[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6Ea0uk-4rz0/UjUjzjFlf5I/AAAAAAAAW8g/1r5Ez7xy5BU/s144-c-o/P9140017.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage15VenezuelaBoarderColombiaToCaracas#5923680253374726034″ caption=”Martina, Christian and his wife Ana were looking nicely after me in Puerto Cabello. Thanks!” type=”image” alt=”P9140017.JPG” ]

Fast crossing to Puerto Cabello

Pos: here
Loc: Puerto Cabello
Acc: Hotel Bahia Azul
Dist: 39,3 km
Start: 5:50 End: 13:50

I got warned about rats on the Cayos – on the first one three days ago there were none, this one was not only infested with mosquitoes, but with these cute little animals also. Fortunately they only discovered me only in the early morning, not like the mosquitoes. But after the initial introduction while making the first steps into the well worn bush camp, I looked at those only from inside my tent and I was happy that it was hollow. A hammock? No way…how should I go peeing at night, type my update or cook my dinner if not sheltered inside my tent? They would bite me through the hammock into my precious backside, as they even did into the soles of my feet through then tent when I stuck them as usual on the ceiling for a relaxing position.

The rats behaved (almost) well, showed up only around early morning, the rest of the night they were probably feasting on the camp left overs on the land spit from the beach bums barbecue. They were obviously full and not tempted to bite through my tent, although I had well wrapped food bags inside. But I was on watch and shone my strong torch through the mesh a couple of times which made them climb off my kayak with some noise. At the beginning of the night I heard some scratching occasionally, but only from crabs. the rats are way more noisy! Besides theses animals, the night was quiet, no people in motorboats.

In the morning I deployed first time on this trip my secret weapon – my head bug net! Very useful, or I’d have more bites in my face. They seem not to be able to get through my fleece shirt, and the long windbreaker pants are so bulky in most spots, so this layer plus my lycra shorts underneath seem to prevent them also, including my neoprene socks. I stripped my long pants and socks only standing in waist deep water and headed off the generally beautiful, but biting animals infested island as fast as possible.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CApazXUBv4w/UjUjA-B4bPI/AAAAAAAAW8g/nPrVH0rbyjQ/s144-c-o/P9140011.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage15VenezuelaBoarderColombiaToCaracas#5923679384433618162″ caption=”A shitload of containers from “home” – Hamburg Süd company.” type=”image” alt=”P9140011.JPG” ]

I opted for the direct crossing to Puerto Cabello, boring, but along the coast would be a big detour. Approaching the city, big mountains piled eventually up all to the east, nice! About 25 tanker and container ships were anchoring offshore, waiting to be loaded or unloaded. When I came close to the marina,  very noisy Saturday afternoon beach life greeted me to the right, plus a line up of quite some big and expensive motor yachts. No sailboats though…here’s where the money is sitting! I have heard foreign sail boats are avoiding Venezuela for security reasons.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-L7mz83alJZQ/UjUjLSfhB1I/AAAAAAAAW8g/hStFpxH30gw/s144-c-o/P9140012.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage15VenezuelaBoarderColombiaToCaracas#5923679561725314898″ caption=”Puerto Cabello city beach” type=”image” alt=”P9140012.JPG” ]

I got very much welcomed by the president of the yacht club and by Christian Teppa and his wife Ana with their sweet 3-year old daughter Martina. Christian had booked a hotel for me and already bought fresh water and found even milk powder! A miracle it was available… many thanks for looking so nicely after me, Christian! There were even three other kayakers just coming from their day’s paddle to the outer islands – Venezuela has some kayakers! After my shower a lunch/ dinner at the yacht club’s restaurant some more quick food shopping in a very noisy supermarket with long lines at the cashier filled the afternoon. Sleeping in air condition is so good for me! I will continue paddling tomorrow morning.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-45C4nf6imBM/UjUj5Ul1HMI/AAAAAAAAW8g/htsJdGvXsts/s144-c-o/P9140014.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage15VenezuelaBoarderColombiaToCaracas#5923680352562650306″ caption=”They have some expensive yachts in Puerto Cabello!” type=”image” alt=”P9140014.JPG” ]