During dry season in the San Blas when rainwater is unavailable for laundry, local choices include using your water-maker if you have one, well-water from holes dug in many of the islands or going up-river to reach the fresh water from the mountains. It was laundry day for Frank & Gretchen (Infinity), so we decided to follow them up the Mangles river on the mainland to check out the scenery.
Clouds clung to the mountains as we approached the mangrove-lined entrance and navigated an easy entry around a debris strewn sand bar.
Right on cue, a flock of toucans flew overhead. Water birds, swallows, kingfishers, oropendulas, caciques, woodpeckers and hawks greeted us along the entire stretch of the river bed.
Frank & Gretchen got to work soaping, soaking and wringing while Mark and I walked up towards a bend in the river, watching cliff swallows, tadpoles in the rippling cool water and crocodile tracks on the sand bars. It was a great jungle fix!
Returning to our boats, Infinity was flying her [laundry] colors as a few Kuna fishermen paddled by.
