20K and a Year Away

We have been here 4 days. It has been a little different than what I think the rest of the month will be, though, because Lawrence is here with us. We haven’t really checked out the whole town because we want to spend some time exploring with him while he is here. We have taken two adventure walks, one down a country road and the other down a muddy trail to waterfalls. The farm road was great – steep, but great. We saw cows, horses, ducks, chickens, and all the dogs. We passed a big river with a footbridge and walked along several creeks.

The muddy trail to waterfalls was an actual adventure. We made it to the waterfalls through some really deep mud with minimal casualties. Axel slipped once and ended up with mud all over his rear – not bad. We thought we made it through the worst of it, but of course, that was silly to think. We were not sure where the trail went and where we were supposed to go when we got to the second waterfall. It looked like you were supposed to cross the water and go up the steep incline on the other side – toward some little houses. We didn’t see any other trails so across the water we went!

Lawrence scouted a way across, making sure there were no deep spots where feet would get sunk. He made it across, no problem. Then Axel set off. He, too, made it across with minimal trouble. I started across and just when I thought things were going to be fine, slipped and landed in the water. So much for keeping our feet dry! The funny part was, the water was cool enough for me to catch my breath. That was actually a cool little fun fact to learn as you are flailing in the air headed to your doom. Oh, note to self, the water is cold. Haha!

I got up and walked to the other side through the water. Shoes did not matter at this point, at all. We headed up the steep, muddy incline of certain death. I hope you are getting my drift here because things are about to get ridiculous.

We head up this hill, and I am not kidding, it is steep and muddy. There seems to be a trail that is used fairly often, but there are no signs for waterfalls or other markers saying this is the way to go. The path is just mud. Slimy, deep, squishy mud. I am taking up the rear of our little group and am putting my feet where it looks safe until… whoooooosh! I slip in the mud and land with a big sucking slurp, like the mud is pulling me in to become one with the hill. I get up and start back up the hill. Ten feet later, swooooosh! My legs go flying out from under me and, again, I am on my rear being sucked into the side of the hill by hill monsters who live under the mud. OK, I am fine, just muddy, let’s keep going… Not. We notice the time and determine, at this rate, we don’t have time to get up the hill and back to our pick-up spot in time and start back down the hill of doom. Now, you would think that that was a good idea. HA! You are so wrong!

As we are heading down, Lawrence starts sliding down the hill. He is near a tree and manages to stay upright with a little solid help. I am right behind him, and not as close to the tree. Let’s just say I am now so covered in mud that this has changed from a hike to a spa treatment and I am in the mud bath stage. Not even kidding. I fell in the mud three times in less than 35 feet of trail.

We went back down to the water and I didn’t even worry about shoes or clothes or anything getting wet. I sat down and started wiping the mud off with the cold water. It was actually pretty nice and the bonus will be fantastic skin. HAHAHA!

We have plans to go up a mountain path tomorrow where the French neighbor at my hotel saw fresh jaguar tracks. What do you think my chances of making it out of this hike are? I’m pretty sure I won’t be a jaguar snack, but after today’s adventure, I am not ruling it out! Here, kitty kitty!