[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RuG1v2fZHCM/UX1d6Dz02UI/AAAAAAAAU-M/_cFrKvlCFNs/s144-c-o/P4250041.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage14Colombia2BoarderPanamaToBoarderVenezuela#5871952741197470018″ caption=”This boat had seen better days!” type=”image” alt=”P4250041.JPG” ]

Pos: here
Loc: Riohacha
Acc: tent
Dist: 22,9 km
Start: 5:20 End: 10:10

My friendly English speaking policemen from last night promised to back in a few hours to check again if I am ok – well, thanks! But that he eventually came noisily with about 10 local men in tow from the nearby community and at 9.30 pm when I was already deep asleep, was something not coming out of an European brain…

I heard them approaching accompanied by two barking dogs, quickly looked at my GPS-watch (my real watch is broken…), and decided “NO”, this can’t be real! Fortunately this was really my friendly policeman and not whatever gang…but I did not answer on the first call, and only on the second or third I “woke” up, and said impatiently I was already sleeping. Correct! I need my rest after such a day, and no friendly meant visit of a bunch of locals at 9.30 pm!!! He proudly said “I am coming with the community!” Thanks, but I am already sleeping and prefer to continue! My second answer was probably sounding rather unfriendly, and they went away as noisily as they came. Strange culture…

All night, I saw the 3/4 and now quite brightly shining moon, listening to the wind dying down and accordingly the wind waves calming on the sea. This would have been a perfect night for a night paddle! I decided this would be the only solution, as after that stupid fight into the headwind yesterday wasting energy and not  gaining distance I needed to make a decision. I will paddle next night from around 1 am until maybe 10 am, or as long as the wind is down and my energy lasting. It may make sense to go even earlier, but I agreed with my coast guard boys to probably go at 1 am. The moon is up from the beginning of the night, and only in the early morning when everything is dead calm anyway there is now an hour or two of darkness, which will change soon anyway.

So if I will be able to get enough sleep during the heat of the day, being possibly sand blasted in my tent, this may be my schedule for going around this windy peninsula. But only if the wind and waves are really down at this time of the night! I also already took a careful look at the beautiful connection road going south east directly into Venezuela… if my plan is won’t work. But I will give it a try! The coast guard guys luckily agreed and thought this makes very much sense. Great!

Today I was planning to paddle only until Riohacha, where I needed to get my exit stamp from the immigration office and to do a bit of food shopping to last hopefully until the first bigger city in Venezuela. Also at 10 am the wind was already quite nasty…
My stop in Riohacha got thankfully perfectly organized – the coast guard station is actually not here, but 25 km further north, so the guys tied up on a jetty, and called the police to drive me to the immigration office in the city. Thanks!

We met four immigration officers there, but they were unable to give me an exit stamp in this office. Three officers took me and my coast guard helper in their car to their office at the airport, which had computer connection and was obviously the right place for an exit stamp! Well…takes just a bit longer, but eventually I had my stamp.

I was eventually also able to change my stinky wet paddling clothes in the airport toilet, as on the public beach besides the jetty where I landed was no privacy. Another policeman was actually meanwhile guarding my kayak. Many thanks again!

I also met up with Francisco, an online friend who received some spare Aquapacs for me which originally arrived at Uli’s place in Cartagena. Thanks, Uli and Francisco! All in my hands now. The old but still working ones I donated to my coast guard friends who were quite happy about the little presents!

Did they deserve it after those days? Well, yes, the good will counts…and also the poor guys were suffering yesterday in the waves so much, that they obviously didn’t noticed that my one and only left behind on the boat, sewn by myself and embroidered with my name, fancy gear bag was rolling so much around in the boat movements that the four heavy water bags and one food bag having been inside fell out and my precious big gear bag flew away into the water. Obviously sinking instantly, as they were not able to fish it out…oh guys!!! Usually I check on my gear bags carefully myself, once not, shit happens! Fortunately I have three more, and I really need all three now.

But the next spot the police men drove me to today was a big supermarket, where I could add to my food list until I reach Venezuela. All escorted by a coast guard guy, who also helped me to recharg my data plan on my cell phone. Always a stupid job…

I was then allowed to camp on the small beach right besides the jetty, to watch the wind and to see if we will be able to paddle tomorrow night at 1 am. Sandblasted and in the tent in the hot sun, I had to organize my food and gear now… Thanks for the taxi service, and to keep an eye again on me tonight!

Despite all small mis-happs in communication and coordination with my escort guys sometimes, I still very much appreciate the help of the Armada de Colombia and that of the local police. Without them I’d have a much harder job on all my duties! Muchas gracias!