Sun, Sea and Surf 🌊

We knocked on at a hostel on the hill out of town and by chance caught 'el jefe' on his way out, he agreed that we could crash on the drive for $5 a night. This included sunset views over the bay, swimming pool, toilet/shower and morning coffee. It didn't include friends! The young partying backpackers side eyed us for three days wondering what these two older weirdos were up to but too afraid to actually ask!

We spent three days there settling into Nica, its people, its way about life and the price of rice, and a necessary laundry run. By day we checked out the beaches north and south of town and found some pretty idyllic bays with surf shacks, little waves, shanty bars and the usual beach scallies.

First day we were overexcited and rented boards as soon as we saw waves but the aim here was buy myself a longboard. Most shops and beach rental were reluctant but heading to the beach one day I described the board I'd like if I could ever be possible, as this trip we would be following the Pacific coast and some of the best waves in the west. We pulled up to the beach and that exact board was there, love at first sight... a 9ft pin tail classic longboard with a few good dings and a relatively reasonable price. Sold! To a very happy man.

We spent the last night camped at the beach with the nicest and most gentle wave so we could be first in the water in the morning for a cruisey start to the day. It was a drizzly start but that kept the

others away and a welcome break in the weather as it had been stinking hot since we landed and we were on the verge of getting a little crispy. We had a lazy morning session more or less to ourselves and the turtles that were poking about. Pretty, empty, tropical waves and a new board that rode like a dream. It was a good morning.

Mission complete in the first town we headed back in land towards the lake, Lago Nicaragua. The biggest in the country, centered with a double volcano island, full of hiking and history, from carrib pirates to ancient indigenous settlements. We stopped by a mechanic as we had squeaks and creaks coming out of everywhere, Franky was far from a stealthy machine but nothing more than some grease and a look over.

Eddie the mechanic welcomed us, offered to take the van over the weekend to get us fixed up and that allowed us a few days to run to the island and get into some van-less mischief. He kindly dropped us at the ferry terminal and we waited on the boat, fingers crossed he was as nice a guy as he sounded. And off the the island we sailed...