Good afternoon WCGuy: as I offered Gold Baron, join me in the patio for some cool zinfandel instead of coffee today?

We might even get blue Eyes to join us.

"How about it blue eyes"?

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The action sorta reminds me of the time my partner were backpacking down the west coast of Mexico in the 50's. There were 'no' roads then what-so-ever, then just trails.

We hadn't seen any sign of people for three days except for one spot where a set of bare feet came out of the jungle to the beach and a hole in the sand, with broken Turtle eggs shells scattered around.

We made camp in a wide dry arroyo for protection from the early morning breeze which to us was cold, since we were now acclimated, but had only one blanket apiece..

After dinner as it grew dark we just watched the play of phosphorescence in the multiple lines of the waves, It was beautiful, similar to sheet lightning, but in continuous multiple layers. You could actually walk by the light from the waves with no moon light.

We were quietly enjoying the view when I heard my partner hiss. I looked up and saw two figures, bent over, as if hiding, running towards our camp ???

We both had trained extensively with our pistols for over a year, before starting out, so we were confident of our ability, so we withheld our fire until the last moment. Just as they reached the 'no' pass line they slowed down and stood erect.

They were two, slightly drunk, Indians that had their arms full of tortillas, fresh corn tamales,and misc fruit which they were bringing to us from a party further up the beach - no, we had no idea they were there .

When I explained to them how they almost joined their ancestors, they sobered up and apologized, they had broken the unwritten code of the bush / jungle of announcing your approaching to a camp by singing or whistling.

In any event, we found just how generous the Indians in the bush or jungle are, Thy simply knew that we were there and brought their arms full of goodies for 3 kilometers to share with us.

We spent the next three days enjoying each others company hunting and fishing while they added some survival data to ours. Then they packed up and returned to the bush.

Before they left, I gave each woman a large needle and 20 meters of strong thread, while the men received 10 hi speed .22 cartridges each, the universal exchange in the Jungle at that time. Money was worthless.

One woman almost cried over her needle, she had been using a cactus thorn with the fibrous thread still attached. I think that every metal pot, cup or utensil was individually bit or thumped, they had never seen metal pots, plates, or cups before.

Life can be interesting and fun.

p.s. there was absolutley no man made junk on the beach, just clean sparkling sand day after day.

Don Jose de La Mancha