Stuck...but OK

We were always told during your Red Cross training, "be sure and travel with communications equipment", whether it be VHF radio or Sattelite phone.  So, This weekend, we decide to take a site/field trip as we were wrapping up distributions in Langatabiki, and Jake, the Suriname Red Cross Water and Sanitation Specialist states "it should only be a 4 hour ride."

Partial truth!!! :)  It was 4 hours on terrible road to Moengo, then another 3 hours on a dirt road to Langatabiki.  However, 2 hours into the Langatabiki road, we had an unexpected detour: MUD AND MORE MUD.  The 4 wheel drive vehicle we rented did not "engage" its 4x4 capacity and we found ourselves stuck in the middle of nowhere.  Alas, no cell phone signal...no traffic on the road after waiting 2 hours, Jake and I left the car with our RIT member, Nick, while we tracked 1/2 down the road to see if there was help nearby.

  After arriving at an abandoned gold miners village, a sole lady and her two kids told us we were out of luck, as the nearest village was the OTHER direction and nearly 25kilometers away.  Sadly, we stumbled back to the car, but with LUCK a passing truck stopped for us.  After careful negotiation, the kind drivers helped us (we actually had a flat tire to top it off) and we were able to continue or journey.

What really topped the event off was when we arrived at Langatabiki and were told by a local elder that there have been tigers in the area eating passing dogs.  I now charish my 1/2 walk down the dirt road and thank goodness the tigers were elsewhere!!!

Needless to say, we are purchasing several sattelite phones for the Suriname Red Cross!!!

The town we stayed in overnight was beautiful, right on the river crossing into French Guyana.