Only had two singles, so they paddled them, giving Jesús the more stable and I paddled the double by myself, from the back seat. We went out and back to a little island and Jesús had enough. He was so happy and grateful but tired. Sitting in front of light skin aluminum cans containing cold fermented cereals drink (beer), we decided to take Jesus back to his place and come and paddle across the lagoon and eat in the touristic restorans at Mandinga. This was suggested, because it had seemed quite a short paddle for Manuel who travelled with me to Veracruz. Manuel had paddled three times before and is really hooked into the sport.

So, we launched, seeing the almost 4 nautical miles opposite shore and mountains. It was raining and serious black clouds were threatening coming closer.

We had commented the day before on ways to paddle without compass or GPS if caught in the fog. I suggested using the wind and wave directions as a guide, crossing fingers for them not to vary. Who would think that we were going to be in such a situation, in a small lake like that.

After passing the first island and constantly waiting for Manuel, rain increased, and was getting colder as if almost hail, and clouds, raindrops and fog closed the visibility. Every now and then I could see the mountains up North and would fix beacons on closer objects, until suddenly there was nothing to see. Waves in the lake were like 1.5 feet and wind blowed from my front left side. Every now and then Manuel would get close and commented about the magnificent spectacle that we had under the rain, with the shadows of some islands and some dim light filtering through the gray atmosphere.

He had a chance to do a lot of reflections and remembrances.

Suddenly the wind stopped, with nothing on site as a reference. Few minutes later it started again and my internal system made me believe that it had turned North so I went with it behind and the poor Manuel trusting me.

After a while we saw the other end marshes and no mountains. Then I knew I blew it. Wind picked up in the same angle as before, and therefore I should have crossed the waves at 45 degrees, instead of going with them.

We had to paddle upwind in the darkness and Manuel kept asking how longer should we go on. Finally, (and I was really worried that I had made the wrong conclusions), the channel entrance to Mandinga appeared. We paddled into visible objects and restaurants started to appear, smell of shrimp and fried fish pulled us from our noses, like dogs in cartoons, and folkloric marimbas and gitars started cheering Manuel spirit and diminishing my sense of guilt.

We landed in the pier of my friend Tomas´s restaurant, and as we climbed the stairs we saw many faces, with all tables occupied, looking at the veranda for those two wet aliens, that appeared with crazy outfits, hanging sides hats and bone wet.

Tomas came right away to greet us and kindly gave as a table for two in the farthest and more concealed corner. We entered the bathroom, changed into dry T shirts, dried ourselves with our towels properly placed on a dry bag and went out and got a table just by the pier near to our kayaks. Everybody looked at us with that strange face that we wanted to think was of admiration instead of horror.

Had great dinner and some Coronas, and Manuel was exhilarated but started complaining saying that I am the worst guide and instructor because every time he would get close to me I would start again and never gave him a chance to rest. Poor guy, I know the feeling. I told him that it was my revenge for many of those done to me. We laughed, listened to the marimba and folk dancers, waitresses came to say hello, and we had a very pleasant dinner.

Meanwhile children went down and had their parents take their pictures by the kayaks, since rain had stopped. So by the time we went back to the kayaks half the restoran was there watching. I helped Manuel into his kayak and then it was my turn and I usually do something silly in piers. Fortunately I entered OK and kids asked me what would happen if I would turn over. So.. to the pleasure of all the watchers I performed a roll, and all stared in admiration.

While rolling I wondered what would be the food thoughts if I changed gravity orientation, but fortunately nothing happened. My sore friend started warming up and as we entered again in the big lagoon, rain started but not as hard as to let us loose our beacon. Under back right quarterly wind and waves, we managed to get back to our place in less than an hour, even waiting for Manuel every now and then, and letting him decide, this time, the rest periods.

We had a ball.

Best Regards,

    Rafael Mier-Maza
    El cayuco chief
    www.mayanseas.com