Rain in Ocotal…About 17 Drops…Day 4

That little guy would not stay still!

First of all last night was my first bad night’s sleep.  I believe this was due to the creatures that were playing outside my window.  Just when I was about to fall asleep I would hear some squawking that sounded like it was in my room.  I even got out of bed to check at one point.  I am guessing it was some night bird or monkey just outside the window.

So after sleeping until 10 I got up and took care of some site architecture stuff and sent some emails.  I had my Spanish Count Chocula cereal, packed up my water and camera, and started walking up the monster hill behind my condo.

So this was not my safest hike considering you MUST hold a fence for the first 100 yards or else you have a good chance of falling and sliding down the mud/rock face.  Once I got up to to dirt roads it was much safer.  There a handful of flat areas that I can only imagine are being developed to put more ocean view condos.  I also saw the biggest lizard I have seen since I got here.  It was maybe 3.5 feet long head to tail.  I went slowly for my camera and this thing took off!  This was not like the slow iguanas I saw down in Mexico.  This thing was super fast.  I even jumped a little when I saw it turn and run down the brush.

View of Ocotal at the top of the small mountain

Finally when I made it to the top I saw some spectacular views.  I was able to see a volcano and mountain to the north and Playa Ocotal from way up high as well as the beach you can only get to by walking on the scary rocks or swimming (that’s tomorrow).  Apparently the snorkeling there is the best.  I saw a handful of big birds and then it started to drizzle.  Now I was about a 45 minute hike up the side of a small mountain without a rain coat.  So being responsible I turned and started making my way back down.  It only sprinkled but I didn’t want to see what would it would be like if it got worse.  I finally made it home safely (I did fall twice) and think I temporarily broke my camera.  It has since been fixed but I think the first fall might have been the culprit when I was trying to get a close up off the trail.  Probably not my smartest move.

So the weather was not the finest for the beach today so I decided to take the bike out and head to town.  There is a beach comber bike that comes with my room so I thought why not.  I needed some groceries.  The tires aren’t pumped making things pretty difficult and there are no sidewalks on the narrow roads but I made it to the market safely and back.  All of the exercise seemed to knock me out for a few hours this evening.  My body is not used to all the activity in the sun.

So while it wasn’t the nicest weather today I still got to do some cool things.  Day 4 pics are up in the Photos link at the top.  I am thinking of going to Tamarindo for a day (thanks Plunk) if I can figure out the bus system.  I’m also on a quest to find a monkey…outside of a wildlife reserve.  We’ll see how that goes.  Oh and the Spanish used today, “uno kilo por va vor”.