Home   >   Front Page   >   Featured Articles   >   Swimming the Laguna Apoyo – Part 2

Swimming the Laguna Apoyo – Part 2

By Neal Graham

The first part of this article is at https://expatguidenicaragua.com/swimming-laguna-apoyo/

Today (Sunday, February 1, 2015) I drove my rented Rav4 to the Laguna de Apoyo and swam unaccompanied from San Simian to Norome (now Apoyo Resort) then on to a next point I knew to be about another kilometer.  Then, of course, I had to swim back, giving me a 4-kilometer swim without touching bottom.  I wanted to go on to el triangelo, where the road turns to go back up the mountain, but decided not to push this experimental outing too far.  I followed the shoreline, staying about 100 meters out, hoping to replicate the measured distance of the shore road just above.

This was an extremely difficult, nearly impossible swim.  I had no idea the Laguna would be so rough, with high waves that constantly broadsided me in both directions and  washed over me completely.  At times I felt thrashed about to the extent I lost my direction and found myself swimming away from the shoreline rather than with it.   I had to constantly monitor the shore to keep myself from drifting farther out into the Laguna.  The last two hundred meters were the most difficult.

I could see the wooden dock at San Simian, but just couldn’t seem to get there…not because I was too tired, but because the waves and currents just wouldn’t let me move forward.  When I finally reached the dock I was able to climb up the ladder, but found I could hardly stand and could not walk more than a few steps without weaving back and forth to keep my balance.  A very nice family sunning on the lower deck immediately showed concern and asked did I need help.  I told them, no, I only needed to sit down for awhile.  I had been in the water for two and one-half hours.

I believe this experience taught me two things.  First, I can swim across the Laguna using one of several routes not more than 4 – 5 kilometers.  Second, I don’t think I want to in these conditions.  Do you know, perhaps having lived or owned property at the Laguna, at what time of year do those calm, glasssy surfaces occur?  I have spent several nights at San Simian over the years, and cannot recall these kinds of conditions.  Also, I saw no equipment at San Simian that would be suitable to escort me across the Laguna.  I did encounter, just off Norome, three couples in sturdy yellow kayaks that might do the job, even though they were struggling to maintain control.

I cannot say this nagging vision has come to an end;  only that it will require more time and planning.

Neal Graham

[email protected]

 

5 Comments