lamps.
Sometimes in NZ, we Aucklanders stroll out at night, and stare down into the Southern Territories, South of the Bombay Hills.
We hear the lowing of cattle, and see the fitful guttering of moss and lambfat lamps.
And sometimes, if the wind is just right, we smell the turnips boiled by the serfs as their staple diet......

And then finish our canapes and chardonay, and chat .......

Rob

Argh another one gazing down to where they wonna be, tell ya what Rob since we are mates, I will put in a good word at customs and immigration for you then you can grab your passport and come down to New Zealand from Auckland

Seriously, I enjoy Auckland and I even have friends there that are human, great cafe scene and above Auckland at Tane Mahuta tree is spectacular, we will come up again just to visit.

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

Put the cat among the pigeons there,thought Wellington would be more of an issue to you kiwi's?

... nar just ribbing him cos we can ... say with you guys in OZ ... our brothers!!

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

With Ellen leaving her only shorts at the tree house we headed back to Granada.

Back one step, on the way down to the island I noticed a Police check point and it was on my mind when heading back to Granada, strategically I let a local go past in an old bomb of a car and we putted along behind him for about 5 minutes before coming upon the Police check point, giving him about a 100 meter lead and sure enough the Police flag him down and we sail through ..... WOH HOH...I love it when a plan comes together.

We picked up Ellens shorts from the treehouse, thanks Damon it was big help getting those back, we then headed onwards to Granada staying at a hotel/hostel that was owned by an amigo from the place on the island, great place, quiet, secure parking for the moto and right in the market area to get stuff fixed.

My walking poles got nailed back together, my gloves got patches put on them and my new rain jacket got a new zipper as that broke.

We bought some street fud totaling 80 C which is about $3.20 for both of us and it was too much to be honest, we also bought a large watermelon for 30 C which is about $1.20 so it was a kings and queens banquet night again.

We woke to a hell hot sunny day, I picked up my gloves which had been repaired wrong and we started to pack up, I went to put SPOT on Maya and the retainer clip just snapped off in my hand, looks like the sun had made it brittle.

Leaving Granada we headed back down the CA1 Pan Am very weary of Police and associated troubles that go with it again sneaking through unscathed with some tactical allowing of overtaking.

Our next destination was Playa Majagual were Moderndaydrifter (from ADV), Daniel and his good lady Megan run the Castaway hostel.

The road was good but windy which it seems to be as there are lots of wind turbines along the route.



On leaving Rivas we got stuck behind buses and trucks, a local on a 250 Honda overtook us and went around the centre island, seeing him do that we followed suit, we only just pulled back in and the Police came head on, we got filthy looks but they carried on luckily, I also stepped it up to get to our turnoff in case they radioed ahead.

It is the only thing frustrating about Nicaragua is the trucks can dordle along at 30 - 40 km / hr in and 80 posted area and no one is allowed to pass on the solid yellow line which there is a LOT of, but the trucks won’t pull aside to let anyone through either.

The rest of the trip was uneventful and we found our way easily to Daniels place.

These are the coordinates for anyone running a GPS ... too easy.



We got set up in our room, beach front literally, nothing between us and the ocean other than the beach, what a cool location and a perfect adventure rider quiet hideaway and rest spot.

The surf was up with lot of surfers out, just not right here



The weather was set for a great sunset and we were not let down at all, the colours on the beach were amazing and vibrant.



Beach graffiti





The early evening colours were very cool with shades and shadows transforming your view



A small boat tied up



Later on that evening we had a good thunder storm with heavy rain so we managed to refill all our water bottles with rainwater off the roof ... perfecto.

The following day was rest and relaxing, walk along the beach and some net stuff, again I wanted to get a ride report out, Ellen did hers first, I just started and the internet died, seems to be the way for me at the moment.

When we went to leave from Ometepe the SPOT mount died so that wa on my list to fix so I Kiwied it

I have remade the new Kiwi hold it using the electrical tester heated on a gas stove to make holes (we have no drill) for the new and improved strap courtesy of the china walking stick fix the previous day.

Auwh man....



Just a simple fix to melt the plastic outa the way for a new ring



Cut two new slots by melting the plastic outa the for the strap



Put the new strap in



Put the spot back in ......sweetas bro!!...c h o i c e eh. :clap



Now this is under strick international patent so it is a secret and I am only telling you guys :rofl

I managed to snap some shots of local pussy too .... though they didn’t seem impressed.



(sorry Mike no bunnies):evil

Later that afternoon we took a quick hike to the peninsula top that overlooks Daniel bay, this my friend is what he made us put up with.

The front of Daniels place







Now Daniel is offering free camping for ADVers for a couple of days, if you want a room as we did you pay for that (cos it is his livelyhood) but you get the room and a brotherly luv ADV rate and believe me all accommodation around the area is reasonably expensive so Daniel is really looking after the RTW/ADV community.

While there an overland vehicle turned up, nice machine it is too.



While relaxing a local was sitting in a tree just watching on, ... I think he needs a shave.



Ellen made a coffee in the morning, the coffee machine exploded ... literally, no one was hurt but yeah



I keep telling Ellen to use water like eveyone else rather than petrol :rofl

Saying goodbye to Daniel we set off for Costa Rica

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

Leaving Playa Majagual the road was wet and very slippery, there was a 10 mm (3/8 inch for you imperialists ) on top of hard pack wet clay so it was take it easy time till we hit the tar again or at least dryer roads.

Getting to San Juan Del Sur we headed out to the beach for a quick look and the supermarket to stock up on fud and rum.

Once this part of our mission was complete we headed off toward the Costa Rican border where we were swamped with helpers in an instant so we politely rode through them to the real guys who couldn’t be bothered helping so we know we had the right guys.

Passports, TVIP, smiles and few larfs and they all changed in an instant, one guy tried cleaning the rego plate and got dirty hands so gave up and took our word for it. :rofl

Clocking out was easy for us but the TVIP was the highest and longest level of bollix anywhere in Central America, so when we got to the last point of exit we had to go back and get and 100 more stamps and signatures etc .... it was barmy.



After all the signoffs NOT one actually check our Vin or plate and we headed back to the exit with our now heavily gratified TVIP and they were all happy. :clap

Entering Costa Rica the line was probably 100 plus people long and we thought ouwh no but they had all booths going and were very efficient so Ellen was through in about 20 minutes while Maya and I sat in the car park.

Then the TVIP again, Ellen had to go back and forth 0.5 km each way each time they wanted something as the buildings are far apart.

Nothing difficult just time consuming.

Our chance to get the graffiti stampartists a run for their money, Phil and Jaynes sticker already there.



Once all the formalities were complete off to destination Play Del Coco to meet up with Can again, with no street names or number is makes things interesting so we did do a little round and round asking and narrowing it in before getting there but he has a house on the beach and it is in a stunning location.

We met Can and his good lady at Ometepe island in Nicaragua after headed spotted Maya and we had a chat about motos and trips.

So we stayed two nights there relaxing taking the place in, again chatting about bikes, gear, travel etc so that was great, CAn also has a kayak and allowed us to take it out onto the sea, most excellent and really enjoyable.

Play Del Coco is an awesome wee spot. one of many beautiful beaches in Costa Rica.

Can lent us his Kayak for a hoon which was cool.





Sunset from Cans place



Stunning orange colours come out right at the last minute, Ellen in the water swimming



A thunder and lightning storm was brewing ... I tried to catch the lightning but it was way too fast.

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

love the photos on this episode,there's some spectacular country there about's.