SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2009
We had left you in Humahuaca. Some days have gone by and pedaling smoothly we’ve arrived to Calilegua.
There is a strong environmental movement by the Calilegua National Park of the province of Jujuy to preserve the tropical yunga forests (the yunga is the typical local vegetation). The deforestation of the yungas by the large corporations that operate in the area is a serious ecological problem.
We left Humahuaca and decided to head towards Hornillos, always climbing and pedaling against the wind. The good thing is that the only building we found was a museum of an old Hornillos sentry post and a resting site of national heroes and provincial caudillos (leaders). We were warmly received and were not only given a personalized tour, but were permitted to camp in the backyard of the museum under very old espinillos (the espinillo is a local variety) and carob trees.
The pathway leading to the archaeological site was spectacular but very steep, and we almost had to stay and sleep over because the night surprised us and we couldn’t find our way down.
The route to Jujuy was mostly descending. We were amazed by the change of scenery and temperature variations. Having left the cardones (giant cactus) behind, we slowly started entering the jungle forest and climbing the hills over hallucinating roads. If you come this way, be sure to travel the road from Zapla to La Mendieta. You won’t regret it.
Everywhere we go, we are welcomed by kind and warm people. In La Mendieta, we were received by the mayor and were allowed to sleep inside the Municipal building, which avoided our sleeping inside the tent under a terrible storm. We thank Mr. Guerra and all the other wonderful people at La Mendieta for their hospitality and a delicious dinner.
From La Mendieta, on our way to Calilegua, we were always accompanied by the sugar cane plantations. We’re now in dengue territory. The dengue is a mosquito-born disease which is widely spread in this part of the country, and the only precaution possible is loads of repellent.
Tomorrow we leave for Pichanal. We’re anxious to reach the Bermejo River, to get into our kayaks and to start paddling, but this symbolic stage on our bikes has exceeded all expectations. Upon arrival to the jungle forest, we were greeted by a giant toucan that with no doubt was asking itself what we were doing there. And, we’re very glad to say, the kayak is no longer an unknown item in these parts.
We’ll see you again during our last stop on dry land before hitting the water.
Regards to all and again, thanks for following our project.
Welcome to our sea kayaking project, "Facing the wind".
In March 2009 we will attempt to paddle more than 4.000 nautical miles along Argentina for the first time. Starting at La Quiaca, a little town settled in the heights of the northern Andes Mountains at 14.000 ft we will cycle and paddle to end this trip 10 months later in the very end of Patagonia, precisely in the city of Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego province.
We’ll have to cycle 410 miles with our sea kayaks in carts to get to the waters of the Bermejo, an always changing river with plenty of crocodiles, snakes, piranhas and many other wildlife. Also we’ll have to paddle along the big Paraguay and Paraná rivers that come from the Brazilian Amazon to die many miles later in the Atlantic Ocean. These two rivers are an excellent option for kayak fishing. The hardest part of the expedition comes last when our sea kayaks will head south in search of the Patagonian coasts, full of rocks and ridges, cold temperatures and strong winds. This Atlantic coastline is extraordinarily rich in sea birds, penguins, whales and sea lions, but no human presence for many miles. The use of an inverse osmosis bomb for purifying salt water will be vital for survival in places where rain is not usual for many months and fresh water rivers don’t get to the sea.
Why paddling 4.000 nautical miles? Our kayaking philosophy is quite simple; we believe that we can use our kayaks to generate conscience. Working hard locally can lead us to global solutions. The daily effort and a positive mind makes the difference, so lets do what we know best, lets paddle and show people that everybody can do something to solve problems in a local scale. This time we paddle for rural schools and environment preservation. Rural schools have little resources and are settled in the middle of nowhere, so people have to get there walking, horse riding, rowing, but never on a school bus. This kind of schools also feed children that spend all day far away from home. Our help is needed, so we are trying to compromise everybody to donate food, clothes, shoes, books, computers and many other things.
Environmental problems are also important; we paddle for clean rivers and healthy ecosystems, for the respect of wildlife, global warming, against industries breaking the laws and many other threats that nature is suffering.
The team members started paddling in sea kayaks 10 years ago. Now they spend their time teaching the basics of kayaking and guiding people through the islands of the Paraná Delta, a unique ecosystem formed by the deposition of river sediments.
Never stop exploring is an option in Argentina; we still have many rivers to paddle with the same purposes of this trip.
So, lets go paddling!! Enjoy Argentina!
We’ll have to cycle 410 miles with our sea kayaks in carts to get to the waters of the Bermejo, an always changing river with plenty of crocodiles, snakes, piranhas and many other wildlife. Also we’ll have to paddle along the big Paraguay and Paraná rivers that come from the Brazilian Amazon to die many miles later in the Atlantic Ocean. These two rivers are an excellent option for kayak fishing. The hardest part of the expedition comes last when our sea kayaks will head south in search of the Patagonian coasts, full of rocks and ridges, cold temperatures and strong winds. This Atlantic coastline is extraordinarily rich in sea birds, penguins, whales and sea lions, but no human presence for many miles. The use of an inverse osmosis bomb for purifying salt water will be vital for survival in places where rain is not usual for many months and fresh water rivers don’t get to the sea.
Why paddling 4.000 nautical miles? Our kayaking philosophy is quite simple; we believe that we can use our kayaks to generate conscience. Working hard locally can lead us to global solutions. The daily effort and a positive mind makes the difference, so lets do what we know best, lets paddle and show people that everybody can do something to solve problems in a local scale. This time we paddle for rural schools and environment preservation. Rural schools have little resources and are settled in the middle of nowhere, so people have to get there walking, horse riding, rowing, but never on a school bus. This kind of schools also feed children that spend all day far away from home. Our help is needed, so we are trying to compromise everybody to donate food, clothes, shoes, books, computers and many other things.
Environmental problems are also important; we paddle for clean rivers and healthy ecosystems, for the respect of wildlife, global warming, against industries breaking the laws and many other threats that nature is suffering.
The team members started paddling in sea kayaks 10 years ago. Now they spend their time teaching the basics of kayaking and guiding people through the islands of the Paraná Delta, a unique ecosystem formed by the deposition of river sediments.
Never stop exploring is an option in Argentina; we still have many rivers to paddle with the same purposes of this trip.
So, lets go paddling!! Enjoy Argentina!
jueves, 5 de noviembre de 2009
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