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    How to Speed Adventure through the World’s most Ancient Jungle

    How to Speed Adventure through the World’s most Ancient Jungle

    By erikabergman August 7, 2019

@theerikabergman

On our first sail outside of the river, some Atlan On our first sail outside of the river, some Atlantic Spotted Dolphins showed us the way to Tres Puntas. We were loving the consistent breeze and making a steady 6 knots, just enough to throw off the kind off pressure wave the dolphins were loving to surf! Aimee spotted them from the cockpit, and up at the bow Aidan made a friend who kept rolling over to make eye contact, it’s like he was saying “Hey are you watching? Watch this!” 

What a blessing to be out in the open Gulf of Honduras and be graced with sun, wildlife, sea breeze, friendship, and a boat that just eats the waves 😉 
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#guatemala @youngcruisers #dolphins #sailing #beneteau #caribbean safe in our #spinlok jackets #cruising #goodLifeChoices
Our first border crossing with Seanic Route went a Our first border crossing with Seanic Route went according to plan. We (re)launched the boat after a quick shaft seal replacement. We felt secure in the knowledge that waiting an extra week in Rio Dulce for our part to arrive and be installed was the right call, even though it meant missing the high tide window to cross the bar out of the river and into the Gulf of Honduras. 

Where the river flows through the coastal hills, we were graced with vistas of dramatic cliffs, tiny villages, and it was neat to see the wildlife change from inland birds to coastal seabirds. 

The smell of the ocean around the final turn left our crew of three, and Seanic Route too, a little giddy to be at sea. 

Customs was a breeze as was the massive squall that helped us set sail just across the sand bar. 

We got to experience the Tip n’ Tow service offered by a local fisherman. His wife acting as 2nd captain and their two sons as line handlers helped us get our 2.25 meters of keel across the sand bar which was less than 2 meters deep. That was fun (read: stressful). 

Next up: We’re off to Tres Puntas, Guatemala for an overnight at anchor before setting sail for Honduras. 

Thank you Aimee Isakson Photography for being our crew and companion aboard! Thanks for capturing so many of these moments for us to share the story. 

We want to say thank you to our support network in Rio Dulce for the excellent welcome into the cruising world. Rammarina crew for professional launching and yard care, and to Frendy, Francisco, Horatio, Daniel, and Richard for taking such good care of us. 

Chris Stanley, SeaKist Yacht Sales for helping us find our new sailboat home. 

Andy Stickers for printing and installing our logos on “Seanic Route” and our dingy “Short Cut.”

And finally, the cruising friends that welcomed us to the dock just in time for Christmas dinner, Catamaran Island Hotel. Thank you for the outpouring of kindness and camaraderie.
A message for the gals - working in science and en A message for the gals - working in science and engineering is creative, thought provoking, head scratching, frustrating, rewarding, laughable, cryable, and powerful. I’ve felt it all - and sometimes all at once. On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science I want to shoutout to my mentors and mentees. Men and women both who have supported me into the role I have today, and the role I get to pass on to the next generation of young engineers and scientists. Thank you @squishnak for lessons in marine biology - even if they come from the underside of a dock, to @jvsminen and @keonalani_ for showing me how motivating it is to share engineering lessons with capable and receptive learners, and to @mini_sharkwing for putting your foot down and becoming a pilot even when stick time was heart wrenchingly hard earned. Cheers gals. Sea ya down there 😉 
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#womenandgirlsinscienceday #womensupportingwomen #girlsUnderwaterRobotCamp @globalsubdive 📸 @girl.gone.overboard @thegeecs #underwaterworld #rov #natgeoexplorer
Unsalted - Starting the new year on Lake Atitlan, Unsalted - Starting the new year on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. 

The day was peaceful at the “Villa of the Gods.” Accessible only by boat, the lakefront, cliff side spot felt so secluded and relaxing. Aidan tried his hand at Stand Up Paddle boarding for the first time on a beat up old windsurf board and a hand carved wooden paddle. It was amusing. I nearly went for a dip in the blue lake level pool, but changed my mind when Aidan pointed out the crabs scuttling around in it. “My pool,” they seemed to be saying. I couldn’t say more lovely things about the impressive display of fireworks the lake community delivered at midnight, or the traditional tamales the villa host served to celebrate the new year. It was a treat. 
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#villadelosdioses #lakeAtitlan #guatemala #newyearseve
“Fuego. Fuego. Fuego” We chanted like a cult o “Fuego. Fuego. Fuego” We chanted like a cult of volcano enthusiasts - Our tent shook in the night, it wasn’t the howling wind or the stray dogs eating camp crumbs. It was us, 6 sleeping hikers packed like sardines into a tarp tent, jumping up simultaneously as thunderous booms went off 2 miles away. Fiery lava booms. 

We’d hiked 4.5 miles straight uphill that morning to reach base camp at 9000 feet on the dormant volcano Acatanango. Exhausted, thrilled, and hypoxic enough to forget our headlamps, we made the additional 3 mile down-up-down-up trip onto the ridge line of the Volcán Fuego as the sun set.

Spewing lava every 20 minutes,  our proximity to Fuego was a trip! Unfortunately, like Eeyore under a personal rain cloud, the entire hour+ we spent in the freezing wind on Fuego we were mired in a fog bank. Back at camp @aimeeisaksonphoto and 📸 Jackie were snapping photos of the eruptions we were close enough to feel in our chests before the booms even rang. But we couldn’t see a dang thing! If you zoom into the volcano’s shoulder on the right, you’ll see a tiny cloud. We were in that. #stillWorthIt
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#hikingadventures #acatenango #fuego #guatemala #volcano #lava #eruption #natgeoexplorer
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