[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ccFZxtgOwcA/Ukq86i8p-AI/AAAAAAAAXSo/5h9SJLdSaps/s144-c-o/P9280008.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage16VenezuelaTrinidadGuyanaCaracasToGeorgetown#5929759573386328066″ caption=”Ein bisschen zu nah am Wasser gebaut, was?Built a little close to the water…” type=”image” alt=”P9280008.JPG” ]

Fat thunderstorm!

Pos: here
Loc: before Machurucutu
Acc: tent
Dist: 32 km
Start: 5:35 End: 13:50

Always write the update first and then cooking and eating… I fell already asleep after a big pot of spaghetti in cheese sauce late afternoon. Yesterday’s forced long paddle took it’s toll, and I may not be fully healthy yet. At least I had a good night’s rest, no disturbance other than a single fat crab hiding under my outer tent fly. They seem to like it, this is not the first time I had fat crabs there. But as I never know if they are not rats or mice, I rather like to have a frequent look and shine my flash light through the fly mesh. But they are harmless, not eating my water bags, biting through my tent or nibbling on my kayak, though it sound sometimes like it.

My back hurt a bit today, I made the mistake not to take over my old back rest from my old kayak and thinking the new standard one, which felt comfortable, would do the same job. But my back seemed to like the old one better… as Edgar promised to see me when he is back from his trip to Europe, I am hoping I can still change.

No wind until 10 am, dead calm, dead hot, dead boring paddle along an endless beach. I was thinking I could get a great look over the lagoon, but bushes all over, no flat wide view. The only “lagoon view” I had on the entrance where many fishermen were throwing their round throwing nets early morning for probably a good catch.The other day they were sieving the sand all along the beaches on to big piles, I guess they were searching for some small mussels? Always besides a smoking fire, either to cook them on the spot, or to chase away the mosquitoes. At least I could always spot where they guys were, and they were all along the coast between the big city and the beach city.

I passed two beach hotels, at one of them about twenty fishermen on the beach were pulling both ends of a long, long net they earlier on tool out with boats. Many pelicans were “helping” them and stealing the catch out of the net before it reached the shore, it was well filled with a good catch of small silvery fish. Later about ten or more fishing boats passed me, and there was no reason to make any effort to hide while camping any more, the “bush drum” knew already I was on the shore. I always waved friendly, and many hands were waving back.

I stopped already once at 11.20 for lunch, as after 10 am paddling became ugly with the regular 15 knots headwind. And landing and starting seemed to be an easy game through the low surf. Well, if you take it too easy, it almost throws you :-). I caught many fat waves, a cockpit full of water and almost lost some things stuffed carelessly loosely under the deck net before I was able to close the spray deck and get through. Hahaha, never underestimate the surf!

I stopped once again when I saw the sky getting dark and it started to rain a bit. Actually, just in time! As now the fattest, longest and strongest thunderstorm on my whole Caribbean paddling started, unfortunately I had still not decided to stay or to keep on going later. So I got soaked with fresh water to the bones, not having my tent up yet, but who cares? I was wet anyway, and this was a free sweat water shower! I just ducked down besides my kayak as the lightning seemed to be right over me and the thunder cracking heavily just above.

The wind was also very strong now, and I was watching a small fishermen’s boat fighting their was against the wind and waves, the two poor guys ducked deep into the boat and the boat jumping along seemingly without some one steering like a ghost rider in the storm.. I barely could see them, despite them being close to shore! They could not simply stop like I did…but basically just had to keep a hand on the engine. Fortunately there was no kayak in the way they couldn’t see! A bunch of other boats followed, but the rain storm had already eased off, and they waved all friendly. Probably happy to see at least me on shore! I was so glad I was not just now along an unfriendly rocky shore or on a small crossing like yesterday. The sky had the same colour yesterday…

When I’d stay already today, I’d take another three and not two days to Barcelona, and I guesses I could collect a bit free fresh rain water? I only opened my break fast box, and collected about ten box full without effort. I used my cockpit cover, and almost two four litre bags were full after the rain finally stopped and I could put up my tent. Not bad! On other occasions, this may have been life saving, and I might have had better ideas how to spontaneously collect the water. Not perfect for drinking running from the cockpit cover, but good enough for cooking and showering! If I’d have been already in my tent, I may have enjoyed the rainstorm from my safe dry being inside, but this was more of a rough nature! I was already feeling sorry about so many boats passing by, as stripping would have felt nice. But as soon as the rain got lighter, the mosquitoes started to bother me again! So instead of dreaming about a naked rain shower, I rather put on my neo socks and long pants…flipping bugs.