4-4-10 Easter Sunday
We have met a videographer who likes bike touring and lived in Wilmington for a while. Also a still photo guy who I had met before. Both are down here just shooting some pros in hopes they get some good shots. I have learned some tips off these nice guys and see the results already in my photos. I have fun shooting pics just to see what I can get.
The surf yesterday afternoon was very fun even though the wind had it choppy. Some bigger waves as well as smaller ones with some definite punch. Mainly long lefts coming through. Just watching the level of surfing we are witnessing is amazing with all the airs, tube riding, lip hacks, fins free turns, and etc. Dillon and I had come in just before dark and we were just standing there on the beach watching the ‘surf show’ when one of the guys does this giant air and lands it!!! Dillon said he could have been standing there under the guy as he flew through the air he went so high. When the surfer came in he said that was the highest air he had ever completed!! The level of surfing these guys are doing is inspiring, even for me. It makes me want to do a turn a little harder than I usually do. I think for Dillon especially Jack it is a trip they will never forget just meeting and hanging out with these amazing water artists.
This morning we were greeted with probably our best waves of the trip. The sun was coming up behind a cloud covered sky which usually means less wind which converts to better surf. We all surfed until we could not move our arms any more we were so tired. All this by 10:30 in the morning. Once again we rode and saw some incredible waves ridden. The locals sometimes call this morning crowded with maybe 20 people scattered out down the beach. At home there would have been hundreds of bodies “littering the lineup”. Maybe we should come back on a future trip for some more uncrowded waves. At least I will have something to think about on the way home tomorrow.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
4-2-10
4-1-10
Our german friends took off. So it goes with friendships on a trip. Everyone on their agendas. If we go to southern Germany we have a place to stay! Jonathan buckled his board yesterday morning and had it fixed by Felipe the ding repair guy by the afternoon for 20 dollars. This job would have been 75 dollars and a week at home! Go figure! But this am on about his last wave broke it in two pieces to finish it off for good. Jonathan said that was the 6th time that board had had a serious patch job. A good board laid to rest unless Felipe puts it back together again, as it is his now.
Whenever you see one knob in a shower (and I am not talking about that kind you pull or push up then turn left or right for hot and cold water) you know it is not the hot water but rather the cold water knob! Well that is the case in this place. But this shower is different. One does not have to take a deep breath when you first get in. In fact every shower I have taken by the time I get through I have forgotten that it is a cold shower! A very nice plus at shower time. Jonathan and I have discussed this and the water must be naturally warmed by the intense heat of the day. There is a big barrel way up high generating the water pressure that catches the sun’s rays during the day. Thus a nice shower with plenty of pressure and a pleasant temperature!! I love it!!
The AC is another dilemma. We are all in the same room. Everyone wants the thing set at a different temp. The controls are in celsius so no one knows exactly what it should be. Cold during the afternoon when the sun is blasting the porch is nice but going to bed the place is cold. Then about 4am every morning Jonathan who does not have a fan starts complaining it is hot and Dillon/Jack are saying it is too cold, and I am the one who has the AC control. Dillon has the ceiling fan controls by his bed. Anyway something gets changed and we all go back to sleep for another hour when we are all getting back up to check the surf because we are scared we will miss some good waves. That last hour is sweet sleeping though!!
Surf today was bigger not not necessarily better. Sometimes when the swell is on the way up it lacks shape so we will see what tomorrow brings. The air show by the pros in the water was rather cool to watch this afternoon. I hope the AM brings some perfect waves. When down here the level of expectation rises to the top!!
Our german friends took off. So it goes with friendships on a trip. Everyone on their agendas. If we go to southern Germany we have a place to stay! Jonathan buckled his board yesterday morning and had it fixed by Felipe the ding repair guy by the afternoon for 20 dollars. This job would have been 75 dollars and a week at home! Go figure! But this am on about his last wave broke it in two pieces to finish it off for good. Jonathan said that was the 6th time that board had had a serious patch job. A good board laid to rest unless Felipe puts it back together again, as it is his now.
Whenever you see one knob in a shower (and I am not talking about that kind you pull or push up then turn left or right for hot and cold water) you know it is not the hot water but rather the cold water knob! Well that is the case in this place. But this shower is different. One does not have to take a deep breath when you first get in. In fact every shower I have taken by the time I get through I have forgotten that it is a cold shower! A very nice plus at shower time. Jonathan and I have discussed this and the water must be naturally warmed by the intense heat of the day. There is a big barrel way up high generating the water pressure that catches the sun’s rays during the day. Thus a nice shower with plenty of pressure and a pleasant temperature!! I love it!!
The AC is another dilemma. We are all in the same room. Everyone wants the thing set at a different temp. The controls are in celsius so no one knows exactly what it should be. Cold during the afternoon when the sun is blasting the porch is nice but going to bed the place is cold. Then about 4am every morning Jonathan who does not have a fan starts complaining it is hot and Dillon/Jack are saying it is too cold, and I am the one who has the AC control. Dillon has the ceiling fan controls by his bed. Anyway something gets changed and we all go back to sleep for another hour when we are all getting back up to check the surf because we are scared we will miss some good waves. That last hour is sweet sleeping though!!
Surf today was bigger not not necessarily better. Sometimes when the swell is on the way up it lacks shape so we will see what tomorrow brings. The air show by the pros in the water was rather cool to watch this afternoon. I hope the AM brings some perfect waves. When down here the level of expectation rises to the top!!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
3-31-10
3-31-10A little recap from the last few days. Surf has had a bad combination of tide in the morning when the wind is more favorable. The place needs a higher tide to break right. Now low tide is about 10 am and moving 1 hour later everyday so our window for better surf is looking up. Also another swell is suppose to arrive tomorrow. We are keeping our fingers crossed. This am had some fun smaller surf and maybe the best so far.
Yesterday we put the car to use and drove to Leon and wandered around downtown. Saw the largest Cathedral in all of central America and as always in front of the church is the town square with all the vendors selling their wares. The central market was also nearby so a stroll was in order through that maze of fruit,veggies,meat,fish,clothes, and you name it. The sidewalks are also crowded with just about everything for sale you can think of. I think Jack was amazed at all the sights. Dillon too! This is an everyday happening that should not be missed by anyone traveling to countries outside the good ole USA. “Central” as downtown is referred to in lots of other countries varies from place to place but is always worth a visit. This time we were not hassled ‘to buy” by anyone, a nice change from some of the more touristy cities. I am sure we stood out like sore thumbs because of oour skin color. We saw very few white people until we went for lunch at the ‘big foot’ hostel where we had a very nice lunch in their vegetarian restaurant. Excellent salads with sandwiches and smoothies. Somehow we were even able to find ‘central’ and our way back out of town in the maze of one way ,narrow, and dead end streets. We were told to get to the edge of town and hire a taxi for us to follow so we could find the place. The challenge and luck played out in our favor!! haha !! I only tried to go down two streets the wrong way!! On the highway to and from our place we pass a volcano that has smoke coming out of the top of it. It is really pretty cool to see.
The day before we went to the next beach to the north just poking around. This whole country is about ready for a huge influx of locals to hit the beach this weekend. We saw temporary restaurants, concert/dance venues, and campsites being set up in fields. Busses are also crowded going to the beaches. Some of them so crowded they had people sitting on the roof with all their stuff and hanging out the back doors. Our spot should not see (I hope) the massive amounts of humanity that will be descending. This place is in front of a good surf spot which does not mean it is near a town. We will wait and see.
The day before Dillon wanted some more stick shift lessons so we went exploring to the “Marina”. Cool place back in the mangroves, with enough room for 20 or so good size cruising yachts but mostly vacant. Beautiful hotel, restaurant, and grounds. Maybe Easter weekend will fill the place up. Always a smile or a wave in return of the same when greeting someone. Dinner of spaghetti with chicken and a bottle of red wine. Jack beat us all to bed as he was out by 8pm!! He went hard all day as I figured he would. But what else should he do?
Our hosts here at Hotel Chancletas are a couple from Miami with their 3 little girls the oldest being seven years old. Shea bought the land 7 years ago and built what is here since then. He found the place while on a surf trip. The land was an old cotton plantation. We are very comfortable here. Two surf guys we have made friends with which are staying in the room next door are from Germany. One is a teacher , the other works for a company that makes currency for different nations. Both are about 35 years old. They have traveled to surf for the last 10 years or so. Being from Germany they have to travel for waves. Both are snowboarders. I have seen this crossover of sports through meeting other traveling surfers in the past.
We had a flat on the rental car. Picked up a small nail. Had it fixed at the “tire shop” down the street. Pics attached.
More later,
jim
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
3-27-10
The photo above is sunrise just outside our room. Just the Nica's burning the fields!
Up at the crack as I have always described getting up early. The coffee was already made in the restaurant just 30-40 steps away for our room. Yes that small luxury is sure nice!! Surfed from 6:30 till 10 when the on-shores came and blew out the cracking beach-break. We have been taking some surf photos. Walking around outside during the middle of the day one feels like being a chicken on a rotisserie grill it is so hot. There is not much humidity just dry heat. This is the dry season and most “greenery” is brown and much of it burnt as they burn it due to lack of lawn mowers I guess. A lawn mower down here is a machete by the way, everyone carries one. Even bicycles have sheaths for them. Good for most anything tool and cheap!
Took a drive this afternoon just exploring the area. We did have our boards just in case! The drive was a view of what it is really like down here away from “civilization”. We ended up in some very off the beaten path areas. “Where ever you go there you are” is the cover on a Mexico travel book I have. That was never more apparent than this afternoon. Just looking around made you realize that having an indoor toilet, a floor that was not dirt, a roof that was not palm fronds, a kitchen that was inside and air conditioned at that, running water and not a well to haul your only water by the bucket full, a shower that was not at the well with the bucket, did I mention electricity!! , maybe a car, which we saw very few of, all of these places with people in the yards had a smile and a wave if offered the same, as we drove by slowly. The road was so bad one could not drive fast. Just idling in 2nd gear was about the right speed. I hope Jack and Dillon really remembered what they witnessed as everyday life down here. The scenes were normal for down here but unheard of for the most part in the good ole USA. The next time you complain about the modern conveniences we are use to having but not functioning just think of everyday life down here. It will make you feel very lucky!!!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Nicaragua 1st entry
3-26-10
First I will play like I am on twitter!! drive to rdu smooth -board checkin smooth until they pulled out out of the security line because we had more than one board per bag !! I thought we had made it !! but no way!! - flight to miami quick! - 45 min late leaving Mia but in rental car by 2:30 pm and on the road. 30 minute drive through Managua to get to the outskirts of town for our hwy “La Nueva Carretera Norte” where we quickly found a “Tip Top” and pulled in. This is the Nica version of Chick Filet except complete with parking lot attendant that happily watches your car and a rent a cop that opens the door for you to enter. Now being gringos we bellied up to place our order only to find out it is sit down service complete with a waitress!! All the above received a “propina” (tip) BTY. Just the regular chicken, fries,and a drink but it hit the spot and we were on the road again. Very interesting driving down here. To begin with the scenery is totally different than going south to the other place we had been before. A good road and not too much traffic but for the traffic that was there it consisted of everything you could think of including: big ass trucks and small ones, lots of bicycles, fast cars, slow cars, horse drawn carts, pedestrians , and the occasional loose horse or cow!! A fair number of cops. I like seeing these guys as it makes me feel safe as long as they do not stop me!! No we did not need to “offer cash “ to any of them like we did going south. I think the only reason we got stopped going south is because we had surfboards on the car. Maybe that means not many surfers go north! Stopped at a good grocery store again complete with armed personal in the parking lot (this is normal for countries like this BTY) and is expected. Stocked up on snacks, fruit, water, and peanut butter and jelly. We do not have a fridg! Made it to La Chancletas by dark and the cold beer tasted great. Dinner of stir fry chicken wasn’t bad either. The room has two queen beds and a single, AC, a nice bath, and very clean..We put Dillon and Jack in a queen together so we could sleep. Bed was even better by 9pm. It gets dark about 6:30.
Had coffee at 5:30am. We had arranged for a boat to pick us up at 6:30 am to carry us about 5-10 minutes offshore to a fun left point break while the tide was low. We surfed for 15 minutes before the boat (panga) arrived at the beach break just outside the peak. We just paddled out and climbed on board. Now the gas tank on this fine craft was a gallon plastic jug sitting on the back seat with a hose stuck in the top wedged tight with some rubber!! We felt like we had a good captain ! USCG approved I doubt it!! He surfed with us , he had (not with us bty) a 1.5 year old girl and a 4 year old boy. A fisherman when he has no surf charters. He knew how to make a buck. It was a good call to skip the beach at low tide. Surfed the point head high for an hour and a half then got dropped off at the beach break which is right out front of our place. The waves had improved and we found out why they call this beach break “BOOMS” !! Only about 10 of us surfing along this section of beach too! Brunch was good at the little Palapa restaurant here at Chancletas. Pronounced chan-klet-aas. Hotter than hell at the moment 2pm. Dillon and Jack just went swimming. Last time we were here down south we needed wetsuits. This am Dillon described the initial plunge into the waves as “there wasn’t even a slight chill, just warm” . Maybe a nap is in order? Thanks for reading! Jim, Jonathan, Dillon , and Jack
First I will play like I am on twitter!! drive to rdu smooth -board checkin smooth until they pulled out out of the security line because we had more than one board per bag !! I thought we had made it !! but no way!! - flight to miami quick! - 45 min late leaving Mia but in rental car by 2:30 pm and on the road. 30 minute drive through Managua to get to the outskirts of town for our hwy “La Nueva Carretera Norte” where we quickly found a “Tip Top” and pulled in. This is the Nica version of Chick Filet except complete with parking lot attendant that happily watches your car and a rent a cop that opens the door for you to enter. Now being gringos we bellied up to place our order only to find out it is sit down service complete with a waitress!! All the above received a “propina” (tip) BTY. Just the regular chicken, fries,and a drink but it hit the spot and we were on the road again. Very interesting driving down here. To begin with the scenery is totally different than going south to the other place we had been before. A good road and not too much traffic but for the traffic that was there it consisted of everything you could think of including: big ass trucks and small ones, lots of bicycles, fast cars, slow cars, horse drawn carts, pedestrians , and the occasional loose horse or cow!! A fair number of cops. I like seeing these guys as it makes me feel safe as long as they do not stop me!! No we did not need to “offer cash “ to any of them like we did going south. I think the only reason we got stopped going south is because we had surfboards on the car. Maybe that means not many surfers go north! Stopped at a good grocery store again complete with armed personal in the parking lot (this is normal for countries like this BTY) and is expected. Stocked up on snacks, fruit, water, and peanut butter and jelly. We do not have a fridg! Made it to La Chancletas by dark and the cold beer tasted great. Dinner of stir fry chicken wasn’t bad either. The room has two queen beds and a single, AC, a nice bath, and very clean..We put Dillon and Jack in a queen together so we could sleep. Bed was even better by 9pm. It gets dark about 6:30.
Had coffee at 5:30am. We had arranged for a boat to pick us up at 6:30 am to carry us about 5-10 minutes offshore to a fun left point break while the tide was low. We surfed for 15 minutes before the boat (panga) arrived at the beach break just outside the peak. We just paddled out and climbed on board. Now the gas tank on this fine craft was a gallon plastic jug sitting on the back seat with a hose stuck in the top wedged tight with some rubber!! We felt like we had a good captain ! USCG approved I doubt it!! He surfed with us , he had (not with us bty) a 1.5 year old girl and a 4 year old boy. A fisherman when he has no surf charters. He knew how to make a buck. It was a good call to skip the beach at low tide. Surfed the point head high for an hour and a half then got dropped off at the beach break which is right out front of our place. The waves had improved and we found out why they call this beach break “BOOMS” !! Only about 10 of us surfing along this section of beach too! Brunch was good at the little Palapa restaurant here at Chancletas. Pronounced chan-klet-aas. Hotter than hell at the moment 2pm. Dillon and Jack just went swimming. Last time we were here down south we needed wetsuits. This am Dillon described the initial plunge into the waves as “there wasn’t even a slight chill, just warm” . Maybe a nap is in order? Thanks for reading! Jim, Jonathan, Dillon , and Jack
Saturday, July 5, 2008
The Last day
I am sorry to report that this trip has just made me want to surf more!! It has done nothing to quench my thirst for waves. Yes I did have a number of good surf sessions but not enough. This is just the truth and nothing else. You are getting my opinion because I am the only one who will post to this blog so far! Yesterday Jonathan and I surfed Uluwatu 3 times on all tides and it never really started working like we had seen it. Dillon went to Blangan and found some longer lefts with some of the High School surf team staying here. This afternoon we had a fun session in shoulder to head high waves until dark. Then a major low tide reef walk which made you glad you had your reef booties on. Jonathan did not wear his and had a 15 minute paddle to a sandy get out spot so to avoid the reef dance.
Mary Anne and I went to town this morning for some shopping and just general dealing with the masses. Walking down the street the vendors spot us like we stick out and I am sure we do. The common phrases heard are: where you from, I give you cheep price, do you want ……, how much you pay? (After asking how much), transport (taxi), hey boss, what is your name? , are you on your honeymoon?, let me show you ….., and there are plenty of others. One just has to keep walking and say no thank you or you are sucked into their shop to have a look at their goods. They are more persistent than tele marketers. Any way we found our own little goodies and had fun for a few hours. The prices are just plain dirt cheap. It is amazing how they can stay alive when you compare it to what we pay in the US. One thing I will say is the service received is the best I have seen anywhere in the world as far as my travels go. An example was this one guy talked us into his custom made leather clothing store. All the product was very nice looking with great feeling soft leather in many colors. This was about 10 am and he would make anything you wanted and deliver it to your hotel later that evening. At prices that would blow your mind also. We are not into leather, but this is the kind of service, competition, sincerity, or just the normal way of doing things here. I dinged my board coming in on a rock and it was fixed in 1 hour while I had a cup of coffee. The guys sit and watch for dings on your board while you get out of the water. At least three people wanted the business too. All the people (Indo and travelers) we have come in contact with have been some of the nicest people I have ever met. I am not kidding! I do not feel as though anyone has tried to take advantage of us either. Yes they are trying to make a living but in a good way. I did see a guy with a bathtub on his bicycle today!! Where there is a will there is a way!
As I write this we are all packed up ready for a trip to the airport July 4th at 7 in the morning and everyone else is sleeping. The trip home will be long but doable. We should see the sunset and a sunrise on the leg from Singapore to LA. All the while loosing 9 hours on that flight segment. Arriving in ILM 9am July 5th.
Thanks for reading I have enjoyed doing the posts. If the picture loading was not so slow I would have inserted more. With digital pictures I took plenty! The sights are numerous. Good night, jim
Mary Anne and I went to town this morning for some shopping and just general dealing with the masses. Walking down the street the vendors spot us like we stick out and I am sure we do. The common phrases heard are: where you from, I give you cheep price, do you want ……, how much you pay? (After asking how much), transport (taxi), hey boss, what is your name? , are you on your honeymoon?, let me show you ….., and there are plenty of others. One just has to keep walking and say no thank you or you are sucked into their shop to have a look at their goods. They are more persistent than tele marketers. Any way we found our own little goodies and had fun for a few hours. The prices are just plain dirt cheap. It is amazing how they can stay alive when you compare it to what we pay in the US. One thing I will say is the service received is the best I have seen anywhere in the world as far as my travels go. An example was this one guy talked us into his custom made leather clothing store. All the product was very nice looking with great feeling soft leather in many colors. This was about 10 am and he would make anything you wanted and deliver it to your hotel later that evening. At prices that would blow your mind also. We are not into leather, but this is the kind of service, competition, sincerity, or just the normal way of doing things here. I dinged my board coming in on a rock and it was fixed in 1 hour while I had a cup of coffee. The guys sit and watch for dings on your board while you get out of the water. At least three people wanted the business too. All the people (Indo and travelers) we have come in contact with have been some of the nicest people I have ever met. I am not kidding! I do not feel as though anyone has tried to take advantage of us either. Yes they are trying to make a living but in a good way. I did see a guy with a bathtub on his bicycle today!! Where there is a will there is a way!
As I write this we are all packed up ready for a trip to the airport July 4th at 7 in the morning and everyone else is sleeping. The trip home will be long but doable. We should see the sunset and a sunrise on the leg from Singapore to LA. All the while loosing 9 hours on that flight segment. Arriving in ILM 9am July 5th.
Thanks for reading I have enjoyed doing the posts. If the picture loading was not so slow I would have inserted more. With digital pictures I took plenty! The sights are numerous. Good night, jim
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