Tuesday October 30th, 2001
Ashore following an afternoon of preparation.
My
hammock (bright yellow) with integral mosquito net (bright green - that will
also keep the vampire bats at bay) is now strung inside the ruins of what was
obviously once a rather magnificent home.
The
roof has gone and the south wall has a tree growing over and though it - but
the floor is tiled - and the view out over the river - perfect.
We are
quite high, looking down on the river - with one of our dinghies drawn up on
the edge of the sand. Some rather dangerous red and black bees have gathered on
the bow of the dinghy, so Don will need to be careful heading back to Seamaster
in a little while.
In the
distance is the far bank of the Rio Negro, that all-too-familiar line of dark
green above a stripe of gold and the black of the water.
Flights
of parrots are squawking overhead as I sit on a rocky ledge in front of the
old, overgrown brick and plaster home - with its arched windows and grand front
steps - complete with iron securing ring. Obviously the river comes right up to
the front door at high water.
We are
all wearing long trousers and boots -“just in case” - a “peace of mind”
precaution as we have been exploring the surrounding area, seeing what we can
find.
More
ruins stretch eastwards, all overgrown or crumbling away. Nearby, at the back
of my “accommodation”, are the remains of an old riveted iron river boat of
rather a pleasing shape. It is rotting away like the rest of the man-made
surroundings, but the frames still give one the feeling of what it must have
been like in its day. We can imagine it chuffing up-river under steam engine,
ensign flying from the stern.
Unfortunately,
never again.
The
jungle is all-consuming.
While
am I the officers quarters, the other eight members of the jungle team are
under the trees, hammocks slung in a grove nearby.
Ollie
is working on the “galley” for the evening meal.
Alistair
is finding the wood for the fire.
Marc is
everywhere - in overall charge
Dr Jab
(Marc Shaw) is looking very comfortable in his first night ashore, the first of
many in the weeks ahead.
Franck
and Janot are making sure everything is in order including tarpaulins in case
of rain.
While
Simon and James are filming the overall set-up.
Don has
been taking digital photos and is now installing them in the computer, for
inclusion in this Log that we expect to send via our river bank transmission
system through the satellite in the next few minutes or so. However, darkness
is overtaking me as I type this and a torch is now being used so that I can see
the keys.
The
frogs are beginning their night-time racket - sounding like someone inflating a
flat tire using a squeaky pump.
There
is hardly a breath of wind - a few ripples disturb the surface of the river,
but it is mainly glassy calms.
The
cool and rain of yesterday has melted away, to be replaced by the still and
humid heat once more.
This is
the Rio Negro.
This is
the Amazon.
All the
best from the Seamaster crew.
Kind
regards,
Peter.