Life on the river

'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Wed 7 Oct 2009 13:14
06:26.532N 58:37.843W
There are a couple of other yachts in the river, one of which Pam & Jim know. A Kiwi boat, Erasmus, with Mary & Craig on board. They are anchored off a house owned by Joyce, a retired American jazz singer who arrived here a few years ago with her late husband.
We motored over yesterday from Bartica to spend an evening with them, inviting everybody to Troutbridge. It was interesting talking with Joyce who helped set up the yachting industry in Trinidad in the early nineties. Mary & Craig arrived here via Brazil.
The anchorage is fine, with clean sand although the current can run at up to 3 kts, making swimming a little 'physical'. We've found that unfortunately all the tours are a fairly outrageous price, so plans are having to be altered a little. For a 5 day trip up the river (and return by light aircraft) to the Kaieteur falls most operators want in the region of US$795! Way beyond my budget, so other options are being explored.
I would think that we'll be returning to Trini next week for repairs to sail & furling gear, sign off various crew members, then in all probability up to Grenada the beginning of November to start the west-ward trek to Panama.