Chiguaza in the morning was dreamy and the mist over the Pastaza river made the sunrise glow with a pink hue.
We had devotion at breakfast as we took in the beauty of the morning all the wile aware that the most challenging leg of journey was only hours ahead.
We were soon on the bus rattling down a steep winding road to the location where we would meet the villagers and their horses for the trek into the jungle village.
The team assembled for this group photo graciously captured by Don Wolfram just before departing.
With the horses and locals all present we loaded up each horse with the duffle bags of medications.
And we're off on what turned out for me to be one of the most arduous hikes I have ever experienced. I have walked long distances before but I had 45 or more pounds on my back and it turns out that make a very big difference.
There were more than twenty very tricky mud holes and creek crossings and the extra concentration necessary to keep one from getting mired in the slough would add to our exhaustion.
Federico Borman and Don Wolfram got every one through with great efficiency.
The Docs were ever present to attend to any health issues that arose and after five hours of slogging we arrived at the narrow trail of logs leading to our home for the next five days among a family I truly grew to love.
Ecuador trip brief as recorded by Don Wolfram our missionary guide in Ecuador.
Day 3: Sunday 29th- We got an early start, distributed sandwiches and 2 liters of water and chulpi (corn nuts) to everyone and took the bus and backtracked back into Pastaza province about 5km to Chuwitayu, then turned off the main road down a dirt road headed towards Chapints. (see attached .pdf map file). We were able to drive down this road being newly constructed for about 12 km to where the loads of stone and sand dumped over the jungle clay and mud abruptly ended. Here we unloaded the bus and bid it farewell, agreeing that it would pick us up here on Friday at 2 pm.
We waited briefly from about 8:30 to 9:00 am for the reception/pack crew to show up. We greeted about 8 guys and 3 mules which would then help us get ourselves and the 500 pounds of meds into Ankuash. We then proceeded to hike south and east about 5 ½ to 6 hours into Ankuash. We passes through the communities of Pastas, Kajekai, Shakap, Chapints and Kumay , arriving in Ankuash a little before 3 pm.
New Places: Chiguaza in Morona Santiago province, then Chuwitayu, Pastos, Kajekai, Shakap, Chapints, Kumay – all communities in Pastaza province.
New People: Just to name a few of the Ankuashes: Octavio & wife Sonia Ankuash, Leonardo & wife Lidia Ankuash, Mauro & wife Piedad Ankuash, Rogelio Taish (the strong porter guy), Enrigue & wife Martina Ankuash (stocky brother), Alcides, Samuel, Germon and Sabina Ankuash, Juan, Maria Nunkuich (the 78 yr old grandmother), Ruben & Rosa, Miguel and Victoria.
New Things & Food: Ate “chulpi” (corn nuts) and sandwiches on the way in, then “mitos de lomo y palmito”, Mito (wrap style of cooking in leaves - leaf grilled beef with palm heart), platano verde, yucca (a tubor i.e. manioc/cassava), papa chino (a tubor also), camote (sweet potato), and drank avena (oatmeal) and chucula (banana drink) and/or chicha (life!)