Rainforest Adventures

Last Sunday I went on a hike with Haley, two teachers I work with and 6 of their friends. It was 10 of us hiking and our trail was from Laborie (on the southern side of the island) to Soufriere (on the west side of the island). We stopped at a waterfall on our way to the trail to Soufriere. The waterfall is considered one of the best on the island because it is a series of three big waterfalls and you can bathe in the water holes below them. It was a nice hike, of moderate difficulty. How about I give you a rough time line of our rainforest events:

10:00 - bus driver drops us on trail in Laborie with word to pick us up in Soufriere at 4pm

10:30 - Jules starts complaining "where is the waterfall?"

10:45 - We stop to pick five-finger fruit from star fruit tree

11:00 - Jules, "where is the waterfall?"

11:15 - Jules decides to change from flip-flops to hiking boats

11:30 - We reach the waterfall and take pictures

11:45 - We eat lunch at waterfall

12:00 - Carol and I decide to hike to top of waterfall

12:15 - We make it to top and take pictures; Ashley and Carol spot Haley changing into her swim suit in a not so secluded hiding spot down below

12:30 - we climb back down the ledge of the waterfall

12:45 - I go to change into swimsuit in Haley's predetermined not so secluded hiding spot

1:15 - I finish swimming and we prepare to find France Jacques hiking trail

2:00 - we are well off trail heading in what Lenn think to be the right direction; Lenn checks his compass

2:15 - Lenin tries his GPS... no signal; Lenn checks his compass; we keep walking

2:30 - Lenn checks his compass; Lenn decides he thinks we are lost; we change course and keep walking

2:45 - We are definitely LOST; It starts pouring down rain. Lenn checks his compass; we keep walking

3:00 - Jules and Lenn consult compass and topographical map together and try to decide if we should retrace our steps; we keep walking.

3:10 - We stop; Lenn and Jules go off on their own, due to report back in 10 min.

3:15 - ...

3:20 - ...

3:25 - .... "WHOOP WHOOP" I shout. Lenin whistles.... .... ....

3:30 - Jules and Lenn return, they found the trail!

3:35 - We are uncertain we are on the right trail; Lenin's GPS has signal... it shows we are in Venezuela

3:45 - signs of civilization; we meet a Rasta that tells us we are on a back trail but headed the right way.

3:55 - trail opens up and we have arrived in Frances Jacques! Bus is there waiting for us!!

4:30 - sleeping on the bus

5:30 - dropped off at home

5:35 - turn on shower... NO WATER!!!!!!!

6:00 - NO WATER

6:30 - I take a bucket bath!

It was a very eventful day! We all had a blast. I will be hiking with this group most Sundays, yea!!!

Other things going on:
learning to live without the internet in my home
coming to love Babonnaue
starting projects at schools
getting golden apples out of really high trees with a long stick and with the help of Cindy
Losing water all the time and taking bucket baths
adjusting to the fact that nothing here starts on time
making bakes with my neighbor, Cindy
teaching my neighbor Acquila's daughter, Jeniqua how to make shadow puppets
teaching Jamal, Cindy's 1-year-old son how to give a high five!
paying my way to high St. Lucian phone bill!
surviving the mosquitoes