Colombia 2015

I loved these tart green oranges and ate a ton of them. Didn't help me though. I just noticed in the picture above, where Pedro is eating a banana. Not my favorite food unless it's blended into a smoothy. However, I probably should have eaten one or two of them as well. Keep in mind, this was steaming hot jungle, just above the equator. I was drenched with sweat, and with that lost salt, potassium, and all sorts of micro-nutrients. I should have brought the tabs that trail runners use, which replenish that. Instead, about two hours later, I ended up with brutal cramps in both my legs. All that in pouring rain. At one point Pedro, worried that the river was rising too quickly to safely cross, asked to carry my daypack. I was in pain and let him, but kept my water bottle and heavy camera case on me. I did not want to strap him with that weight, too.

This one I shot during one of the crossings

NOTE: I highly recommend something like Crocs for the water crossings. Once your boots and socks are wet, the next morning will be terrible. In the often rainy conditions, getting anything to dry is next to impossible.

Things were getting quite lively from here on, and the only sound that dominated the environment was the roar of the rushing water

A couple of short cuts along the edge of the by now raging river, which was quicker than going over land, but, as you can see, more risky as well

We were finally nearing the camp

By now, carefully going along the edge of the river was about all that was possible, but we were just about home

The sound of the downpour on the roofs and of the rising and rushing river drowned out almost everything else. In my tired state (I was not alone in this) an almost hypnotic sound. Naturally, the dining hall was the furthest building from where we bunked. Getting there, even with a rain jacket, left you drenched.