Up at 0530
Bundle into 4 x$s to travel on roads with fewer potholes than at home (!), followed by dirt tracks as we ascended into the rainforest
Lunch, then daypacks, water bladders filled, sunscreen and hats (with net) on, polls adjusted and we were off! We started trekking from the small village of El Mamey. It starts hot and humid with little shade.
We trekked six hours to camp 1, a distance of 8.5 Km, ascending 600 metres and descending 300m through rain, thunder, lightning, poor visibility and sticky slippery mud. (Some of us had some faster descents than others!) Along the rapidly steepening track there’s lots to see (at times we can see less than a metre); many of the plants growing wild are familiar to Waitrose shoppers!
We stop at a small coffee plantation for freshly harvested, ground and roasted coffee – medium roasted because there is no bitterness to mask.
By now, mid-afternoon, it has started to rain heavily. The previously dusty red soil has become a muddy slippery quagmire and I’m first to fall as I continue my attempt to climb upwards with poles through the sticky mud. Fortunately, only my dignity hurt! On and up we clamber ‘though at the flattened summit visibility over the valley is about a metre.
We descend into our first camp at dusk in driving rain on narrow slippery tortuous ancient worn and uneven steps with either no rail or at times an unreliable wobbly rail (not to be relied/leant on).
Peter and I have a double top bunk beneath a mosquito net. we queue for one of four cold showers cubicles. In my shower I spot a palm-sized pale green frog. I am soaped up when the single jet of cold water stops- we have used up all the water (despite the torrential rain) for now! Next I see a tick on my left thigh! Job for the trek’s GP, doc. David.
Tick removed and changed into mosquito repellant long-sleeved shirt and trousers (thank you for the loan Maggie- perfect!) It’s much appreciated tasty supper and early night.
Around the world with hand luggage (only) 