Climbing Blocks » Business http://climbingblocks.com Information About Climbing Blocks Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:26:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Passive cooling http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/passive-cooling http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/passive-cooling#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:04:45 +0000 Climbing Blocks http://climbingblocks.com/passive-cooling I want to introduct something about Shower Curtain Hooks. Country of Origin: Passive cooling refers to technologies or design features used to cool buildings without power consumption, such as those technologies discussed in the Passive house project.Passive coolingThe term “passive” implies that energy-consuming mechanical components like pumps and fans are not used.Passive cooling building design attempts to integrate principles of Physics into the building exterior envelope to:Slow heat transfer into a building. This involves an understanding or the mechanisms of heat transfer: heat conduction, convective heat transfer, and thermal radiation (primarily from the sun). Remove unwanted heat from a building. In mild climates with cool dry nights this can be done with ventilating. In hot humid climates with uncomfortable warm / humid nights, ventilation is counterproductive, and some type of solar air conditioning may be cost effective. ShadingShading a building from solar radiation can be achieved in many ways.Buildings can be orientated to take advantage of winter sun (longer in the East / West dimension), while shading walls and windows from direct hot summer sun. This can be achieved by designing location-specific wide eaves or overhangs above the Equator-side vertical windows (South side in the Northern hemisphere, North side in the Southern hemisphere).Passive solar buildings should not use large glass areas directly into the living space. A greenhouse / solarium is usually integrated into the equator side of the building. It captures low winter sun, and blocks direct sunlight in the summer, when the sun’s altitude is 47 degrees higher. The outer glass of the solarium, plus interior glass between the solarium and the interior living quarters acts like a Thermal Buffer Zone – Two smaller temperature differentials produce much lower heat transfer than one large temperature differential.The quality of window-and-door fenestration can have a significant impact on heat transfer rate (and therefore on heating and cooling requirement). A solid wood door with no windows conducts heat about twelve times faster than a foam-filled Energy Star door. Older fenestration, and lower-quality doors and windows can leak a lot of outside air infiltration, conduct and radiate a lot of undesirable heat transfer through the exterior envelope of a building, which can account for a major portion of heating and cooling energy bills.For many good thermal reasons, roof-angled glass is not a great option in any building in any climate. In the summer, it creates a solar furnace, with the sun nearly perpendicular to it. On cold winter days, the low angle of the sun mostly reflects off of roof-angled glass. Warm air rises by natural convection, touches the roof angled glass, and then conducts and radiates heat outside. Vertical equator-facing glass is far superior for solar gain, blocking summer heat, and daylighting throughout a well-designed passive solar building.Awnings, shade screen, trellises or climbing plants can be fitted to existing buildings for a similar effect. West-facing rooms are especially prone to overheating because the low afternoon sun penetrates deeper into rooms during the hottest part of the day. Methods of shading against low East and West sun are deciduous planting and vertical shutters or blinds. West-facing windows should be minimized or eliminated in passive solar design.Solar heat also enters a building through its walls and roof. In temperate climates, a poorly insulated building can overheat in summer and will require more heating in winter.One sign of poor thermal design is an attic that gets hotter than the peak outside summer air temperature. This can be significantly reduced or eliminated with a cool roof or a green roof, which can reduce the roof surface temperature by 70 degrees F (21 degrees C) in the summer. Below the roof there should be a radiant barrier and an air gap, which blocks 97% of downward radiation from the sun.Of the three mechanisms of heat transfer (conduction, convection and radiation), radiation is one of the most significant in most climates, and is the least easy to model. There is a linear relationship between temperature differential and conductive / convective heat transfer rate. But, radiation is an exponential relationship, which is much more significant when the temperature differential is large (summer or winter).The rate of heat transfer (which is related to heating-and-cooling requirement) is determined in part by the surface area of the building. Decorative corners can double or triple the exterior envelope surface area, and also create more opportunities for air infiltration leaks.In mild arid climates with comfortable cool dry nights, two types of natural ventilation can be achieved through…(and so on) To get More information , you can visit some products about fiberglass mould, ceramic substrate, . The Shower Curtain Hooks products should be show more here!

]]> http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/passive-cooling/feed 0 Strength Training Guidelines for Endurance Athletes http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/strength-training-guidelines-for-endurance-athletes http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/strength-training-guidelines-for-endurance-athletes#comments Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:23:18 +0000 Climbing Blocks http://climbingblocks.com/strength-training-guidelines-for-endurance-athletes You can make great strides in your sport performance in the weight room. Because strength training can break down a lot of muscle tissue I recommend weight work be done in the foundation or base period. This does not mean you will not continue to build strength throughout the season. Hill running, slow cadence cycling work outs, and resisted swim work outs are all forms of strength training that are specific to disciplines. Weight training should smoothly transition into strength training in your disciplines.As your season progresses, and your intensity increases, weight work can be detrimental to your more specific work outs and events. Your legs may need up to 72 hours to fully recover from a weight work out. This is a big block of the week to give up performance in other areas. Just like your training plan your strength plan will go through specific phases. Endurance athletes should not use body building plans that are focused on muscle mass gains. This can actually be counter productive for a distance athlete. Each phase will have a specific purpose such as acclimation, hypertrophy, muscular endurance and power. If you are weak on sprints and jumps, you may want to emphasize more power training. If you are weak on climbs, muscular endurance is a good focus. If you are generally weak, or new to strength training, I recommend a slightly longer period with the weights. Shorter distance athletes may want to emphasize more strength work for speed, while longer distance athletes, that are more slow twitch, will not need as much weight work.Listen to your body and avoid overreaching yourself with the weights. This is especially important in the very beginning of your plan. You may feel the need to push yourself, but you may also not be walking well the next day. This is due to micro trauma in the muscles or small muscle tears. These tears have to heal up before you get stronger, so take it easy. You may also find yourself more tired, and you may need more sleep during the initial acclimation period. Make sure you refuel after a strength work out just like you would any other.Core strength is crucial to protecting your back during lifting. I recommend using a variety of exercises to strengthen all core muscles every other day. Core strength also will help with your running, biking, and swimming ability. If your muscles are very sore, do not overstretch them. This may re injure the micro trauma that occurred during training and slow the healing process. Light stretching and recovery work is recommended. I do not use a weight belt. These belts are for power lifter who wants to increase inter abdominal pressure for max lifts. They may actually make your back weaker. Do not use a belt to exceed your limits. In fact you should be no where near this type of lifting. I like to perform my core strength at the end of my work out. Performing core exercises first may leave them too fatigued to properly support you.Choosing when to strength train is very important because it affects your other work outs. I usually try to strength train after a rest day early in the week. I make sure I do not have a critical or high stress work out in the next few days following my leg work out. Again, this is why weight work is best performed in the base or foundation period when there are not a lot of break through work outs.I generally only strength train my legs heavy one time per week. I may do a lighter session at the end of the week. Strength training and endurance training are like oil and water for the most part. They work well when separated, but do not mix. With a heavy foundation load I do not recommend strength training more than twice per week. You may negatively affect your other training, or more likely over reach yourself. These are general guidelines. I will not recommend specific work outs. I do recommend the core of your routine be compound or multi joint exercises such as the squat, lunge, dead lift, step up, and leg press. The number one rule of strength training is switch up your routine. Your body will acclimate quickly to the same routine week after week, and growth will be retarded. Switch up your exercises each week. You may want to get with a certified strength trainer to learn advanced training techniques such as drop sets, compound sets, super sets, and other methods. Try to use a pedal width stance on your exercises and mimic the range of motion of running and cycling. One exercise I will caution you on is the leg extension. Most people use way to much weight on this exercise, which can put a lot of pressure under the knee cap. This may lead to cartilage damage. Leg extensions are a good exercise to warm up with. Use light to moderate weight and lots of reps. You may want to perform this exercise in the top 20 degrees range of motion. This helps strengthen your VMO or innermost quad which plays a key role in patella tracking.Finally, if you are unfamiliar with weight training and proper form I highly recommend you get with a certified athletic trainer. Exercises such as the squat, dead lift, and even leg press can easily injure you if performed incorrectly. I could write an entire book on how to perform these exercises, but if I am not standing next to you and watching your form, you could still be performing them incorrectly. I see and correct bad form from even experienced clients on a daily basis.Phase I Acclimation 4 8 weeksPurpose To gradually adjust your body to the stresses of strength training. During this phase you will use light weight and high reps. You may want to start of your first few weeks with very light weight or body weight. Make sure you perform your exercises slowly and controlled.Reps 15 .25Weight Light to ModerateExercises 3 .5Sets 2 .3Rest between sets 1 .3 minutes generally allows full recoveryPhase II Hypertrophy 4 .6 weeksPurpose To recruit maximum amount of fibers and promote muscle growth and absolute strength. Make sure your first set is a light warm up set. You will want to pyramid or increase the weight on each set while lowering the reps. A typical rep scheme may look like this 12 .10 .8 .6, or 12 .10 .8. This phase has a good potential for injury, so be careful and listen to your body. You can take your lifts to muscular failure during this period. I recommend a spotter. Don t be surprised if the first few weeks leave you very sore. Reps 6 .12Weight Moderate to HeavyExercises 3 .6Sets 3 .4Rest between sets 1 .3 minutes generally allows full recoveryPhase III Strength Endurance 6 .8 WeeksPurpose To train the ability to sustain repeated hard efforts, similar to a steep climb. This phase will raise your lactate threshold and time to exhaustion. You want to use moderate weight and slow controlled motion. You can bring yourself to muscular failure but at a higher rep range. I recommend that you raise your rep range slightly as you progress.Reps 15 .30Weight ModerateExercises 3 .5Sets 2 .4Rest between sets 1 .3 minutes generally allows full recoveryPhase IV Power 3 .6 weeksPurpose Power is force over time, or the ability to move the most resistance in the shortest time period. This is necessary for jumps and short sprints. Again, I recommend a trainer during this period because of the potential for injury, and the creative knowledge needed for power training. You will take each strength exercise and explode upwards. Be careful on the eccentric phase lowering. Try to picture a spring that is slowly coiled until it is tensioned, then explodes. Go light, especially in the beginning. This does not mean you will not fatigue the muscles. I use a body weight for the first few weeks. Reps 8.20Weight Light to ModerateExercises 4.6Sets 2.3Rest between sets 1.3 minutes generally allows full recoveryYou have to view strength training as a tool box. You have to decide which tools are right for you based on your body, and your event. I personally am a smaller person, slow twitch, and my goals are usually short events. This means more time in the weight room for me. If you are a marathoner, you will need less strength work and less weight. If you are a large muscled person, who has good short distance speed, yet you are training for an IM event, I would focus less on hypertrophy and more on strength endurance for climbing.

]]> http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/strength-training-guidelines-for-endurance-athletes/feed 0 Panama’s Pacific Coast Beach Guide – Part 1 http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/panamas-pacific-coast-beach-guide-part-1-3 http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/panamas-pacific-coast-beach-guide-part-1-3#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:49:08 +0000 Climbing Blocks http://climbingblocks.com/panamas-pacific-coast-beach-guide-part-1-3 The history of beach towns along the Pacific Coast in Panama is coupled to the history of the Panama Canal. Most of the population that settled these Pacific beaches came from small villages that now are under the waters of the Panama Canal. They were relocated from their hometowns and settled along the coast so that their villages could be flooded over and turned into the floor of Lake Gatun.

The major problem with the beaches in the area of the canal and just past the canal area is the debris that washes up on the beaches. Part of the debris is from the city itself and another contributing factor are the ships waiting to transit the canal. Recently Panama City began a clean up project for Panama Bay which will include a new water treatment plant and sewage system for the city. Of course, the problem wasn’t recreated overnight and it won’t be fixed overnight, but at least we begin. This should cut down on some of the debris that washes ashore. However, unless stricter ordinances are put in place and imposed with consistency on the residents and the vessel in the bay the beaches will continue to be trashy.

Panama’s FarFan Beach

Across the bridge of the Americas in first position is Panama’s Farfan Beach. The roads are a little rough, similar to a forgotten county road in the US, rough road patches and peppered with a some potholes. Even with the road conditions, once you’ve crossed the bridge it is only a two minute drive to the entrance of Farfan Beach. The first thing you will notice is the barricade that blocks the paved road’s approach to the abandoned beach area. The second thing of notice is Panama’s Balboa Gun Club positioned directly next to the barricade. The third thing you should notice is the alternate off road paths that have been created to access the beach.

Panama’s now forgotten Farfan Beach was once a hot spot as is evidenced by the abandon concrete concession stand that was once complete with toilets facilities. Farfan is a canal beach, from the concession area you can look out to the left and see Panama’s Amador Causeway with a clear view of Naos Island and the Smithsonian Institute’s Culebra Island. Looking straight ahead you can view large and small vessels anchored just outside the Panama Canal waiting for permission to begin their transit and since the canal is operational twenty four hours day, seven days a week, you are sure to see a vessels at the beginning of its transit.

Since Farfan is no longer managed, tall grass now covers some areas of the once popular beach, from the well worn grooves made by vehicles that drive out to the beach area it is evident that Panama’s Farfan Beach still receives it’s share of visitors. Even if you choose not to drive off road, it only a short blocks walk past the barricade on the paved road to the beach area.

It’s important to note, being a Florida transplant; the beach here is not sandy but mostly volcanic rock. However, it is well worth the time to drive out and see the canal area from this prospective; spend a little time imagining this area in its glory day. I hope there are better days to come for this forgotten recreational area.

Panama’s Playa Bonita/Playa Kobbe

Panama’s Playa Bonita is also a beach on the canal, it is a little rustic in location. It sits beside the road with just a little pull off spot along an old bridge. The area never had a concession or toilet facilities and the beach area is a steep drop from the road. From under the old bridge a river empties into the canal.

Many of the beach areas in Panama are fed sand and water from Panama’s rivers. This is note worthy to swimmers who might encounter the whirlpools they create as the rivers empty their content into the larger body of water.

From Playa Bonita you can see the bridge of the America’s and the hill the old Howard Air Force Base is on. The beach was a mix of sand and volcanic rock and was from a Florida transplant perspective, a bit trashy.

A four star resort area has been built on the road to Playa Bonita, InterContinental Playa Bonita Resort & Spa. About ten minutes from the actual area of Majagual, fourty Minutes from Panama City’s International Airport Tocumen. www.playabonitapanama.com

Panama’s Playa Veracruz – the local beach

Panama’s Play Veracruz is still a busy local beach. There are roughly twelve rancho style concessions along the beach where you can enjoy entire fried sea bass for three to five dollars and beers for sixty cents. Playa Veracruz flows all the way into the beach town of Veracruz.

Veracruz, Panama is located approximately twenty five minutes from Panama City and known for its various fish markets, it is a small fishing village that is made up mostly of lower socioeconomic class level.

.

Veracruz, once was an attractive area in front of US Howard Airforce base. It’s city park once had a concrete concession stand complete with toilets facilities, swimming pools, and sheltered picnic tables. The abandoned structures are still standing in the park area. A small fee was paid to gain entrance to the park. But based upon recent reported incidents by local police Veracruz now rates as a high-crime area.

Veracruz, is nestled between the beautiful Pacific Ocean and the base of lush green mountains. The drive is about thirty minutes to downtown Panama, and only fifteen to twenty minutes to get to Balboa, Panama which has just about everything one could need or want for everyday living.

The former US Howard Airforce Base which is located just in front of the area of Veracruz, and former Rodman Naval Station recently received approved legislation to become a free trade zone for the Pacific making this another area to watch for growth explosion.

Playa Chumical

Veracruz, flows into Veracruz de Chumical. Chumical, has a sand and volcanic rock beach that is cleaner than Veracruz, the homes are larger and better maintained. In this town are fishermen and residents that work in the city. Chumical is the cleanest of the public access beaches since leaving Panama City.

Entrance to the beach can be gained by the various paths the allow access between the houses. There is nothing but open water and islands to be viewed from the coast in Chumical. There are no concessions or commerce on this stretch of beach.

The day I visited I found a delightful sight. Three children playing in a tide pool whiling away the hours in the Panama sun. They stopped long enough to allow me to take their pictures. Their presence definitely added to the beauty of the scenery.

Playita Vacamonte and Vacamonte Port (Vaco Monte)

Playita Vacamonte, Panama sits just outside the official entrance to the Vacamonte Port. It is the smallest of the public access beaches since leaving Panama City. Like Panama’s Playa Bonita, this area is a little rustic since it set road side and you have to descend a steep hill to reach the beach area. Parking is minimal but the view is breath taking. The waters here are clean and the Vacamonte Port area is well maintained free from the normal roadside debris.

The Vacamonte Port of Panama is an international port. You will need to show your passport to the guard and enter the area.

Vacamonte Port consists of a few small building and a port of industrial fishing. The port has two wharves and a pier. In the port are all manner of fishing boats whose main commodities are shrimp, shark, tuna, and various local fish. The fish are sold to the general public from 8:00 until 2:00. There’s a bank and a restaurant in the port. Shop early if you want small fish for your home, the small fish sell out early.

From Vacamonte International Port seafood is shipped all over the world.

Peurto Caimito

Peurto Caimito, Panama is home to Mariano Rivera, relief pitcher for the New York Yankees. Mariano has a large home just outside of Peurto Camito, and with residents like this it is hard to list Peurto Caimito among the forgotten beaches of Panama, but we can definitely call it off the beaten path. Puerto Caimito is situated at the mouth of the Caimito River, and is a commercial fishing town with a fish meal processing plant and is an old pirate village

Of all the places previously listed Peurto Caimito caught my attention and begged me to stay a while. It’s hard to say if it was the signs that hang from the homes along the beach front road that entice you with promises of fresh fish for sale. Or maybe it’s the thought of the fishing boat moored behind the house that go out on the rising tide, when the water has sufficiently covered the vast expanse of beach and brings the day’s catch to vendors living in the houses. I was also struck by it was the fishermen tending to net repairs and daily maintenance of their outboard fishing boat on the beach. And rusty vessels in the port and as well as the few rusted past use on the far end of town where the road ended at the ship yard. The child in me came out saw I watched a town’s child climbing in and out of the rushed out boat hull on the beach. I could have spent the day climbing, exploring, poking, and turning things over.

Peurto Caimito, residents are mostly descendants of the island peoples and a lower socioeconomic class level that live off the sea. They catch sardines or anchovies, they have no refrigeration, so the boats all smell and are sealed with a slime of fish oil.

There is a couple of large ranchitos on the beach with patios facing the beach, music blaring loudly. The beach was easily accessible and was mostly sand. We didn’t see anyone swimming or lounging, but was week day and from the positions of the ranchitos I would wager to say to some extent the weekends bring pleasure seekers to the area. The smell of wood cook stoves and signs selling carbon add to experience that was hard to leave behind as my day ended.

If leaving with locals and cheap land with ocean front property appeals to you, it will probably also appeal to you to know that El Chorrera is only fifteen minutes back up the road and has practically everything necessary for living a comfortable life in Puerto Caimita.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.panamaexpertos.com

http://www.panamaexpertos.com/forum/panama-s-pacific-coast-beach-guide-part-1-ct45.html

]]> http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/panamas-pacific-coast-beach-guide-part-1-3/feed 0 Panama’s Pacific Coast Beach Guide – Part 1 http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/panamas-pacific-coast-beach-guide-part-1-2 http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/panamas-pacific-coast-beach-guide-part-1-2#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:49:07 +0000 Climbing Blocks http://climbingblocks.com/panamas-pacific-coast-beach-guide-part-1-2 The history of beach towns along the Pacific Coast in Panama is coupled to the history of the Panama Canal. Most of the population that settled these Pacific beaches came from small villages that now are under the waters of the Panama Canal. They were relocated from their hometowns and settled along the coast so that their villages could be flooded over and turned into the floor of Lake Gatun.

The major problem with the beaches in the area of the canal and just past the canal area is the debris that washes up on the beaches. Part of the debris is from the city itself and another contributing factor are the ships waiting to transit the canal. Recently Panama City began a clean up project for Panama Bay which will include a new water treatment plant and sewage system for the city. Of course, the problem wasn’t recreated overnight and it won’t be fixed overnight, but at least we begin. This should cut down on some of the debris that washes ashore. However, unless stricter ordinances are put in place and imposed with consistency on the residents and the vessel in the bay the beaches will continue to be trashy.

Panama’s FarFan Beach

Across the bridge of the Americas in first position is Panama’s Farfan Beach. The roads are a little rough, similar to a forgotten county road in the US, rough road patches and peppered with a some potholes. Even with the road conditions, once you’ve crossed the bridge it is only a two minute drive to the entrance of Farfan Beach. The first thing you will notice is the barricade that blocks the paved road’s approach to the abandoned beach area. The second thing of notice is Panama’s Balboa Gun Club positioned directly next to the barricade. The third thing you should notice is the alternate off road paths that have been created to access the beach.

Panama’s now forgotten Farfan Beach was once a hot spot as is evidenced by the abandon concrete concession stand that was once complete with toilets facilities. Farfan is a canal beach, from the concession area you can look out to the left and see Panama’s Amador Causeway with a clear view of Naos Island and the Smithsonian Institute’s Culebra Island. Looking straight ahead you can view large and small vessels anchored just outside the Panama Canal waiting for permission to begin their transit and since the canal is operational twenty four hours day, seven days a week, you are sure to see a vessels at the beginning of its transit.

Since Farfan is no longer managed, tall grass now covers some areas of the once popular beach, from the well worn grooves made by vehicles that drive out to the beach area it is evident that Panama’s Farfan Beach still receives it’s share of visitors. Even if you choose not to drive off road, it only a short blocks walk past the barricade on the paved road to the beach area.

It’s important to note, being a Florida transplant; the beach here is not sandy but mostly volcanic rock. However, it is well worth the time to drive out and see the canal area from this prospective; spend a little time imagining this area in its glory day. I hope there are better days to come for this forgotten recreational area.

Panama’s Playa Bonita/Playa Kobbe

Panama’s Playa Bonita is also a beach on the canal, it is a little rustic in location. It sits beside the road with just a little pull off spot along an old bridge. The area never had a concession or toilet facilities and the beach area is a steep drop from the road. From under the old bridge a river empties into the canal.

Many of the beach areas in Panama are fed sand and water from Panama’s rivers. This is note worthy to swimmers who might encounter the whirlpools they create as the rivers empty their content into the larger body of water.

From Playa Bonita you can see the bridge of the America’s and the hill the old Howard Air Force Base is on. The beach was a mix of sand and volcanic rock and was from a Florida transplant perspective, a bit trashy.

A four star resort area has been built on the road to Playa Bonita, InterContinental Playa Bonita Resort & Spa. About ten minutes from the actual area of Majagual, fourty Minutes from Panama City’s International Airport Tocumen. www.playabonitapanama.com

Panama’s Playa Veracruz – the local beach

Panama’s Play Veracruz is still a busy local beach. There are roughly twelve rancho style concessions along the beach where you can enjoy entire fried sea bass for three to five dollars and beers for sixty cents. Playa Veracruz flows all the way into the beach town of Veracruz.

Veracruz, Panama is located approximately twenty five minutes from Panama City and known for its various fish markets, it is a small fishing village that is made up mostly of lower socioeconomic class level.

.

Veracruz, once was an attractive area in front of US Howard Airforce base. It’s city park once had a concrete concession stand complete with toilets facilities, swimming pools, and sheltered picnic tables. The abandoned structures are still standing in the park area. A small fee was paid to gain entrance to the park. But based upon recent reported incidents by local police Veracruz now rates as a high-crime area.

Veracruz, is nestled between the beautiful Pacific Ocean and the base of lush green mountains. The drive is about thirty minutes to downtown Panama, and only fifteen to twenty minutes to get to Balboa, Panama which has just about everything one could need or want for everyday living.

The former US Howard Airforce Base which is located just in front of the area of Veracruz, and former Rodman Naval Station recently received approved legislation to become a free trade zone for the Pacific making this another area to watch for growth explosion.

Playa Chumical

Veracruz, flows into Veracruz de Chumical. Chumical, has a sand and volcanic rock beach that is cleaner than Veracruz, the homes are larger and better maintained. In this town are fishermen and residents that work in the city. Chumical is the cleanest of the public access beaches since leaving Panama City.

Entrance to the beach can be gained by the various paths the allow access between the houses. There is nothing but open water and islands to be viewed from the coast in Chumical. There are no concessions or commerce on this stretch of beach.

The day I visited I found a delightful sight. Three children playing in a tide pool whiling away the hours in the Panama sun. They stopped long enough to allow me to take their pictures. Their presence definitely added to the beauty of the scenery.

Playita Vacamonte and Vacamonte Port (Vaco Monte)

Playita Vacamonte, Panama sits just outside the official entrance to the Vacamonte Port. It is the smallest of the public access beaches since leaving Panama City. Like Panama’s Playa Bonita, this area is a little rustic since it set road side and you have to descend a steep hill to reach the beach area. Parking is minimal but the view is breath taking. The waters here are clean and the Vacamonte Port area is well maintained free from the normal roadside debris.

The Vacamonte Port of Panama is an international port. You will need to show your passport to the guard and enter the area.

Vacamonte Port consists of a few small building and a port of industrial fishing. The port has two wharves and a pier. In the port are all manner of fishing boats whose main commodities are shrimp, shark, tuna, and various local fish. The fish are sold to the general public from 8:00 until 2:00. There’s a bank and a restaurant in the port. Shop early if you want small fish for your home, the small fish sell out early.

From Vacamonte International Port seafood is shipped all over the world.

Peurto Caimito

Peurto Caimito, Panama is home to Mariano Rivera, relief pitcher for the New York Yankees. Mariano has a large home just outside of Peurto Camito, and with residents like this it is hard to list Peurto Caimito among the forgotten beaches of Panama, but we can definitely call it off the beaten path. Puerto Caimito is situated at the mouth of the Caimito River, and is a commercial fishing town with a fish meal processing plant and is an old pirate village

Of all the places previously listed Peurto Caimito caught my attention and begged me to stay a while. It’s hard to say if it was the signs that hang from the homes along the beach front road that entice you with promises of fresh fish for sale. Or maybe it’s the thought of the fishing boat moored behind the house that go out on the rising tide, when the water has sufficiently covered the vast expanse of beach and brings the day’s catch to vendors living in the houses. I was also struck by it was the fishermen tending to net repairs and daily maintenance of their outboard fishing boat on the beach. And rusty vessels in the port and as well as the few rusted past use on the far end of town where the road ended at the ship yard. The child in me came out saw I watched a town’s child climbing in and out of the rushed out boat hull on the beach. I could have spent the day climbing, exploring, poking, and turning things over.

Peurto Caimito, residents are mostly descendants of the island peoples and a lower socioeconomic class level that live off the sea. They catch sardines or anchovies, they have no refrigeration, so the boats all smell and are sealed with a slime of fish oil.

There is a couple of large ranchitos on the beach with patios facing the beach, music blaring loudly. The beach was easily accessible and was mostly sand. We didn’t see anyone swimming or lounging, but was week day and from the positions of the ranchitos I would wager to say to some extent the weekends bring pleasure seekers to the area. The smell of wood cook stoves and signs selling carbon add to experience that was hard to leave behind as my day ended.

If leaving with locals and cheap land with ocean front property appeals to you, it will probably also appeal to you to know that El Chorrera is only fifteen minutes back up the road and has practically everything necessary for living a comfortable life in Puerto Caimita.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.panamaexpertos.com

http://www.panamaexpertos.com/forum/panama-s-pacific-coast-beach-guide-part-1-ct45.html

]]> http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/panamas-pacific-coast-beach-guide-part-1-2/feed 0 Panama’s Pacific Coast Beach Guide – Part 1 http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/panamas-pacific-coast-beach-guide-part-1 http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/panamas-pacific-coast-beach-guide-part-1#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:49:06 +0000 Climbing Blocks http://climbingblocks.com/panamas-pacific-coast-beach-guide-part-1 The history of beach towns along the Pacific Coast in Panama is coupled to the history of the Panama Canal. Most of the population that settled these Pacific beaches came from small villages that now are under the waters of the Panama Canal. They were relocated from their hometowns and settled along the coast so that their villages could be flooded over and turned into the floor of Lake Gatun.

The major problem with the beaches in the area of the canal and just past the canal area is the debris that washes up on the beaches. Part of the debris is from the city itself and another contributing factor are the ships waiting to transit the canal. Recently Panama City began a clean up project for Panama Bay which will include a new water treatment plant and sewage system for the city. Of course, the problem wasn’t recreated overnight and it won’t be fixed overnight, but at least we begin. This should cut down on some of the debris that washes ashore. However, unless stricter ordinances are put in place and imposed with consistency on the residents and the vessel in the bay the beaches will continue to be trashy.

Panama’s FarFan Beach

Across the bridge of the Americas in first position is Panama’s Farfan Beach. The roads are a little rough, similar to a forgotten county road in the US, rough road patches and peppered with a some potholes. Even with the road conditions, once you’ve crossed the bridge it is only a two minute drive to the entrance of Farfan Beach. The first thing you will notice is the barricade that blocks the paved road’s approach to the abandoned beach area. The second thing of notice is Panama’s Balboa Gun Club positioned directly next to the barricade. The third thing you should notice is the alternate off road paths that have been created to access the beach.

Panama’s now forgotten Farfan Beach was once a hot spot as is evidenced by the abandon concrete concession stand that was once complete with toilets facilities. Farfan is a canal beach, from the concession area you can look out to the left and see Panama’s Amador Causeway with a clear view of Naos Island and the Smithsonian Institute’s Culebra Island. Looking straight ahead you can view large and small vessels anchored just outside the Panama Canal waiting for permission to begin their transit and since the canal is operational twenty four hours day, seven days a week, you are sure to see a vessels at the beginning of its transit.

Since Farfan is no longer managed, tall grass now covers some areas of the once popular beach, from the well worn grooves made by vehicles that drive out to the beach area it is evident that Panama’s Farfan Beach still receives it’s share of visitors. Even if you choose not to drive off road, it only a short blocks walk past the barricade on the paved road to the beach area.

It’s important to note, being a Florida transplant; the beach here is not sandy but mostly volcanic rock. However, it is well worth the time to drive out and see the canal area from this prospective; spend a little time imagining this area in its glory day. I hope there are better days to come for this forgotten recreational area.

Panama’s Playa Bonita/Playa Kobbe

Panama’s Playa Bonita is also a beach on the canal, it is a little rustic in location. It sits beside the road with just a little pull off spot along an old bridge. The area never had a concession or toilet facilities and the beach area is a steep drop from the road. From under the old bridge a river empties into the canal.

Many of the beach areas in Panama are fed sand and water from Panama’s rivers. This is note worthy to swimmers who might encounter the whirlpools they create as the rivers empty their content into the larger body of water.

From Playa Bonita you can see the bridge of the America’s and the hill the old Howard Air Force Base is on. The beach was a mix of sand and volcanic rock and was from a Florida transplant perspective, a bit trashy.

A four star resort area has been built on the road to Playa Bonita, InterContinental Playa Bonita Resort & Spa. About ten minutes from the actual area of Majagual, fourty Minutes from Panama City’s International Airport Tocumen. www.playabonitapanama.com

Panama’s Playa Veracruz – the local beach

Panama’s Play Veracruz is still a busy local beach. There are roughly twelve rancho style concessions along the beach where you can enjoy entire fried sea bass for three to five dollars and beers for sixty cents. Playa Veracruz flows all the way into the beach town of Veracruz.

Veracruz, Panama is located approximately twenty five minutes from Panama City and known for its various fish markets, it is a small fishing village that is made up mostly of lower socioeconomic class level.

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Veracruz, once was an attractive area in front of US Howard Airforce base. It’s city park once had a concrete concession stand complete with toilets facilities, swimming pools, and sheltered picnic tables. The abandoned structures are still standing in the park area. A small fee was paid to gain entrance to the park. But based upon recent reported incidents by local police Veracruz now rates as a high-crime area.

Veracruz, is nestled between the beautiful Pacific Ocean and the base of lush green mountains. The drive is about thirty minutes to downtown Panama, and only fifteen to twenty minutes to get to Balboa, Panama which has just about everything one could need or want for everyday living.

The former US Howard Airforce Base which is located just in front of the area of Veracruz, and former Rodman Naval Station recently received approved legislation to become a free trade zone for the Pacific making this another area to watch for growth explosion.

Playa Chumical

Veracruz, flows into Veracruz de Chumical. Chumical, has a sand and volcanic rock beach that is cleaner than Veracruz, the homes are larger and better maintained. In this town are fishermen and residents that work in the city. Chumical is the cleanest of the public access beaches since leaving Panama City.

Entrance to the beach can be gained by the various paths the allow access between the houses. There is nothing but open water and islands to be viewed from the coast in Chumical. There are no concessions or commerce on this stretch of beach.

The day I visited I found a delightful sight. Three children playing in a tide pool whiling away the hours in the Panama sun. They stopped long enough to allow me to take their pictures. Their presence definitely added to the beauty of the scenery.

Playita Vacamonte and Vacamonte Port (Vaco Monte)

Playita Vacamonte, Panama sits just outside the official entrance to the Vacamonte Port. It is the smallest of the public access beaches since leaving Panama City. Like Panama’s Playa Bonita, this area is a little rustic since it set road side and you have to descend a steep hill to reach the beach area. Parking is minimal but the view is breath taking. The waters here are clean and the Vacamonte Port area is well maintained free from the normal roadside debris.

The Vacamonte Port of Panama is an international port. You will need to show your passport to the guard and enter the area.

Vacamonte Port consists of a few small building and a port of industrial fishing. The port has two wharves and a pier. In the port are all manner of fishing boats whose main commodities are shrimp, shark, tuna, and various local fish. The fish are sold to the general public from 8:00 until 2:00. There’s a bank and a restaurant in the port. Shop early if you want small fish for your home, the small fish sell out early.

From Vacamonte International Port seafood is shipped all over the world.

Peurto Caimito

Peurto Caimito, Panama is home to Mariano Rivera, relief pitcher for the New York Yankees. Mariano has a large home just outside of Peurto Camito, and with residents like this it is hard to list Peurto Caimito among the forgotten beaches of Panama, but we can definitely call it off the beaten path. Puerto Caimito is situated at the mouth of the Caimito River, and is a commercial fishing town with a fish meal processing plant and is an old pirate village

Of all the places previously listed Peurto Caimito caught my attention and begged me to stay a while. It’s hard to say if it was the signs that hang from the homes along the beach front road that entice you with promises of fresh fish for sale. Or maybe it’s the thought of the fishing boat moored behind the house that go out on the rising tide, when the water has sufficiently covered the vast expanse of beach and brings the day’s catch to vendors living in the houses. I was also struck by it was the fishermen tending to net repairs and daily maintenance of their outboard fishing boat on the beach. And rusty vessels in the port and as well as the few rusted past use on the far end of town where the road ended at the ship yard. The child in me came out saw I watched a town’s child climbing in and out of the rushed out boat hull on the beach. I could have spent the day climbing, exploring, poking, and turning things over.

Peurto Caimito, residents are mostly descendants of the island peoples and a lower socioeconomic class level that live off the sea. They catch sardines or anchovies, they have no refrigeration, so the boats all smell and are sealed with a slime of fish oil.

There is a couple of large ranchitos on the beach with patios facing the beach, music blaring loudly. The beach was easily accessible and was mostly sand. We didn’t see anyone swimming or lounging, but was week day and from the positions of the ranchitos I would wager to say to some extent the weekends bring pleasure seekers to the area. The smell of wood cook stoves and signs selling carbon add to experience that was hard to leave behind as my day ended.

If leaving with locals and cheap land with ocean front property appeals to you, it will probably also appeal to you to know that El Chorrera is only fifteen minutes back up the road and has practically everything necessary for living a comfortable life in Puerto Caimita.

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]]> http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/panamas-pacific-coast-beach-guide-part-1/feed 0 Investor Interest Climbs on Teryl Resources’ Gold Hill News http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/investor-interest-climbs-on-teryl-resourcesa%c2%80%c2%99-gold-hill-news http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/investor-interest-climbs-on-teryl-resourcesa%c2%80%c2%99-gold-hill-news#comments Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:39:53 +0000 Climbing Blocks http://climbingblocks.com/investor-interest-climbs-on-teryl-resourcesa%c2%80%c2%99-gold-hill-news Teryl Resources Corp. (TRC.V: TSX) is a diversified explorer with interests in oil and gas as well as minerals. In a global mining bull market, companies, particularly on their lows, are often undervalued. The Teryl share price recently started acting like a seismograph in the first stages of registering a tremor on the TSX charts.

Teryl holds a wide range of properties and has major JV partnerships near major producing mines in Alaska, for example, but right now it’s the new property in Arizona that’s showing signs of changing the big picture in terms of assets and potential revenue. Teryl has seven patented claim blocks, totaling 248 acres, in the Warren Mining District, Cochise County, Arizona. The Gold Hill prospect includes the Old Gold Hill, Superior, and Baston mines. The company owns a 100% interest, subject to a 10% net profit interest for the vendors.

The Warren Mining District area was first opened up in the 1860s, and is Arizona’s iconic mining showpiece. The Phelps Dodge Corporation’s Lavender Pit mine, which is only a few miles from Teryl’s property, is one of the global all-time major copper producers, extracting 75 million tons of ore, which produced a billion dollars worth of copper, gold and silver in the process. The Bisbee area, where Teryl is drilling, has been in continuous commercial production for nearly a century.

Interestingly, the Lavender Pit has been reactivated for test drills following copper’s spectacular return to favor as a commodity. Teryl has apparently found the right commodity at the right time. Demand for copper is rising, with China’s insatiable production levels driving the trend and prices.

Teryl’s holdings contain a lot of old small scale works, including pits, cuts, placer digs, and small shafts. Work to date has identified strong indications of a gold/copper pattern of mineralization on the property.

Consensus of opinion at this stage is that the mineralization pattern is similar to proven deposits in Nevada’s Carlin Trend and Teryl’s neighbor Phelps Dodge’s Copper Queen deposit at Lavender Pit. The site is considered to have the potential to be a lode-type copper deposit. That fits with the pattern of mining in the area, where lode mineralization is well known.

(The phenomenon of similar regional deposits isn’t unusual in areas of high mineralization. Australia’s Broken Hill was producing new finds in the mid 20th century, long after the initial major discoveries in the 1880s and intensive searches.)

Teryl is backing that professional judgment, and on December 3 announced that it had begun drilling on three priority targets at the Bisso site on Gold Hill. The company is also in the process of acquiring a further 640 acres adjoining its Gold Hill interests. The expansion and consolidation of holdings is necessary to cover possible extensions of the deposits, and establish Teryl’s significant rights over the area.

The first natural issue for market consideration is financing. The company has a history of getting backing when it needs it. The TSX financing notices since 2002 read like a “How To Finance Your Operations Manual” for exploration miners. Teryl hasn’t had trouble finding backers for selective private placements. It says something for the credibility of the company that after a net loss of $465,000 for the year, the company made a placement for $407,000 in share warrants in August 2007.

More impressively, that private placement backing, which amounts to over CAD $4.3 million dollars in the last five years, is unswerving, despite the hard slog of exploration mining overheads. Teryl’s history indicates a pattern of holding assets, joint ventures, and carefully focused expenditure. Teryl’s CEO, John Robertson, has been running the company for 25 years, which explains the consistency of the company’s approach to business.

From the market’s perspective, the new finds, if realizing their early indications, constitute a potential significant positive change in net asset backing for Teryl’s shares. For the purposes of a formal valuation, Teryl is currently continuing its pattern of holding assets. The company has recently renewed its interest in its joint gold mining venture at Fish Creek until 2009, and retains its other Alaskan gold operations, indicating that the existing asset base is stable and functional.

There are strong potential upsides to the Gold Hill venture. The company has a lot of possible options for how it can develop the Gold Hill property into a revenue stream. Teryl’s joint venture approach, for example would be one possibility. Gold and copper are at historically good prices and commercial interest from the industry can be expected if the ore bodies live up to their promise.

This could be a seminal point in the company’s history. The potential for significant growth is clear. Teryl’s current moves are consistent with an expanding mode of operations. The company’s Gold Hill property will triple in size with the intended new acquisitions. That’s a fair testimony to the company’s degree of commitment in Gold Hill.

Teryl is also one of the main landowners in the Fairbanks Mining District, Alaska. The Gil project is a joint venture (80% Kinross/20% Teryl) with Kinross Gold Corporation (TSX: K; NYSE: KGC). Adjacent to the Gil Project are the Fish Creek Claims that are a JV with Linux Gold Corp. The company has a 100%-interest in the West Ridge property, also in Alaska. Teryl also has a 10% net profit interest from Kinross for the Stepovich Claims – next door to Fort Knox in Alaska – and a joint venture silver prospect located in Northern BC, Canada. Additionally, the company also earns revenues from oil and gas holdings in Texas and Kentucky.

This article is intended for information purposes only, and is not a recommendation to buy or sell the equities of any company mentioned herein. It is based on sources believed to be reliable, but no warranty as to accuracy is expressed or implied. The opinions expressed in the article are those of the author except where statements are attributed to individuals other than the author, in which case the opinions are those of the individual to whom they are attributed.

]]> http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/investor-interest-climbs-on-teryl-resourcesa%c2%80%c2%99-gold-hill-news/feed 0 How to Move Through Your Prospect’s Biggest Blocks http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/how-to-move-through-your-prospects-biggest-blocks http://climbingblocks.com/climbingblocks-articles/how-to-move-through-your-prospects-biggest-blocks#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:52:57 +0000 Climbing Blocks http://climbingblocks.com/how-to-move-through-your-prospects-biggest-blocks I’ve come to know that there are three big blocks that most often come up when anyone is looking at using a professional’s service or getting ready to buy a product.
1. Money.
2. Time.
3. Timing.
This is also with the understanding that everything else between the two of you is what I call an energetic match: They have a need and you can serve that need. They feel connected to you. You have established trust. And you both feel excited and the energy of possibilities is clearly in the air between you.
But then one of the major blocks pops up.
What now? How can you help?
Let’s start with first understanding the energy behind the blocks. By doing this you are able to come from a place of empathy, rather than sympathy. As a service provider it is a disaster move for you to join them in their block. That might sound something like, “I know exactly what you mean Ms. Prospect there are a lot of things that I really want, but can’t have either. I hate it, too.” This is a HUGE disservice to them and also to you (in more ways than we can fully get into in this one article).
So what you are really looking at here is fear (of the unknown, success, change, doing something positive for themselves… the fear takes different forms for different folks, but fear is fear.) Even if they really don’t have the money, have absolutely no time and are in some way not ready or able, they are making excuses to mask the fear.
People make excuses because they can’t see the difference between an outer reality and an inner belief regarding that reality. Most folks have a hard time separating the two and make them the same.
It might sound something like this:
I’m not ready now = I’ll never really be ready.
I don’t have the time now = I can’t see how to make the time.
I don’t have the money now = I don’t believe I can generate the money.
Back in the summer of 1999 I was studying in Ashland, Oregon and one weekend we found this beautiful lake to swim in and saw that across the lake people were cliff-jumping. Now, this is something I use to do a lot when I was in high school. So I swam across, climbed to the top, got to the edge and froze. I could not jump off that cliff. Every time I looked over the edge I thought, “this is a fifteen foot cliff; what if I miss and slam into the rocks, I could break my leg, I could die, I could…”
And then, as I stood there, this boy, maybe he was eleven, came up next to me and asked, “are you going to jump?” And I started to come up with all these excuses, but sighed and just told him I was really scared. And what he said to me I’ve never forgotten:”
It’s air and water. Just jump.”
As I watched him sail over the edge and then bob up to the surface just seconds later, amazingly to me, I jumped. It was exhilarating! (And, obviously, I survived.)
And this, my friend, is exactly how a prospect feels when considering working with you. They see a financial investment, an obligation of time and a challenge they’re preparing to face – a cliff to be jumped off.
So the automatic-human-fear-reaction is to make an excuse.
And, again, the worst move you can make is to join them. “Yes, this cliff is really high. You’re right; it’s impossible to jump. I understand how hard it is, so let me call you back in a few months and see if you’re ready to jump then.”
I can tell you, they will never be ready. (I know if that’s what I’d heard, I would still be standing on that cliff or worse I would have turned around and gone back the way I came.)
Again, assuming your offer is right for them and they will truly benefit from working with you, then you are NOT serving their best interests if you “just let it slide.”
And telling yourself that you are is your own excuse.
The energy of commitment is very strong. Let your prospect know that when you make a commitment the Universe begins to line up for you. Things may start slower than planned, but when you truly commit, it happens. Let them know that, together, you will take care of their concerns (money, time, doubts etc.).
My sense is when YOU commit then you’ll hear, “Let’s do it!”
Can I tell you it will ALWAYS go this way 100% of the time, no, but what I can tell you is that if YOU make the commitment to take a stand for the truth about the difference your service will make for your clients (and don’t back down when they give you excuses), you will have a client who puts themselves completely in your process and together you will produce magnificent results. And the world will be better off because of it.
So Go Ahead. Take A Stand. You Can Do It.
Your Call To Action:
When clients are afraid to move forward, they will make excuses that will keep them from going where they need to grow.
As a professional, you need to call forth the magnificence of your client to support them in activating the change they want, not join them in their fear.
Take a stand for them.
Take a stand for you.

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