Another great day here in Rio Sambu! The sun is shining and our batteries are charging. I have a machete ready and we are off to learn how to sharpen it using a file. Along the way we meet several women on their way to say goodbye to us. Our plan is to leave with the high tide. By the time we make it to the village we are a pretty big group. The fellow who was going to sharpen the machete is busy making his rounds in the village, so we walk with him - - sort of a moving class on knife sharpening. It is a pretty simple procedure and in 20 minutes we have visited most of the village, and have a sharp knife.
We are looking for the chief now. Sadly Mother's iPad turned up missing yesterday. After several hours searching the boat we thought we would ask the chief to keep an eye open for anyone who suddenly has an iPad. We did not want to make a federal case of it, but they took it very seriously. We have the word of the whole village they will find it if one of them took it. If they do not find it there, they will file a complaint with the big chief up the river. It is nice to see they are trying to do something about it, and not just say those things happen. We will see.
Back at the boat about 15 children and 7 women and several men, including the chief, have come to see us off. It is a very nice farewell with several nice gifts. Cassidy even got a very nice vase and the boys got toy boats. We made popcorn for the children, and Cassidy gifted a few of her blouses. We brought the boat close to the dock and dropped anchor just 20 feet away. Courage started ferrying our guests to the shore. It took 4 loads to get them all in.
And we were on our way. Navigating the river is pretty easy as it is wide ad usually over 20 feet deep. About the only things we had to watch for were trees and the occasional gator. Once we made it to the mouth of the river Cassidy and I jumped in the dingy to clear a channel across the mud flats. We had a 15-foot pole and kept about 500 feet in front of the boat. Most of the way we were at about 8 feet with a mud bottom. Suddenly the mud turned to rock and we dropped to 7 feet. Cassidy radioed the information back to Courage. Seeing as we would still have 2.5 feet under the rudder we figured it would be okay as long as it did not get any shallower. With the tide racing out we did not want to get stuck. Another 100 feet and the bottom was mud at 8 feet. We were back on track.
Right now we are anchored off a little island waiting for an incoming tide tomorrow when we will start making our way toward Rio Dulce.
I just came in after taking a look to see if we were dragging. Behind us I can see the light from a very small cruise ship. It is making its way slowly in this direction. Courage has assured me it will not be close to us until tomorrow afternoon. Using my special binoculars I can just make out the name SS MOSQUITO on her bow.
Good night all,
Loyal
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