Do it in Titicaca

For some reason – namely, no customers – today’s boat back to Copacabana was not going to run. Fortunately for us, there were enough Rainbow folks gathered and willing to go that we managed to get our own boat. We just had to leave from the shore instead of the municipal dock – very unofficial.

When we got back to Copa, our plan was pretty clear. Head back to our spot and enjoy it some more (a local hotel watched the bus for free while we were gone).

Around here (and in Peru too), the local water source seems to be freely used by everyone for just about anything and everything. Need to wash your car? Just drive it into the lake and start scrubbing. Laundry? Throw it in the lake.

While we watched everyone go about their business, we decided to join in. We were getting a little ripe after a few days on the island, so we jumped in the lake with our biodegradable soap. It was cold, so timing this for the warmest part of the day was critical.

I was getting a little scruffy, so shaving was an obvious choice. Angela declined this one. Doing the dishes was next. Red Beard was filthy, so I made a few trips back and forth with a bucket of water – not willing to drive right in.

Somewhere in here we managed to have Bolivia Brilliant Idea #2. We noticed that exactly right behind our favorite boondocking site was a little ‘se vende‘ sign nailed to a tree. Five levels of rock-terraced gardens and a tiny mud-brick shack right on the lake. It could be all ours. We would start the “Keep Titicaca Blue” campaign (Mantener Titicaca Azul?), clean up the lake, and cement our Bolivian Legacy. At least it beats the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid option.

Right after we figured it all out, we were surprised to see another California Westy pull up behind us. Out hopped Gary and Karla. “You must be the BodesWell gang! Where’s Bode?”