[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4u1eMyAMK_A/Un3GIEHJ8LI/AAAAAAAAYTA/6JcPbW6wqy0/s144-c-o/PB070195.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage16VenezuelaTrinidadGuyanaCaracasToGeorgetown#5944124925043929266″ caption=”The other local carries some bigger harvest home” type=”image” alt=”PB070195.JPG” ]

Short hop over to Leguan Island

Pos: here
Loc: Leguan Island
Acc: tent
Dist: 10,5 km
Start: 5:35 End: 8:45

I slept actually pretty well, cool and even without marauding cows (or water buffaloes?) at night. No other small critter found it’s way inside either, thank goodness. Ear plugs against the sound of the waves running up to morning’s high tide, which was half meter lower than yesterday anyway. So I dared to launch about half an hour before high tide, thinking I’d be able to fight the current. The water was quite lumpy, but slowly and steadily, with a lot of side breaking waves soaking me constantly, I crawled away from this ugly corner. The water calmed down a bit as tide ran down, and I made eventually a steady 3-4 km/h, keeping track with wind and current against each other. I was already tempted calculating whether to be able to make it across the largest river arm to the main land, but as I have no idea where I can land there, and as I saw a nice piece of small beach handy, I kept to my plan to split the remaining distance here. Also, I was able to give my body a bit longer rest before I had to tackle the remaining 30 km to Georgetown in one go.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WSohKXrPZlg/Un3CwV7t6hI/AAAAAAAAYTA/pZv_5XR1Xhg/s144-c-o/PB070188.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage16VenezuelaTrinidadGuyanaCaracasToGeorgetown#5944121218976049682″ caption=”My last beach camp on Leguan Island” type=”image” alt=”PB070188.JPG” ]

And I could write my last four updates this day which I felt not able to do the last three days… My camp site was on open beach, but in the lee of some bushes, so it was burning hot inside the tent despite strong wind going all day and my extra tarp. Not pleasant, as I have to household with my fresh water and like to do some reasonable work besides lying on my back. My skin is sore all over anyway after eleven days without a single day rest, and I am sick of either sitting or lying. But for walking on the beach I have not much energy either.  At least I found my first almost ripe wild bananas today, still green though!

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HMfNQzzWdRo/Un3CLXVh2LI/AAAAAAAAYTA/q73IhUgJrgE/s144-c-o/PB070187.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage16VenezuelaTrinidadGuyanaCaracasToGeorgetown#5944120583697586354″ caption=”Banana plant on Leguan Island” type=”image” alt=”PB070187.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XtKxclj41lc/Un3FkkGTOiI/AAAAAAAAYTA/YHMY5Ed_7kc/s144-c-o/PB070194.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage16VenezuelaTrinidadGuyanaCaracasToGeorgetown#5944124315154987554″ caption=”The nice local cut me some bananas with his machete. Note the blossom bud at the end of the stem” type=”image” alt=”PB070194.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-aWlCPg3_FEY/Un3GZ_e3WaI/AAAAAAAAYTA/mburxqYoLIc/s144-c-o/PB070196.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage16VenezuelaTrinidadGuyanaCaracasToGeorgetown#5944125233038842274″ caption=”‘My’ bananas just need to ripe…” type=”image” alt=”PB070196.JPG” ]

Three locals walked by with their dogs, all being extremely friendly. No problems. There are a bunch of people here on this island, and they even told me I could go shopping in a village not far away! Well… what means “far away”… ??

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9-iMaOZaAa0/Un3EWadA6pI/AAAAAAAAYTA/n03zuZDzpAA/s144-c-o/PB070191.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage16VenezuelaTrinidadGuyanaCaracasToGeorgetown#5944122972536105618″ caption=”Low tide displays inaccesible mud fields with old tree stumps” type=”image” alt=”PB070191.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZjSwhgDSqAw/Un3EsL2AcVI/AAAAAAAAYTA/hxTAFq8RW9s/s144-c-o/PB070192.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage16VenezuelaTrinidadGuyanaCaracasToGeorgetown#5944123346571522386″ caption=”View to the other side of the beach on low tide. No chance to get out and paddle!” type=”image” alt=”PB070192.JPG” ]

I will make the best out of this day, besides writing my updates and editing pictures, repainting my toenails, shaving my legs and such :-), hopefully recovering enough to be able to paddle into Georgetown tomorrow despite strong winds again and currents. But at least the tide is at the right time of the day. Now on lowest tide, no chance to go in or out from this relatively steep beach! At some point, there are only mud fields you can not get over.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dtfA6uut1NE/Un3D8DBpluI/AAAAAAAAYTA/4pfnBrP2EeI/s144-c-o/PB070189.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage16VenezuelaTrinidadGuyanaCaracasToGeorgetown#5944122519570716386″ caption=”The wet hinterland of Leguan Island” type=”image” alt=”PB070189.JPG” ]