I reached the Mexican border by the grace of two Guatemalan truckers. The first was an outgoing family man, talkative, at the end of his shift, who dropped me at strategic intersection of comedors and rumbling trucks heading towards the Mexican border about 20 km distant. There I was picked up by the second trucker.... Continue Reading →
I’m almost in Mexico (todo norte 9)
This morning I did yoga on cement roof looking out at Lake Atitlán and pine trees and melting as the cool air was killed by the rising sun. So many nice conversations on all my rides today. Also got involved in a soccer match along the road in Guatemala. 2.5 weeks to California, where I'll... Continue Reading →
Todo norte 8. El Salvador to Antigua Guatemala
Props to the guy who took this photo for me. Wow. El Salvador was the easiest, by far, country to hitchhike in that one could imagine. I was hitching north along the Pacific coast, which is reminiscent of California's famous Pacific Coast Highway, when suddenly, a trucker stopped, played me some sweet Salvadoreño Christian... Continue Reading →
From Nicaragua to El Salvador in a day: canyoning, a truck ride, and a “soft mugging” (Todo Norte 7!)
Distance covered: Somoto, Nicaragua to El Amatillo, El Salvador I awoke in Somoto, Nicaragua and caught the 6:45am bus to Somoto Canyon, where I entered the park barefoot with my drybag containing my rock climbing shoes, helmet, and not much more. I reached the river, crossed and smoked the last of my marijuana and hash,... Continue Reading →
Todo Norte resumes! San Jorge to Nindiri, Nicaragua (todo norte 5)
Note: I just hitchhiked on mescaline all day from Nindiri up to Somoto, Nicaragua. First time hitchhiking on psychedelics. Hitchhikeadelic is now... real. And shit got real. That post will be tomorrow. But this is part 5 of my hitchhiking trip from Panama City, Panama to... todo norte! Actually I have a wedding to attend... Continue Reading →
Getting to Mordor: Part III of the Nicaragua volcano saga
Click here to read Part 1, and Part 2 *** March, 2018. Ometepe, Nicaragua. Shit hit the fan real quick when Diego and I showed up to hike Concepción, the behemoth, the impossibly symmetrical cone rising above the island of Ometepe. We hiked to the park entrance, and shit hit the fan. They wanted $2 entrance... Continue Reading →
Volcanoes of Ometepe Part 2 – Lost and found on muddy Maderas
Volcán Maderas - II Having already hiked Maderas solo, I later met two beautiful women, a Bolivian and a German, at the nearby hostel, El Pital (the Chocolate Factory), and I offered to guide them up the Volcán. It proved more adventurous than expected. The next day we set off from the Madrugaba Farm entrance. A... Continue Reading →
Nicaragua: two Volcanoes with surprises at the summit
[Note: This story will reveal the surprises atop Volcán Maderas and Volcán Concepción in Ometepe, Nicaragua. I highly recommend that you do not read this story, and instead book a flight to Nicaragua, come to Ometepe, stay at Zopilote, hike these volcanoes with a couple friends, and experience the surprise for yourself. Let the mystery... Continue Reading →
Hitching paradise: 1 day in Ometepe, Nicaragua
Hitchhiking Ometepe is a dream. It is an island with two volcanoes and a long, circular road around each volcano. So you always have a view of a volcano, or the beach, or both volcanoes and the beach. Two days ago I left my hostel/farm (Zopilote) around 10am and started walking towards the ATM. I... Continue Reading →
Full brain transplant – 7 weeks with no phone
I’ve been without a phone for 7 weeks now. It’s been, in a word, transformative. At first I was uncomfortable not being able to take out the phone at any moment. I used to take it out at least 20 times a day. You sit down in a social area, a restaurant, a bar, chances... Continue Reading →