[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-w5FrFt2ek9U/UXBKsUrbxlI/AAAAAAAAU08/Hzskf34nGuo/s144-c-o/IMAG0056.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage14Colombia2BoarderPanamaToBoarderVenezuela#5868272439789340242″ caption=”Colombian Tin Soldiers???” type=”image” alt=”IMAG0056.jpg” ]

Pos: here
Loc: before Isla da Aguja
Acc: Coast Guard room Santa Marta
Dist: 31 km
Start: 5:30 End: 11:10

All went smoothly this morning – I got up at 3.30 am and we left with the coast guard boat and my kayak at 4.30 am to the spot where they picked me up from the beach with the heavy damage on Monday, 26 km south. The ride was on calm waters through the darkness, so I didn’t have to see the same coast three times – twice is already enough! 🙂

They used one of the most comfortable boats I was on so far, with four well padded high seats, a large roof and a bow compartment, all in good shape. No jumping with my boat this time, I could even get a bit of sleep during this hour long drive. I started paddling at first light, on smooth sea and very low wind. I decided to take the chance to paddle empty again, as chances were quite high I had to stop where I came from today. The wind protection of the deep bay south was gone again in the bay of Santa Marta, and from there on it was fighting choppy seas in moderate head wind. The last bay I was even hugging close to the coast to find a bit of wind shelter and smoother water.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dsgZlGx4bN4/UXBJUQkLDEI/AAAAAAAAU08/Yt_Gau8yA6I/s144-c-o/IMAG0055.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage14Colombia2BoarderPanamaToBoarderVenezuela#5868270926856653890″ caption=”Präsentiiiiiert – das Gewehr!” (mit aufgepflanzten Bajonett…)” type=”image” alt=”IMAG0055.jpg” ]

All in all, pushing on through the notorious wind tunnel between the Isla de Aguia and then paddling in the open bays with only maybe a bit shelter on the top or deep inside with a detour was not reasonable, this is better done tomorrow morning paddling then straight from headland to headland with very low wind again. The sheltered bay where I stopped had some small beaches, all inhabited with some huts, and it was not really sensible to go camping or anchor there instead of driving the easy 8 km back to the coast guard station and to move right back into my old room! There is nothing like the comfort of air condition and a full shower, even with maybe a few lost mosquitoes and many ants in the wooden floor. I will camp on the beaches again soon enough, or may be sleep again on this boat, if/when we find a calm anchorage.

The forecast for the whole next week shows continuously reducing seas and winds – let’s hope it will stay as long as I at least need to go around Cabo de la Vela, and maybe a bit longer, as after the next corner tomorrow, Cabo de la Vela will be another notorious windy point – until Venezuela. Not sure yet if it will be possible to cross the Gulf of Venezuela…it’s not the distance, this will be only 40 + 80 km via one island, but I really need low seas and calm headwinds – a rare combination there and it happening now is too early. But I may be lucky???