30-Dec-2014 -- This is the second out of 3 reports, describing confluence visits in Suriname and French Guiana. The story continues from 5°N 55°W.
The confluence point is located deep in the rainforest in the far west of Suriname. However, the road between Paramaribo and the Indian village Apoera passes by the confluence in 220 m distance. From the capital city Paramaribo to the confluence point it takes 6-8 hours of driving on a muddy track during the rainy season and 1-2 hours less in the dry season. Now it was raining season and we were warned that the drive would be very difficult.
On the first day, we started early in Paramaribo and reached a waterfall called
Blanche Marie located 16 km south of the confluence. We stayed the night in a run-down guesthouse near the falls.
The next morning we drove to the confluence point and parked our car at the nearest point at the roadside. Although the distance was very short, it took us 20 minutes to overcome these remaining 200 m. Right next to the road there is a deep canyon filled with water that had to be traversed on a slippery tree-trunk. The palm trees have 3 cm long spikes that can easily cut clothes or the human skin. Since we were not equipped with machetes, we had to proceed carefully.
The confluence point is – of course – under heavy tree cover. A lot of the trees are actually palm trees.
Right after the visit, we visited Apoera and stayed the night at the nearby Matapi Lodge – a huge fancy place where Suriname’s president Desi Bouterse comes to reside every year. The next day we spent the day driving back the same potholed road to Paramaribo since the road is a dead end.
CP Visit Details:
- Distance to a road: 220 m
- Distance to a track: 220 m
- Distance of car parking: 220 m
- Time to reach the CP from the road: 20 minutes
- Time at the CP: 10:00 AM
- Measured height: 62 m
- Minimal distance according to GPS: 1 m
- Position accuracy: 9 m
- Topography: slightly hilly
- Vegetation: rain forest, various palm and deciduous trees.
- Weather: overcast, 27° C (felt temperature)
- Given Name: The Splashing Drive Confluence
The story continues at 5°N 54°W. More pictures about our trip can be found here.