A Home in the Hills, Head High Sets in the Sea

Two day recap Tuesday July 24, 2012 Yesterday I skipped the morning surf session, Mauricio who works with Jeff and Tony picked us up at 8:30am to take us to Rancho Santana to meet with their lawyer to sign power of attorney so they can get our electric hooked up and make additional decisions in our absence as well.  After the signing Mauricio took us to a home they are currently building and we finally got to meet Tony and see him in action with the couple who were building. After lunch, despite significant back pain I went surfing at Astillero and it was fun but very windy. Tony picked Emari and I up at 4:30 and we all walked the property together, decided on where we would build the house as well as other options. It went really well and we walked away with now building our home up, better views, better breeze and more secure. We also decided that we would take care of the electric, water and driveway outside of our proposed building budget. Tony said he would have drawings for us by Thursday or Friday.....looking forward to it. Wednesday July 25, 2012 Despite back pain an awesome day, morning session at Santana's, afternoon at Popoyo in which I ran into John Selya, a childhood friend I had not seen in 30 years. I knew he'd be down here but wasn't sure if we'd connect. We finished the day with a third session at Astillero in which I had a peak all to myself, chest high to bigger sets......I caught so many good waves. Topped the day with a lobster feast and as I get ready to sign off I'm also preparing myself to get an ass beating in Scrabble!!!!

First Year Anniversary...........4-6 ft. Nicaraguan Style

I probably need to back track to yesterday since I was so spent yesterday I did not write. It was our first day on the boat, three Texans.....Ross, Kevin and Will, plus our guide Chris and we spent the day at Lance's Left 6-8' plus on the faces really rip able and when you made all the sections a super long left. Five hours of that and I was shot. Rashes on my bruised ribs, rashes on my waist line.......just spent. I kept thinking since Saturday I surfed Popoyo, Santana's and Lance's.....tomorrow now today were sure to serve up some others. Today, July 23,2012, our first year  anniversary and I woke up kissed Emari good bye as I knew another day of 4-6 foot would make for a great anniversary. We were on the boat again and first spot was Chococente, a turtle breeding beach this time of year. We pulled up and from the back offshore spray and waves peeling. I was the first in the water, caught one bomb, no barrel but open face with some top turns in the pocket. Within ten minutes we heard whistles from the beach, three men, appeared military and we paddled back to the boat. We left some of the best surf I saw all year. We then headed to Playgrounds, which already had 5 boats anchored up. It was crowded but the surf looked good. Despite the crowd got some really good rights and lefts. After lunch session at Lance's. Five hours and my arms and shoulders were toast, lower back and right hip starting to seize up. Returned back to Popoyo Surf Lodge to see that my boards finally arrived after 4 days, at least undamaged and a voucher to have them flown home free of charge. I got showered and Emari gave me a beautiful card. I had left hers near her toothbrush. We then went for a walk down to the beach break and we eventually got rained on. Another amazing meal at the camp. During dinner and after we talked with all the new guys that checked into the camp. When we got back to the room Emari showed me the 100 page booked she made of our New Zealand trip, including our entire blog..........fucking awesome.......she is beyond amazing. One side note from yesterday. We met Jeff and he took us up to the property. It looked awesome cleared, so exciting.

I Can Ride an Epoxy After All

Picked up at the Best Western, Managua after a slamming free breakfast that was probably rolled into the cost of our room, but it felt wonderful thinking we were eating for nothing. Met Steve from Orlando FA. Who was also heading to Popoyo Surf Lodge. Their was also a group of brazilians that we acknowledged but did not really meet. Three Texans also accompanied us by the time we were picked up. Drive was uneventful and we arrived I'm thinking before 11am and everyone opted for the let's get out of here and surf. Saw JJ and Chris before we left and JJ lent me a 5'11" Santa Cruz Archie Model. A little thinner and narrower than what I am used to, plus it was epoxy. We arrived at Popoyo 5-8' on the faces and offshore. The paddle was a little rough, not in shape and smaller board, my lack of surf time back home did not help either. Timing was off and a couple late take offs, one that delivered me into the reef cutting my left foot, I was definitely out of sorts, out of shape, but eventually linked up a few waves. The shifting crowd did not help, but the surf was really fun. Back for lunch, chicken sandwich and fries, a hammock nap in the shade and a two hour session at Santana's, slightly smaller with full tide. Once in a while you got a good one but had to be choosy since many of the bigger sets were shutting down. Back at the camp, hot shower and shave and a great dinner of fresh fish, rice and mixed veggies. Ran into Craig Watson and got to chat with him for a bit. My boards never arrived and it looks the the swell is coming up, could be under gunned. Looks like a day on the boat tomorrow, could mean Playgrounds!!!!!!

Nicaragua 8.2

Bienvenidos a Nicaragua. Sin el equipaje de surf boards. AJ, "oh my god, how come that's in Spanish?" Emari, "because I wrote that." So here we are, almost a full 24 hours since we embarked on our trip, starting with the schlep to JFK, which I dozed through. When we arrived at the long term parking area, we easily made our way to the air rail and to our terminal. To our great surprise, though we were early, we were at the end of a huge line of families with overstuffed luggage carts with flat screen tvs, computers, toys, and suitcases busting with American goods. After an hour wait, we finally approached the check-in desk and were charged $125 for our surf bag that weighed less than every single suitcase surrounding us in line. Before we could proceed through security, we had to bring our bags to the screening area and pay for the shipping so that we could obtain AJ's final boarding pass. Another long wait later and we made our way to security. Just as we're about to go through AJ discovers that he has two boarding passes for the same flight. He was ready to rip someone's head off. And he had been so good! No cranky outbursts, no sarcastic rants that might get us hauled away by security, just a little touchy about his shirt, which was all sweaty in the back. When I leaned in for a hug, I thought he was going to hiss at me. So he proceeds to run back to the check-in area, and I hustle, but not too much, (I am tired and I don't really want to see how bad this might get). But he only cuts in front of 60 people to speak to "our" service representative. And though he looks really pissed, I don't think he's used any foul language because the lady is being really polite and helpful. In a minute we have his boarding pass and we get to go express through security. Finally, we're able to rest and it's time to board the plane for five hours of unrestful neck-snapping. We were served s scrumptious egg and potato breakfast with strawberry yogurt. I know, the vomit would have been amazing if we hit turbulence over Miami, where the captain said there was a thunderstorm. We landed in San Salvador and reboarded the same plane at the same gate for a forty minute flight to Managua. Long enough for the flight attendants to pass out candies and for us to eat them! In Managua, we cleared immigration easily and went to get our bags. The one duffel bag we checked popped up quickly, but the surfboards did not. AJ began to pace the carousel and scowled at the baggage carriers outside. Though a few more bags were coming up the belt, he was already shaking his head and making a mean face. I asked an attendant if there were any more bags and he directed me to the delayed baggage desk. To our great fortune, they already knew our bag wasn't there. What the hell? There was a customized printout waiting for us, indicating that the bag would be coming tomorrow. As if the number of tvs and duffel bags stuffed with pantyhose and GAP t-shirts made it impossible to fit a surfboard bag. AJ wanted to rip someone's head off again, but he didn't. I think the language barrier mellowed him out some. As we filled out the form, we realized we didn't have a number for the surf camp and had to put down the only local phone number we knew, the guy who is the property manager for our unbuilt house. We left the airport and walked across the street to Best Western Managua, Las Mercedes. Mario checked us in early and we spent the next two hours trying to find a number for the surf camp. Tonight, everything is resolved, as long as the boards show up. We'll be on our way to the camp at 7 and AJ will be in the water around noon, even if it's on a borrowed board. Other highlights: super cute tiny cat roaming the hotel restaurant and another big Scrabble win for Emari, who feels so fortunate that AJ continues to play! Buenos Noche!