After the Panic of The Passport, I had a reasonably good - and relaxing day. I met and chatted with Mike and Lynn from Canada. They are the only other guests at the Inn at the moment. That and a beer on the patio, and a Sue Grafton novel, and I was once again chilled and in vacation mode. A walk up to the collectivo restaurant for an early dinner of pollo y arroz y frijoles con salsa de habanero - for $3.00 - and I was set for the night hike. Apparently, it would only be canceled if there was a torrential downpour, and it’s been unusually dry for the last few days. Things were definitely looking up.
Fast forward to 7:20 pm. We are meeting our guide Edgar at 7:50 when we will be issued flashlights for the hike. It’s raining. I didn’t think it was coming down too terribly, and wasn’t concerned. Lynn was doubtful, though. We still had 30 minutes. No problem. I was on vacation, and what happened, happened.
When Edgar arrived, the rain had stopped. Yay! In addition to the flashlights, we also were given rubber boots. Huh. It’s not like we’re going up a stream, but okay, I can go along with this. I got a pair of boots that were a little too small (43), having discarded ones that were a little too big (45). I think I need 44s. We piled into the taxi to get to the trailhead, picking up another dos personas along the way.
It was raining lightly when we arrived, and I thought I’d put on my raincoat. That was a good — no, great — call. As soon as I had put it on, it started to rain. HARD.
Though I’d brought both my camera and my phone to take photos, I didn’t take either one out of their sealed ziplocks. It rained non-stop for the entire two hour hike. HARD. It was like walking under a sometimes-pounding shower the entire time. Enough water ran down my legs to fill my boots past my ankles. I was glad I wore my swimsuit as my shorts (It looks just like a pair of shorts, and even has pockets. No grape-smuggling Speedos, for this decrepit old man.)
Despite the unceasing, diluvian downpour, we saw an abundance of small wildlife, mostly insects and arachnids and amphibians, but we did share a shelter for a time with a small bat. The mantises, crickets, walking sticks and spiders we saw all were described as “small” by Edgar, but were large by my standards. We also saw several species of tree and terrestrial frogs and a few different toads - one that weighed at least a pound.
I had a great time. I would have been fine with staying out a few more hours, except for my toes jamming against the boots as we walked downhill. Kids who are outgrowing your shoes? I feel ya.
It continued to rain for hours after I had made it back to the Inn. After hanging my loathes in the shower, it was nice to hear the raindrops pounding on the metal roof just a few feet above me, as I was lying in bed. Dry.
Fast forward to 7:20 pm. We are meeting our guide Edgar at 7:50 when we will be issued flashlights for the hike. It’s raining. I didn’t think it was coming down too terribly, and wasn’t concerned. Lynn was doubtful, though. We still had 30 minutes. No problem. I was on vacation, and what happened, happened.
When Edgar arrived, the rain had stopped. Yay! In addition to the flashlights, we also were given rubber boots. Huh. It’s not like we’re going up a stream, but okay, I can go along with this. I got a pair of boots that were a little too small (43), having discarded ones that were a little too big (45). I think I need 44s. We piled into the taxi to get to the trailhead, picking up another dos personas along the way.
It was raining lightly when we arrived, and I thought I’d put on my raincoat. That was a good — no, great — call. As soon as I had put it on, it started to rain. HARD.
Though I’d brought both my camera and my phone to take photos, I didn’t take either one out of their sealed ziplocks. It rained non-stop for the entire two hour hike. HARD. It was like walking under a sometimes-pounding shower the entire time. Enough water ran down my legs to fill my boots past my ankles. I was glad I wore my swimsuit as my shorts (It looks just like a pair of shorts, and even has pockets. No grape-smuggling Speedos, for this decrepit old man.)
Despite the unceasing, diluvian downpour, we saw an abundance of small wildlife, mostly insects and arachnids and amphibians, but we did share a shelter for a time with a small bat. The mantises, crickets, walking sticks and spiders we saw all were described as “small” by Edgar, but were large by my standards. We also saw several species of tree and terrestrial frogs and a few different toads - one that weighed at least a pound.
I had a great time. I would have been fine with staying out a few more hours, except for my toes jamming against the boots as we walked downhill. Kids who are outgrowing your shoes? I feel ya.
It continued to rain for hours after I had made it back to the Inn. After hanging my loathes in the shower, it was nice to hear the raindrops pounding on the metal roof just a few feet above me, as I was lying in bed. Dry.
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