Paradise Found Day 1

San Quinton Hell!!
see all photos »

Sunday up at seven. Figured I better go for a run since I have not done a thing since last week at Chattanooga. Temp was in the low 70’s at nine when I started. I checked the weather for today --84 with five to ten knot winds no rain. I checked Savannah – 97 with more rain. Who is in the tropics here, you or me?  WG you got it all wrong on this equator thing. Dry season is the time to come.

Freah water String Rays?? - BS!!!

Jungle Time in Green Lake
see all photos »

The town it self has two distinct districts. The four block river front area with its paved roads, street lights, and police in the courtyard. It is all very nice. Once you get behind this area lays a town of about 5000 folks on dirt roads in pretty rough conditions. Rob M you would like the Range chickens that run free here. Donkey in the side yard. You get the picture. I ran for about forty five minutes which pretty much covered it.

I ran up a block area with about ten large wire frames about the size of school buses that looked as if they had been burnt. Then it hit me this is the parking area for the festival floats. Every September the town has a festival that draws over 20,000 people into town for the weekend. Guess you have to burn off the paper and save the frame for next year.

Gabi's Bar In High water - Opening In August!!
see all photos »

I hit the showers and looked for the hot water knob. No can have Savannah boy. You are in the tropics now! Just one ambient temperature roof cistern feed system. It hit the spot just right.

After breakfast I went to the warden for my release. Problem!! --My friend had paid a $ 100 deposit and the room was $ 50 bucks. They wanted the whole deposit. After talking with the manager, we got it figured out so Marcello will get his money back.

This could be nice for 8 to 10 folks all inclusive for the entire boat at $300 / day
see all photos »

I walked about three blocks to the new digs - Second floor over looking the center square and the sand bar.

I am up here sipping a cold one with my feet propped listening to Marvin Gaye waiting to go out on the ½  Day Green Lake thing in an hour.

Sunset over the " Papa Johns " River
see all photos »

The down side is no wifi.  I have  got to go see Claudio late tonight for that.

Where do all these people come from showing up at the row boat loading point? I must have seen over 100  folks load up on row boats in the last 45 minutes. Guess this is Santarem’s answer to Tybee for the locals. I think Monday will bring a slower tempo. I will post some better pictures later to show better what is going on.

Sherry, Jerry, and Dia hanging out post trip.
see all photos »

Damn my sunglasses broke. I headed into town to find a new pair. Five stores and no luck. Claudio turns me on to the Pharmacy about 1 mile away. Bingo 5 bucks and I am UV protected again.

Arrived at 2 PM to start the tour. Met Jerry and Sherry from Arizona who will join me on the trip. It sure is good to hug some Americans again. We joined our tour guide "a hippy eco guy" who has lived here for one year. He will translate for the boat captain who really knows the deal.

River Rat Snapped a Quick One in the Swamp.
see all photos »

We boarded a 16 footer with a 40 Evenrude. Off we go. I was not too impressed for the first hour. It was just a standard lake shore drive. We docked at a fish camp and switched to  a canoe.

It started to get interesting then. Into the dark we went- sort of like the Dismal Swamp. It was very brown / clear water with trees everywhere. After about ½ hour we hit the return point and "canoe boy" said to swim!!

Ok we are in 3 feet of brown water with trees every five feet. But I can not let the "Rats" down. So in I went. It was just plain different-- Swimming in five to ten feet of water for ½ hour bumping into submerged trees.

River Rat (RR) was stowing away and grabbed a few pictures.

Arizona couple could not deal with it and stayed in the boat. French Hippie boy was all in.

Out we came- had to open a Skol beer to keep the endorphins from over taking me.

We cruised the tourist sandbar on the way out. Found the Gabi Bar waiting for the water to drop a bit before it opened.  More pictures to follow . 

Very interesting these 40 foot party boats. They go for about $ 300 a day per boat all inclusive. Ten folks could party like it is "your birthday" on this sucker. Sat TV- they have it all. Something to consider given a five hour flight from Miami.

We moved out to the Tapajos River next. It is pronounced alike “Papa Johns” pizza. Just with a T and Joe instead of John.

River? Hell this guy is a lake 14 miles across at the widest and it a tributary to the Amazon. Mississippi River move over! We docked on western looking white sand at five PM.

 The “Caipirinhas” broke out in a big way. This is Brazils answer to the Mohito. Damn they went down smooth. I had to burn a few calories to keep from over doing it so I hit the water with the goggles. I swam down river for 800 meters. I paused to watch the sunset. Very nice!! A grey skinned dolphin went cruising buy not be confused with his pink skin brother. I have to check into this some more.

French boy reported to watch out for the sting rays. Got to thinking about it- fresh water dolphin and string ray? I am here to witness they have got them all along with shrimp. I would have lost that bet.

Had to do a quick post sunset swim to keep my rat points up. Very special!

We motored home slow for a 7 PM arrival. Damn that was worth the bucks!!

Hung out at the Claudio’s place for a beer with a few folks to bond on our travels. He has a bar on the side with an internet café.

It is  ten PM your time - ADC time is eleven.   The party goes strong as I post this.  Hope I can get up at  six to swim the sand bar. 

Stay tuned.

Nick

Talk to you then!!