My guide in Suriname, Otte
Ottema, had lived and 'birded' French Guyana for 19 years, so had a good
deal of information to impart before our parting. One of the places he
suggested was the Awala-Yalimapo National Nature Reserve but advised of
little transportation and the private homes of the local Indians as the
only accommodation. There was a 'collectivo' leaving St Laurent at
07:00, but any suggestion of a 'return' was about as certain as when I
will next buy you a pint! Without wishing to sound, or be, foolhardy
return journeys are never paramount in my planning, getting there is the
only goal with a 40Km walk the only penalty for not getting a ride. The
drive took us through the tiny town of
MANA, a little broken down in parts
but most definitely some development going on in others.
The approach road to Awala looked promising too,
as apart from the grass verges the jungle beyond was impenetrable.
The Reserve was well sign-posted
and there was a brand spanking new
VISITOR'S CENTER
but
devoid of visitors. The driver allowed time for me to make some
investigations, but all the buildings were of the 'open' type, just
shelters rather than accommodation, and it was a camel-trek back to the
footpath accessing the forest!
The approaches to our destination looked promising enough, as there were a few houses and by the look of it communications,
but coming to a halt at first glance it seemed more like we would be met by Bedouins rather than French Colonialists.
a passage of Terns, of which I could only make
COMMON TERN
and
SANDWICH/CAYENNE TERN
Despite
acute language difficulties the French/Chinese driver made it clear
that his 'spell' was up and it would not be he driving me back and knew
of no planned return transport. Anyway, as stated before, it was
wildlife first and one way or another a method of return would be
found.
Already
GREY-BREASTED MARTIN
and COMMON GROUND DOVE had joined the list,
while here a different side of
BLACK VULTURE
would be seen
scavenging the back-garden of this house.
There were very few people here at all, let alone anyone who could 'parlez-vous anglais', so I felt it would be down to a
Wind-Swept Thumb
a section of the Marillion classic
Bitter Suite
(from the album Misplaced Childhood)
On the outskirts of nowhere,
On the ring-road to somewhere,
On the verge of indecision,
I'll always take the roundabout way,
Waiting on the rain.
For I was born with a habit, from a sign.
The habit of a windswept thumb.
And the sign of the rain,
(from the album Misplaced Childhood)
On the outskirts of nowhere,
On the ring-road to somewhere,
On the verge of indecision,
I'll always take the roundabout way,
Waiting on the rain.
For I was born with a habit, from a sign.
The habit of a windswept thumb.
And the sign of the rain,
See Link below for an opportunity to see and hear
the much understated
Derek Dick (Fish), Ian Mosley, Mark Kelly, Steve Rothery and Peter Trewavas
MARILLION
the much understated
Derek Dick (Fish), Ian Mosley, Mark Kelly, Steve Rothery and Peter Trewavas
MARILLION
Little did I know that while taking these shots
around the village
and figuring a way to spend a couple of days here
My Carriage Awaited!
Go Back 3 Photos.
That's
when I met these 3 lovely French couples, here to visit relatives and
on a 'day tour' of their own. We stopped and chatted for a while but
they too had no idea of local public transport, then parted company.
About to start my 'hitch', they pulled up in their hired van and offered
a lift back to St Laurent, the Little Darlings!
On the way back we stopped at some roadside shacks selling wood carvings and there was a chance to snap these WILD FLOWERS.
CHIEFY was sat outside polishing his rocket,
while we all took the opportunity to look round.
The MAIN WORKSHOP
No, had a rethink on these and doubt if they are Rockets!
Probably some sort of 'native skittle set'?
Cock-of-the-Rock
is on the Dream List but feel this may be the nearest I get.
Local lads taking advantage of the Floods
all rivers are bursting their banks, with many homes underwater.
In all too short time we had to part company
In all too short time we had to part company
but if you are tuning in, here's a MASSIVE THANK YOU
for your kindnesses.
TI-PIC-KREOL'S,
next to the hotel,
was the final port of call for a beer and bowl of peanuts.
Was also looked after very well here - Thank You!
Well, it didn't
Was also looked after very well here - Thank You!
Well, it didn't
from Misplaced Childhood
Marillion
Wide boys, we were wide boys, born with hearts of Lothian.
These hearts of Lothian.
It's six o'clock in the tower blocks,
The stalagmites of culture shock, (culture shock)
And the trippers of the light fantastic, bowdown, hoedown
Spray their pheromones on this perfume uniform.
And anarchy smiles in the Royal Mile.
And they're waiting on the Slyboys, Flyboys, Wideboys.
Rooting, Tooting Cowboys, lucky little ladies at the watering holes.
They'll score the Friday night goals.
I was born, with a heart of Lothian.
Marillion
Wide boys, we were wide boys, born with hearts of Lothian.
These hearts of Lothian.
It's six o'clock in the tower blocks,
The stalagmites of culture shock, (culture shock)
And the trippers of the light fantastic, bowdown, hoedown
Spray their pheromones on this perfume uniform.
And anarchy smiles in the Royal Mile.
And they're waiting on the Slyboys, Flyboys, Wideboys.
Rooting, Tooting Cowboys, lucky little ladies at the watering holes.
They'll score the Friday night goals.
I was born, with a heart of Lothian.
Having
spent my first 'sea-going' year based in Rosyth, Scotland by definition
much time was spent enjoying the delights of 'The Royal Mile',
Edinburgh (sweet 16 and never been kissed). Mixing with (and probably
considered one of) the Rootin', Tootin' Cowboys meeting the "lucky
little ladies at the watering holes", there was 'first hand' experience
of what Marillion are on about. That's maybe why I consider this and
their follow-up album, 'Clutching at Straws', as much Social Documents
as damn fine Progressive Rock 'n' Roll played in the most competent
manner. I wish once again it were "six o'clock in the tower blocks"!
