66km at 13mph, You do the math

Our second visit to Leon was slightly crazier than the first. This time we had a full car steaming back to the city. It was Jimmy, Peattie, Georgie, Longneck, and Jimmy South all amped up to celebrate at any expense. We made the first toast upon arrival, everyone saluting to Jimmy South's first drink in two years! I was shocked and so was the bartender as our party grew in popularity and volume. The next day was our core group heading out for lunch at a nearby local hostel and learning that there would be a once-in-a-lifetime rooster fight tonight. It was one of those episodes where we all just met with eyes perked with excitment, but brows slanted with doubts. So we did it. The back of a truck where eight of us anxiously sat awaiting what could be a great cultural tradition or maybe what would mark my new passion for animal rights was moving quicker and furhter away from everything we had once been familiar with. Entering through a back lot into a simple, rustic setup, you could see the ring. So that's where they fight? Almost 100 Nicaraguans had gathered to lay down their hard earned money with the hopes that a shining rooster will be their ticket to another meal. After a good hour or two I was nothing but a blank stare, brought down from excitment to not sure what to make out of the brutal scene of rooster vs. rooster. The grand finale was five roosters in the same ring at once. As soon as that was over I and others were ready to break out of that place and not take one glance back. This will mark the end of my love affair with the city of Leon, for now. Jimmy and I said goodbye to our new friends and to Georgie, who we will definitely continue to be in touch with as the weeks, months and years reveal. Coming to a fork in the road as we headed south towards Managua, we took the left. Just like Frost mentioned, "It has made all the difference," because the left took us down the old road to Managua. It was a 66km road that seemed it was only used by cattle and devastated by potholes. It came clear that it was the road less travelled. It led us to Managua and directly to a Subway where we both devoured our comfort food. A few hours later we navigated our way through the city and towards the coast where the dirt roads begin. I like to think that the Manburban is at his happiest when we are flying free down the dirty, pebble filled roads, shooting up clouds of smoke behind us. So here we are, Playa Gigantes. South of Popoyo and north of San Juan Del Sur and plenty of incredibly fun surf breaks. We are hanging with good people from San Francisco, Colorado, and other parts of the world that have found the same place we have. I have a few surfboard repairs tomorrow and then it is party night here at the hostel, weeh! Friday we are looking to enter Costa Rica and to take a moment to acknowledge the epic presence of a new country and to wave goodbye to another.

-still going