[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VVMlNyOF6FE/UyrvMFByDOI/AAAAAAAAZ-0/q5j3BrvuwGo/s144-c-o/P2230040.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992865244956986594″ caption=”My friendly ‘rescue team’ with the buffalo cart, getting me 1.8 km out to the water” type=”image” alt=”P2230040.JPG” ]

A calm sunny day again!
Pos: here
Loc: behind a small rivermouth
Acc: tent
Dist: 35,7 km
Start: 7:55 End: 12:40

I slept well, knowing this day would be better, at least according to Karel’s forecast. Still he said some rain…
Sure I was silently hoping Pedro and Augusto were out there this morning again on low tide to check the nets from the night’s high tide catch, I spotted their boat in the dry river mouth and soon after two figures way out there…yeah! But I was too polite and shy to whistle or such, and simply started to do what I’d be doing by myself…carrying on two walks 3 1/2 heavy gear bags, and on the third walk dragging the boat behind me…

I decided to walk as far as I could still see my gear bag pile, as doing it in one walk was simply too far out. And silently I was watching my potential helpers if they’d be noticing my effort…YES! On the third walk with the boat, they started to move toward me, with the wheel cart…I made it about the first 300 m out with all three loads. They were actually looking without their helmets on this calm sunny morning pretty attractive, smiled broadly and pointed proudly at their wheel cart full of big fish. Then they pointed to their boat in the entrance of the dry river mouth, and at the many vultures around, and I understood they’d be back soon with the empty cart! Hopefully rinsed a bit 🙂

But what they came back with just some minutes later was another, bigger cart they must have had hidden somewhere close by in the bushes, a cart they use for a water buffalo dragging heavy things! They were already warning me yesterday of those guys, pointing across the river mouth to a house where they may keep a few…? Well, I could think of more friendly night companions…in Australia already I got scared of them ripping my tent at night…

The boys were making fun of each other, playing water buffalo on moving the cart along. We could load both, gearbags and boat together, Pedro was the main buffalo dragging in the front, Augusto and I were pushing from behind. As it was all solid sand, the big cart moved along pretty well with three people! An this morning was no half tide, but full low…means it was a solid 1,8 km to reach the water’s edge! The corners of the bays came already in line, by myself I’d have taken hours end endless effort. Thank goodness for those heaven sent guys! I decided to present them at the end my simple big machete I didn’t feel I’d be using anyway. I think they were all right with that present! That piece of gear was already since a long time on my surplus list, and now it had gotten a greatful user as they do kill the fish with it.

They were fascinated watching me pack, two big hugs, and happily off I was! I decided tonight I’d be going in not too late, and on a spot with narrower low tide exposed sand flat, if possible…

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fud-ZJBa9Ck/UyrwAeBDXqI/AAAAAAAAZ_E/Y6XL4fk-ZLQ/s144-c-o/P2230041.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992866145018011298″ caption=”A quick shot out of the mosquito proof tent, I had to get out again later anyway to repack my day hatch” type=”image” alt=”P2230041.JPG” ]

I paddled along with the tidal current with a fast 8 km/h, spotted around high tide a nice beach and decided to call it a day after 35 km before I had to work too hard again and as I saw only surf in the far distance upfront sandy beaches, I decided also my surf allergy isn’t cured yet from yesterday’s trashing breakers, and I’d be going in just now before the wind may be whipping the stuff more up than it was feeling reasonable now. Well, for the afternoon even lower wind was forecast, but I simply had enough. And I was looking forward to really type and update! The next days look like low winds also, hopefully…

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3AW0G7PS6sA/UyrwPzjW1NI/AAAAAAAAZ_U/IvtUoMVPrx4/s144-c-o/P2230043.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992866408497075410″ caption=”Such a quiet camp place, but so many hunter’s visitors in darkness…” type=”image” alt=”P2230043.JPG” ]

My tent site in low wind was full of tiny bugs, I showered and changed on the sandy beach as much in the wind as possible, covered up with long sleeves, but then dared to walk to the tent with bare feet…I have never been jumping inside so fast and been simply rubbing off the black layer of tiny biting midges with my towel, feeling horribly itchy for a long time! Bad mistake…only take your neo socks off inside the tent…

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-G8B7Nxb7XCA/UyrwNFg8X9I/AAAAAAAAZ_M/pYy8uvVL1GU/s144-c-o/P2230042.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992866361779183570″ caption=”My landing distance just after high tide” type=”image” alt=”P2230042.JPG” ]