[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Qjw9CysywHk/UWGWwJ_jh8I/AAAAAAAAUiQ/NgaQ9tpHfik/s144-c-o/IMAG0043.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage14Colombia2BoarderPanamaToBoarderVenezuela#5864133943873472450″ caption=”Capitán de Fregata Hernando Mattos, chef of the Coastguard of the Caribbean. Thanks for your help!” type=”image” alt=”IMAG0043.jpg” ]

Pos: here
Loc: Cartagena
Acc: Navy room

I slept not long and not great in the new room, the strong ventilator needed to run, but you have to get used to the breeze. But I did already some work!

Uli Diekmann came at 10 am to meet me, and it was good to chat again a bit German! He was also present at the meeting with Hernando Mattes, the chef of the coast guard of the Caribbean in Colombia. They prepared a great presentation of all the following coast, and showed me the tricky spots. But unfortunately they don’t have a big “floating hotel” any more available…:-( – thanks anyway for the luxury of the first days! Back to basic camping… 🙂

For the following section of the Colombian coast this means they will send always a small coast guard boat from the different next stations to escort me, but if I also can sleep on it is not clear, depending on the boat size. But now they admitted *their* worry is not the threatening of other people kidnapping or killing me or stealing my gear while camping, This is eventually supposed to be quite safe here! I also though that actually…

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-i2x0W_xYFHg/UWGXQsEiClI/AAAAAAAAUiQ/TsHrPoqDmMg/s144-c-o/IMAG0042.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage14Colombia2BoarderPanamaToBoarderVenezuela#5864134502776965714″ caption=”Two other types of the self-built and now seized semi-submarine drug runners. The Atlantik side is not free of them!” type=”image” alt=”IMAG0042.jpg” ]

Their worry is only my safety on paddling – I may be capsizing and drowning in the warm water! 🙂 *This* is actually the least of my worries in theses waters with my experience in the conditions I experienced so far… even the maybe
a bit wavy rivermouths are not really scaring me off. Well rested I just have to punch through against the now probably direct head wind creating maybe high and confused, but rather non-violent waves. The turn-around of my very first day on the Caribbean coming out of the Lower Chargres river mouth was rather related to my tiredness and to the non-existing campsites in end of day distance plus the soon upcoming ship’s traffic. And if the sea is that high again, I just stay on the beach!

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PmPqWlFSojs/UWGW4F7KfiI/AAAAAAAAUiQ/rT9q6xfp994/s144-c-o/IMAG0041.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage14Colombia2BoarderPanamaToBoarderVenezuela#5864134080220266018″ caption=”Three more other types of the self-built and now seized semi-submarine drug runners.” type=”image” alt=”IMAG0041.jpg” ]

But as they won’t let me go alone anyway, I assume, I still apreciate the option of paddling empty when the headwind is getting strong, plus *maybe* sleeping on the small boat bug-free in a bit of a breeze. But I may also be camping again solo on the beach and only occasionally sleeping in the next four upcoming Navy stations. All depends on the boat size! I still think the support of the Navy in this way is better than no support in theses latitudes. Thanks for the help of Capitán Hernando Mattosand the whole coastguard crew!

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VY0M-qhidiE/UWGYIrje7bI/AAAAAAAAUiQ/U_gobqya0yA/s144-c-o/IMAG0049.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage14Colombia2BoarderPanamaToBoarderVenezuela#5864135464711024050″ caption=”In the old city in Spanish colony style, the ‘Policia Nacional’ rides in style!” type=”image” alt=”IMAG0049.jpg” ]

Uli took me the afternoon to his apartment where I had fast internet and could upload pictures quickly and skype my son. Later, we went into the old city, and he was the best guide I could get! Living here already for four years and me not being his first visitor to show around, he knew all details and will show me tomtorow and Monday even more. I was really like a dry sponge after so much remoteness on the water and on the beaches and was soaking up all the pretty views of this really worth seeing old city, even judging it by international standards! But I was still tired that day, and will continue the other two days to get taken around – after my work is done! Uli also invited me to a fancy restaurant, and we had a great meal sitting outside on the plaza. Thanks for your support, Uli!

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8vG7pbFXXQE/UWGYKqGsJoI/AAAAAAAAUiQ/30IhqxSvfvM/s144-c-o/IMAG0046.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage14Colombia2BoarderPanamaToBoarderVenezuela#5864135498681558658″ caption=”What kind of strange things do those cars have mounted on the roof?Google Street View cameras!” type=”image” alt=”IMAG0046.jpg” ]

I fell into bed very tired at 9 pm, but mourning a bit the last easy weather paddling day today…you can’t have it all!