Nicaragua Part 1 - Canyons, Smoking Cigars and Smoking Volcanoes
Tuesday, 30 October 2012 11:47 am
Tuesday 30th October:
Into town to visit the ATM ( both US$ and Cordobas available), photocopies of more paperwork for the next border crossing, internet and a visit to the old town church.
South and then west to Somoto to check out a river canyon.
Found the track to the Canyon de Somoto and walked the river bed up as far as we could.
Would have been great if we have had our swimmers, we could have continued further into the very tight canyon. Near vertical walls prohibited us from continuing.
The CA1 - Central America H’way winds through now more interesting country to Esteli.
Camp is in a sports ?? complex with pool, cold showers and GRASS !
This gave me the chance to swap my tyres around and Bill and John some other general vehicle maintenance.
Camp 260: Club Campestre de Esteli
Cost: C230/vehicle (US/A$9)
N13* 08.913 W086* 22.074
Today : 130 Kms.
Trip Total: 93,021 Kms
Wednesday 31st October:
Finally at the small plant of American Caribbean Cigars the owner was very pleased to show us around the process.
He has 150 workers and they produce 10,000 cigars per day !
The workers are allowed to smoke cigars during the day if they wish.
A number of varieties and sizes are made depending on the clients requirements. Some two tones coloured using different leaves.
The varieties are all made, branded, packaged or boxed for his clients in the USA.
He does not sell locally although we were able to purchase a small unbranded selection at US/A$1.50 each
Off to the mountains and the very small village of La Garnache.
Coffee production and cheese, both goat and cow is the local fame.
The view is also great over the 12 volcanoes that line the Nicaraguan coast but the cloud cover was against us.
We settled for a great local lunch for the grand sum of US/A$4.28 each, including drinks!
Now to see those volcanoes closer.
Travelling like this you just never know what is around the corner.
Dusk is coming but we are now jammed in the midst of a slow moving political rally.
Thousands of people waving red and black flags.
Around the next bend the locals on farm trucks pass us each a sweet rock-melon during our passing manoeuvre.
This evenings camp spot proved difficult to find and we revert to staying in the Puma Fuel Station in Leon. Used by the transport trucks these are very safe with patrolling guards
A number of volcanoes are all around us, some actively smoking just on the outskirts of Leon.
Camp 261: Puma Fuel - Leon
Cost: C50/vehicle (US/A$2)
N12* 27.534 W086* 52.033
Today : 194 Kms.
Trip Total: 93,215 Kms
Thursday 1st November:
A Volcano exploring day.
There are 12 beautiful volcanoes in the chain along the edge of the Nicaraguan coast.
Some like Volcan San Cristobal at 1745m and still growing are very active.
Hurricane Mitch dumped so much rain that water filled the crater and then broke sending a 3 metre wall of water and volcanic mud down over three villages.
This is where the Cocos and Caribbean tectonic plates collide.
Volcan Momotombo rises majestically above Lago de Managua.
300 years ago Momotombo erupted and buried the lake port village of Leon Veijo. Rediscovered in 1967, now only a few bricks remain and for the high priced entry fee we gave it a miss.
Camp is just below the above volcano and on the lake shore. The road stops at the gate to the geothermal power plant and the guards were happy for us to camp beside the road and lake.
Camp 262: Lake Managua
Cost: Nil
N12* 12.639 W086* 35.017
Today : 165 Kms.
Trip Total: 93,380 Kms