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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
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