Tarapoto Peru July 3, 2004

What a day we have had. We were to leave the hotel at 8:30 am for our trip to the Blue Lagoon. The busses arrived at that time two busses (two minivans with 4 rows of small seats that would hold 4 Peruvians each. We are not Peruvians and there were 38 of us big Americans. They finally brought another bus.

We left at 9 am on a 3 hour trip to the blue lagoon. Twelve km into the trip the 3rd bus broke down. It seemed to have a dirty fuel filter. It had been changed yesterday. After about 30 to 40 minutes repairs were made and we proceeded up the road about 1 km. The same thing happened again. After another 30 minutes it was repaired again.

The paved road lasted for about the first 8 km. This was the main highway from Tarapoto to Lima 630 km to the south. This road was like no other road you have ever been on. (Except made you Uncle Bob, but this lasted for 40 km not half a mile to your house) The rocks and ruts were unbelievable. Thirty-eight km into our journey we came to the river crossing. This was using 3 long canoe like vessels about 30 feet long that were held together by the platform that the bus was driven up on. There were 2 young men in their teens that bailed the water out of these boats. We loaded up the busses one at a time and crossed the river. Sonny this river was about as wide and fast as the Mississippi River at Cannel Street ferry in New Orleans. This crossing took about 30 minutes to get all 3 busses across the river. Eighteen km to go it is now about noon. We arrive at the armed entrance to the village of Sauce, The bus driver tells the guards that we are tourists and the drop the chain and let us in,

As we start to drive through the village we cause quiet a stir. A three piece band consisting of clarinet, base drum and snare drum starts escorting us through the village. We drive around the square and down to the lake. There we see the boats that are to take us on our tour of the lagoon. These boats look like the boats in a James Bond movie in Hong Kong or some were they have 9 horse power lawn mower engines with a propeller shaft sticking out the back like in this movie. The lake is beautiful and the ride is very peaceful. After a 20 minute ride we are at the far end of the lake and its time for our picnic lunch. The ride back is just as beautiful. After boarding the busses again we arrive at the armed guards again. Seems that the village is a money making business we sign posted says the we will have to pay 30 Soles per bus (1 Sole = 35 cents.) the bus driver argues for about 10 minutes here says that he will only pay 50 Soles for all three buses. They finally let us through. Turns out that the bus driver is from this village.

We cross the ferry again it is now 5:45 the sun goes down at 6:02 we still have 38 km to go about 2. hours. We go 1 km the bus we are in break down the bus will not go in 1st or 2nd gear only 3rd and 4th. Not good for going se slow up and down bumpy road. The other bus has a low tire and then also change that. The larger of the 3 buses has to pull us up that side of this mountain 4 or 5 km. It is dark now. We can see the southern cross in the sky. We finally arrive back at the hotel at 9 pm after putting in 12 hours. Disney World has nothing on this experience.

Seven AM breakfast tomorrow leave for the job site at 7:30

Bye,

Dan, Rhonda, and Sam