CP, S&M - Of Cell Phones, Smoke and Mirrors

Once the rigs were onboard and we were underway, we were told that, due to the high flooding, it was a two-hour ride to dry land where the trucks could again drive. Since daylight was waning, we would have to stay the night on the island and carry on the next day. Deciding to hang with us overnight, Walter set the R44 down next to the fishing camp that encompassed most of the roughly 200 square yard island. The fishing camp, Campo Chiguao, appeared to be the main source of business for the ferry captain/fishing tour operator. Along with his house, which sheltered his family and several employees, the camp consisted of several sleeping churuatas, one of which we spent the night in. Churuatas are thatched roof shelters with poles for walls offering open-air sleeping for staying cool, yet provide overhead protection from the rain! Felipe cooked us a great steak dinner around 10:00 p.m. and we then settled in for our first camping night — Venezuelan style. We had been instructed not to bring sleeping bags but instead, hammocks. These were strung from the churuata’s poles so we “slept” above the ground and away from creepy crawly things like niguas, tiny parasites that bury eggs in your skin. At midnight I elected to try out the hammock, but Chris, ever the adventure photographer, took off in a curiara (dugout canoe) with some fish camp employees in search of crocodiles! I wondered if I’d ever see him again.