Nicaragua...or BUST!!!

We have definitely settled into the mainland, and have started to sort things out pretty well. The adjustment in culture and customs from the Baja took a bit of time, but in time, we have become essentially locals . After a few days in Mazatlan with Boogs and Hussion and their chicks, we were off again down the coast. We were hoping for bigger surf the further south we went, and definitely got out with after a bit of time.
Surf in Mazatlan was hovering somewhere around a foot, with giant sets rolling in up to two feet. We knew of a bigger swell coming in toward the end of the week, so we were pretty excited for coming days. We arrived at San Blas with high hopes of getting out first surf in since the Baja, but our hopes were dashed by the wayside when we found that the surf had actually dropped below its former incredible heights. We blew out of San Blas heading for Santa Cruz, hoping that the big wave legend of the north would carry over to its southern sister. Unfortunately, we were far from correct in this case.
On a positive note, I had a blast fishing in Santa Cruz. Apparently when the surf is small, the fish get pretty excited about it. I spent a couple of hours on the point that would have produced surf, catching a pretty good assortment of fish: 5 or 6 barracuda, 2 grouper and a snapper. I ended up keeping and cleaning a barracuda and the snapper, which we enjoyed a few days down the road.
I had received word from Brooke that she and her friend Jessi were to be in Yelapa, a small village only accessible by boat, outside of Puerto Vallarta. With surf in the coming forecast, and a couple of days to burn until its arrival, we decided to spend the time in peaceful tranquility with good friends. For years, Brooke has been telling me about her favorite place in Mexico, and it just so happened that she was finishing up a couple weeks there when we were passing by, so we decided to make the stop.
We found a stellar place to leave the truck, where I was confident it would be safe, and headed off on a ponga for the half hour ride to Yelapa. Luckily enough, we caught the last boat out of Boca bound for Yelapa, and arrived just before dark to smiling faces waiting on the beach. Brooke and Jessi put us up for our time there in a pimpin’ house that they had rented for the remainder of their stay there. Apparently they had grown tired of their former location, which worked out well for us. The house they rented had an incredible view of the bay at Yelapa, was open air, and had all the amenities that we have been lacking along our journey!
Our time in Yelapa was SUPER mellow, and an excellent break from the road. We departed on Saturday, as the swell had picked up significantly over the former couple of days, and we were anxious to get back in the water. To our disappointment, we arrived in the afternoon at what we hoped would be a good surf spot in Tecuan, only to find that the swell had grown HUGE, and was pretty well unsufable. Double overhead barrels breaking right on the beach turned us further south, still yet to have our first session on the mainland.
But alas…we finally found manageable surf in a little village just north of Manzanilla called Barra Navidad. Because it is in a bit of a bay, the swell was perfect in Barra for a sessions, but we had run out of time with during out antics in the north. After a night out on the town, we stayed in an abandoned parking lot outside of town, with beautiful views of trash and highways. It really increased our motivation to get the rock out of there in the morning and get out to the surf spot. And finally, we had our session! The surf was way mushy, but perfect for us to get our feet under us, and practice popping up and making a few turns. Justin was the star of the affair, staying inside for the second break of the way, and actually made some pretty impressive bottom turns for the first time! Yeah, Bra!
After good sessions a Barra, we headed sound again hoping to continue our good surfing luck. The swell that was rumored had definitely arrived, so we were motivated to find a protected spot that would knock the waves down a bit and make them a bit more manageable for us. We DID NOT find that at La Ticla. This point break was incredibly beautiful, but had some HUGE waves that we really had no business attempting to surf, but I didn’t let that stop me from paddling out and taking a beating. After about and hour of having my ass completely kicked by the ocean, we retired with our tails between our legs, headed for Rio Neixpa, where we heard that the point was a bit more manageable. We heard WRONG!
Although Neixpa was WAY too big for us, we stumbled upon a bit of luck when we met a couple that was basically on the same mission as us. Shawn and Erin left Colorado over 10 months ago, and had only made it as far as we have in a month; so needless to say, they had some pretty solid knowledge about the area and surf spots. We hung with them and gleaned knowledge overnight, and then headed off for their HIGHLY recommended surf spot called Saladita. Although this spot was not on our surf map (which it turns out SUCKS BAD) we decided to give it a shot. Shawn and Erin said that we would love it, and how right they were!
We arrived here in Saladita last night, had a session, made some killer hamburgers and called it a night, in anticipation of Dawn Patrol this morning. Unfortunately, Justin took a pounding in Cuyutlan a couple days back, injuring his ribs, so he didn’t have quite the EPIC session that I had here last night. The paddle to where the waves are breaking is grueling here at Saladita, but well worth the effort. I caught three solid waves last night, made a bottom turn, took a pounding, and rode another into the beach. My best session BY FAR! I actually turned down the wave to gain MORE speed, and then back up to the stop after a big looping bottom turn! What a feeling…I actually think that I can call myself a surfer now…not good…but a surfer, nonetheless! I am stoked.
We are going to kick it here for a couple of days and work on our skills, as the wave is pretty forgiving, and a perfect place to develop some skills. We found a sweet spot to camp in the middle of a mango orchard, just back from the beach, so we rolling in style!

Peace! Nick

oh what to say. we got on a ferry, drank beers with mexican truck drivers, and landed on the mainland. found a walmart, not too proud of it, but we camped in their parking lot. getting up the next morning we headed south with plans to catch a late surf before the sun set then meet up with brad, tim, and their significant others. cruising down the highway and then clank, scrape, clank. this didnt sound good. we pulled over and i jumped out of the car to see one of the newly installed rear shocks had come loose and been trashed as it beat on the concrete and under the truck. and it just so happened that the bolt that came loose happened to be the ones justin had installed. ouch. luckily you can drive without a shock so we went to the nearby town, culiacan, which is supposed to be the most dangerous city in all of mexico as it is home to plenty of drug trafficking. luckily we didnt have to enter but the outskirts and found a replacement. once installed we were back on the road. we had lost any hopes of a surf but our friends in mazatlan were awaiting. after a side of the road pee break we got back up to speed when something blew off of the truck dash and out the window. nick asked what that was, since i had picked up our trash and put things to keep on the dash, but i couldnt figure what was missing so we continued into town.
meeting the crew at their hotel we had a quick beer and then set out to find camping near their hotel. once set i began to check my belongings and what the hell? i cant find my passport. after tearing through everything in the truck and camper nick and i come to the resolution that it was my passport on the truck dash that flew out the window. in utter disbelief we determined that there was nothing we could do that night, and we would address this incredible misfortune in the morning. having asked nick what he would carry that night he said nothing but some money, so i followed suit. so in true justin fashion we went out and drank all the beers in mazatlan. walking or more stumbling back from the bar, alone, guess who roll up? that is right, our friends the police. they jump out of the truck and thrust me against the side and begin to frisk me. "what do you have?" they kept asking, and strangely enough i had nothing at all. the little money i had was actually tucked in my boxers for safe keeping. "where is the marijuana?" they asked. all i kept saying was "no tengo nada". i they asked about ID or a wallet. nope. nothing. finally the one officer asked my name. i told him. he smiled and said "go". i guess having nothing means they get nothing.
upon arrival at the camper i grab my bedding and the pillow felt funny. oh yes, the passport. when emptying my pockets the night before i had thought no safer place for my passport then under my head. unless you forget you put it there. well with that problem solved i crashed out for the night. next morning i realized i has lost my camera joe's oyster bar. damn it. but at least it wasnt a passport. we hung out with brad, elisa, tim, and sarah all day and night, then took off the next morning. that leads us to yesterday. we have not surfed in a week now. and its getting no better as there are no waves right now. we find the surf spots but the waves are tiny. so we drive on.
nick busted out with his fishing pole this morning which was awesome, even just to watch. he caught about 5 barracuda, 2 grouper and a snapper. we only kept two fish, but we are excited. now just outside of puerto vallarta we are just playing around until we get some surf. with all the ups and downs, life is never dull. hope everyone else is doing well and i'll drop another when the time allows.
cheers -
justin

After a couple of days in Mazatlan hangin' with our buddies Tim and Brad, and their wives, we are on the road again heading south. We actually found a pretty pimpin' spot on the beach in Mazatlan, just down from the boy's hotel, so it was good fun while we were here. A day at the pool sippin' cervezas, and some good reminiscing, and we have had our fill.

The surf is pretty pathetic here in Maz, as it is getting all the way up to 3 feet on big sets, but hovering more around the 1 foot range on most. Thus...south we go for some bigger waves...hopefully!

Going back, the ferry went really well. We met some fun, hard drinkin' truck drivers that do the route between Cuilacan and La Paz, so we decided to join the madness and swill beers as fast as we could with them before disembarking to head to Wal-Mart for the night...luckily Wally World was super close, as we were a little tipsy! The night at Wally's went without incident, and we got a pretty early start to drive the 5 hours from Los Mochis (port town) to Mazatlan.

Along the way, we had a bit of an incident just north of Culiacan when one of the new shocks that we installed FELL OFF! Yes, FELL OFF the rig and started dragging on the ground suspended by the other bolt that was still holding strong. We managed to do a little roadside repair and disassembled the shock. With huge luck, we were only about 5 miles north of Culiacan, and were able to buy and install a new shock for the rest of the journey...yes, we tightened the other one as well, so we should be in good shape. The rest of the journey to Mazatlan went pretty well, minus a passport that blew out the window along the way.

Justin was doing some cleaning at one of our breaks along the journey, and apparently put his passport on the dash so that it wouldn't be in with the trash on the floor. When we recommenced the journey, something blew out, but we didn't figure out what it was until later that night when J had he presence of mind to take a look for the elusive passport. Upon realizing that he couldn't find it, we finally boiled it down to "lost on the side of the road."

Justin was a trooper that night, as he went out with the crew and forgot about the passport. We decided that looking on the side of a freeway in the middle of the night would be less fortuitous than waiting until the morning to head back and see if we could come across it in the rubble.

Luck would have it that he found it upon returning to the rig that night in his pillow case, where he had placed it the night before using drunk logic...

That is all for now. More later.

Nick

After an extended stay on the Baja, far longer than we had planned, we are finally on our way today. We stuck around for what seems like an eternity (not really, but close), all to see my cousin Patrick when he arrived, but that didn't happen...lines were crossed on arrival date, and then he decided to not show up at all due to plane delays and the such. Have a good night in LA, buddy? He will be stoked when he arrives, though, as his new house is the bomb, and ready to move into.

Times here have been pretty rough. Living the Mexican dream, for sure. A couple of hours of work a day, a lot of fucking around, and a few beers in the evening. La vida tranquila, por supuesto!

McKenzie will be bummed to leave, as she has become quite the little Baja dog. She rolls with the pack in the morning and sleeps all day before heading back out again in the evening. She can't hang quite as well, as she is the only black one in th bunch, but she has held her own pretty well.

I tweaked my shoulder pretty good the other day surfing at El Conejo, which has plagued me for the past few days. I hope to get a bit of relief when we get to the mainland and get in the water again. New board bags, newly repaired boards, a clean and pimpin' car and camper, and all the necessary repairs have been made. We are ready for another good ass kickin', so it is high time we blow this popsickle stand!

Hangin' with Mike, Reina, Memo, Boogie, and Dondi has been an absolute pleasure, and the guru wisdom that Mike provided for the rest of the journey was invaluable! Thanks cous'!!!

NicknolongerbajaheadingtothemainlandfortherealdealReid

buenos dias!
so here we are, ready to roll out, finally. after far longer than anticipated here in el sargento, just outside la paz, we are outta here this morning. jumping on a 6 hour ferry ride to the mainland and then driving on down the coast. a lot has changed in the last week. schedules being the biggest. we have come up with at least 4 different itineraries, so you never really know for sure. we got one together seconds later i get an email from mr brad bogardus stating that he and one timothy hussion would be in mazatlan with their respective others march 26- april 1. well, you know we cant let them have a peaceful getaway with their ladies so we had to make that happen. we will be crashing that on monday, and perhaps tuesday. that is how solid our schedule is.
so the biggest observation for me over the last few days came in the realization that i will not make it to nicaragua. bummer yes, but the time frame i am working with will not allow it. nick is in no hurry to get there as he hopes to take full advantage of his travels by seeing all that he can between the united states and nica. and who could blame him. i however am unemployed, lacking limitless funds, and have a beautiful girl i wish to return to. so what i am seeing in my future includes the remainder of mexico, perhaps including the yucatan peninsula and then guatemala. there is still an off chance i may also make it into el salvador, but that would require and even longer stay. and as i have not yet booked my flight home, oh the possibilities!
all that aside, the trip fires up now. fire up! fire up! (that is for hutch and the wagon). anyway tomorrow we hit the mainland. mazatlan, puerto vallarta, zihuatenejo, acapulco, and so on. basically surfing, surfing and surfing. oh yes, and its spring break too. we had to cut out mexico city and i am indifferent about it. biggest city in the world = cool to see, but also cool to avoid. it leaves more beach time anyway, which is never a bad idea. so that is all. yep. thats it. now i am going to shave off this ridiculous beard, call the lady, and try to book a flight home. not necessarily in that order. but what follows that today will be beer, a big ass boat and 6 hours at sea. yeah.

hope everyone is grrrreat just like tony-
justin