RODADERO & PUNTA HERMOSA
From 5 bays we moved back to civilisation with a short 15 mile sail to Rodadero, a resort area for the Colombians, lots of tall buildings, condos and water sports: a mini Gold Coast!
We anchored just behind the swim buoys, but within swimming distance of the shore. It wasn’t long before we had a variety of water craft surrounding the boat – canoes, peddle boats and the odd swimmer checking us out – lots of ‘Buenos Dias’ and ‘olah’ – all very friendly. We had one Colombian women swim out to the boat and was too tired to swim back so I had to give her a lift in the dinghy!
We spent over 5 days here with Joule and Narid, enjoying the $5.00 lunches (which included several beers), the friendly people and the calm anchorage, for the first time since we left Curacao there wasn’t a constant 20 – 25 knot wind blowing.
Time was getting on and we need to be in Panama by the 17thso it was time to move on – a 55 mile trip to Punta Hermosa including crossing the mouth of the dreaded Rio Magdalena. It is one of the largest rivers in Colombia which spews out brown muddy water with a sprinkling of river debris at a rate of 6 knots. When the strong winds meet the river current it makes for a very ugly sea.
The trip started with 12 to 15 knot easterly wind with a very lumpy sea and from then it just started to build. Crossing the mouth of the Rio Magdalena we had wall high seas, gale force winds and had a few big waves sweep through the cockpit. While all this was happening we had to keep an eye open for any large logs that might have floated out to sea! We are pleased to say that Innforapenny handled the conditions with ease, which is more than I can say for Penny!
We finally arrived in our new anchorage of Punta Herosa – much relieved and in need of several stiff drinks!
