Pos: here
Loc: Caleta Nazca Puerto Caballas
Acc: tent
Dist: 0 km

Tomorrow:
Estimated landing: Punta Lomitas
Estimated starting time: Right after sunrise
Estimated landing time: Well before sunset

This was the second unexpected day off, but it was necessary. The sea was obviously going down compared to the really violent breakers yesterday, but combined with the 9 am tide change and upcoming strong 20 knots wind, it was still unfriendly out there. Not to talk about the marginal launching possibilities regarding the surf violence.

Now in the late afternoon, the lulls are longer, and I see launching possibilities opening up. It may be not a dry launch yet, but at least the foam of the lower breakers should not push you back any more. Should… we’ll see about how our timing will be on tomorrow’s launch. It is still a wide surf belt to overcome! From the top of the high cliffs, you could see the surf belt further around the corner getting more and more wide…huahhh!

I was walking again out to the point and watched the breakers crashing on the high cliffs – there, it didn’t really look more different! But the sea offshore looked much calmer, despite some white caps. A bunch of large dolphins were nice to spot for a change from the high and dry cliffs instead of from the kayak!

When I was out this morning for the toilet, still in darkness at 4 am, a small moon was shining bright, but it was foggy as usual out there. The first half of the night would have been quite dark, also with fog and maybe some stars, but no moon. Not inviting night conditions to cope with a full 110 km to the next very safe landing in the Bahia Indepencia! So We need to wait until we feel we can launch from here and land safe again in similar unsheltered conditions at Punta Lomitas.

I had a nice longer “chat” with Juan, a local 30 year old guy working in Puerto Caballas mainly collecting sea weed , together with the other 15 men staying temporary here just for work. I learned that they get for a ton (1000 kg) of dried sea weed 400 Sol. The work of collecting it includes a bunch of men using motorbikes and a pick up truck, plus the work of spreading to dry it out in the sun for a certain time.

Today, they were also fishing in an interesting way: A long line was stayed anchored maybe 100 meters into the bay. they were attaching a long net, walking it in a quarter circle through the shallow wash up the beach until the distance to the dry land was longer and the net was fully submerged. Now the way back…it seemed like three men had to use quite some power to drag line and net through the water. Not sure if the catch was interesting, but at least the method was!

We got another 10 liters of fresh water from the locals, which we could use very nicely until we would be around the corner with all the islands in four or five days. Then the last section to Lima would provide enough fresh water resupply possibilities!