It
rains heavily during the night but the palm leaf roof holds it out and we sleep
pretty well under our mosquito nets. (“Very necessary” according to Reinaldo).
We
are woken by insects and birds. One bird sounds as though he has hiccups and
another sounds as if he’s gargling-perhaps he is.
Breakfast
down at the lodge and then Reinaldo takes us back to the boat for a 30 minute trip
to the start of an hour long and pretty steep hike up into the jungle to a
natural swimming hole. Reinaldo tells us not to catch-hold of any trees or to
touch any plants and we notice that every possible hand-hold is occupied by a
vicious-looking insect. We are covered in sweat for the hike but are still glad
for the long pants and long sleeved shirt. (My shirt bought in Rurrenabaque for
20 Bolivineanos ($3)). Reinaldo then tells us to take off our shoes and we have
to walk barefoot the last 50 meters to the swimming hole. Every time I plant my
foot I see something in the grass scurrying to safety. The water is cold but we
need it, strip off, and all three of us go in for a swim.
On
the boat trip back to the lodge we spot a couple of small alligators, both of
which slip into the water to join Dad-who, I think, is probably under our boat.
Lunch
and then a nap (“shake very well your hammock”). The heat and humidity is
exhausting.
Another
jungle hike in the afternoon and we are shown the walking tree which, if it
doesn’t like where it’s at will simply put down another long root, discard the
earlier ones, and shift slowly along to a spot it likes.
It
rains heavily during the evening and night and we trudge up the hill in the
complete dark, wearing our ponchos, for 10 minutes to our lonely cabin. We are
still the only guests.
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