Mechanics of Puerto Sandino: Black Holes and other Treasures
21 Feb 2020
The Titan Of Sirena
03 Sep 2019
School's In Session: Lessons On Giving a Fuck
08 Aug 2019
Photo Above: We'll leave out names here. Happening way more frequently than we would like, this drop in was an accident and was followed by profuse apologies and an abundance of forgiveness...but it didn't make it not happen, nor make it okay.
I like stirring shit up! While one angel whispers in my ear "be nice, don't burn any bridges!", the other angel is saying something a little different. I'm getting to the age where I agree more with one than the other. There is a reason they call us "Grumpy Old Men"... the other day I called a guy... read more
Don't be "That" Guy
04 Nov 2018
It's 4am, or earlier sometimes, and the alarm goes off. You wonder why it's going off so early, because you just closed your eyes. It's just time to get up. It's a labor of love for us surfers and as we get the coffee in our system, the poop out of the way, the truck warmed up and the message sent "I'm on my way". We get anxious and once this train gets rolling it doesn't want to stop for anything, not coffee, not another bathroom break, and certainly not for "That" guy who isn't ready to go with the same level of urgency that we have.
You... read more
1st Week to middle of August- Nicaragua Surf Conditions
05 Aug 2018
The truth is I use Surfline, Magic Seaweed, Surf-Forecast, Wind Guru and sometimes I even just look out front to see what the waves are doing. I know quite a few people wait for the "Sirena Surf Lodge One Minute Surf Report" on Instagram and facebook that I do most mornings and afternoons, but that's just to see my ugly mug!
Without further delay, here's the take on the waves today, tomorrow and the week to come...as gleaned from the professional sources. Today, there's surf in the 5-7 foot range. Surfline is calling it 3-5 feet and there... read more
Peter Pan And The Fisherman: Escapism VS. Strategy
31 Jul 2018
Many years ago, even after having been called "Peter Pan" by my family, I read this story of "The Fisherman", not knowing it was by one of my favorite authors Paul Coelho. The story is a simple one and, like the punchline of a bad joke, the message is painfully obvious even before the story unfolds. It's poignant nonetheless and crimsons a lesson that escapes most in this world. It's a lesson I learned before reading the story, but it begs my own introspection- am I just suffering the Peter Pan syndrome and an acute case of Escapism, or... read more
Is Nicaragua Safe?- Straight Scoop From The Source
27 Jul 2018
I'd be lying if I said over the past few months I wasn't worried. I've got a family to think about, Eli whose 4 years old and thankfully oblivious, my wife Jomar whose Nicaraguan and worried on several fronts and then or little girl Brooke, who is due in September! Talk about stress! there were some scary moments and questions about the future and fate of Nicaragua it's bourgeoning economy and our humble little business, but worrying never helps and as it turns out, most of it was for nothing.
Our main concern, besides seeing an end to... read more
Paying Full Price For Leftovers
21 Jul 2018
Picture this: You're hungry, rabid Hyena steal a turkey leg from your own mother hungry, and after waiting for days to eat you finally arrive at a restaurant to order some food. You go for an appetizer and an entree, thinking dessert might be possible too, but you'll wait and see. You start with Crispy Calamari Rings with Warm House made Marinara- it arrives, except there's no calamari and there's not warm or cold marinara! It's just a greasy stained gingham paper liner and an empty ramekin where your marinara used to be. You ask the... read more
Crowd Handling: 7 Secrets Of A Central American Surf Guide
14 Jul 2018
Don't read this the wrong way, Nicaragua is not crowded, in fact it's still got some of the emptiest lineups in the world. I surfed two hours alone today and between six surf sessions in two days I've surfed with less than two hands worth of people (yes I have all 10 fingers), most of whom I was very happy to see. With that said, you could take a surf trip and travel a lot farther only to find your self smack dab in the middle of a global melting pot of gibberish spewing taxi drivers who took up surfing and used their lack of driving... read more
Counter Intelligence and Travel Advisories
08 Jul 2018
Let me be up front with you, this blog is "counter" to some intelligence and is only a "travel advisory" in that I'm going to "advise" you to "travel".
I'm a worrier like the next person and the latest political crisis in Nicaragua isn't exactly the best recipe for a peaceful nights sleep. The majority of Nicaraguan citizens have come out in force against the government in an effort to stimulate a change of administration and, in that process, things have gotten violent. The resulting violence and subsequent media frenzy has resulted in... read more