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Riding a Trike through Central America Riding a Trike through Central America
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Ride Tales Post your ride reports for a weekend ride or around the world. Please make the first words of the title WHERE the ride is. Please do NOT just post a link to your site. For a link, see Get a Link.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



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  #16  
Old 8 Aug 2012
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Antigua, Guatemala
Posts: 64
Nicaragua update from Dave:

So after a late start and a swim, I still had to eat and make my way to Nicaragua. A late start is nothing less than 12:30. So I am heading to the frontera of Nicaragua.

Something that you do so much more when you are travelling in hot countries is drink. You dont get time to think about having a drink; your body shouts out saying I have to DRINK now. So that what you have to do.

I stopped in Liberia about one hour from Tamarindo to get some gas, at the same time I stopped, "Ice Cold Coconuts" were being offered to me for a $1 each so I started with one, four Coconuts later with a full tank of gas I was ready to go; great stop.

I made it to the border with no problem. Both the Costa Rica and Nacaraguan sides take time, probably a two hour deal in total. It may not sound like much time but its far more than it sounds when you are there running around getting different forms and stamp approvals ect, and this is for one person without any queue. Fumigation, cancellation of insurance, buying new insurance, paying for photo copies and talking all takes time. $12 to enter Nicaragua + $12 mandatory vehicle insurance, only valid for one month.

So because of my late start I will be riding in the dark for at least one hour. I arrived in Granada around two hours of leaving the border and found a simple hostel called La Floresta, clean quite and cheap.

Granada is a good place to see, you certainly get a feel of what Nicaragua is about, its very busy with lots of activity, but nothing like a big city. It gets very busy here with a organised kind of crampedness which keeps you moving and going somewhere.
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  #17  
Old 8 Aug 2012
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Antigua, Guatemala
Posts: 64
more pictures from the road:


time for another swim - Manuel Antonio, CR


hey gringo! this is my beach


Can you see me?


Honda 200 CTX's in Nicaragua - this is what we run our CATours rides with


76,000 kms and still looking good!


my first picket line


I don't want trouble


a common site on Nicaraguan streets


Luis Perez - my first BAD transit cop - no gun


false fine, I never paid anything
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  #18  
Old 9 Aug 2012
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Antigua, Guatemala
Posts: 64
Adventure colliding with strikes - Dave's latest update from the blog:

Well Granada kept me for a little more time than I expected; Granada is certainly a tourist town, lively, probably safe most of the time, cheap and attractive; although there are a few smelly places and dangerous holes to fall in, just like Central America in general.
On my leaving I got stopped by the Transit Police; ”just another routine stop”

I did absolutely nothing wrong; the first cop seemed decent, the second cop asked for my ID and license, he then says I was driving dangerous in the middle lines, ”What do you say” All I know is that I probably never said the right thing, the ****er writes me a ticket, and keeps my license, until I return with a payment slip from the nank saying I have paid, $40 fine for the offence. Never felt too good about that, but when you look back it could of always been a lot worse? It wouldnt of been so bad if I had done the crime; I was innocent. ”Who cares”

Anyway I went to the bank, paid my fine: and returned, he was still there; which was my second concern. I showed him the payment slip and he gave me my license - I continued.

My destination was still Somoto, its a destination that has to be checked out, its a big water canyon, good hiking and swimming is what its about.

No sir not today: there is a Huelga.. It means strike, the road is blocked and no-one passes, so with little option I sleep in the small pueblo called Condega, which is basically on the strike line.

Simple place, very cowboy style, its own culture and style for sure. No McDonald’s here. Only good cigars. When I wake up and talk to a few people I am informed the strike is still strong, you will not pass.

Very mixed opinions here; I can pass / I wont pass. All I do know personally is that strike lines are delicate and should be considered potentially dangerous. I stopped 100 mtrs before the big no pass-line; I was certainly speaking with the strikers like the first division or the first line of protest.

I really wanted to check out Somoto, but this situation was totally out of my control, if I turn around it will be at least a four hour ride to the other border to leave Nicaragua; and then I will have to stay in Choleteca, its a shit hole, but it will put me in a direction that is not what i want…

Should I stay or should I go?

After talking, sharing my cigar and having a bit of a laugh; the moment had arrived when I ride to the front line with two of my strikers on my trike smoking my cigars; it would of made a great picture, but unfortunately not on my camera this time.

We get told No, “OK, OK” … I truly had no great expectations, this was not my biggest problem, but within a minute I had about 100 strikers around me, its not really about me, its all about the trike. Seriously I think the whole strike line left and came to me; I was still focused on riding forward, but I was going nowhere.

Then one of my strikers waves me forward, It was a good sight, with a little gas and good clutch control I was moving towards Somoto!
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