Lake Yeguaba

Mike and I got up at dawn walked around the finca and headed out at 8 south to San Francisco. I picked up a lock for the bathroom at Tierra Libre and we headed east around the church and then north. Headed past the park and up into the mountains looking for the continental divide. Picked up a couple of Indian women, one carrying a child and drove them for several miles to a house standing by itself, ten miles from nowhere. A group of people greeted our passengers with great humor, apparently for having received a ride in this desolate territory.

We returned to the park at Lake Yeguaba, a hydroelectric reservoir surrounded by Honduran Pines. Ranger Willy walked us to the waterfalls on the low route, beside the river. We ascended to the view point and gawked at the tourista's in bikinis as the ranger said “beuno melones” (nice melons).

A multi room build has two cabinas with two beds and one with three. Each cabina has a kitchen. The bathroom is shared by all. The cost is $10/night per bed. We strolled around for a bit and headed back. Mike did a fine job on the unmarked roads. Most of the roads down here don't even have names, but occassionally there are direction signs. I took a nap in the hammock, then we headed back into town to Cafe Delight. Arturo was holding court with people from many countries including a group of Chinese, the family of a vice prosident of Cosco, a huge shipping company. I think about 80% of the containers I see on the canal have the name “Cosco” on them. There were a few Africans and Aturo's wife and one of his sons. His party left and he, his wife, Ed, Mike and I shot the shit about the future of Veraguas in general and Sante Fe in particular. Santa Fe has a need for accommodations. People won't come up from Santiago without a nice place to stay. Santa Fe would be an ideal getaway, it is but an hour's drive, quiet and much cooler. Mike and I started a discussion on developing one of his river front properties. He is not much into projects and I need something to do. I would like to have a place in Bocas and a place in Santa Fe. Mountains and rivers in Santa Fe, jungle and ocean in Bocas. Seven hours from one to the other. Completely different kinds of places.

The Japanese girls showed up at Cafe Delight, they had hiked from Guabal to Rio Luis and made it to Colovebera. I bought them a victory round. Ed announced that he was taking over the cafe next month on an eight year lease.

We decided that the trip to Los Tablas departed Sante Fe too early and returned too early. According to Janet it is going to be hotter than hell in the sun during the day and the parades don't start until about 11. She also reports it is extremely dangerous.