Mamangua Village 26032011 Saturday
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Pos 23:16.10S 44:37.53W
A We reach the mouth of the small river after scraping our way through the shallow bar at its entrance and slowly make our way up river through the mangrove swamp.
Up the river Mangroves and crabs Hundreds of red crabs wave their arms at us as we glide by carefully following the outside banks to keep in the deepest water. After several miles the waters clear as the mud of the mangroves gives way to jungle forest. Rocks begin to appear on the bottom to add to the hazard of sunken trees until eventually we spot a landing site and path through the Jungle. Tying up to a nearby tree we advance on foot, one eye on the path taking care not to tread on any sunbathing snakes, the other searching out the route through the tangle of trees and bushes.
Landing spot Team work Soon we come to and open cultivated area with Banana trees and corn. Then its decision time as the path runs out and we now have to cross the river. Another mile on the track and then we’re there. More of a cataract than a high falls, the river runs over great boulders into a deep pool before continuing it’s decent through the forest, meeting the sea at the mangroves. Everybody jumps and the water temperature is perfect, refreshing but not too cold.
Baby Thomas New Tarzan Karine produces a picnic from here bag and Yves shares some rolls with us. Lars has spotted a trail on the other side of the river accessed by climbing along a fallen tree that forms a bridge across the falls. So we decided to try this to avoid crossing the river later. All cross successfully and head off down the trail which has several offshoots but we keep in earshot of the river until the trail ends and we arrive opposite where we had crossed the river earlier.
The log Bridge Wading Once more into the river, Lars slips but valiantly manages to hold his camera above the water as his dignity slips beneath the waters. The journey to the dinghies is uneventful, but the tide has gone down and navigation becomes difficult and groundings mean we have to resort to pushing ourselves off and paddling with the oars. Later in the afternoon we move the boat to the small fishing village of Saco de Mamangua which is completely isolated landward and can only be accessed from the sea, where we partake of a few beers, Caipirinhas and prawns as the sun goes down.
The Bar Mosquito war
The Village The Villagers Then all back to Dawnbreaker, Yves brings another fine wine from his dwindling stock and Thomas rustles up a Shepherds Pie. All suitably wined and dined, Onzo decides to stay with the big boys while parents depart to their boat and Rocky (who swam the back the whole length of the river) is resting.
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