rum care for Michele.
4) $19.00 – My part (I also had a 412.00 Boucher for American Airlines) of the $20.00 + tip bill for a burger and beer at Miami Airport.
4) $60.00 – Extra luggage fee.
Daily Total $ 152.99

The following is the wedding itinerary

Friday, June 13th

Saturday, June 14th

Sunday, June 15th Wedding Ceremony
4:00pm - 5:00pm
The ceremony will take place in the beautiful courtyard of El Convento
Cocktail Hour and Photography
5:30pm to 6:30pm
Reception
7:00pm -10pm
Salon Martorell
Dancing at the Nuyorican Cafe 10:00pm