Camp 17: Another extraordinary day. As we are of the (infamous) ‘never go twice generation’ we chose to pack it all in one load. So with some 40 kilos on our backs started the trip down. We must have looked like drunken (or dying) sailors, as we soon had a Condor floating above. That this carrion bird at times came as close as 10 metres says volumes about the sight of us struggling under our backpacks…
After some 7-8 km came we upon a very small farm. Here a settler couple lived with a handful of cows, no electricity and only that the earth could chip in. It was overwealming to be treated in the way we were.
Later we worked for the food, logging, fetching the cows and getting water. In the evening we were treated to a real brotherhood gathering. Though we were deeply embarrassed and sad our Spanish was as bad as it is. But the Satellite phone helped out a bit.
Through their only means of communication, a VHF radio, we now believe the husband will take us down the river in his boat tomorrow, and that another boat from Tortel will pick us up in a day – or two.
