[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WSzLGVBXXR4/U06eodkF_TI/AAAAAAAAbRs/SWT9hW7JrVk/s144-c-o/P4110414.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage19Brazil2AmazonasDeltaToSaoLuis#6002909771299421490″ caption=”View from the stilt hut, shared with four guys” type=”image” alt=”P4110414.JPG” ]

Camp with 4 guys on stilt hut
Pos: here
Loc: Mangrove Channel
Acc: tent on stilt hut
Dist: 45,6 km
Start: 5:00 End: 16:10

I decided to launch early in darkness at 5 am to avoif the treacherous mud beach covered only with a thin layer of good looking sand. Myriads of tiny bugs from the next door swamp, yuck! And it was stinking sll night like rotten eggs…but my sandy spot was fine and dry, despite heavy rain at night.

This time I got from Peter the precise position of the southern channel for the next headland. He is sitting in front of the satellite maps I usually also have on my now broken computer. Amazingly it is not marked on my chart at all, but to be seen on my imprecise paper map. But with way points it is an easy game, the worried feeling to be right or not, and the frequent stops to ask fishermen (if any about…) were not necessary this time.

I paddled along, unfortunately today all day against the current on those boring but easy and safe waters. It was quite a detour, but the northern channel would be the same. I was just a bit worried about where to spend the night this time, as there were no beaches around after my fake one, and the usual many fishing huts just stopped when it was time to look for one? I was checking one low grassy “beach” spot, with a flat, solid, but soaking wet area. Perfect for a stilt hut, but there was none…in case of emergency I could have put up my tent here, and with possible heavy rain at night I may have been soaked from below. If it would have been very late already, I could have plucked out some grass to base layer the flat spot, but no, then I rather paddle on for a while and hope for a solid hut with no or friendly inhabitants…

The solid hut came in time after two wrecks, well accessible not through mud and not in the water only, with a few logs before the ladder. No one there, just two back packs and some kit. The guys may be back, maybe not, as they usually spread out their gear more. I just climbed down back to my kayak, when a boat passed slowly by, I waved and made asking sleeping signs, they gave me thumbs up. Not sure if they were the owners…

I put up my tent in the smallest corner, leaving well space for possible two hut mates. I was really hoping I will be staying alone! It was no wind, hot and humid, but peaceful. See if it stays like that…