Welcome to Canoa

Day by day, we encountered beautiful river crossings, mountain passes, and backdrop after backdrop of perfect scenery. The high altitude started to affect us, and one ‘good’ night of illness put a damper on our bodies. Kenn says it was the dehydration and high altitude, I could swear it was the 4 day old unrefrigerated and unpasteurized cheese we kept on eating. Regardless, I teased Kenn when I could hear him disclose his weaknesses into his trusty aluminum camping pot. I know, gross! but desperate situations call for drastic measures.  Less than 4 hours later, at 4 am sharp, I joined the symphony of stomach rejections.

We must not forget, The Drifter put this trip into motion. Kenn and I were unclear of our long-term plan, but consensus was met that we needed the ocean, its warmth, and its copious levels of oxygen. We arrived to our selected town of Canoa, eager that it would fulfill our surfing lifestyle expectations. The first day was a little disappointing. I ate an omelet. I don’t even like omelets but I managed to order one. My Spanish clearly needed a little more work.

It did not take long before this little peculiar town started to warm up to us. My first time on a longboard, and surrounded by teenage tricksters ripping on their 6 foot boards, the ocean called my name to join and play. Locals observed the longboard rental gringos as we entered their turf, one turtle roll at a time. A beautiful 6 foot swell hovered its way towards me. Despite the peppy teens eager to catch the next set, I knew this one was mine and there was no question about it. The board stabilized as I drifted down the face of the wave. My adrenaline elevated me on my two feet, and I carved away at this little beast until I conquered its last whim.  Two smiles of teeth quickly surrounded my glorious first wave, as they shouted in Spanish…

“BUENA OLA! BUENA OLA”

These words were indefinitely carved into my brain as the locals shared their excitement and appreciation. All of a sudden, Canoa felt like family.

Hostal Bambu mothered our every ounce of laziness. Many refer to this sensation as vacation. Either way, the satisfaction is equal among us all. One, TWO mango smoothies before breakfast, a quickie in the ocean surf, followed by a siesta in our bamboo huts, and the thought of departure was as distant as the horizon ahead of us.