Dear friends, If you think there are pretty places, you have not seen Tamul Falls. Pictures at http://community.webshots.com/user/cayucochief album Tamul The many years expected event finally arrived. The sea kayakers club from San Luis Potosi called the Cocoons (you can imagine why), invited the Mexican kayakers to visit the hidden and few years ago unknown Tamul Falls. They discovered them for the outside world. They promoted them and asked outfitters to come and visit and now some guides profit from it. My friends "the Cocoons" keep coming every now and then without any envy or regret. Poor people in the village also offer tours and food and services and make some money. Therefore they are very grateful to my friends who also, being some of them physicians, give them free medical attendance every now and then. The place is half way down hill on the East Sierra Madre Mountains going down to the Gulf of Mexico on the Potosi Huasteca. God was extremely benevolent when granting this place its rivers, falls, plants and beauty. We arrived by 10:30 AM to the village of Tanchachic, after few hours drive from San Luis Potosi. There were 8 Cocoons, the 14 year old son of one of them, three ladies and from my home town we were three. The fleet was composed of 6 Mayan Seas kayaks of different designs, one plastic Sealution, one home made canoe carrying three, and one panga owned by the local farmers carrying 5 plus two local boatmen. After carrying the kayaks for quarter mile we found a nice slow moving river with light blue, beautiful, exquisitely transparent, fresh water. Not cold not warm but all the contrary as one of our Presidents said once. Started paddling up hill to meet the so repeatedly mentioned fall. Suddenly there was one of the two expected rapids. Our leader told us to walk the boats up river, but I think we have eaten too much trout or have some trout blood in our veins, and tried to climb by strong paddling. No one made it. At a point we were rejected and carried backwards like leaves. Alligators have been seen and as I drifted to the opposite bank while storing my camera, I was told to keep apart. No luck. I didn't take their picture and they didn't flavour my juicy and well condimented, through years of good food and spirits, bones. The next pond was the most beautiful place to practice and swim, and all the others were climbing a hill in between the most beautiful bushes and plants. I stayed to practice and Rafael the mail man insisted that I should come uphill. I finally agreed and in bad mood moved upwards. Suddenly I saw the entrance of a cave with big opening and the prettiest natural pool ever seen. Lighted from the door and a hole on one side, shows a blue color that seems like a luxurious swimming pool that has blue tiles in the underwater walls. Tall roof with stalactites hanging by nice wrinkled calcium carbonate rocks. Everybody jumped in. By the door a small cascade runs down into the river, which means that water enters permanently form somewhere. After swimming and picture taking we went back and kept paddling up river, as the channel narrowed. Suddenly a sprint, a right turn, a left turn, and there it was, big, splendorous, breath taking. The 104 meters tall fall appeared splendid with a generous stream that dived deep and came our way in between the narrow walls with a speed and foam that would not let us get close. It was fun to try it again and again though. We stayed at a pond and climbed some warped and prettily eroded rocks and a ladder to reach the side of the Fall. On returning we had a blast racing a little bit and taking the rapids down stream and turning around looking for carnage. Nobody capsized and everybody laughed after passing the two of them. Finally as we chose a different beach to land. The other Rafael stepped out of his kayak and started sinking in the mud. Had he been alone he might have been swallowed, or been in a very difficult situation. We were all laughing and joking and his son and a friend pulled him with some sticks that broke twice. He had mud up to his neck. Poor guy. He is the noblest, nicest guy and prone to have accidents because he is always eager to be the first in helping and trying new routes or ways. He is the man that would die for you. Coming back to the village we had 5 kilos of sea shrimp with rice and tortillas and some beer and soft drinks. You can imagine the conversation repeating the funny things and the muddy event. Thanks Cocoons for such a magnificent excursion. Thanks to my city friends Manuel and Ricardo who came with me. What a way to close the year. Best Regards and my best wishes to everybody on the Season and the coming Year., Rafael El cayucochief Mexico *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 12/15/2004 8:51:07 PM Eastern Standard Time, silidriel_at_prodigy.net.mx writes: The many years expected event finally arrived. The sea kayakers club from San Luis Potosi called the Cocoons (you can imagine why), invited the Mexican kayakers to visit the hidden and few years ago unknown Tamul Falls. Thanks Rafael, for sharing that special trip with us. Some of us will only see that through your eyes. Great photos. Thanks again, Ronnie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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