Psychological Doldrums Among the Windstorm

Popoyo is known to be a windy place. Nicaragua's large inland lake and a warm ocean offshore create a wind system that channels air off the coast nearly everyday of the year. Our first few days in Popoyo it was windy but still manageable. I could still surf early mornings or late afternoons when the wind died down some. During the day we walked the beach and looked for shells.

On our third night here the wind increased intensity to a whole new level. It didn't die down for three days, not even at night. Karen and I took to wearing earplugs at night because the wind made such a loud wailing noise whistling through the trees and around the house. The ocean turned into a frothy white mush. The beach had mini haboobs blowing down it. Sand walls about ten feet high stung our backs as we walked along. Being outside in the wind was not much fun. We were confined more or less to our house and cabin fever started to sink in.

Our digs. Wyatt's room on the left, Karen and I upstairs.

The kitchen/table. It's a sweet spot.

The classic Nicaraguan shower (a pipe out of the wall).

To entertain ourselves we made banana bread, tried to make kites, and played trivia. The highlight of our days was catching the fruit truck and planning our meals. One afternoon Wyatt and I paddled out to the beach break. The wind was so intense it was a challenge to stay in one spot. The spray off the back of the waves was like a downpour of pea-sized drops that pelted your face and chest. We caught a few waves and began to get cold. The water was much colder than Costa Rica from the wind blowing over it all the time. The wind chill plus the cooler water made it hard to stay out for more than an hour.

Our kites, neither of which flew.

The water was still very refreshing to jump into though. It is an arid, desert-like climate here and the days are very hot. We would brave the wind and make it to the beach at least once a day to cool down. After several days of heavy wind, the beach had changed. All the loose dry sand was gone and only a hard crust and larger grained sand remained. The beach was covered in intricate patterns formed by the wind and was quite beautiful to look at.

Dropping into a windy, small right-hander, beach break.

Frothy, windy, surf.

Today the wind has finally died down some. We went for a walk on the beach this afternoon and saw a sea turtle come ashore and lay its eggs. Unfortunately we weren't the only ones. Some locals saw it too and promptly dug the eggs out from under it before it even finished laying. We felt rather helpless but who were we, three white gringos to tell the locals what they can or cannot do. We had to walk away. It was a difficult moment.

Beautiful creature.

It is our last day here. Tomorrow we are off to San Juan del Sur.

Hope all is well back home,

Chet and Karen

A gecko. These guys are all over our walls and they chirp all night long.