Nicaragua-Day Six & Seven

We go hiking and swimming on a beautiful day

To start, I'll say that there are days when I fell like Super Dad and other when I feel like someone should call in family services (not really that bad I suppose, but I FEEL like it). Yesterday (day 6) was one of those bad days. We started out with all of the best of intentions and it went down hill from there.

I was brought to an abrupt state of awareness when at 6:02 a.m. I realized that the lights in the room were not on full blare, rather it was just the direct sunlight coming through a 18"x6" window and illuminating the room as though it was 2 in the afternoon. Oh yea, and those muffled sounds were the snoring of my two roommates that somehow were managing to ignore my revelation. I tossed and turned for a while until luckily Ellie awoke and I was able to snuggle and tickle her for a bit. Jon finally awoke at 7:00 and we all just laid in the AC-cooled room as long as possible knowing that today's hike was going to be a scorcher. Jumping to it around 8:00 we packed our bags and headed down stairs to eat breakfast, of course after everyone else had already done so. The group quietly and patiently awaited our completed meals and we all checked out of the hotel and set off for the beautiful El Canyon de Samoto an hour and a half away.

Our first run in with absentmindedness already happened 12 hours ago when Jon and I forgot our tennis shoes in one of the other 2 cars that we had transferred to in route to the hotel (we thought it might be Laurie's but we couldn't be sure) which was going to make today's hike all that much more 'challenging' with a 4 yr old. Neither of us had been there before so we really didn't have a great idea of what the 'trails' were like and how difficult they were to hike, so caution to the wind we pushed forward. After 90 minutes of passing overloaded Nissan trucks and small Honda Civics, we finally arrive at the canyon (which was marked by a hand painted, hand-hewn sign pointing right and down). It sure didn't look like the national monument-type sign we have in the US for the Grand Canyon or even a local state park camping grounds. Good thing we were paying attention AND driving a 4wd car that could take a 60 degree hill smattered with bare boulders and rain-carved ruts down to the river bed. After traversing the flowing water, we finally found a parking spot under some large old trees, paid the locals about $1.00 to watch the vehicle (knowing that it was still a 70/30 chance our stuff would be missing upon our return) and headed off to the great canyon ahead. Enter boneheaded move number two - we forgot Ellie's life vest in the back of the car, but didn't realize it until we were 20 minutes into the hike. Push forward Gen. Forgetalot!!

Ellie takes turns riding people's backs and chatting them up until we get to the rough parts of walking the rocks. Yep this turned out to be every bit of tough hiking that you's think just short of mountain climbing. Jagged rocks, no real set path, tight walks against water's edge, and oh yeah, other groups wanting to pass, coming and going. Feeling the SuperIdiotDad title coming on strong. Jonathan was totally Mr. Awesome Uncle as he carried Ellie through most of the bad stuff until we got to the point of no more walking and everyone swims to the other side. Enter Dumb Move number three - packed too much to carry while swimming. It was a good idea to have Ellie wear shorts and a t-shirt over her swimsuit (see, Grandma Dad isn't completely screwing this up) but it's bad when he has to carry her, those clothes, extra water bottles AND sunglasses and hats WHILE we try to swim without a life jacket. So Jon swam with her in tow and I carried all the crap. Luckily on the other side was a hut where they were selling floatation devices like tubes and life jackets for $.50!
Not kidding needing 4WD/The first check point before REAL hiking

Dave in fron of the 'life-saving' stand

Lori & Ellie/The beautiful canyon view


We pay for a life jacket and drink one of the bottles of water and we were on our way again into further parts of the canyon. By now the walls of the canyon are 125 feet high and absolutely breathtaking. Most of the 'hiking' now is swimming and portage across rocky 'sand bars'. Ellie was towed by Lori most of the way in and I think both girls liked hanging with the other. I felt again like a bad dad because every time I went to help Ellie swim it was always "No Daddy, I want Lori to do it." Ugh, can't win for losing. So we get to what amount to probably half way to the end of the Canyon and we come upon a cliff jumping location that has different levels of roughly 20' at the lowest and about 50' at the highest and stage in between. We all swim up to a spot across the river to watch a few jump and quickly Jonathan and others swim over to participate. I of course needed to be responsible and stay with my 'helpless and fragile four year old' and watch from afar. But as much as life usually gets me, I soon find that the urge to throw myself from the edge of a cliff into water from AT LEAST 30' is all too tempting and that one of the girls could watch Ellie for a moment or two. Just before I swim over we see Jonathan at the highest perch after painstakingly climb the 'tricky' rock edge to get to his perch. With a bit of light banter to encourage him, Ellie gives him a five count and whoosh he jumps...splash! Perfect form, now I'm not saying that it looked like form that had been practiced and perfected elsewhere - say the cliffs in Pella - I'm just saying it was a safe landing in the water here;-) I join the group on the rocks and begin my ascent to my perch at about 30' above the water and Ellie gives me a three count (not sure where the factors of 10' effect the number of seconds I get before I plunge to the water before, but it did) and I jump...SPlatsh - yeah that's what is sounds like when the legs aren't completely together. Can you say WEGGIE? Not to be without a perfect jump I climb up to the same perch and do it again - this time legs together and arms in tight. The only fault was non-pointed toes so the flats of the feet sting a bit, but success enough for these cliffs. It's starting to get more chilly as the sun is moving creating shadows in the canyon so we start the return swim.
Cliff jumping spot-upper right is 50'/Bob enjoys the swim

The group minus Michelle and Ellie/The Three Muskateers

Uncle Jonny with Squeeker/Dad with Elliebird


Not sure why we didn't figure it out earlier, but one of the girls - Amira - was in an inner tube and offered Ellie to ride in her lap instead of swimming. Due to the water getting colder and her stomach being much emptier, I think Ellie was more open to this offer. So floating back to the lifesaver hut was much more fun and a lot faster. We gave back the floatation devices and thought to ask about the boat back this time instead of hiking back over those crazy rocks - it turned out to only cost $.50 a person. Uhh yeah, we're riding that bad boy back to the dry land. Although we had to wait for a boat to return it was the best $1 I spent all week. (Actually as before I didn't have my money with me and actually Robby paid for the boat and I still owe him for it - Jon can you cover me now that I'm back in the Sates? Thanks Robby!)

We finally get back to the cars and are all absolutely famished and Ellie has asked no fewer than 50 times 'Can we eat now?' PB&Js are promptly started and the chips and drinks come out. The ladies change into dry clothes with one another holding up a towel while the guys continue to eat more food - typical. We're all refreshed and full we head back to Managua in the same groups as we arrived in. Along the way Lori captured the hilariousness in our car on her digital camera and it really captures just how great Ellie had been all week during all of our travels.
"I can't feel my face."
"Crazy faces"
"Silly Goose"

We got back to the casita after once again going through the car shell game and along the way picking up all of the things that we had forgotten to take to the canyon. Oh well, it's the thought that supposedly counts right? This proves that when a four year old is involved and swimming is the activity that no, actions are more important than the thoughts. Thankfully we were with great friends that all took turns covering for a deficient dad and did it all with smiles on their faces. Thank you all for an unforgettable trip - both to the canyon as well as the trip as a whole. Everyone of you 20-30 somethings are doing amazing things with your lives and you should feel proud of the lives you lead. You are making a difference in this big world of ours one life and one day at a time and you are proof that one person can make a difference. It's amazing to think that with the help and direction of God, you can not only make a difference today with the people you meet, but if blessed by God, you make change happen for generations to come and that's what these people are doing by teaching the next generations and by sharing the Lord with people that aren't always thought about. God bless you all, may God's hand continue to protect and bless you as you forge forward.
I'll leave you with a gorgeous sunset