I am sitting by a fast river rapid rushing out to sea. The sun is setting before me and I have a massive beach to myself. I am going to watch the sun go down before I head back to camp. It's a clear night thank God and I'm hoping for stars and a moon. My belly is full and my body is exhausted. My feet are sore. No, beyond sore. Even walking on the pebble beach is excruciating... but I endure the pain for the photo of the day.
Last night was the most rain I have ever seen fall hard and for hours straight. It stopped in the early morning hours but was replaced by wind. I think I managed a few hours sleep after that. Up at 0530 again to pack up gear and force down some oatmeal. Mocha Coffee to warm the belly and we were ready to go. It was cool and damp but the 45 min vertical climb warmed us up quickly. It's tough starting out the day with straight cardio and legs but it was nothing compared to what we faced the rest of the day. We spent hours upon hours in the bog. Navigating every step with care on to roots, logs, rocks or moss...anything to avoid the dreaded soaker.
Last night was the most rain I have ever seen fall hard and for hours straight. It stopped in the early morning hours but was replaced by wind. I think I managed a few hours sleep after that. Up at 0530 again to pack up gear and force down some oatmeal. Mocha Coffee to warm the belly and we were ready to go. It was cool and damp but the 45 min vertical climb warmed us up quickly. It's tough starting out the day with straight cardio and legs but it was nothing compared to what we faced the rest of the day. We spent hours upon hours in the bog. Navigating every step with care on to roots, logs, rocks or moss...anything to avoid the dreaded soaker.
This is not just any mud, this is the mud that comes after 40mm of steady rain. The Canadian rainforest after a very heavy rain and we had some spills. We were dirty and muddy and sweaty and for most of the day the group stayed upbeat by playing games or singing or just telling funny stories... there were alot of giggles and photos too.
There were also many many ladders. Not baby ladders but ladders that went on forever. Down was not so bad but going up with tired, shaky legs was hard.
We crossed super slippery logs, some over heights that a fall would warrant rescue and some we crossed because they were there. We stopped for snack at an overlook above the ocean. We ate lunch on a creek bed of stones... cream of potato and veggie soup.
We took a cable cross over the river as the rain had brought the levels up too high to cross by foot. Then some more crazy ladders and a boardwalk through marsh... kind of resembled the everglades.
The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Then back into the woods for more frogger. The bogs took a toll on everyone. Even our guides Chris and Jess got soakers. Many of us fell or took a wrong step into ankle deep mud. We were poked by branches, scraped from hugging trees and bruised from a number of near wipe outs.
At one point in the day Chris, Jan and Cindy were well ahead then Andrea and I, followed by the rest with much space between us. We weren't talking and it was quiet. Then we heard it. A deep growl kind of sound and I knew right away it was a bear. It was 6 feet to my left. A deep, low grunty grumble which I translated to get the f@$k out of my living room! Andrea and I both heard it and yelled back to the others to sing and be loud. So we sang a little Harry Belafonte "day oh" and kept moving. Andrea and I were both stunned by it and kept talking about it... although we didn't see him we distinctively heard him.. just couldn't believe it was so close.
As the day went on and the mud and roots were endless...alot of us lost our mojo and just wanted it to be done. We crossed a suspension bridge, more fn ladders and more bogs until we finally arrived at our site. Another river bed.
Beautiful views , a beautiful beach and a great place to spend the night.
We set up our camp, swam in the cold creek... anything to feel remotely clean. We ate black beans and rice with corn tortillas and made a big fire.
The fire became a memorable place. It was here that we all attempted to dry wet clothes and boots for the next day... and here we learned how quickly boot laces catch fire haha. We laughed alot and slept well after a very, very long and difficult day.
There were also many many ladders. Not baby ladders but ladders that went on forever. Down was not so bad but going up with tired, shaky legs was hard.
We crossed super slippery logs, some over heights that a fall would warrant rescue and some we crossed because they were there. We stopped for snack at an overlook above the ocean. We ate lunch on a creek bed of stones... cream of potato and veggie soup.
We took a cable cross over the river as the rain had brought the levels up too high to cross by foot. Then some more crazy ladders and a boardwalk through marsh... kind of resembled the everglades.
The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Then back into the woods for more frogger. The bogs took a toll on everyone. Even our guides Chris and Jess got soakers. Many of us fell or took a wrong step into ankle deep mud. We were poked by branches, scraped from hugging trees and bruised from a number of near wipe outs.
At one point in the day Chris, Jan and Cindy were well ahead then Andrea and I, followed by the rest with much space between us. We weren't talking and it was quiet. Then we heard it. A deep growl kind of sound and I knew right away it was a bear. It was 6 feet to my left. A deep, low grunty grumble which I translated to get the f@$k out of my living room! Andrea and I both heard it and yelled back to the others to sing and be loud. So we sang a little Harry Belafonte "day oh" and kept moving. Andrea and I were both stunned by it and kept talking about it... although we didn't see him we distinctively heard him.. just couldn't believe it was so close.
As the day went on and the mud and roots were endless...alot of us lost our mojo and just wanted it to be done. We crossed a suspension bridge, more fn ladders and more bogs until we finally arrived at our site. Another river bed.
Beautiful views , a beautiful beach and a great place to spend the night.
We set up our camp, swam in the cold creek... anything to feel remotely clean. We ate black beans and rice with corn tortillas and made a big fire.
The fire became a memorable place. It was here that we all attempted to dry wet clothes and boots for the next day... and here we learned how quickly boot laces catch fire haha. We laughed alot and slept well after a very, very long and difficult day.
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