Loading GANNET2

Happily we had reconnoitered where to meet the ship for loading on Sunday so when I drove the 16 miles to the north port in Santana I knew exactly where to go. What to do when I got there was still a mystery.

The gate guard let me in and pointed to the ferry so on I went. I figured I had to find the captain but he was nowhere to be seen and I checked out the whole boat, what would be our home for at least 28 hours across the Amazon. The bridge on the second floor, the obvious place to find the captain. 

There are suites behind this area and more suites on the deck above and as the stairs are steep I hope we’re on this deck. I have to carry Rusty up and down, I did it in Chile and I’ll do it again:

He was home with Layne in the air conditioning, all 52 pounds of him…

The kitchen is here, 25 Reals per meal they say, about $4:50. 

On the tip deck there’s a snack bar which will have stuff for sale. 

There are toilets and showers on the decks but they were locked. I expect they will be clean and functional but not fancy.

There were some residents already installed in the $15 accommodations. 

I couldn’t see the suites either but I got to wander everywhere! By the time I got back to the car deck I found the captain in a blue t-shirt… cleaning. 

He asked me to wait so I did…

… and I took some pictures. How often do you get to see a working harbor on the Amazon?

The car deck far below me:

Then they loaded a pickup so I decided it was time. I walked out to the gate, paid 70 reals -$13-in harbor dues and drove onto the dock. The plan was to back on the ship. When I arrived it looked like this had made me nervous as hell: 

I figured if others could drive up the planks so could I, but weirdly enough by this time the tide must have come in as the ferry was afloat and the bow had leveled off with the dock and there was just a narrow gap, but level so on I backed directed by Samuel who speaks some Spanish.

Maria was fascinated by our hone going so far as wanting me to demonstrate…

…and explain how the toilet works and where the black tank is all of which I did. 

Snug aboard. 

Tuesday morning we return and the boat leaves at 10 am Atlantic time from the passenger dock at Porto Grego(Greek Dock) in Santana. And we hope for the best.

I took a cab home, below you see the harbor dues, VAM (van) 70 reals. 

Times and tariffs: 

Passenger luggage I guess.