[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vL4wmRGo-XM/Un2igvIHObI/AAAAAAAAYTA/qtK4Gm2b_OM/s144-c-o/PA230078.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage16VenezuelaTrinidadGuyanaCaracasToGeorgetown#5944085766488930738″ caption=”Endless shallow beach…” type=”image” alt=”PA230078.JPG” ]

Beach, beach, beach…

Pos: here
Loc: Isla Baroco Sanuca
Acc: tent
Dist: 33,5 km
Start: 5:20 End: 14:40

As little bugs I had during the day, the more I had in the morning when opening my tent. Fortunately I was already dressed, when a swarm of mosquitoes entered my tent and stayed inside until I closed and packed it. I could scrap the many carcasses off the tent walls tonight, a few half dead ones included.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PZFY88ufxmc/Un2k4i2WP8I/AAAAAAAAYTA/GU1Hn74QGkg/s144-c-o/PA230086.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage16VenezuelaTrinidadGuyanaCaracasToGeorgetown#5944088374533308354″ caption=”Exposed spiky mangrove tree roots on low tide” type=”image” alt=”PA230086.JPG” ]

It was a windy night on my flat beach, and it was windy all day. No variations like the other days, when rain squalls came and went and the wind did the same. Today it was around 15 knots headwind all day. It just got a little better when it came more from the side with me going eventually due south.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ihfBzZ4gqJQ/Un2lTHyxoJI/AAAAAAAAYTA/NkCu6GHg9PI/s144-c-o/PA230087.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage16VenezuelaTrinidadGuyanaCaracasToGeorgetown#5944088831127036050″ caption=”Even inside the hollow tree there are mangrove roots growing” type=”image” alt=”PA230087.JPG” ]

My last beach was surrounded by one of those sandy reefs going dry at low tide, so I was lucky to have high tide around 6 am. I didn’t need to paddle far out, but after a while I had to fight quite some high breakers. Not too friendly in addition to the headwind, fighting lumpy seas. I crawled along with 3 km/h, which increased gradually to 4 km/h when the sea went down again on the falling tide. Also the water depth fell dangerously, when I was probing with my paddle it struck deep into this yucky soft mud on the ground. But I had enough water on top, no need to paddle that far out today.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-D_Wx_iGClcE/Un2i9wq4HxI/AAAAAAAAYTA/FUxNmLeD9nc/s144-c-o/PA230081.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage16VenezuelaTrinidadGuyanaCaracasToGeorgetown#5944086265119383314″ caption=”My breakfast ‘rescue’ pole, easy eating without getting washed backwards.” type=”image” alt=”PA230081.JPG” ]

Breakfast and lunch were done conveniently with my bow line attached to one of those abandoned fishing net poles, where as lunch was on calm water, breakfast was in moderate breakers and quite a pole dance with my kayak :-), taking care I didn’t get water into my cereal box and didn’t capsize while free-handed which was once quite close.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NI1aH65fBhg/Un2iljzYPwI/AAAAAAAAYTA/UJab62QScGA/s144-c-o/PA230080.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage16VenezuelaTrinidadGuyanaCaracasToGeorgetown#5944085849348521730″ caption=”Small, but annoying surf breakers on the shallow beach” type=”image” alt=”PA230080.JPG” ]

When the sea came down, an endless beach started. Nice sand, everywhere accessible on lower tide also. But for now I didn’t need to camp, I just landed once or twice to have a look. First there were rare beaches, now they are available in excess, nearing the main part of the Orinoco delta. The water everywhere was freshwater, less muddy eventually also on the sandy areas. If I’d needed, I could fill my waterbags and filter it.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SwNGSN1iyQg/Un2je8oMN6I/AAAAAAAAYTA/sabsX8CpDMs/s144-c-o/PA230084.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage16VenezuelaTrinidadGuyanaCaracasToGeorgetown#5944086835265025954″ caption=”‘Just about’ a dry spot on high tide” type=”image” alt=”PA230084.JPG” ]

I decided to cross over to the first small island, to see if there was a beach. I quickly got out and just being a meter taller revealed enough beach across the 9 km gap. I eventually picked a spot where people had constructed a framework for a shelter, but I didn’t see any people all day. But sure when I was relaxing in my tent, two motorboats passed by… there are eventually a few villages deeper inside the delta island system. I saw quite a few signs of humanity with net poles and shelters along that long beach, but all abandoned. Life can’t be so easy in here…

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cNcuAZYaUq8/Un2l8Gjd5TI/AAAAAAAAYTA/fq-DjQ12T9o/s144-c-o/PA230089.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection2Stage16VenezuelaTrinidadGuyanaCaracasToGeorgetown#5944089535169029426″ caption=”Twice new fresh life” type=”image” alt=”PA230089.JPG” ]