Once again we are setting out on a volunteer assignment. Officially it is Allan's assignment with CESO to do a Business Plan for the Dadanawa Ranch in southern part of Guyana, South America.
Our trip Halifax to Georgetown was supposed to be much simpler than it turned out to be. We arrived three hours early on Jan 31st, 2015 at the Halifax airport. We sat in Halifax not knowing when we would be leaving, but it became apparent that we were not going to make our connection in Toronto to Port of Spain and on to Guyana. This would have been an overnight flight. Instead, it became two nights; one short one (4 hours in the Hilton in Toronto courtesy Air Canada), then one is the Airport Inn, Port of Spain. In Barbados we filled in a claim for four missing bags, our luggage! We left Sat, arrived late Monday without luggage in Georgetown. Tuesday am, after meeting with the Board we had to make a decision, what to do without luggage. We decided to proceed (ie fly to Lethem without luggage) so we needed to purchase some essentials.
Our trip Halifax to Georgetown was supposed to be much simpler than it turned out to be. We arrived three hours early on Jan 31st, 2015 at the Halifax airport. We sat in Halifax not knowing when we would be leaving, but it became apparent that we were not going to make our connection in Toronto to Port of Spain and on to Guyana. This would have been an overnight flight. Instead, it became two nights; one short one (4 hours in the Hilton in Toronto courtesy Air Canada), then one is the Airport Inn, Port of Spain. In Barbados we filled in a claim for four missing bags, our luggage! We left Sat, arrived late Monday without luggage in Georgetown. Tuesday am, after meeting with the Board we had to make a decision, what to do without luggage. We decided to proceed (ie fly to Lethem without luggage) so we needed to purchase some essentials.
Meanwhile, our host Yolanda
Vasconcellos, Business Development Manager for the ranch along with the CESO people in Toronto and Georgetown were doing
their best to locate our luggage. Did it
leave Toronto? (We saw it being loaded
in Halifax covered with snow so it sat outside for the three hours while we
waited for the plane to come in from Toronto). Wednesday morning we checked out of the hotel
and went to the office with a list of last minute things to buy because of our
luggage situation. Yolanda was on the phone. She said, ‘You had better sit down’. The luggage is on its way to your hotel! Here we were just an hour away from having to
go to the Olge airport to fly to Lethem when we find out suitcases are on their
way. So Allan went to the hotel to meet
the suitcases, we picked up a take out lunch and off we went. I have never been so happy to see
suitcases!
From Georgetown, one must have a booking confirmed well in advance on the 18 seater plane flying to Lethem. We needed to be at the airport well ahead to have our luggage weighed and approved for the flight. We as people had to be weighed in showing how important weight is for the small airplane! Age seemed to command some respect because, when I was going through security check, the asked me how old I was. When I told them, they waved me on without removing my big boots or taking my computer out of the bag.
From Georgetown, one must have a booking confirmed well in advance on the 18 seater plane flying to Lethem. We needed to be at the airport well ahead to have our luggage weighed and approved for the flight. We as people had to be weighed in showing how important weight is for the small airplane! Age seemed to command some respect because, when I was going through security check, the asked me how old I was. When I told them, they waved me on without removing my big boots or taking my computer out of the bag.
The 18 seater airplane was an experience. Couldn’t stand up, had to bend forward to
maneuver down the narrow aisle holding hand luggage up! Basically all but computers were checked and
under us in the plane’s little belly!
Next time the computer will be checked-you can't bend over with a pack that rides on the ceiling! Everything about the flight was fascinating. Takeoff, up to 11000 feet gradually through
the billowy clouds. Allan and I sat
right behind the pilot watching the dial. The 90 minute flight allowed us some views of rivers, villages, a rice farm development, lots of rain forest and savanna.
We circled over the Brazilian border, saw the paved divided highway and modern bridge and quickly landed on the airstrip field in Lethem. The luggage cart was wheeled out into the field and the luggage was hauled by hand to the roadside where it was unloaded. Nothing fancy!
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| Rice Farm Development |
We circled over the Brazilian border, saw the paved divided highway and modern bridge and quickly landed on the airstrip field in Lethem. The luggage cart was wheeled out into the field and the luggage was hauled by hand to the roadside where it was unloaded. Nothing fancy!
We were met by the RDC’s truck and van. The truck is well packed with essential supplies for the remote ranch. For example, two flats of eggs were in front of me, the sacks of cassava flour on
the truck.
We quickly set off, hoping to reach the Ranch before dark. The trip will be about four hours. The road is a sand road alternated with a dirt road. We saw the sole bus that travels part way to the Ranch stopped at the ‘Bus Stop’, a place where one can relax in a hammock or use the outdoor facility The Amerindian Village native structures are fascinating.
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| Bus Stop Armenian Style |
We crossed an area where the wheels are washed for disease control (they call it a dip).
In rainy season, one does not travel the road. Much of the area is flooded. In previous trips, Yolanda and has travelled across the flooded river by boat with Ranch people meeting them on the other side. Below you will see a picture of one of the streams in the dry season (it has been extremely dry for three years!). Note the raft on the other side for crossing during wet season!
The mountains in the distance are beautiful with the setting sun. The land looks arid with vegetation sparse. The 3 ½ trip across the savannah on unpaved roads confirms the dryness and lack of soil fertility. At times travelling through sand reminded us of driving in heavy snow!
We reach the Ranch as it is getting dark.
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| Dadanawa Ranch Entrance |
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