June 14, 2001
Guanay


The successful expedition members received a rapturous welcome by the people of the small Aymara Indian town, Mapiri. Members enjoyed an excellent lunch of steak, chips and salad - which was very welcome after weeks on Soya "beef" and noodles. The school band played a "Rompy Pom" tune while JBS, Liz Dix and Yoli were draped with enormous garlands of colourful flowers. There was much dancing with ingenious improvisation by Paul Overton. The band then accompanied the expedition to the banks of the Mapiri River where mahogany boats conveyed them to Guanay.


At Guanay, Ernie laid on a splendid dinner at Fort Mogg followed by a "concert" with Shirley and Gerry performing as Incas. There were recitals by Jim Masters and Bill Holmes and readings by Graham Catchpole. The singing continued into the night with old Darien songs, "Hurrah for the CRE", and finally, "God Save the Queen".

For days this small Bolivian town has resounded to "God Save the Queen" and "Rule Britannia" as the local school band practices for the launch of the Kota Mama fleet on 16th June. A choir of soft-eyed Indian maidens has learned to sing the words in English. The combined effort of the band and the singing is most effective but almost drowns conversation at the expedition base. "I had to stand to attention 30 times between my soup and pudding at dinner last night and I'm getting tired!" said Jim Masters. Spurred on by the hope of world fame - the launch is to be captured by a BBC TV cameraman - the band and choir continue to practice unabated, aided by our piano playing dentist, Graham Catchpole and vocal accompaniments by Col JBS.

The forthcoming event has done much to raise morale in the little town that was recently devastated by floods and a simultaneous explosion of local garage fuel tanks. Three days ago a local gold mine collapse killed two people and badly injured two others. The community aid work at the school and hospital has been much appreciated. Our expedition members re-decorated some parts of the hospital. The material for this work was bought with funds donated by the Thorton Vale Rotary Club in the UK. This was initiated by Graham Catchpole. Seeds purchased with funds raised by Shirley Critchley are being planted to replace lost crops.


The Governor of the remote mountain/swamp region of La Paz (which is twice the size of Britain) is to accompany the Kota Mama fleet for the first two days as we tackle the rapids between Guanay and Rurrenbaque. Indian villages along the route are preparing to welcome the craft, which is similar to those used by their ancestors.