Home

Next

Pta. Allegria We head to the beach to launch the pirogue. This is a dugout made of a single log and is about thirty feet long. The Indian that is hitching a ride from us says it takes about a month to make one. It seems more seaworthy than the motor launch that we’ve been using. It is heavy, though, and it takes about ten of us to get it into the water. We are off across the Gulf of San Miguel  and into the Tuira River.

The Tuira is about a mile wide at this point and is a tidal estuary. The tide is against us and we guys in back get a pretty good bath from the spray. The sun is brutal and I’m glad for the long pants and long sleeve shirt. We pass a couple of schools of dolphins and one or two other boats but after awhile there is only us and the river. We pass an occasional household but see no people. This is a jungle river experience. Hernan is worried about the effects of the tropical sun on us and rightfully so. Bob chooses to ignore the warnings, taking his cue, perhaps, from our medic. Back     Top           Next