Once again we find our selves anchored outside of Rio Sambu waiting for the tide to come in. We want to confirm the channel is still where it is supposed to be. Amazingly it is. This time it is a lot easier to do as our friend on Alba has a hand held depth sounder. We zip back and forth mapping the channel in just an hour. That is when I remember I forgot to refuel. We are down to less then an inch of the go juice. Time to cancel the tractor pulls, concentrate on finding dry land.
Once the tide has come in 7 feet we figure it is safe to start heading in. There are 4 of us here. Alba, Windsong, Grace, and Lil Explorers. Drawing the least of the group we take the lead, with Alba second as she draws the most. We are doing well when a panga approaches at full speed waiving their arms. There is a net across the channel just 30 feet ahead. We all stop and Cassidy and I head out in the dingy with the boat hook to lead the way around the net. At low tide the area was underwater so it should be okay, but we need to be sure. No problem at all. A small detour and we are under ways again. No sooner were we back on track than a second net is spotted. This one is about twice the size as the first. The end is in an area where we had spotted a sandbar earlier. Back in the dingy and checking depth. It is not long before it is too shallow to continue. The current is drawing us along at 3kts so there is some frantic turning to get everyone back on course. We start backtracking the net to find the other end. At least on this side we have 7 feet of water giving Alba a whole foot to spare. It must have been quite the sight with four boats ducking behind the panga looking for deeper water.
We made it up the river without any further incidents. The four of us are anchored off La Chunga Village getting ready for dinner when we hear some hollering from the beach. Turns out someone spotted us and wanted to come say hello. A very nice young man, Charles, and just as nice young lady, Tally, had heard we had returned and came out to confirm. We were invited to come into town the next day to a small celebration in our honor. Mind you we had only been here an hour or so. We were also told the iPad had been recovered and returned in the morning. Great news.
Early this morning we all (17 of us) headed in to say hello. Excited children in traditional dress met us along the way. The boys in loin cloths with little spears, the girls with the local type of skirt, beads around their necks, and flowers in their hair. As we approached the bridge we could hear the drums, flute, and rattle, welcoming us. It was quite the sight as we crossed the bridge to their welcome. All the men and women in traditional garb with flowers, the children racing all over the place--very nice indeed.
Later in the day we even go to dance with them. It is pretty much a two-step in a circle, to a nice drumbeat accompanied by the flute. I will post a recording when we get good Internet.
We then headed over to the sugar cane press where we had a chance to make our own juice. You would not believe how much juice comes out of the cane. Andrew from Windsong and I worked the press. There are two logs on top of each other held in place by two posts. Through the logs is a stick and you rotate the logs using a long pole. Pictures will do this justice. The juice is really great with a little lemon. It is probably lemonade I have had.
Later in the day a few of the guys started heading down the road to do some work and I tagged along. It turns out 200 90lbs bags of cement were in need being carried to the village. It was like the good old days of carrying the concrete at Sonnenland. For the next hour or so we trudged back and forth with those bags. I think I brought in 900lbs of the grey stuff.
By the time we were done with the first half I was ready to cool off. A few of the kids and I headed to the river for a refreshing swim. They were a bit surprised to see me jump in fully dressed, but I figured I was covered in enough cement to start my own factory.
Logs are a bit of a problem this time. They are over 30 feet long and if they come down sideways we can get quite the logjam on the bow. This morning it got so big we finally pulled the anchor out. Luckily Courage notice before we were too far down stream. We now try to clear the bow before it gets to be too much.
Goodnight all,
Loyal
PS: It has been a great couple of days moving around, and I am sure I am forgetting a few things due to lack of blood. I think the SS Mosquito has anchored nearby and is sending over as many visitors as she can muster.
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