River Hike

Last Sunday, we decided to hike to the river below the farm for local adventure

We set off down the road/path the we have often seen other residents traveling on - it goes right past the school bus in the garden where we are living

Soon, we are marveling at how the mopeds do are able to travel this route. There are still some folks who travel primarily by horse which makes WAY more sense out here!

Indigo is looking down over coffee trees to the neighbor's farm below

Steep slopes

Coffee and banana trees are holding up the hill!

Eventually we came to more of a road again, after a confusing meander that brought us right up to someone's front step

It's SO HOT! Indigo is starting to overheat and we are getting anxious to find water....just keep aiming down hill...

An interesting palm thatched canopy to shade some coffee trees

Fields of sugar cane

Finally, we just started ducking barbed wire when we heard the sound of running water - Indigo was probably close to sun stroke

We hiked in the water, following the tributary to a bigger stream and eventually to the bigger river

We had fun finding Jesus Christ Lizards along the way - they're so silly looking when they run! They're called Jesus Christ Lizards because they can walk (or rather run) on water with their big, slightly webbed feet.

We knew we had reached the spot when we saw this guy:

I built a tall cairn by the bridge and we gathered rocks to carry back for the garden

We snacked on mangoes and cheespuffs (which I smuggled into the country without the kids noticing and gifted them to Sage for his birthday)

Then we began a loonngg hike back up to the farm

Mangoes are flowering here, must be fruiting near the Carribean side

Lots of sour citrus called mandarin acidos

By now, we've been hiking nearly four hours! I gave Indigo a booster kiss to inspire her journey upward

At last, the bus stop where we turn for the last stretch home!

We had intended to also visit the pueblo for the school fundraiser but hadn't anticipated a 4 hour hike. We were SO hungry and tired by the time we got back, we missed the party. It was a fun adventure though, and a much needed family day for the three of us.