Up at 6 for breakfast at 7. Well all the fruit has started to work this morning. I begged off of the trip this morning. We are staying with one of the photo leaders and doing macro shots around the lodge. It rained most of the night. It looks like we might get a lot of rain today ????
We wandered down to the dock to see the rest of the group off. It was kinda funny. Ron with his monopod for his video camera, basically fell into the canoe beside Kathy. Then while was settling himself he was twisting around not watching what he was doing with his monopod, and poked her with it. Hence the phrase “what are you poking me with”.
Watching all the gringos negotiating the rickety steps down to the canoes.
We met up at the lodge and watched our leader take photos of a spider in its web. Then one of the guys rambled off Spanish at me and so I said yes! What the heck. Off I went following him, he went into the storage area and took out a covered pail. He motioned for me to follow. So out to the veranda. He opened the pail and dumped it, and stepped back. There as a small tarantula. Wahoo!! So I took photos not getting too close.
After that we chatted in the lodge a bit about equipment and stuff. Then out into the grounds. We found some small light brown mushrooms and spent some time there. We wandered around a bit taking a few more shots.
We found a line of leaf cutter ants.
A nice leisurely morning. Now for a nap.
Up and out to do more macro shots. Leaf cutter ants and a red flower and lots of old “dry” leaves. Went to the top of the tower to look around. Trees.
We have been gone only a week, and it seems a lifetime. We have seen so many new things and done so much. We are waiting for the group to get back from the morning canoe trip. We are getting hungry.
The group finally came back all dirty, muddy and wet. A couple of people fell in the mud. One might have sprained her ankle. Diego stepped in up to his knackers in it. Pete through him a couple of branches so he could pry himself out. They all looked pretty well wrecked when they got back.
We went to the lodge and climbed in the hammocks to wait. Beer helped the wait.
We had ceviche for lunch with popcorn and fried plantains. Even though there was fish (tuna) in it, I couldn’t taste it. Then throw in popcorn and the plantains. Wow, very good. Papaya for desert.
Out again at 4:30 for a sunset ride. No sunset, mostly clouds. But a nice boat ride.
It was a cool ride, but nice just to see the jungle.
When we got back we started to organize our stuff to see if it will go back in the packs.
Then to the lodge to hang out before supper. We had a big moth flying around us and he finally landed in front of me. I took photos of course. Then supper, and again it was fantastic. Soup followed by grilled pork, salad and finally my favourite – mogo- or as they call it here, fried manioc root. I haven’t had that in a long time. Fruit for desert with rum that Kurt poured in.
We said thank you to the staff, only 4 guys. Back to the room to get packed and organized before lights out. Very cloudy today, so they are running the generator.
We are ready to go into something new.