Builds complete BJ45 rebuild start next week in Bolivia

[mailking]

more:



This is a special neighborhood. Situated in the middle of a protected Amazon forest. The people who live here have build there houses and the walkways on stilts. At high tide the sea is coming in to have a peek and the people would like to keep their feet dry.

Typical wooden huts with large open windows. Hot weather and lots of rain.

Together with Merivan

who lives here and works as a sort of forest ranger and Marcello

who works as a licensed guide we talk about the difficulties this neighborhood is facing. Like we see here: illegal logging

When the local 4x4 club sees our Land Cruiser driving around town we are invited for a nice lunch, a talk at a gathering and a tv talkshow. We can camp at the clubs premisses. Here a snap with the presidents Troller [a Brazilian Jeep].

Macapa state has large groups of water buffalos roaming around.

We are the rain season full on and the amounts of water we face are unbelievable. These people have adapted through the years and a boat is parked out next to the house permanently.

When we get to a little bridge, the flow of water is to much.

Walking to the bridge to take a peak and it becomes apparent that crossing just won't do, the more so because the other side of the bridge is a lot deeper.

Little critters that live in the wood and don't like the water so much have to seek new housing.

A caterpillar crossing the bridge as nothing has changed.

Adventurous greetings,
Coen​

 

[1978FJ4O]

Amazing pictures!Thanks!

 

[mailking]

more more more, I hope you are not growing tired of these:



Water makes place for some beautiful images with reflecting Heliconias.

Or fences reflecting in the water.

After a three day wait, the water level has dropped significantly for us to cross the bridges and visit a special site.

This blue dragonfly is pausing in the field.

Karin-Marijke is talking with 'Garafinho', who lived a long time out here, knows all the pieces of the Brazilian 'Stonehenge' puzzle.

Along the road, heading north, we stop for lunch at a small roadside eatery and I have a peek into this well organized and clean kitchen.

When we arrive at the gold mining city of Lourenzo, come across this guy who is making flour from maniac [cassava]. He has to watch real carefully not to let the stuff burn.

When I peek in his cooking pot that is hanging over a very small fire I see the remains of an armadillo.

Manioc is being sieved.

Adventurous greetings,
Coen

 

[Chamba]

Did you try the Armadillo?

When I lived in Guatemala for a while, I was invited to the house of one of our locals who loaded our planes for a BBQ. I peeked into a similar pot which contained an iguana. We then ate it.... horrible, greasy thing; nothing like chicken.;p

Of course, I pretended to enjoy it... as one does.

Josh

 

[voyager:01]

The pictures are absolutely amazing.. i hope this thread never ends!

JUST PROMISE us at least 1 pic of the Cruiser with each posting..

 

[Speed King]

Man, outstanding thread! Thanks for taking the time.

 

[89s rule]

As always thank you!

 

[lulo]

Amazing pictures! Thanks!

... x2

 

[mailking]

JUST PROMISE us at least 1 pic of the Cruiser with each posting..

No promisses, but I'll do my best, is that good enough?



If you live with the rain, than storing your Wellingtons like this prevents scorpions and nasty spiders from dwelling in them.

No electricity in the jungle, so the guys made small diesel lamps from a can and a wick.

This 'garimpero' - gold digger, has lost a lot of his gear during the rains and river floodings and has to start anew.

Most harvesting is done at the surface, and this 300 meter deep mine is the only one that goes vertical. "There is a staircase and a path, if you want you can go down and explore. No problem" So I am told.

Big buckets are being emptied for further processing.

Twice a day they are dynamiting the whole place.

Little blue lakes appear all around us.

The guys are inspecting every stone for the little characteristics that might lead to the precious metal.

This is 2 gram gold. Ten percent goes to the cooperation and ten goes to the mill operator that crushed the rocks.

In the oven, mercury is burned and the gold is left.

Adventurous greetings,
Coen

 

[Papa Smurf]

I must say those are some real special Photo's you've taken. Really special and interesting thread here. Thank You.

 

[lostmarbles]

Mercury is burned! Where's the OSH inspector?

 

[Chamba]

Mercury is burned! Where's the OSH inspector?

He's in Australia, making sure we all wear our high viz vests, helmets and safety harnesses.

Josh

 

[crushers]

different processes for different countries? i really hope this thread doesn't turn into a political debate. i enjoy seeing how others live.

thanks for the pics, still enjoying them.

 

[Falco80]

Very much enjoying this thread Coen, keep the pictures flowing!

 

[mailking]

okay some more:




finding gold flackes.

Rocks are crushed to see if they contain gold.

Panning for gold.

Gold sticking together with the mercury.

Luckily there has been good work done on the very bad road.

After 3 days of sun, the road was good enough for us.

Until we saw this line up of trucks on the road.

Adventurous greetings,
Coen

 

[JuanJ]

Great pictures Coen, keep them coming.

Those road shots brought back some memories. I bet the heat was unbearable at times.

Hope you stayed within safe range from all that mercury.






Juan

 

[TEQ]

This thread is epic. Keep it coming!

 

[DonPancho]

Coen, thank you so much for sharing your rebuild with us, as well the wonderful pictures of your ongoing adventure. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread and hope that it will stay alive, god speed, cheers.

 

[mailking]

This bridge was replaced before, but now needs serious attention.

Three cross members need to be replaced on the spot.

New beams are being cut and placed very carefully.

We are not very wide, and Karin-Marijke is scared that the Land Cruiser is getting caught between the loose beams on the left.

And she is right. We do get stuck. But with minimal damage we can get out.

Nice muddy tracks lay ahead of us.

Adventurous greetings,
Coen

 

[crushers]

i love the shovel hold down, nice touch.

this is one of my most favorite threads on Mud, thanks for posting.