Pos: here
Loc: Punta Mero
Acc: tent
Dist: 58,3 km
Start: 6:30 End: 16:45

Tomorrow:
Estimated landing: Around Las Garzas
Estimated starting time: Right after sunrise
Estimated landing time: Well before sunset

Paddling feels good when you are well rested! Not a single person was bothering me at my tent site those two nights -perfecto.
The weather pattern is quite stable here – in the morning the land breeze which was rough all night, then an hour of hot lull, and soon comes the nicely pushing sea breeze, but with some wind waves. But all great, when the water is warm and even a wash over and into the spray deck just feels refreshing! I eventually opted for my hooded fleece shirt to protect also my neck from sunburn, and had to leave the sleeves down all day. Fleece is the best in constant wet paddling! It doesn’t rub, and when wet is still relatively warm, but refreshing.

The landscape didn’t change too much, still sandy dunes and hills, but it has a bit more green now. and after the extensive oil rigging platform and industry on shore, now as the coast turned north east and the water pee warm, the tourist industry has taken over. Not in massive numbers as a European or North American would imagine, but you could clearly tell the holiday towns like Punta Sal from the fishing villages like Cancas. Off Cancas were anchoring about a hundred fishing boats, plus the biggest coastguard boat I have seen so far in Peru! Did they look for me? 🙂 Probably not.

Off the holiday towns, I saw already two kite surfers, two jet skis towing bananas with tourist riding on top, some deep sea angling boats, horse riding on the beach and whatever you can imagine to please tourists. But they were not *that* many to see all over…even the big resorts looked somehow deserted.

I paddled also along a lovely stretch of remote dunes, but it was way too early to land. When I felt I could go in after 50 km, the beach was packed either with hotels, fenced private houses and the beach was steep.There were a few public gaps, mostly on the river mouth, but I simply didn’t dare to go in. The landing area before I wanted to go in looked all much easier! It was also highest tide, which makes the sea more crashing on the beach. I eventually turned into a small bay, where I spotted a soccer field behind a beach which was looking a bit more shallow. I wouldn’t be able to pull up my heavy kayak on a steep sandy beach! Plus the side wash looked bad on those areas.

My beach now was perfect, not private, and I just had to move a bit to the right to find a dry spot in the highest tide. I also spotted a shower in front of a private house next to my soccer field – I was asking, and was allowed to use it! A fresh water shower with full clothing doesn’t feel too bad! Saves my own fresh water also…

I gave the ladies living there my card, and soon they came all out for a nice picture! Seven ladies of all ages – todo la familia!
Just for the change – ladies only and not men greeting me on the beach! They invited me also for dinner, but thanks, there is nothing but my night’s tent routine, when it is reasonable late…but good to know there are nice neighbors! For both sides…
My Spanish is getting better and better…at least on the small talk.