By Stephan Sookram
Lethem is an exhilarating place to be as a first timer . Moreso , Lethem at Rodeo time . The town comes alive , the hustle and bustle of not only cowboys and cowgirls but of shops and craft makers , makes for a busy week of fun and entertainment .
However , for us over at tourism Guyana , the fun started with the long drive there .
Anywhere from eight to twelve hours is what it takes to complete the trail from the town of Linden to Lethem . Those who constantly do the trail , bus drivers and miners alike , advised- “ Mek sure yuh got spare wheel and jack .”
So , in our checklist , a spare and jack were at the top of the list . Also on that list were fluids and other orthodox items required to ensure our vehicles keep moving , and others intended for food and safety including a shovel , a pair of cutlasses and a hatchet . Afterall , it is a trail through dense rainforest with one pickup and two Sport Utility Vehicles ( SUV ).
With vehicles packed and everyone comfortably seated , we departed Durban Street , Georgetown one hour later than planned at 3:00h on the morning of Tuesday , April 12 , 2022 . The exuberance of the impending drive provided more than enough adrenaline to push us through the blankets of sleepiness which threatened to overtake us .
Rupununi Rodeo 2022 on the other end of a 9-14hrs long trip .
The first leg of the journey from the Capital City of Georgetown to the mining town of Linden got off to an uneventful start with the exception of short distances on the road which required the use of affixed auxiliary lighting , equipped specially for that purpose .
Just over one hour later , we rolled into Hinds Gas station , commonly known as the ‘ gateway to the interior ’ and what is basically a last fuel point for the next 58 miles or 93 kilometres . The total length of the journey will be 459 miles or 738 kilometers , passing through four of Guyana ’ s ten ( 10 ) administrative regions .
20 | TOURISM GUYANA 2022