Guatemala - 2011

Day 13 - July 24 - The Long Journey Home

7 + days together and you get to know each other well. I now have an immense amount of respect and awe (and not a little envy) for Kevin. He has a doctorate in physical chemistry (even having worked at NASA) so we passed several hours discussing science. He often humbled me with his knowledge.

He also amazed me with stories of his journeys. He lived in Tikal, Guatemala, for a year when Toby was a small child. Has lived in Chile, Scotland, Wales, and probably other places as well. He has traveled to Antartica, China, and India (which he couldn't leave fast enough). On one epic journey he spent three days in a Chinese bus station because they wouldn't sell him a ticket, eventually getting one when he threatened a female worker. (The security guards said they would release him if he left immediately [which all he wanted].) Then he spend 6 days on a bus to Pakistan during which they wouldn't talk to him or sell him food (he survived by buying melons along the road). And was eventually kidnapped for 2 weeks in Pakistan (escaping by breaking out a second story window and jumping). WOW! And people are amazed by my backpacking and traveling to Guatemala...

Climbing Los Monos again.

The transmitter array.

A large butterfly. The hand is there for perspective.

A great picture Toby took of a Chuchara. Some would be on the ground, seemingly dead, and when you picked them up they would start to move. Fun stuff!, especially since most creatures in the jungle can harm or kill you. It is nice to have something completely safe.

Some type of grasshopper (saltamontes).

Large beetle (escarabajo).

Here is the Iron Lady showing her rust. Notice that this time she has a T-shirt and a towel with her.

I tried to get a picture of her resting her head, but even her sitting down is amazing. She is really hurting. We are waiting at the swamp for the mules.

After losing 30 to 45 minutes, we eventually decide to push on. There's no way Maria can walk thru the swamp, so I carry her. Not so impressive since she's probably only 80 pounds.

Hard to see, but we are there in the center.

Of course, the mules showed up once I was part way into the water. Toby rode the mules. And, even though she doesn't like riding, Maria accepts defeat and climbs aboard. Fortunately, at this point we have consumed most of our provisions so there are two available mules.

Even though this picture is out of focus, I think it tells the story of the jungle trek. It is not romantic. It is not fun. It is often not even interesting. It is tedious and hot. Notice Kevin on a mule behind me and that I have my shirt open and rolled up and am carrying my hat, none of which is usual for me. But here in the deep jungle there is mostly shade and little wind. So exposed skin is the only way to allow a little heat to escape.

We talked about movies, songs (even sang a few), and anything else we could to pass the interminable hours and miles. You can't imagine how amazing it is to see any sign of civilization. We first saw farmers and their huts, then the cabanas of the camp.

The guards said it was just heat rash from the sweat, heat, and rubbing of my pant legs. It didn't hurt or itch, so I wasn't terribly concerned. Kevin offered me some creme from his first aid kit and a wet wipe. I couldn't resist the scientific urge. I cleaned my right leg and the right half of the left leg. I applied creme to only the right leg. And in the morning there was no difference. So, the creme doesn't work.

To get the sudor (sweat) off, I took another shower and washed my clothes.

In another sign of the strength of our group, I loaned my shoes (with Superfeet inserts) to Kevin. He said they were more comfortable than his expensive REI shoes. My shoes are cheap and borrowed, but just like my sandals, the inserts are tried and true! I even ended up giving them to Kevin in Flores.

This picture is for me. I wanted to know how to set up my hammock when I got home. I still have my hammock from Venezuela but never knew exactly how to set it up (not that I couldn't have learned this on YouTube). Here is the knot for the main support.

Here is the attachment point for the hammock itself.

By this point in our trip, we are running low on provisions. It is also possible that Maria is too weak to cook. Some of our meals consist of just frijoles (mashed and cooked beans) and tortillas and maybe some rice. We do get some fruit once a day.