Isla Ometepe

Grenada was a beautiful colonial city and evidently a lot of other people think the same - there were a lot of European and North American tourists strolling about . I easily found a hostel that let me take a shower. I chilled out at the Hotel Oasis until noon time chatting with a guy from Spain about how we disliked Honduras (sorry but true) and rehydrating. Then I headed to the dock to meet Matt, Paul, and Byron for the ferry to Isla Ometepe. Putting my bike into other hands always make me nervous. However, after answering a barrage of questions about the bike/trip from workers at the ferry terminal they seemed just as concerned for the bike as myself. I was starting to regret that i would not be longer in Nicaragua . . . oh well.
After getting my ticket and bike situated Matt, Paul, and Byron pulled up and I was able to hang out and watch the bikes and gear while they went through the same routine. It was fun to be with a group of like minded bikers for a change.




I even had time to befriend another dog, with some serious dental issues, over a lunch of rice, chicken, yucca, fried banana, and salad.
After piling onto the ferry for our five hour ride to the island we watch as the hold was filled with our gear and everything else an island community might require from food to new street lights.








We pulled away from the dock at 2pm watching the city recede and the volcanos grow in prominence.
The ferry had a variety of passengers from tourists to locals to two guys that were selling religious themed painted mirrors door to door at the various ferry stops - i only noticed because we continually met crossing Lago Nicaragua over the course of the week.Isla Ometepe is formed by two volcanoes rising out of Lago Nicaragua. Volcano Madera was 1300+ meters and no longer active. The volcanoes make Isla Ometepe the tallest island on a lake in the world. Volcano Conception was over 1600 meters, smokin' active, and noted for the most perfect volcanic cone in Central America, as well as, some unique orchid species. The two volcanoes are said to give the island an hourglass shape, though i preferred to think of it as a bikini top.
Volcano Conception gradually appeared through the haze as we approached the island.
We arrived at dusk to the port at Altagarcia, Isla Ometepe.
By the time bikes and gear were off loaded it was dark. We rode into town along the sandy unlit road accompanied by a local kid on his bike among others - i was told that there were more than 1000 bikes in Altagarcia alone - that means people must have a stable of bikes like me - you can never have too many bikes! Eventually we were guided to the Hostel Castillo and settled into the dorm before kickin' it with food and beers.