We were fitted out with gum boots and off on a night hike … it was really just a lead in to what was to come the next day. A 3.45am wake up call, with 15 mins to get decked out in walking gear, long pants and long sleeved shirts, ponchos for the rain …. Oh yes it was raining, insect repellant, cameras, sunscreen for later, torches and a warning that the first part of the 5km track was very muddy. That was before the rain they had that night. It was bucketing down!!! Not to be deterred we set off.
The downpour continued for about the first 2-3kms, and we slipped and slid our way along. All insect repellant was now dripping into my eyes …. Stinging like hell. The glass had to come off too. Water was running off the ponchos directly into our boots, so we made a nice ‘sloshing’ noise as we plodded along.
Finally the rain lifted, the sky grew lighter, the path became less boggy and spirits lifted, only to be dashed by another group who dashed past us…. A group of 9 we refer to as the Irish who were about to join our group.
Arrived at our destination … the lake where there’s 2 groups of giant otters. The reason for our early start was due to the changing habits of these otters. They are more visible around 6am, apparently. They were way over in the distance. We had a canoe ride around the lake. Lex really wanted to paddle for a while, but he asked the wrong question. Should have come straight out and asked ‘can I paddle for a while’ rather than ‘would you like me to paddle for a while?’
We saw lots of birds, more of the otters and a family of monkeys. All good.
But it was the walk back through the jungle which was the most impressive. We had 2 local guides, Marta and Liz – their knowledge of the plants and their uses is really amazing. They stopped and showed us so many different plants along the way. Equally impressive was seeing the track we had walked in the teeming rain in the dark … now in daylight!!! Couldn’t believe what we had achieved. The path meandered between seemingly deep swampy pools of water. How we didn’t fall in…… Hope I can find some pictures to show what I can’t describe.
Lex went on a farm walk in the afternoon, across the river to see how they farm and live … apparently very very simply. I caught up on some sleep, Lou made friends with the Irish … playing spoons. What a fun group they are going to be!!!
We had a night boat ride spotting caiman … they’re not very big. Back to the lodge for a banquet dinner. Great food finished off a great trip.
The weather had turned cool …. Very COOL in fact. Blankets were added to beds, the room was still cool – no windows – just open screened window spaces. Still raining next morning so we go
to sleep in –no visit to the clay-like to see the macaws this trip. Arrived at the airport, still cold. We waited, and waited and waited. Flight time came and went, but we weren’t given any information. Phone call to Tucan office told us that the flight was unable to leave Cusco due to wind. Things to do in an airport to pass the time – bottle soccer, cards, spoons (the Irish are sooo loud playing this), hopscotch. Worst of all was that it was so cold. The airport is like a breezeway … all open. Thankfully the plane made it, we were bundled quickly in and out at the other end…..
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