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May 15, 2001
Location - Guanay, Bolivia
Trek to Paititi
Prince Leopold and his team are still out in the
jungle pressing forward on foot towards the supposed
site of the Lost Inca City. Their progress has been
slowed down though by the rains and dense vegetation.
Their difficult situation was made worse when two of
their four mules ran off into the jungle. Getting across
the Rio Santa Ana at Smith's Crossing had proved too
deep and fast for the mules. However, Prince Leopold
and Mike How managed to swim through the torrent and
are now in the long jungle covered ridge that leads
to the site. Lieutenant Andrew Craig has twisted his
knee and has been left behind at a firm base with the
two remaining mules for company.
Ten local cutters are also moving across another route,
clearing a 2-metre track to the site. Prince Leopold
hopes to meet up with them in a day or two.
Meanwhile at Fort Mogg, planning teams are working out
the details for the balance expedition members' venture
up Mt. Paititi. Of great concern is the challenging
Rio Santa Ana crossing - challenging for both the mules
carrying our equipment as well as their handlers!
Tear Gas and Walls of Water - What Next ?
Capt. Jim Masters, Col. JBS and Yolima Cipagauta have
carried out a recce of the first 25 km of the rapids
that the expedition will be navigating on Rio Kaka and
Rio Beni at the Retama cataract. On the morning of their
departure the team found themselves in the midst of
a demonstration by the coca growers of the area who
were protesting against new Bolivian government legislation.
The police dispersed the demonstrators with tear gas,
forcing the coughing expedition members to retreat to
their hotel.
The next day however, the team shot the rapids in a
local boat built of mahogany wood. Their mini-adventure
was made even more memorable when they encountered six-foot
wave towers, which were being hurled skywards by a huge
submersed rock. "It will be an exciting ride",
said Jim Masters, who at 72 is one of the world's most
experienced river navigators. The great reed trimaran
"Kota Mama III", now nearing completion on
Lake Titicaca will be an amazing sight for the local
gold panners as it shoots the rapids on the 16th and
17th of June.
In Guanay, boat builder Eddy Loaiza is constructing
a 13-metre trimaran from mahogany wood. The trimaran
will be built to a traditional design of the boats used
5000 years ago.
Giving back to Guanay
Col. JBS, now back at Fort Mogg in Guanay, has deployed
the medical team to provide services to the people of
this town. Within an hour of the team's arrival, queues
of locals were at the Guanay Medical Clinic. Dr. Sam
Allen and Dr. Jo Brown worked hard treating over 75
patients, most of who were suffering from leishmaniasis.
Dentist Graham Catchpole treated 20 patients.
WO2 Craig Halford, of the Royal Engineers, has designed
a flood prevention scheme for Guanay and an extension
for the clinic. He is very much in demand being constantly
swamped with requests for assistance.
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