[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dLQHXKp6peg/UW2J-btGniI/AAAAAAAAUqw/mqB-wGND8uM/s144-c-o/P4120007.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage14Colombia2BoarderPanamaToBoarderVenezuela#5867497595215453730″ caption=”Inland lake corner before Rio Magdalena” type=”image” alt=”P4120007.JPG” ]

Pos: here
Loc: before Rio Magdalena
Acc: tent
Dist: 17,5 km
Start: 6:25 End: 11:05

I had the vision to have already passed today the rivermouth of the Rio Magdalena – I even wanted to launch about an hour before sunrise.
But the wind did *not* go down in the early morning hours as it did the last three days where it was calm between about 1 am and 9 am. It blew all night, maybe a bit less, but still around 15 knots. So launching at night no way. I even had my doubts if it would be worth going out at all! It will be at least hard work. 15 knots on the start already, surely increasing during the day.

But the plan B said at least to reach the corner where the long breakwater of the river starts. I launched easily through the low surf, but caught one or two not too trashy waves. These surf waves you can not calculate as nicely as the Pacific rollers, but they are less violent. Didn’t I write yesterday I need still to secure all stuff under my deck net – just in case? I noticed I lost my brand new drink bottle on this launch – how stupid!!! I bought a very nice sports drink bottle with insulation and great valve from a popular brand in Cartagena, black and white for sure – and I left it under my deck net unsecured on that launch, though having already been warned the day before…shit happens.

But I didn’t want to give it up so easy, turned around and surfed in again with no problem. But all search was in vain…it was gone forever for me. Someone will find it one day and has a nice bottle 🙁

The second launch suddenly had way more and higher breakers, and I was really fighting hard to get out. Timing here is so hard to predict, the waves simply come as they want to. I got dangerously side washed close to another small rocky breakwater, but could free myself in time without capsizing, thank goodness.

The rest of the paddling day was only for a stubborn Taurus – crawling along with 3-3,5 km/h into 15-20 knots wind for ridiculous 17,4 km in 5 1/2 hrs. Fortunately Punta Sabanilla didn’t show much of extra breakers, and around the corner the water even turned calmer – but with even more headwind and maybe even current against me! I was not really speeding up…

I decided to land at a small exit of the inland estuary which looked inviting and had only low surf any more. The far corner was looking too artificial to me, and I was sick of crawling along. The distance to the river mouth exit is about 6,5 km now.

I was now searching on the beach for an empty simple water bottle to replace my fancy sports drink bottle – first time I was happy to find in the beach trash a not very old reasonably clean looking one for the next day’s use until I *may* be able to get a new fancy one…better than *no* drink bottle.

It is supposed to be quite rough on that exit of Colombia’s largest river, one should cross or enter only in the early morning hours with low wind. The forecast for tomorrow is not the greatest, I need to feel how the wind drops down this night – or not. Or I may have to have a full day off, as Sunday is a bit better again – or paddling inland through the channels like David Bottome has done, a fellow kayaker from Venezuela who was so clever to paddle the coast of Venezuela and Colombia up to the Panama canal from east to west. This must be a fully different trip then! Kind of a flash ride…

But the channels are with I think three times dragging and one time portaging fully, and long and HOT! Not sure if I fancy that…

At least I am camping today in a nice breeze with *no* flying sand, a bit off the beach. Clever…it is not too funny to sit *inside* the tent in a sand storm getting sand blasted all afternoon…