Eric Blackburn

San Juan del Sur

Lisa

We last left you from the Houston airport. When we boarded the plane and George took the seat in the middle across the aisle from the rest of us. he offered it to Kris who declined,much to his dismay when we saw who G's seat mates were; two very nice looking young ladies who were quite interested in conversation. Halfway through the flight Dennis also had an encounter with the ladies. Out of the blue a lady(although Kris and I still aren't quite sure if she was a he or a she)came and plopped herself on his lap.She said that she thought that he was someone else but seemed in no hurry to get off of him. I have been having some fun teasing them all. We had an otherwise uneventful flight. As planned Eric was waiting for us at the airport. It's great to see him again.

Kris

We made it. So as I type(George made me go first, again) I am sitting outside on the patio of our hotel at about 9 o'clock at night enjoying a cool ocean breeze. We arrived in Managua late Friday night and stayed across from the airport at the very Nicaraguan Best Western. Wonderfully loud disco tunes from the bar band lullabied us to sleep. After breakfast we piled Eric, his family and the four of us in to a small van for the 3 hours ride to San Juan del Sur. SJDS is a great little beach town. Lot's of gringo beach bums hanging out and interesting ex-pats to learn tricks from. Tomorrow we plan on moving into a little B&B and make a plan for the rest of our time.

What a great trip so far!! The trip down from Managua to SJDS was good. Big city, country side and extreme poverty. I can't believe how fortunate we are to live were we do. Enjoy winter as the cost is minimal compared to what you see here. Couple of great fish meals here, friendly people, planning day tomorrow, Rivas Monday and Cangrejo sewing centre Tuesday.

Dennis

The trip from Managua to SJDS was interesting, the road was paved 2 lane the whole way, very good condition. We went by a number of Police road checks but were only stopped once. The cop looked at our passports and asked a couple questions, nothing too unnerving. The countryside was different then I expected, lots of big fields with cattle grazing (the cows still real skinny), Eric tells me beef is a big export product here. Also sugarcane and rice fields. We also could see two volcano’s in the distance, and yes they are quite active. Not far from SJDS is a ridge running north/south, the continental divide. On the west all the water runs to the Pacific on the east to the east to the Caribbean.. Just before we left Managua, Eric got a call that one of the elders from Congrego (58 years old) had died that morning and the funeral was that afternoon at 3 o’clock. Naturally being Eric’s Canadian friends we were invited, naturally we excepted the invitation, we were a little late for the parade, 4 young men carrying the casket through the streets from where he died to the cemetery followed by most of the community members. I was surprised by the lack of formality, no one spoke about the deceased , a couple of guys mixed a batch of cement, they placed the coffin into a crypt, covered it with the cement and the gathering dispersed. Eric tells us there would be a Wake like ceremony once they returned to the village. After that we waked back to the hotel and then to the water front for a cold beverage and to watch the sun plummet into the ocean. Dinner was fresh Red Snapper and a nice white wine. Dinner for 4, 2 bottles of wine $75.00 US.

George

Houston we are a go!

Three o'clock in the morning feels earlier when you are getting up then and not going to bed. But, when your international flight leaves at 6:40am and it is suggested you arrive 3 hours before it's no joke. With heightened security for all flights entering the United States customs is an ordeal to say the least. After a half dozen lines, from ticket check-in, to a holding pen, questioning from a customs agent bag check, shoes off, metal detector and finally a very intimate pat down from Ernie we managed to be the last group to board, second last row of a totally full plane. After an airline breakfast of Total cereal and a cake-like muffin I tried to sleep the rest of the 4 hour flight to Houston. Made it most of the way asleep until my strange dreams were interrupted by some jostling from some pretty good turbulence. I felt bad for the young girl in the last row who didn’t like the bumps. Made it to Houston in one piece though and now just killing time before the last leg of flying gets us to Managua.

Kris

Kris pretty much has it covered. George and I got the fifth degree from the immigration officer who was doing his patriotic duty in protecting his country. I also got the pat down before being grilled about the contents of my backpack. Apparently it set off alarms. So far the best part of the day is when George got I.D.'d when ordering a beer at lunch. Let the adventure begin!!

Lisa

I wasn’t attractive enough for the “pat-down” nice old lady just said get lost!! I probably will. Tight fit on the plane and fairly rough in spots but managed a few winks of sleep. Seems that practicing “napping” is paying off. Big Texas beef burger for a lunch and off on the final leg.

Dennis

We meet up with Ryan for a couple minutes last night, I relayed a terrible story that Steven Armitage had told us earlier in the evening – it seems a young girl in Edmonton had to be taken from her parents because they were beating her. They sent her to live with her grandparents but again had to be removed from their care because they also beat her. They tried a foster home, same result. Family services finally asked her where she thought she would be safe, she said she wanted to go live with the Edmonton Oilers, they don't beat anybody!

George

!

Truck - Plane - Car

Where are we going?

Our destination is San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, about 130km south west of the Managua, capitol city of Nicaragua. The sewing centre is near there, but I'm not certain on the exact location yet.

Thursday is a routine 6 hour drive to Edmonton, forecast is good, shouldn't be a big deal.

Friday starts with a 3 am shuttle to the airport for a 6 am flight. The travel breaks down like this.

DC - Edmonton 600 km drive.

Edmonton - Houston Texas - 3000 km flight

Houston - Managua 2100 km flight

Managua - San Juan del Sur 130 km drive.

Ready or Not here we Go!

Ok- where do we start?

How about introductions.
First (the oldest guy gets to go first) is Dennis Armitage, joining Dennis is his oldest son Kris Armitage, I'm George Richmond and my wife is Lisa.

Ok- this blogging is tougher then I thought it would be!

I had this bright idea that a blog would be a good way to keep the Sunrise Rotary Club and family and friends up to speed on this trip, but like most of my ideas it's turning into more work than expected.

So what's the trip all about? Most of you know but for those just tuning in it's like this, last spring the Dawson Creek Sunrise Club heard a presentation from a Coal Miner from Tumbler Ridge. Not a typical miner this Eric Blackburn fellow, he spoke about the desperate need of the people of Nicaragua and in specifically about the plight of single mothers and their need for a way to make a honest living. (but I'm not going to write this whole story - check out his web page at www.worldkidsfoundation.org) Eric pitched a project for a Sewing Centre in the jungle village of Cangrejo and the Sunrise signed on to fund it.

So fast forward to the present, Eric and his team have the Sewing Centre built and we're off for the Grand Opening and Dedication Ceremony!

So Dennis, Lisa and I drive to Edmonton on Thursday where Kris will join us for a 6 am (shuttle gets us at 3 am) Departure to Houston Tx then on to Managua where Eric meets us and the adventure begins.

Better get packing!

George