Each week we get the opportunity to choose a volunteer activity. Two weeks ago we went to a wedding. Last week we visited the local coffee farm and had dinner. This week on Friday we decided to go to visit the medicinal
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| Jairo, our guide (and his son Jairo |
garden that is run by one of our staffers. It’s just across the river so easy to get to. As it turned out, the garden tour would be only a small part of the adventure.
As we gathered to wait for the boat, a number of us debated footwear choice. It had rained recently so we quizzed the more experienced people. There was no consensus. Gayle and I decided that rubber boots were best. As you read on, this decision had little consequence.
We left at 4:30 after hailing Romeo the 14-year-old captain of the canoe to shuttle us across. Everyone fit into one canoe, although 20 people is a little over the posted capacity of 10. Don’t worry, though it was super safe. There was one lifejacket on the boat.
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| Look at the Sky |
As we landed on the far shore, we could hear the thunder rolling in the distance. Seemed like we might get a bit of rain. I welcomed the thought because it was a very hot day and I was struggling to cool off. We walked about 10 minutes to Edi’s farm, where we were greeted by his son Jairo, who guided us through the forest. We saw cinnamon, vanilla and many other medicinal plants. We got to taste ginger and smell lemongrass. It was a real treat!
About 2/3 of the way through the tour we felt the first few drops. It started to rain a little and harder and harder. Suddenly it was dumping. Jairo hurried up the tour and we hustled back to the shelter where we were going to get to taste some treats made from the jungle. As we arrived, the rain stopped and we played on the giant swing for a while.
Just as we sat down the rain started again. It was now past 6:30 and completely dark. The rain came hard and the lightning picked up again. Everyone moved away from the edges of the shelter to avoid bouncing water. It was one of those storms where you say, “this can’t last forever.”
Edi’s wife was cooking over a fire that was sheltered by humongous jungle leaves. Soon we got to taste some home made liqueurs. One was vanilla and the other, tasted like boat fuel. Both were pretty fiery! The warm cinnamon tea hit the spot!
As the rain continued to pelt we were treated to some fried plantain and fresh chocolate syrup. It was so good that almost everyone licked their plate!
Soon after, talked turned to our return to camp. Driving rain, lighting and thunder continued. Adam and Tessa, the admins, decided that it wasn’t going to let up so we better get moving.
Kaja who had the most experience on the trail, took the lead as we filed into the storm. Gayle and I were near the front of the line because I was one of the few with a headlamp. Just as we left, the sky lit up and a nearly simultaneous clap of thunder followed. Screams and “wows” could be heard. The path to the boat was pretty much a river.
The rubber boots lost their effectiveness within about a minute as the rain water filled them!
We trudged along the path of mud and water for about 10 minutes. We arrived back at the beach and waited for Tessa to find Romeo — she’d have to walk to his house.
Let’s recap briefly: there are about 20 of us. We are all drenched. It’s completely dark and we’re about to get into a boat to cross a river that is rising fast. Oh, I haven’t yet mentioned that the power is out at camp.
Romeo, who was probably quite dry and happy in his house, skipped down to the shore to ready the boat. We saw him immediately trying to bail the water. Realizing it was pointless, he waved us on.
The boat was now seriously overloaded and the swollen river was moving fast. Many of us started wondering about this plan. A few were quite scared. Honestly, I considered taking my boots off so I could swim better if we tipped. I wondered who might be lucky enough to get the life jacket.
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| Lindsay, Kaja and Katelyn - very wet! |
We shoved off from shore. Normally we would have expected the engine to start at this point. It did not. Romeo had jumped in to swim us away from shore to find deeper water.
Seconds later the engine revved and we were moving across the river. The boat drivers here do some pretty slick manoeuvres in the fast flowing river to keep the nose pointing up stream while ever so gently edging across. Romeo did this in the dark with the rain pouring down!
We landed on the beach at Amazoonico without incident - almost. After jumping off, I stood on the shore to assist others from the boat to the muddy shore. I felt a wicked burn on the back of my leg - an ant bite for sure. Damn. It stung badly!
We thanked Romeo and watched to make sure he made it back safely - not that there was anything any one of us could do to help. We hurried up the stairs.
The scene that followed was complete chaos. People were scrambling for dry clothes, towels and head lamps. It was about 7:30 at this point. 2 unlucky souls would still have to go for night feeding of the animals. And 2 others would have to cook dinner in the dark. Then someone screamed so loudly and shrill that I thought someone had died. Nope - just a tarantula in someone’s laundry.
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| Cooking in the Dark |
After a few minutes of getting dry and dealing with wet clothes and bug bites, we decided to “hunker down” and skip dinner. Gayle found a couple of granola bars, a caramilk bar and some peanuts in our little food stash. She told the cooks that we’d skip dinner.
Glad to be back safely, we watched a TV show and fell asleep before dinner was cooked.
| Jr.) |
