FOLLOW THE EXPEDITION
DATED 04/04/98
At Calacoto the River Desaguadero is joined by its biggest tributary, the MAURI. This was important to us because we reckoned it would bring in more water and enable our fleet to move more easily. But in fact although it was a broad river it was very low. This setback caused Col John Blashford-Snell to make a big decision: portaging three boats in lorries was expensive and time consuming so we would leave two balsas at Calacoto under guard and carry on with just one accompanied by the Avon inflatable safety boat. Our journey south is continuing from the International Bridge to a mining town called Eucalyptus.


The Safety Boat Leading Patchcota


The Walking Support Team:
Jason, Toby, Mark & Freddy

The weather has taken a turn for the worse: Normally at this time of year it is fairly cold and dry, but due to El Nino it is raining heavily and very cold. We are wearing five layers most of the time and topping our outfits of with thermal hats, gloves and waterproof socks. The land has turned to very sticky mud and flash floods are frequent making it very difficult for the vehicles of the land-based support group to travel between camps.

Jim Allen, Capt. Toby Marriner and their party are now on their way south to survey the mysterious canal linked with the Lost City of Atlantis. Results of their findings will be published as soon as we have them ourselves.


How The Boats Might Have Been Used