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Rain, Rain Go Away.... March 27, 2004   We met Jim and Marina shortly after we arrived here in Manaus. Jim works for a company that has a factory here in Manaus. Their contract was up and they were returning to USA. We were talking with them concerning some of the experiences they have had while here, when it come up that neither of them had been fishing yet. They live less than 100 yards from the banks of the largest river system in the world. Nearly every American that has fished, has also dreamed of catching a Peacock bass (tucanaré). We asked them if they would like to go out on an excursion. They took us up on the challenge and left it to me to make all the arrangements. Sandi and I picked them up at their residence at 5am and we headed to where the 14-foot johnboats (each couple in one boat with guide) were to meet us. It was nearly and hour before sunrise and the water very smooth and we could not tell yet what sort of weather we were in for. It is not quite the same here as in the USA, we do not the Weather channel or even weather forecast here. It is the rainforest, and it was the very beginning of the rainy season. We knew we could expect rain sometime during the day, but we were planning on being back by noon and we were hoping that the rain would hold off till the afternoon. We arrived at a decent fishing location right at dawn, and we started fishing for Tucunaré right away. We could tell now that the sky was brightening that it was going to be at best an overcast morning. As the day progressed, and the sun should have been brightening even more of the sky, we knew then that rain was eventually going to dampen our day. We fished for another hour and were only getting ‘bites’, no fish in the boat. We saw it coming in the distance, and then we heard it in the trees across the cove. Then within seconds we felt it, a light cool sprinkle of rain. We kept fishing, as it appeared it was going to stop soon. It did stop sprinkling and we continued to fish, only getting little bites now and then. Then we heard it again, only this time it was a lot louder. We could not see what was coming for the forest blocked our view this time. Then we felt it; I mean we really felt it this time. It was pouring; raining so hard I could not even see Jim and Marina in the other boat. Our guide insisted that the ‘pros’ fish in this stuff and that we should continue. We tried for about 5 minutes, but even though it was nearly 80ºF, I was freezing. We instructed our guide to find us some shelter. We headed over to a large that hung over the water and found Jim and Marina already there. They were on the shore watching their guide clear some brush and I think, gather some driftwood to start a fire. Our guide Sabbá, told us that was a place only 5 minutes away that had cabins to use for shelter. We agreed, laughing and joking about what 5 minutes meant in the Brazilian context. We arrived within minutes to a floating “house”. I use that term loosely, but it was someone’s house that during the day is like a small convenient store and at night it is converted into a restaurant/bar. We sat under the tin roof trying to hold a conversation in the chilly air over the heavy downpour. We ended up waiting an hour and a half for the rain to end. We were pretty tired now, having been up since 4 am, fishing a couple of hours, getting soaked, and waiting for the rain to end and we sort of decided to head back down river the 45 minutes to the city. We loaded up the johnboats and headed out. The homeowner came out to bid us farewell and in very Brazilian fashion, invited us to come back anytime we were out fishing. We were not 10 feet away and all 4 of us starting casting again hoping to catch a fish before the motors were going at full speed. The sun came out and it turned out to be a very lovely late morning. Our guide just smiled and cut the motor and took us near the shore with the electric trolling motor. Sandi and I fished for nearly an hour more. Sandi caught a nice sized piranha and we thought we might take it back for lunch if we could catch something else (like a big Peacock Bass!) We slowly fished then banks heading in the direction of the city, when finally Jim and Marina’s johnboat could be seen coming in the distance. When they arrived, they joyfully told how Jim had caught a Tucunaré. They were satisfied with their excursion and we all decided it was time to head back and just maybe the waves wouldn't be too big we so could make decent time with our backs in one piece. Much to our guide’s surprise, on the command of “vamos”, we were heading back with no fish in the cooler. We definitely were not the normal the group of fishermen (sorry ladies, fisherpersons) on this day. But we had a good time and I am sure, we help form a memorable experience in the lives of Jim and Marina and someday they will joyfully tell of this story to their children. I can here it already, “I remember one day your mom and I went fishing in the Amazon with some of our missionary friends…” Jim Todd