Well after literally years in the works, I’m very proud to announce that the first book of a two book series chronicling our sailing adventures from Vancouver Canada to Costa Rica has been completed.

“Adventures in Central America-Halfway There!- Vancouver Canada to Mexico,” is now available in paperback and e-Book through Amazon. The companion title “Adventures in Central America – Beyond the Papagayo- Mexico to Costa Rica” will follow in the fall of 2022.

I’m particularly excited about these two titles because they contain over 130 photographs and maps and for the first time the interior is printed in full colour. Go on line and open the book for a preview and while there check it out our three other titles.

https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=andrew+W.+Gunson&crid=R15LOQ1MB57J&sprefix=andrew+w+gunson%2Caps%2C159&ref=nb_sb_noss

Watch for the release of “Adventures in Central America – Beyond the Papagayo- Mexico to Costa Rica” in the Fall

After just a few hours ashore Jackie and I returned to Maiatla and headed up river. The first few miles the bank was lined with homes and small business an hotels. The life essence of the town comes from the river as the town is cut off from the rest of the world as there is no road access. As we progressed up the river the buildings diminished with the last of the ending at a narrowing of the river as black cliffs rose out of the jungle to encase the fast-flowing waters.

From here on in we were surrounded by the Guatemalan jungle. We had a strong head current and with the engine still overheating at high rpms it was a slow go but we didn’t mind as it just gave us more time to drink in the magnificent sites and sounds. I would later discover that the raw water impeller was worn and needed replacing.

The banks now consisted of vertical rock or trees and bush right down to the waterline. White egrets were plentiful and the sounds of the jungle birds, frogs and monkeys echoed across the water. I had been envisioning the trip up the river for years and as we would soon see, we would not be disappointed.  The waters flowed around river boulders that had tumbled from the vertical cliff. The water wound around sharp bends and tiny islands. Occasionally we spotted a thatched roof hut, a family’s home of a way stop, a riverside cantina. On such place boasted a full front dock and an upper balcony that could hold a hundred revelers or more. There were a few patrons eating at water front tables as music flowed out to greet us. I made a mental not to make a stop here on our way back down.

After a few hours the river opened up, giving us our first look of the first of two interior lakes, under cloudy skies we entered El Golfete. Just to the south was a little bay with a marina but we decided to anchor on the outside for the night and have a swim, while keeping an eye out for crocodiles. We had hear that August in the interior of Guatemala was brutally hot and humid, but we were pleasantly surprised. At anchor and being close to the river mouth we could still feel the cool ocean breeze that followed the river inland. It was downright pleasant. It was time for a swim, beers and diner.

The following morning, we motored the 10 miles up the lake which made me rather nervous as the lake was very shallow and we found ourselves touching the muddy bottom several times.  The jungle around the lake is wild but we could see huts up in the bush or along the water front, we passed several dugout canoes full of children dressed in the school uniforms with packs of books strapped to their backs. The more affluent were apparent as their dugouts came with outboards in leu of paddle power.

As we approached the head of the lake the river continued. As we round a small bend a Highrise bridge spanned the river and on the northern side lay a small town and all around was waterfront bars and marinas. We would have to choose. I had decided to check into the Marina Nana Juana which was aby all accounts the nicest in the area but for us the big selling point was the large pool and that it was within walking distance from town. Many of the marinas were water access only and since our dink was in sorry state of repair, we could not count on her to get us about. What stood out in stark contrast was the modern concrete bridge and directly up stream lay the 16^th century stone fort and cannon that still guard the access to the lake to the west, Lago de Izabal.

Marina Nana Juana would become Maiatla’s new home as she goes under a refit. We had a lot to do to get her back to being truly seaworthy. She was now at a fine shipyard and would get the attention she righty deserved and more importantly, after being stuck in the hurricane belt for two seasons she was now safe from storm and tempest.