Thu 06/03-2014 Day 616

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-atRvHKBodrQ/UytV_HpphRI/AAAAAAAAafA/SlRYOckTrEw/s144-c-o/P3060209.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992978272020432146″ caption=”My hosts house, their boat and veggie garden” type=”image” alt=”P3060209.JPG” ]

 

Made it into the safe deep water area!
Pos: here
Loc: Ponta do Ceu
Acc: tent inside house
Dist: 41 km
Start: 6:35 End: 14:15

Heavy rain in the morning made me wait for a small weather break, but there was only “less” rain and I had to go on mid tide in the morning! The boys helped me launch over the steep slippery river bank, but I had to wait with paddling until a fat buffalo finished his slow river crossing.

The river current ran out strongly, but further out it was all water everywhere, and I had to search for the deep water area with the strong current at about 12 – 14 km/h so as not to get stuck in the shallows on the falling tide. But I’m glad I went early this morning and had that current helping me out!

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gCY2-lnsBHE/UytaLhsocRI/AAAAAAAAafA/2VHDSZXht7A/s144-c-o/P3060224.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992982883217207570″ caption=”Their ‘side streets’, surely only boat accessible” type=”image” alt=”P3060224.JPG” ]

 

When I saw the bumpy water area where the side river was hitting the Amazon, I turned right off in time and could still paddle calmly over shallow water until I was back in calm deep water. You really have to follow your instinct where to paddle here! Strong currents in all directions, shallows to get stuck, bumpy areas where two currents meet, fat trees and logs halfway hidden – all there.

A lighthouse in the distance I had to aim for on crossing the side channel to the Ilha do Brigue gave me a deja vue around the tide change – but this was eventually a deep water area and no chance of another Pororoca catching me there. The tide started eventually to rise without anything untoward happening. Some boats driving into the side channel showed now a more populated and easier area, in the shallows there is even restricted navigation according to my chart.

The first huge container ship passed me from inside the river relatively close – this was a sign to say bye bye to the shallow dangerous water area! I really had enough of you! But Iassume no one ever will want to follow my accidental example to ride a Pororoca at night, so I may stay the one and only one to be able to at least tell the story 🙂

The coast has changed now from the high grass land occupied by buffaloes over some sandy beaches displayed at low tide to the real Amazonian junglewhere I could eventually paddle nicely close to the forest in calm deep water. I got joined for a long time by a school of pink dolphins. They are quite large, have a pointy snout and a different swimming pattern than the many other dolphins I saw everywhere else, not in an elegant bow but with an extra flex of their back on the top of the bow. What a relief and relaxing pleasure to watch them! Always a good omen! But where would be some campsites?

When I sensed there must be a village close by due to some canoes and small boats passing and the ugly noise of a chain saw cutting trees, I eventually spotted in the entrance of a river a lighthouse and a bunch of houses. I decided it is already time to call it a day after 40+ km, and who knows when another conveniently located village like this will be coming up?

I slowly paddled up to the houses located here on both sides of the calm streaming, maybe 100m wide river and picked the largest modern looking house with a generator running and a convenient jetty to land.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lxdReU3PJNA/UytV2DlxAHI/AAAAAAAAafA/Qrac6rOPWW8/s144-c-o/P3060206.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992978116311580786″ caption=”The house of my hosts” type=”image” alt=”P3060206.JPG” ]

 

Not many locals to notice, they were rather shy observing what I’d be doing now. Well, I simply walked up to that inviting double story wooden house, found the lady and asked her where to stay a night… after some conversation I was able to unload my boat and to make myself at home with the friendly family!

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-S5tjJ8iyQrw/UytWsnN4HlI/AAAAAAAAafA/NR-kFnQn6zA/s144-c-o/P3060212.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992979053587996242″ caption=”The wooden walkway through the lush tropícal forest” type=”image” alt=”P3060212.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-90CH-CoQU6k/UytWZrDD_dI/AAAAAAAAafA/a4D6nWWQMKc/s144-c-o/P3060211.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992978728198864338″ caption=”This church building is out of business times rather used for drying laundry” type=”image” alt=”P3060211.JPG” ]

 

They had their own generator electricity for running freezers, fridges, washing machine, TV, running water and whatever else. How modern here in the bush! Well, later I noticed this was an outstanding developed house along the wooden walkway. All houses on stilts, the wood everywhere was the finest tropical mahogany or teak or whatever, growing right on their door step! But the noise of the chain saw and generator overpowered the peaceful tropical jungle… civilization has it’s price.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tazzKBTRFoU/UytX6r20yuI/AAAAAAAAafA/PAiz3KIIiVc/s144-c-o/P3060216.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992980394863282914″ caption=”Fish pods in the front, a boat house behind” type=”image” alt=”P3060216.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-h8C9tE_5oME/UytXpLVKH7I/AAAAAAAAafA/VpSManKaOzQ/s144-c-o/P3060214.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992980094074363826″ caption=”Is this bike used to run only on the maybe a kilometer long wooden walkway?” type=”image” alt=”P3060214.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JAoDUQTxCg8/UytXJD6KxTI/AAAAAAAAafA/ATDVIEaKKeg/s144-c-o/P3060213.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992979542326297906″ caption=”The kids showed me the details – some caterpillar” type=”image” alt=”P3060213.JPG” ]

 

I was allowed to put up my tent inside the basement besides the fridge and freezer and living room with the ever running TV, the family slept upstairs. I had some afternoon hours to spare, and was walking slowly and fascinated on the well maintained mahogany walkway,almost feeling like being on a cat walk, for about a kilometre up and down the lovely village, waving to each local, joking with the kids and eventually trailing a bunch of curious boys like a “Rattenfänger” back to “my” house to show them my kayak. This was now a very different jungle to Sucuriju’s lush green tropical scenery.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MP7s0drvFGg/UytbPZ5oKUI/AAAAAAAAafA/khoifkrh8tk/s144-c-o/P3060227.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992984049355336002″ caption=”Kids in their own local playing environment” type=”image” alt=”P3060227.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-eJixhos83to/UytbCN2U_tI/AAAAAAAAafA/pf-JGZ6lbjg/s144-c-o/P3060226.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992983822781972178″ caption=”This boat is tagged as the local ‘school bus’!” type=”image” alt=”P3060226.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Q50J5bo5nDY/Uyta_a5PpAI/AAAAAAAAafA/B5Eh5MI9JPk/s144-c-o/P3060225.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992983774744257538″ caption=”Is this a Formula 1 racing boat??” type=”image” alt=”P3060225.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LtsdAf3iYsc/UytY7txLbqI/AAAAAAAAafA/gDZ0SVheQ-I/s144-c-o/P3060217.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992981512067968674″ caption=”The school house is looking somehow grown in” type=”image” alt=”P3060217.JPG” ]

 

I had spotted a larger boat serving as a “school bus”, even two old bicycles, a shipyard where they constructed one of the largest wooden boats I have seen here so far, a small shop, a school, kids playing with canoes and in the water with some crabs, over all the smell of the lush jungle andthe ever sound of the howler monkeys, just an idyllic looking life.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hccD7XSzG3Y/UytZ5jGyCCI/AAAAAAAAafA/qdi4Gnho_0k/s144-c-o/P3060223.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992982574357678114″ caption=”Brown water, green lush jungle, wooden walkways. Home of many Amazonian people!” type=”image” alt=”P3060223.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_Qfvv5AWlXA/UytZ373-kHI/AAAAAAAAafA/z0w8czQL_QM/s144-c-o/P3060222.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992982546646732914″ caption=”A huge ship yard. How will they get this one to the water once done?” type=”image” alt=”P3060222.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hzATHMPxg-U/UytZKSg652I/AAAAAAAAakU/NtZXB5PTo5c/s144-c-o/P3060218.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992981762450057058″ caption=”Pink flower pieces on the fine wooden mahagony walk way” type=”image” alt=”P3060218.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LtsdAf3iYsc/UytY7txLbqI/AAAAAAAAafA/gDZ0SVheQ-I/s144-c-o/P3060217.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage18Brazil1CayenneToAmazonasDelta#5992981512067968674″ caption=”The school house is looking somehow grown in” type=”image” alt=”P3060217.JPG” ]

 

7 comments on “Thu 06/03-2014 Day 616

Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this blog. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s tough to get that “perfect balance” between usability and visual appeal. I must say that you’ve done a great job with this. In addition, the blog loads super fast for me on Firefox. Superb Blog!

Greetings from California! I’m bored to tears at work so I decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the info you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how fast your blog loaded on my cell phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, amazing site!

It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly donate to this outstanding blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will share this site with my Facebook group. Talk soon!

ExtraProxies.com : lowest priced elite private proxies with 50% discounted! High level quality, Unrestricted proxies, Very speed and also Least expensive charges — only $0.25 each proxy! Very best personal proxies only by DreamProxies.com

ExtraProxies.com : best top-notch private proxies with 50% discount! Top-notch quality, Limitless proxies, Extremely speed as well as Cheapest rates — just $0.25 every proxy! Best exclusive proxies simply by DreamProxies.com

ExtraProxies.com – lowest priced top-notch private proxies with 50% price cut! Professional quality, Unrestricted proxies, Super speed and Least expensive charges — only $0.25 every proxy! Best individual proxies simply on DreamProxies.com

Meike

Freya, toll das es Dir gut geht. Die letzten Wochen waren mehr wie anstrengend für Dich und ich frage mich ständig, wie machst Du das nur? So einen eisernen Willen würde ich auch gerne haben 🙂
Sei Dir sicher, dass macht Dir keiner so schnell nach. Ich hoffe, dass es jetzt leichter für Dich wird. Aber Delfine sind ja immer ein gutes Omen für Dich. Hoffentlich begleiten sie Dich jetzt jeden Tag .
Alls alles Gute Freya, und von wegen …….. alte FRau.
Liebe Grüsse von hier

Comments are closed