PHOTO LINK—>> https://photos.app.goo.gl/xCWYvasHT59Jp9s49
Back to Catamaran our marina:
It was the regular bus ride back to the Rio Dulce from Guatemala City.
However as it was a Sunday the roads were not impassable and the traffic flowed with only a few short delays. Sitting in air conditioning means that when we stopped at the rest stop for the lunch break heading outside was a real shock. The temperature was sizzling! It feels almost too hot to breathe, even in the shade the heat was intense. We had been warned by friends that the temperature were crazy high with clear skies and little breeze.
Back at Catamaran Marina we were greeted by our friends who were at the pool and by Chico who was actually awaiting our arrival at the boat. Chico had been well looked after by Gillian and Gordon in our absence, in fact he had been pampered.
Chores as usual:
Over the course of the next few days we got the boat back in order, cleaned and tidied. We were very happy that after a few gentle nudges from John our AC actually worked. It is all of 20 years old and really past its prime so we are planning on replacing it.
We raised the sails, aired them, dropped them, flaked/folded them and have them stored below in the bow cabin ready to go to be restitched by Tom the rigger. We have managed to basically get all of the unnecessary topside gear below deck in preparation for the rainy season – if it ever arrives.
Walks around the area:
The need for exercise is a priority for both of us, however with the heat this means early morning is really the only comfortable time to venture down the trails.
We have managed a couple of the pipeline walks. This is a trail/local road that goes through the rubber and palm-oil plantations to a local village – Esmerelda and there is a pipeline that runs next to the trail, thus we call it the pipeline trail.
Luckily the dock for this walk is close by so it is convenient at 6:30am. The walks are pleasant and some of the way is shaded, it can be quite repetitive. However I love seeing the local children, the women busy with their laundry, the pigs digging and snuffling in the ground cover and just all of the normal activity associated with life in Guatemala.
Sometimes we walk the Rio Dulce bridge leaving the dinghy at one end we walk across to the other end then down under the bridge to the end of the roadway.
This walk is good for watching the massive semis – trucks nearly miss the cars that decide to stop for photos, the drivers are really crazy.
Fronteras our local town
Then another time we walked out of Fronteras about a mile to the local vet’s to set up an appointment for Chico’s annual shots and we stopped into Carlos the welders junkyard so John could poke through the junk for sale.
All in all despite the heat we have managed to fit in exercise. Fronteras is just wonderful – at least I think so…
There is always something to see, the massive trucks weaving through squeezing past each other, the ladies cooking their delicacies, the wonderful fruit vendors, the fellows peddling their wares on little carts, and on and on, never is Frontares boring. We go in every few days to get what we need and know several of the locals.
Shopping in Puerto Barrios
We went with a group of other cruisers on a shopping trip to Puerto Barrios. This is the main seaport for Guatemala’s Atlantic/Caribbean coast so its a very busy town. The shops we visited were specifically chosen, the Chinese, the Mall, the electronic and grocery store were some. The first visit was just an exploratory visit for us, but we did pick up a few odds and ends.
Then there was a second trip and we went with serious intensions of buying another air conditioner, a window unit. Reasoning being ours is very old, plus expensive to run, whereas a new window unit is relatively inexpensive to buy and run, plus its safer for the boat. So buy one we did …..
Seacacar hike and tubing
Our second trip was to the Seacacar canyon area which is along the Lake Isobel shoreline, near El Estor. Again we were with a group of cruisers. We piled into our van and off we went full ahead to the canyon. On arriving we met the guides and set off up the steep path. According to the info provided there is a 900m climb to the top.
It is approximately 2k long and the pathway has been laid and maintained by the local Mayans from the villages at the top. The whole business/tour started because an American man was rafting down the river and was kidnapped. This was some years ago during the “troubles” when the government was being particularly hard on the Mayans. Eventually the American was released and he stayed living in the area and started the attraction, which comprises of a hike to the top of the canyon, lunch at the lodge that he built and then a tube ride down the river to the starting point.
John was off with the majority of the others, I was at the rear with Anna, a Spanish lady and a guide. We walked, climbed, stopped to rest, chatted and looked at the scenery. For us there was no race, just an enjoyable walk. We stopped at the 2 look out points and admired the wonderful views over the canyon and across Lake Isobel in the distance.
When we reached the large ceremonial cave the rest of the group was just leaving and racing downhill where not much later we again met up with them.
John and I walked through the village to the hanging bridge, across to the village on the other side.
It really was just lovely scenery all around. I was just amazed by the number of butterflies.
There were just masses of butterflies along the river banks, plus dragonflies hovering, birds singing and the sound of the river rushing by made for a magical scene. We wandered back to the meeting place – the restaurant – where we put our bag and then set off to swim in the river.
The water was just sooo refreshing! Back at the restaurant lunch was fajitas that were wonderful! Served with salsa minutely cut and guacamole, beans and rice it was an excellent lunch.
After lunch we walked carrying our tubes and life jackets to the launching spot for tubing. John, Sabrina and I were the first in and again the water was just so refreshing.
Then we were off down river, sometimes zooming along, bumping into sides, sometimes just drifting, or swirling, I was even going backwards at one point, it was quite a ride.
There were 2 or 3 areas of rapids which were lively and we just ripped through, our guides trying to stop us from crashing into the cliffs. I just loved the scenery!
The canyon sides rose steeply, with trees, vines, grasses, ferns and air plants, water dripping from the sides, butterflies and dragonflies hovering with the sounds of bird songs and rushing water. It was a wonderful tube ride!
Friends and socials:
Another fun afternoon was spent playing Mexican Train dominoes with friends, Gillian and Gordon, and Greg and LizAnne just before they all departed for their trips.
Then there have been movie nights and quiz nights. Gordon, Gillian and us both are a team. We have done well even winning a jackpot!
And of course the regular animals and insects are all around us, the toads, terrapins, and crickets to name but a few they inhabit the Rio and are here to watch and be watched.
