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Ibike: Guyana (Guiana) |
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Kurupukari to Linden (by transport, 220km) A long section of almost unbroken forest. |
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A breakdown on the bus and a cloudburst soon after we got off the bus hampered our progress for the day, so we didn't make it as far as we had hoped. Fortunately we met Bernard at his store in the late afternoon. In short order, he arranged for us to have a place to stay and for Fay, a older local woman with endless energy and volumes of stories, to cook for us. As they had been all along, the meals were superb. During the evening other local citizens came by to great the strangers in town. It was one of the more interesting evenings of the program. | |
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Linden to Bartica (80km, 50mi). We cross the Essequibo River, “The English Amazon.” |
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 If
you aren't a motor vehicle, when you get to the river edge you wait for a motor
vehicle to need to cross. The place to wait is the Lion's Rock Variety
Store and Bar. Items for sale and their prices are clearly posted -- the
currency is the Guyana dollar. |
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 The
Essequibo ferry is a motorized barge. We were feeling unlucky for an hour or two
until a van come along, and then we were feeling very lucky. |
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This morning the crossing of the Essequibo River was very calm and picturesque. It does seem like it would be as nice an experience on a stormy day; the ferry doesn't offer much cover, nor a lot of freeboard. | |
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The one van on the ferry was well ahead of us at one point but we met them again several hours later at this point -- up to their axles in mud. We got through pretty clean with the bikes and then went back to help the van. By the time they were set free our legs were covered with mud. | |
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 This
family is making a homestead out of the forest. Typical of Guyanese they
provide us with food and drink. One of the dishes was a tasty mix of rice,
corn, beans and other vegetables -- all organic and grown on their farm. |
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 This
house further down the road had an conspicuous and interesting item along the
road. On a pole above a fire pit was a stuffed human-like figure, with a
cover above its head, most likely to protect it from the weather. No one
was around to give us information on the specific purpose of the display. |
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Guyana
Cultural Tour: Bartica
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