Jack started his day by noticing the Nicaraguan “bacon” on our breakfast plates. Just like the eggs and the grass-fed beef, Nica bacon is out of this world – all natural, impossible to describe.

In US restaurants, Jack naps on the floor while we eat. If we have something for him, he is permitted to enjoy it after we have left. Because of the gatos and perros who keep an eye on the restaurant, Jack was given his own chair during mealtime but his lack of interest in our food was still expected. After breakfast, in his polite way of asking, he inquired about how much longer we were going to sit there. I put him to work for his share of our Nica breakfast. I sent him to deliver items to Josh who was chatting with some guests several yards away (take, Josh, find, go), and then sent him back to get them. He talked, waved, did his “Hi-Ho Silver” routine and caused everything to come to a stop as people watched. Perro hambriento.

It is the windy season here in Pacific-coastal Nicaragua. The waves have drawn some Aussies to the Ranch. I am supposed to be doing some photography but the swinging chairs on the casita patio and a good book drew Jack and me into vigorous inactivity for a couple hours while Josh worked.

The afternoon found us back at the beach where the only place to escape the blowing sand was in the low surf right at the water’s edge. Jack investigated the stinky remains of sea life, ran, scared birds into the air and got impossibly dirty. We came upon a pair of oxen left to rest under a shade tree and observed rush-hour traffic – village men who work at the ranch riding their bicycles along the beach and back to their homes in Limon.

I filmed the sun falling into the water as we participated in an important ritual – sitting in reverence at the close of the day with some flower of the cane.

On the occasion of the full moon, a local relief organization leads an all-night hike up to the rim of an active volcano. The proceeds benefit children of the village. We decided instead to grab the perro (and he, his flashlight) and take off on the quad into the wild Nicaraguan countryside to see what critters roam about after dark. Jack scented the night air and we caught the glow of a few pair of eyes. Noche bonita!

Move on to day five