Nicaragua Part 2 - Volcano Surfing the Earth Youngest Volcano, 6,000 Year old Footprints
Friday, 2 November 2012 9:41 pm
Friday 2nd November:
Erupting in a farmer’s corn field in 1850 and the black perfect cinder cone has been growing ever since.
In 1992 a 6,000 metre column of ash collapsed roofs in the nearby town of Leon, in 1995 lava spewed forth.
Negro is now at 726 metres and after a tough climb up, the boys headed down into the crater.
Stomping on the ground in the crater we could feel all around us shake.
Everything below us was hollow...better tread lightly !
Apart from the great view over the volcanic chain the main reason to come here is to volcano surf.
Want to know where to volcano surf, here is the address:
We hired broads. They come with knee and elbow pads, gloves and safety glasses, because surfing down the slope at up to 75Km/hr you can do some damage !
We are not phased...this has to be done
And what a ride, ash sprays up over you, the gravel chips the safety glasses.
Boots acting as a brake.
Lift the front up and faster you go. Great stuff.
If it was not for the 700 meter and 45 minute climb back up again we would do it again just for the 45 second ride down.
Lyn and Elizabeth then ‘skied’ down, maybe not in 45 seconds but it sure was quicker than walking the track
All of us feeling great, and living life.
There is a shower at the entry building and camping is available
The road in and out is extremely dusty with volcanic dust. Not sure how the locals work and live in this but I guess the rich agricultural soil may make up for it ???
I had a camp site downloaded from the internet that sounded idilic on the beach just 20kms west of Leon.
Well that plan was great until we got close, and now dark, found it was actually on an island that we could not get to.
Camp 263: Fishing Village Camp
Cost: Nil
N12* 23.027 W087* 02.785
Today : 127 Kms.
Trip Total: 93,507 Kms
Saturday 3rd November:
Back in Leon for an internet visit, and to check out some of the oldest churches in Central America.
Here the streets are paved not with gold but rubbish and pot holes !
We have all travelled over 10,000kms since our last oil change in Dallas and we have been looking for a while to find a place without any luck where we can do it ourselves.
In Leon on the bi-pass road we find a workshop that can do it for us.
We supplied the oil and filter they the labour - All done for C100 about US/A$ 4.16 each vehicle.
Far better than doing it yourself !
Camp wise we just keep landing on our feet.
Driving around the crater lake of Lago de Xiao outside Managua, an english voice calls out “Welcome to Paradise” That lead to our camp right on the water on a gated old road - perfect.
Camp 264: Lago de Xiao Camp
Cost: Nil
N12* 12.662 W086* 19.038
Today : 116 Kms.
Trip Total: 93,623 Kms
Sunday 4th November:
This morning we were joined by a couple of young boys who just wanted to help sweep the steps and clean up our rubbish. Well that meant picking up the plastic bag full and throwing it into the bushes. We explained in sign language that we would put it into the rubbish bin so they thankfully retrieved it.
Much of Central America is littered.
Many gullies on the road side have become major garbage pits, the ‘quiet’ ends of streets just a dumping ground.
Dogs, pigs and chickens scavenge through the piles.
There are the occasional sign but the message is not out there.
These human footprints together with those of a deer and racoon were found in 1874 when digging foundation for a building.
The area surrounding was a slum and some of the worst garbage we have seen.
Next stop the new town church. Built to withstand the earthquakes that occur regularly in this volcanic region.
Camp was more challenging to find as our directions were very vague. Eventually helped by a family that waved us down to chat. Our destination La Makina Reserve.
Camp 265: La Makina Waterfall Camp
Cost: C100/person (US/A$4)
N11* 44.451 W086* 19.0612
Today : 100 Kms.
Trip Total: 93,723 Kms