On October 19, I packed up and left Managua. I passed through a wealthier neighborhood and shot some video of how the other half lived. After that, I started the 5oo meter climb to reach the Masaya Volcano. When I reached the top, I paid $6 to enter the park and followed a very steep road for five kilometers. The road became so steep that I had to push the bike up. I stopped part way for lunch but found that my avocado and orange drink had gone bad and the tortillas were stale. I finally reached the edge of the crater and stood in wonder as I gazed down into the volcano that only one year ago had erupted. I flew back down the road and found a place to stay in Masaya.

         The next morning, I had a breakfast of fruit, juice, scrambled eggs mixed with tomatoes and onions, rice, beans and tea for $2.50. As I sat on the patio eating, I met the two German girls who had been at the volcano the day before. I stocked up on food, water and money and headed down the Highway towards Granada which would branch off towards Nandaime. The road was very bad and, with the heat and my exhausted state, it took me forever to cross the mountain range. I finally reached an intersection with no signs indicating where the road was going, but with the Mombacho Volcano in front of me, I was sure it was the road to Nandaime.

         I arrived in Nandaime, bought some drinks and flew down the next section of road that had become level. I thought of stopping at the Nandaime River for lunch and a swim but when I arrived there, it was crawling with people. I decided to eat lunch further down the river but it was not long before another crowd gathered. I had discovered that if I pretended I didn't understand what they were asking, they soon left me alone. That night, I camped just north of Rivas.