Volcano Violence

Vic and I went tobogganing in Leon, Nicaragua. Basically, you hike up an active volcano, put on an orange boiler suit, sit down on a makeshift toboggan, and let her rip. I hit 62km/h, the fastest in our group by 20km/h but still 25km/h short of the record. Then I wiped out…and it hurt. And the board broke in two. But it was fun, and well worth it.

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Central American Blur

I’m tired, so a bit short on words. Arrived in Leon, Nicaragua today, after blowing through El Salvador and Honduras in three days of rain, border delays, coffin shops (no, not coffee) mountain roads, hail storms and hotels chosen out of exhaustion and need rather than preference. We slept beside the Pacific, and that means I’ve crossed the continent, sort of, which was a cool realization. Central American borders are nuts and the relentlessly ” helpful” “border agents” drove me to words not suitable for children. Saw a dead body on the road in Honduras, but it was no one I knew. Got pulled over by cops for passing on the shoulder, but my dumb white-guy routine worked. Smell of boots and riding gear suggests there may be a dead rat hidden in them, will inspect. But all is well, we’re making miles, having fun. Plan to spend some time here and in Granada. I want to climb a volcanoe with real lava, so I will, on Sunday. Ate an awesome hamburger for dinner today, and that was all I needed. For now.

Here are a few pix, I’ll write more in a day or so.

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Leon Lady

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Leon Lady #2

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Leon Lady #3

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My plan for saving on hotel costs isn’t working out well…

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lLeon

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More Leon Ladies

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Smoking volcanoes all around…this is just after crossing the border into Nicaragua

20120831-205602.jpgFirst glimpse of the Pacific Ocean, El Salvador

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Breakfast stop in Honduras, just before crossing the border into Nicaragua

20120831-205617.jpgBike is still upgright…

20120831-210553.jpgEEl Hato, Guatemala