Post #17: Last post. Making our way back to "civilization"

February 7, 2011
Leaving the Lodge
Flying out of Puerto Maldonado for Lima

During our last night in the rainforest jungle it rained.  It thundered on and on, and lightning flashed brilliantly, illuminating the canopy I could see out the window by my bed, keeping me awake for a few hours.  I thought about all those creatures in the forest searching for cover and listened to the rain pound the roof.  Morning came much too soon.

Rain continued to pour during breakfast.  We had packed the previous night, so we brought our duffle bags to the lodge first thing and ate breakfast hurriedly.  At 7:00 am we said goodbye to the wonderful staff and for the last time rode in the boat down the Tambopata River.  We would drop Kevin off at a dock downstream where he would spend a day or two at a different lodge.  Meeting such a knowledgable explorer like him was a boon to our rainforest visit, for sure. 

On the boat, too, was the lodge's cook who was returning to Puerto Maldonado for vacation.  Elvis was taking some well-earned vacation there, too.  After our stay at the lodge there would be no more guests for awhile.  This was due not only to the rainy season but also the dismal global economy.  We know how fortunate we are to travel these days given the financial crisis so many people are experiencing in so many countries.

With the plastic flaps down to shield us from the rain, we climbed aboard The Titanic and took off.

All aboard
Tambopata River, Peru boat ride
Photo by Hoyt Edge

It was windy and very wet as we sped along, even after Elvis raised the flaps.

Soggy Charlene Edge on Tambopata River boat
Photo by Hoyt Edge

Next lodge where we dropped off Kevin
Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge

Worker carrying guest's luggage at next lodge
Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge

Encampment further down river
Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge

Canopy with a hanging bird nest which is home for an oropendola along Tambopata River
Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge

Elvis lowers the windshield
Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge

People living on a river boat on Tambopata River.  Reminded me of Vietnam.
Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge

Sign hanging in our boat
Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge

Hoyt Edge - hat flew off into the river...
Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge

They turned the boat around for the hat rescue.
Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge

Helpful tour guide.  You never know what you'll have to do!
Hoyt Edge on left.
Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge

Lucky Hoyt Edge - drenched hat
Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge

We approach Camp Inferno where we disembark and hop in the SUV bound for Puerto Maldonado
Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge

Returned to Camp Inferno to catch SUV to town.  Maybe hop on that bike?
Photo by Hoyt Edge

On the mud road we stopped to help this poor guy...I mean Elvis and our driver helped push him out of the ditch.
Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge

Wet city - Puerto Maldonado
Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge

Andean Adventure office storage room.  Our luggage is right as we left it.
Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge

Well, we did it!
Charlene Edge in luggage room, Puerto Maldonado
Photo by Hoyt Edge

Flight out to Lima? Kidding.  Just Indiana's Jones old plane.
Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge

We were originally scheduled to fly from Puerto Maldonado to Cusco, touch down to pick up more passengers, then continue on to Lima.  But the weather in Cusco was bad.  Cusco was covered in clouds and no flights were going in or out.  At first, our flight was delayed a couple of hours then they re-routed us altogether, flying us directly to Lima.  In Lima we would once again spend the night at the hotel by the airport and leave for Miami the next morning.

Charlene Lamy Edge inside Puerto Moldanado Airport.  There are only two gates.
"Gotta get this journal in shape!"
Photo by Hoyt Edge

I hope you've enjoyed this blog about our journey as much as I did writing it.  For me, writing about a trip is one of the joys of travel - I get to feel the adventure again and reflect on what I learned.  This trip was a whopper!

Feel free to leave comments on this blog.  You can reach Charlene at crledge52@gmail.com. 

Adios, amigos,

Hoyt and Charlene Edge