CATCHING UP

DAY-67

1/10/2012



Look for tire day!!

Woke up ran around town found one of the only motoshops I could find. They had oil, tube, and a rear tire my size. After a little Bargaining I left paying less than 80 bucks for everything... not bad considering where I am... Although I think I will wait as long as I can to put on the new back tire, I bought it more as a backup/ just in case tire. It is a CST 70% road I’d say. I will make it to San Jose, Costa Rica and try and replace both my tires there before heading down to Panama and crossing over to Columbia with Clay from Canada by the end of the month. I had a pretty low key rest of the day started to do some research on how I am going to get from Argentina to South Africa. Talk to my buddy Ben who lives down in Playa Gigante and got directions to his house/ surf lodge. I got caught up on a little Skype action, nice dinner, and went to bed.



DAY-68

1/11/2012

Ran around town looking for a map of Nicaragua, no luck oh well at least I am getting to be a pro at getting lost. Haha… I got my bike out of the owner of the hostels house and loaded her back up, threw the tire on the back and headed off. Made it out of town without getting lost once... I rallied through Nicaragua, didn’t follow my friends directions too much took a short cut and it worked out for me. I followed his directions wants I got off the Pan-American and got into the good old dirt. I had a blast riding today just laughing and giving her throttle. I was almost to my buddies house when I cam e up on a small river crossing he forgot to tell me about. I didn’t know how did it was, I waited till I saw a suv cross it, looked to be about knee deep. I took it easy through the crossing and then fish tailed up the muddy hill on the other side. I drove right past my friends lodge and then after asking some locals I pulled up to his gate. He let me in with a smile, hug, beer, and 5 minutes to get my board shorts on pick a surfboard and get on the boat. PERFECT!!

We ripped up the coast looking for some waves, after 15 minutes we were in the water surfing a fun little break. We surfed for 3hrs or so and then headed back to the boat. I got settled into my room shown around the lodge and town. Went to his restaurant for dinner and a few drinks. Had a pretty mellow day, this place is amazing I will stick around here for a week.



DAY 69-71

1/12-14/2012

We grabbed our boards and walked down the beach over some rocks around the cliffs and jumped off a small cliff into the ocean and went surfing for 3+hrs. I traded with a guy Gavin and used his long board which was a blast due to the size of the waves. I have been going surfing and hanging out with a guy JJ one of Bens and Becca’s good friends. We did an hour hike each way through the dang ol jungle to go surf. Got home ate lunch took a nap and hiked back out toward the same spot but then went into a different town for dinner. We crossed a gnarly swing bridge in the dark that had a lot of missing planks.

I have had an awesome time catching up with Ben I haven’t seen or hung out with him in almost 4 years.

The town is really really awesome a small fishing town which is about to blow up as a huge surfing destination.

Ben let me grab his Capitan, gas, and a few new friends and go fishing, his boat needed to be run. There were 8 people, 6 guys and two girls. The boat was divided myself and three Canadian guys fishing in the back and the rest in the front either hangover, sick, or seasick. One girl wasn’t ready for what fishing entailed. Right as we caught our first tuna, I leaned down and gaffed it out of the water she started to cry… Understandable due to how the first fish went down. We caught the fish pulled it in; when I gaffed it, it started to bleed. Walter the captain grabbed it and washed it off tossed it into the boat. Well it was still alive and started to flap around thus spray blood all over everything haha... The 4 in the front was not impressed. Haha we got it down pat for the rest of the fish we caught a total of 5 nice size tunas and kept them to eat. We were mainly using a hand line which is a blast to fight a fish on, much more entertaining than just a rod. We got back to land I kept one for myself, one was a tip for Walter the captain, and the rest was taking to a restaurant for dinner. We met back up and went and ate fish tacos for dinner. Was pretty good, kind of expensive since we caught the fish. Very nice group of people mainly from Canada.

WWW.WHERESFLETCH.COM

EL TUNCO, EL SALVADOR TO LEON, NICARAGUA

DUTCH MEATBALL DINNER

SAN SALVADOR, VIEW FROM LUNCH

PLAYA EL TUNCO, EL SALVADOR

PAPA IN EL SALVADOR

WALKING HOME FROM SURFING

DUTCH COUPLE TRAVELING FROM MEXICO TO PANAMA ON SCOOTERS WITH SURFBOARDS!!!

ANOTHER KLR ADVENTURE RIDER FROM PANAMA

MURAL FINISHING IN LEON, NICARAGUA

EL SALVADOR TO NICARAGUA!!!!

DAY-66

1/9/2012

            Alright I am going to be completely honest; I woke up with morning a little nervous about crossing through Honduras. I had been told as well as read a lot of forums about people having a lot of trouble with the police in Honduras and I just don’t like border crossings-period… Up till this point I had been lucky, no problems with the cops, Border Officers, or bad encounters at all, so I had a feeling it was my turn soon. I toward the El Salvador/ Honduras border and was stopped at a police check point. Before I could say anything he saw my maps on my tank bag and asked if I was going to Nicaragua. I said yes and he waved me back onto the road and on my way.

            I rode into the border and people started coming out trying to get me to stop so that I would let them help me and pay them for helping me. I just kept driving, one guy walked out and tried to stop me and I just drove through till a cop made me stop. Woops I needed to stop there and talk to the guy who tried to stop me. I gave him my permits and made a quick photocopy and was on my way. As I pulled into the next building I was asked again to let someone help me, No Gracias and made my way to the Immigration office to get stamped out of El Salvador. I made it to the next check point where the guy asked for my title, passport, license, and permits. He had all of my important stuff and told me to follow him, (of course I am going to follow you, you have my life in your hands) haha. I parked my bike near another KLR from Panama and walked into the office. Again I was followed by the same guy trying to help me finally I figured out the key word NO DINARO, he looked at me said you have no money… and walked away..Haha I sat there for awhile and she typed up a permit for me, I had to walk to the bank and pay 35 bucks for the permit just to ride through Honduras a 60mile stretch until I got into Nicaragua. I made a bunch more copies and then she handed me my permit. I met the guy on the other KLR and he warned to watch my speed through Honduras, don’t break 90kmh police are a problem he told me. I grabbed a Pepsi from a nice older lady 60ish who when I maid she reached up and pinched my nipple… ugh what just happened? haha… I got back to the office asked if I was finished and could head to Nicaragua? She said yes all done.

 I jumped on my bike and made my way through Honduras. I came upon my first Police stop, “oh man oh man” I smiled at the guy as he waved me through and then he gave me the thumbs up and smiled and went back to work. I passed a truck full of cops and nothing. I came to another checkpoint and they just waved me through with a quick nod, I gave them the thumbs up and headed toward the border. The road was horrible zigzagging all though pothole hell until I reached the border. Another check point at the border, they wanted my License and were not taking my copies or Permit, finally he told me he wasn’t cop he was official who need to see a valid license to let me into the Border. I made my way to the border, very excited I made it without a problem... “Yeah I am getting good at this watch out world I have this down pat…” (Yeah right..) I strutted up to the window to get checked out of Honduras.. "Sir where is your entry stamp?” “My what” I was told and read that El Salvador and Honduras doesn’t stamp. He got me to walk into the office and sit in the back room. An officer came in holding a stamp and sat down. We talked for a sec and he told me I should have a stamp and I would not be allowed to enter Nicaragua or leave Honduras. He started to BS me around finally I knew what he was after, I looked at him and asked how much for the stamp. He smiled said yes yes and got up got a piece a paper and wrote $50 bucks! WHAT!!! After a little back and forth, he also handed back a little bit of money after I explained I didn’t have enough now for Nicaragua permit. I ended up paying $30 for that damn stamp.. haha oh well it was bound to happen sometime, just didn’t think it would be from a border official. (I am getting really good at laughing and letting things go..and of course still getting lost.. haha). He stapled the money to a piece of paper and stuffed it in the middle of a stack of paper. Although he did get a lady to skip me sit me in the office and cancel my permit and make me legal to go to Nicaragua. I headed across the border after a little running around and sweating a lot I was allowed to enter Nicaragua.

I made it about a 1km until I was stopped by three police officers and asked for my license, I gave them my AAA International driving license. They were all around my bike I was trying to watch all of them my helmet was still off when another guy started to ask me stupid questions about the bike. The officer with the permit started to hand back the license, and then another cop started to walk up, yup time to go! I snatched my license said gracias and gave her gas for about 400meters put my helmet back on and gear, headed down the road. Not even 1km further and another checkpoint!!! Their shirts said Immigration but there truck had a rubbed off immigration sticker on the back but kind of a legit one on the door. They asked for my passport..(You Serious, we’re not even 2km from the border where I just had to show my passport to get onto this road) Fine, here it is he looked at it for a second said thanks and sent me on my way. The road went from very smooth and nice to pothole hell again. I Came into a town and found an atm and gas. Saw my new friend from Panama again and he wanted a picture of us, I took one as well. I got back on the road after gas and headed for Leon, I was making good time flying down the road. I came upon three other bikes with younger kids on them. They honked and yelled smiling at me as I passed them. They chased after me and we were flying down the road, out of nowhere there was a cop standing on the road she started to walk out toward our lane blowing her whistle. I started to hit the brakes then remember when I got pulled over before they had no radios and there was no car around her, yeah right slammed the gas and blasted out of there same with the kids. I continued on my way, caught up with the Panama guy he was riding slow, probably smart so we rode for a while until he headed toward the capital and I went for the coast. I made it through Leon without getting too lost and the first hostel I tried had safe parking, weird vibe but cheap. I will go find tires tomorrow, spend one more night and go to Ben’s hotel on the 11^th.

Pictures to come..

www.wheresfletch.com

CATCHING UP

Day-62-64

1/5-7/2012

Woke up this morning and realized I didn’t want to leave El Salvador, so I didn’t. I headed back North to Playa El Tunco, a little surfer paradise. I showed up to a little hostel near the beach and right away saw a friend that I had met in Puerto Escondido Mexico. I hung out and surfed for 3 great days. I met so many awesome new friends. We had great family dinners and just amazing times.  El Salvador has the nicest, greatest people. Matt from Holland gave me a sweet bracelet thingy and now I am part of the BRACLET BRAHS!!!

Day-65

1/8/2012

            Woke up this morning still not feeling great and my feet are swollen- weird. I didn’t want to leave, but I knew it was time to make my way toward Nicaragua. So I loaded up the bike dripping sweat and headed south down the coast. It was a nice road lots of potholes, the road ran next to the coast then into the fields and back to the coast. I felt horrible the whole ride, but at the end of the day I started to feel much better. I rode for only 3hrs until I came upon a small beach town right before Honduras. I found a cheap place to sleep for 6 bucks right on the beach. I went for an hour or so walk up the beach then to a little fishing village which just had boat come in with fresh fish. I was walking back into the compound when I walked by a couple who looked very familiar. I then saw two scooters one with a surf rack, I had definitely had met that couple before in Antigua. I headed back to their table and started talking with them. We had met in Antigua only for 5 minutes when we were both looking for a hostel with safe parking. They were from Holland and had flown to Mexico, bought scooters had a surfboard rack welded to one of the bikes. They are following the West Coast all the way down to Panama on 125cc and 150cc Scooters, so awesome. The guy was making me laugh when he was telling stories of trying to cross the 30+miles of wind from Puerto to Guatemala. He said they couldn’t ride it they were all over the place wrecking and falling over so finally had to hitch hike with the scooters and made it.

            I didn’t eat all day, just wasn’t feeling it until 7pm when I had a huge plate of Pasta. I figured out my route that I wanted to take from there to Nicaragua. I sent out an email to the family let them know I was doing two border crossing and would be in Nicaragua by the next night and then I went to sleep.

TURTLES AND SUNSET!!!!

LITTLE TURTLES WANNA BE SET FREE!!

LET THEM GO

FREEDOM...TO BE EATEN.. BUT FOR NOW FREEDOM!!

JUST A LIL GUY

HE IS IN THE FOAM!!

MAKING THEIR WAY!!!

SO MUCH FUN

GO HOME!!!!

ONE LAST ONE

THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE OWNER

SO SO SO BEAUTIFUL

BREAKFAST?

A PIER NEAR PLAYA SAN DIEGO

PULLING FISH FROM THERE NETS

BREAKING DOWN EEL AND CATFISH

BREAKING DOWN A HUGE STINGRAY

LUNCH YUM

FRESH CATCH ANYONE

START OF THE MARKET

CATFISH HEADS

END OF THE MARKET

PLAYA SAN DIEGO

DAY-61

1/4/2012



Woke up a little slow this morning, still feeling lethargic. Drank some coffee and headed into town to walk around and find sunscreen. We walked to the pier and I was in heaven! All of the small fishing boats were getting hoisted up onto the end of the pier and fish were being filleted everywhere. Right as you walked in there was just rows of fresh Ceviche, fish, shrimp, lobsters, mussels, and everything else you could want seafood wise. Then you walk out onto the pier and it’s just guys clean boats, nets, and fish. I eat two bowls of Ceviche, shrimp, calamari, clam, fish, salsa, lime, picante, and seasonings. SO SO SO DELICIOUS for just $2 a bowl.

            I get back to the hostel and relax, rode on my first two Chicken Buses this trip 25 cents each. I relaxed at the hostel, wrote, had a beer, and then went for a walk. I got back and was told that some others were headed down the beach 30 minutes or so to release baby turtles into the sea. El Salvador used to be known for harvesting the turtle eggs and eating them. That was made Illegal a while back so they have started to help them now. They track the turtles to where they lay the eggs; after they leave they take the eggs and give them a safe area to hatch away from dogs and predators. After they are hatch they release them into the sea and for a 5 dollar donation which helps out the families who do the work you can release a lot of them around 5pm into the sunset.

            We walked up the beach and finally found the place right before the sunset. They were swimming in a square tub, he scooped them up into a bucket about 30-40 little guys. We walked to the water and started to release them, it is amazing that you can aim them any ways and they will always turn and head to the ocean. The guy running it yelled to me not to move I looked down and there was two I was about to step on and then I almost stepped on one behind me. At one point we had like 15 of them heading toward the ocean together. They were surprisingly soft and smooth. Such a rad experience, so glad I joined in and went with them. We got back to the hostel just in time for dinner and I was so tired went to bed by 8:30.