The continuing account of the Ruta Maya race: day three.
Day three was unquestionably the hardest day for me. After 20+ hours in a canoe together, little things that normally don't annoy you suddenly take on a level of aggravation normally associated with clouds of black flies or colic-afflicted infants. Its like being that infamous fourth day that guests are still at your house. The novelty is starting to wear off, and you've noticed that they take the last cup of coffee without making more. Anyway, the same thing happens in a canoe, but a lot sooner because you share a physical space approximately the size of an oven. Of course, the biggest offense in such a situation is any action that prevents you from paddling. Snack breaks, refilling a water bottle, or quickly adjusting one's seat is tolerated, but viewed with distaste. Anything else is grounds for being thrown overboard. Luckily for me, I was sitting in the back of the boat, so no one noticed when I took my hat off to tan my head evenly (who wants a huge tan line across their forehead?) or when I snuck an extra snack. Fortunately, Christian charity prevailed and we made to the end of the paddling day without ever repurposing our paddles as clubs. But that was where the trip got tough. Previously, the crews had been camping on open fields, where we had plenty of room. Now, we were ensconced on about two and half acres between the river and the access road to a nearby village. The scene was a zoo. Total strangers pitched their tents, and their laundry, right on top of each other. We had to clear several people off the truck so we could get our equipment inside. The smell of marijuana drifted across the whole campsite, but no one, certainly not the detail of law enforcement on hand, seemed to take notice. As I may have mentioned, the Ruta Maya is not only a river challenge, but a four day national party. So the music was blasted, along with a few of the people. In all this, we had to try make a camp and get dried out before turning in. The Rutat Maya was three-quarters done, but it was far from over.
