[Leica] tipable canoes

["Birkey, Duane" <dbirkey@hcjb.org.ec>]

Nice photo Tina... I like the Parrot.... and the platanos that are in the
dry part of the canoe
I hate to say it..... but your canoe looks better than the some of the ones
I've been in..... I'm impressed they've got a sawed board to sit on.  ....
The canoe pictured has a nice shape, smooth sides and uniform thickness.
Most of the Ecuadorian groups use long poles to push the canoes as opposed
to paddles...  But they still all stand... I know they seem tipsy but they
rarely do tip over unless it is done on purpose (And some of the kids do
enjoy doing that, I have pictures somewhere) or there is some rapids with
fallen trees...  Or you have several gringos who like to move around alot or
try to stand like the locals do.
The Waoroni canoes in Ecuador are more narrow and not as deep....a  bit
wider than your (my) hips.... I'll have to find the negs to post an image.
I did have one trip where water was a problem in the canoe..... but since I
sat up front and most of the weight was back farther.... they did the
bailing...... but you are right in saying that you don't put things on the
bottom that you want to stay dry...  The Pelican case does make a dry seat
at least. 
Since I live in Quito at 9200 ft... I don't have problem with fungus.... But
just about everybody who lives near or in the jungle has problems.... Our
hospital in Shell had 26 feet of rain last year... their technique is a dry
closet with a 60 watt bulb or two left on year around...  But I've seen many
a camera and lens with fungus growing inside.  I've been told that the
fastest way to get fungus in a lens is to put in a ziplock bag with moisture
inside... or a waterproof case that is wet inside.... some funguses grow
faster in the dark without oxygen ..... add a bit of heat and you've got an
incubator of sorts...   Scared the willies out of me at the time... maybe
that's why I'm hesistant to use the Pelican alot or take my Leicas into the
jungle...  What really makes a trip fun is when your guide tells you about
all of the people who died at such and such a spot along the river or show
you their snake bite or caiman (crocodile) scars..  Then there are the
snakes-that-climb-in-the-canoe stories...  Just about as fun are pilots that
point out every spot a plane has crashed in the last 20 years....   The
longer you live overseas the more fun it is to tell the stories to visitors
just to see their expressions.  I laugh a lot and try to remember the
stories so I can tell an unsuspecting guest the next time we pass by.  
On the other hand there are too many stories of legs lost to snakebites and
tourists dieing from yellowfever or kids getting their arms blown off by
fishing with dynamite that aren't funny, especially if you've met them while
they are getting treatment.  Medical treatment is sadly lacking in many
remote areas of the world and I hope that Tina's photos will cause people to
get involved in countries like Honduras...   
Duane (canoe rides are fun as long as you are dry) Birkey
Duane's Photographs of Ecuador@
http://duane_birkey.tripod.com