Stepping down the food chain
Despite no common language, the entire village of Paso Cabbalos made it very clear they thought I was crazy. Even so I had no shortage of young helpers to aid me pump up my trusty board. They were rewarded with a go on the intriguing device that the strange foreigner pulled from his bag of tricks on the river bank and seemed intent on paddling down the river. I saw my first croc within 10 minutes of setting off. He was only a baby, but this wasn’t a river I fancied swimming in. It is amazing how after 1000s of hours on a board, one crocodile can make your balance seem none existent and your board depressingly unstable.
The first section of the journey was short and sweet and after just a few Km, I came ashore at a jungle rangers station set up to protect and monitor the fragile eco system and rare and threatened inhabitants of the forest. The rangers were most hospitable, found me a room, provided me with dinner, breakfast and then protested when I tried to pay them for the luxury.
