Kayaking in La Barqueta
Dec 15th, 2007 by Don Ray
Last Thursday, I had a real adventure. My friend Ken, asked if I would like to go kayaking. Since I had never been kayaking and wanting to put another notch on my adventure belt, I quickly agreed. There were four in our party. Ken, Jim ( a tourist from Pennsylvania) and Rey, who I wrote about in a previous post.
We took two single person kayaks and one two-seater. As I said before, this was my first time and there were some lessons learned, that will better prepare me, if I do it again.
The first thing I should have known, but didn’t, was that you cannot go kayaking and not get wet. I knew that we were going to be in gentle waters and I just didn’t give it much thought. I knew that a kayak was a small shallow boat. With this type of boat, you are going to get wet. That is lesson one. Don’t have anything on you that can’t afford to be in water.
The second thing is that the riding position in a kayak is like forming a figure “L”. Therefore you should be prepared to ride for a long time with your back straight and your legs straight in front of you. Lesson two was that I should have been a little more limber.
The third thing is so obvious, that doesn’t need mentioning, but I didn’t properly prepare even though it is something I normally do well. That is, if you are going to be out in a boat for several hours, make sure you have adequately covered any exposed areas with sunscreen. The lesson I learned here is that means 100% of the exposed areas. I did well on my face, neck and arms, But I forgot my legs and having bare legs covered with salt water for 4 hours, did a job on me.
If you go kayaking, please remember these three things.
And so we were off. I had been told that there was a good possibility that we would get to see fair amount of wild life. There are crocodiles in them there waters, and I had my camera ready to capture them. I also knew on a previous outing they had come across howler monkeys and anteaters. I was ready. Plenty of camera memory and batteries.
We drove a short way past the Las Olas resort and back into a more raw area of the country. We came into a clearing and there was a small peer. Here are a few photos of the starting point.
The water level difference between the high tide and low tide, on the Pacific side of Panama, is much greater than high and low tide on the Atlantic side of Panama. When we left the tide was going out and we would be going with the current. Translate that into meaning – the going would be easy. Compare this photo to one at the end of this post.
In many of the trees, you will see large black growths. They are termites. Here is a photo, so you can see them. Over time the termites will kill the tree and it will fall.
Okay. It is time to shove off. As I had mentioned before, we had two type of kayaks (a single seater type and a two seater type). The two seater is supposed to be a little more stable, so the two novices (Jim and I) went in the two seater and Rey and Ken took the single seaters.
As you can see from this photo, I am in the front seat. Now this is a good news and bad news position. The good news is that I can take photos with no obstruction. The bad news is that if the rear passenger wanted to slack off on the paddling, the front passenger would never know it. Have you ever ridden in the back of a two seater bicycle? It is kind of the same thing. I am sure Jim ended the trip less tired than I did because he was younger. Just kidding Jim.
Here is Ken leading the way. He spent a lot of time reminding me of the adventure ahead. You know – the anacondas that had been the concept for a couple movies. Also the crocodiles that frequented the shoreline. When Jim asked him what to do if one approached, Ken said he usually just bit them in the tail and they left.
You have to admit, this really takes you into a different type of world if you have lived in the city for most of your life.
Here is Rey. I am sure he is making sure that the shoreline is free of any of the creatures that Ken kept talking about.
The day couldn’t have been prettier. At this point in time we had been in a reasonable amount of shade. This would change.
After about an hour we stopped at this sandy area to take a little breather.
Here is a photo of the two seater and one of the one seaters.
While we were here, a crocodile jumped off the bank on the other side. I heard the big splash and saw the ripples, but I didn’t get a photo. I think this was when Ken was saying if we just splashed in the water a little , we might be able to draw him nearer. Ken is helpful like that.
My back was feeling the effects of sitting in an “L” position without any back support. The one seater had some back support and I was asked if I wanted to try it. I felt reasonably comfortable that I had learned what I needed and could handle it, so this photo is from the one seater.
The only problem when you take photos in a one seater, the other boats get farther ahead. I got a great upper body workout on the trip.
Here is Jim in the back and Rey in the front.
Meanwhile, Ken is throwing raw meat along the shoreline to bring out some tame crocodiles.
This is a little area that some of the locals use to stop and clean fish. I didn’t have any fish to clean, so I didn’t get out.
This is another larger cleaning area. I guess, Jim and Rey wanted to get a closer look.
Ken apologized for bringing us out on a high traffic day. You are looking at the only boat we saw. Ken said they were catching bait to use to catch larger fish.
This is the dock that we left from. You can see that the water level had dropped dramatically. There was a lot of adventure between the last photo and this one. However, for the most part I was too tired to get the camera out.
I understand if we would have waited another hour or so, that the tide would have been coming in and it would have been easier.
As it was we were coming back into the wind and we came on several areas where we had to leave the kayaks and pull them to the next stretch of water. During this part, I could feel the effect of the trip and my body was telling me to “Slow down there young feller”.
We saw several birds on the trip. I never did get a photo of one, because they would leave before I got the camera ready. They all were in the crane family.
We never saw a crocodile. Maybe that was a blessing. I am not sure if I really understood how to get hold of them to bite their tail.
We never saw any of the monkeys. However, Ken did entertain us by making monkey calls. I asked if they were male or female mating calls he was making. According to Ken, his call worked well on both. Hmmm.
It was a great adventure. I really enjoyed it. I then drove back to David. When I got into the house, I could tell that I had forgotten to apply sunscreen to my legs. That is one mistake I will not make again. I figure in another week or two, I should be able to walk again. As I type this, I am sitting with my legs elevated and with both legs covered with wet clothes. Thank goodness for wireless keyboards and mice. Here is a photo taken just as I had gotten home.
What a great trip. Thanks for letting me enjoy your day, particularly without getting wet or sunburned. Hope you are doing better. Great photos.
Hi Jerry. I am glad you enjoyed the trip.
Thank you so much for letting us see the pictures of your kayak trip. My husband and I will be moving to Volcan, hopefully soon, and we will be bringing kayaks with us. It’s nice to know there are areas on the Pacific side where we can kayak without being in the open ocean.
I look forward every day to reading your adventures. It helps me stay connected to Panama while we’re trying to sell our house. I also really appreciated your notes on whining people. I hope that I can keep a very positive attitude when we live there.
Hi Susan. I am glad you enjoyed the trip. I understand that there are hundreds of miles that can be explored. I guess you just need to know where to start.
Hi Don:
Wow! What a great trip. I enjoyed it as much as if I paddled the kayak myself.
Thanks for carrying me along!
Regards,
Omar.-
Hi Omar,
It was a fun trip. It would have been perfect if I had put sunscreen everywhere.
Wow! you do love adventure. Last time I visited La Barqueta I was just a teenager. I will be back to Chiriqui to spend Christmas with my beloved ones on this coming Friday afternoon. I can’t wait to eat food from mama’s kitchen again. Have a super weekend.
Juan
Hi Juan. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I hope you enjoy your Christmas here and I am sure that you will.
Hi Don,
I’m not much for paddling, but did do a little boating last March. We were driving around southeast of David, looking for “se vende” signs. We went down a deadend dirt road and came upon two men at a little fishing camp (on the Rio Chiriqui, I think; it was the 2nd river east of David), one of whom said that he thought there was some land for sale farther down the estuary. We settled on $10 and a tank of gas for his outboard, and he’d take us there. He gave us the tank, we filled it, and brought it back the next day to make the trip. His boat was just like the one you pictured that was baitfishing.
He took us 15 miles or so down the winding estuary to another fishing camp, on an island. It was a fun trip, through interesting territory, much of which is not really accessable by road. We didn’t find the landowner, but what the heck, it was a great day!
I just thought I’d let your readers know that such a trip is available without going on an organized tour, if one cares to get out in the boonies a bit and search for it.
Hi James,
Thanks for taking the time to tell us about your experience. It is always fun to take the road less traveled.
Beautiful pictures, Don. Thanks for sharing them with us. This is the Panama we are looking for! Did you rent the kayaks? Can we buy kayaks in David? How is the fishing on the rivers? What kind of fish?
Hi Debbie. You can buy kayaks in David. I think that Rey has several that he sometimes uses to take folks out. At least he would be worth calling.
I understand that there are bass in the these streams. I think fishing is supposed to be good, but I am not a fisherman. However, until the other day, I wasn’t a kayaker either
.
Great photos! Looks like an awesome trip, but Dad!!! You once had red hair and you’re covered in freckles…I remember on a hot Texas day you once went out to get the newspaper and came back in the house with 3rd degree burns! SUNSCREEN! SUNSCREEN! SUNSCREEN!! Invest in it, use it, BE the sunscreen, dad!
Hi Kim. I know, I know. I forgot, I forgot. I will do better, I will do better.
I will invest.
We enjoyed your adventure. This is the life we lived in PA and FL. - independent fishing and not the Sport Fishing…but for us it is not easy to find here in Panama. As a little girl, my dad put a fishing rod in my hand when I was 2 yrs. old and I have fished a lifetime, until moving to Panama. When everyone was quitting at sunset, my husband and I fly-fished the Delaware River for brown and rainbow trout. This included being chased by a bear w/cubs and wild raccoon (babies) at our feet, hooking on to a muskrat that swam up the riff, got out of the water and ran up the hill at 3AM. Needless to say, you cannot see at that time you did not use light. The guys from Outdoor Life Magazine were the ones that quit when they should have started, their fancy “Match the Hatch” fly tying on the river, etc.. we really miss fishing and hopefully will get more information and meet someone that enjoys our lifestyle that includes crabbing. We cannot buy blue crabs (would rather catch ourselfes) and had access to lobster tails, but they are now out of business. There are so many good things here in Panama but there was so much eliminated from our lifestyle. I am 65 & my husband is 72 but when my husband mentions “I would like to take my wife” silence follows. I am sure comments on this will follow, hopefully, for the better so we can get the rods back in our hands and do what we love the best.
Hi Charlotte,
Put the rod back in your hands. You only live once. You have obviously had your share of adventures yourself.
Great Recap of the trip, Don. And I love your daughter’s comment about “be the sunscreen!” But you didn’t give yourself credit for remembering the mosquito spray–Thanks for letting me use it!
You’re 100% right about getting wet-My tennis shoes were soaked and took a day in the hot sun to dry out. I guess I thought they’d help protect me from the snakes I imagined were hanging in the trees ready to get me!
I couldn’t get over how still it was. I live in the country, sort of, and yet it seemed so peaceful on the river.
I just hope that panama doesn’t get too “Developed”, as I feel the Usa has. As Debbie in her comment says, this is the panama we are looking for. Even if you’re not much of one for hiking or kayaking, it’s just nice to see all the UNdeveloped land as you drive through.
By the way, is Ken Still with us, or did one of those 100 foot anacondas he was talking about get him?
Hi Jim,
Thanks for dropping in. It was a real pleasure meeting you and I hope to do it again some day.
Yes, I understand that Ken has avoided all of the Anacondas, at least to this point.
Here is hoping you have a wonderful Christmas in Pennsylvania.
Hi,
Jim sent me the link to your page, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about his kayak trip. Just so Jim knows: I went kayaking this past spring in Wilmington, NC. All of us got wet, but Thomas was the only one who managed to turn his kayak over - twice. It was early April, sunny but not overly warm, and the water was downright chilly.
Merry Christmas from eastern NC!
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for dropping in and taking the time to leave a comment. I think Jim and I had a great time. I would have had more fun if I hadnt forgotten to cover everything with sunscreen, but it was still fun.
[...] just received the following email today. Rey was on my previous kayak trip and we talked about going out on other adventures. My mind is game. Who knows? Hey Don [...]