It was an early start today (7am) and we had to pack up all our luggage ready for transport via horses and mules. From here on in there would be no means to get out of the jungle by car or truck - the only way out would be on foot or horse back!
We started out on a jeep track, then faced a 3 hour long and steep descent over jungle paths. Although difficult in places, we took it at a steady pace and were able to enjoy some really picturesque scenery. I'm no botanist, but there were some beautiful flowers along the way and large and colourful butterflys.
Several of the party suffered heat exhaustion this morning, with one unlucky one also getting stung twice by a bee, getting bitten on the leg by a spider and then vomitting! He needed attention from the doctor when we stopped for a rest.
At the rest stop, there was a quaint little toilet for us to use - a wooden shack with square hole in the floor above a stream. It was a case of aim and shoot!
Before we were able to move on, a heavy thunderstorm came past, which meant that we had to stay put until the worst had passed. When it started there was a flash of lightning so close that it was like a flash bulb going off in your face, followed by the loudest crash of thunder that I've ever heard, which actually hurt your ears! The inevitable downpour then followed, which we sat out for about half an hour. Once it eased (still pouring down) we set off up the hill in the rain.
The climb in the rain was steep and very slippery due to the muddy paths that had turned into rivers in places. There was a number of dangerous river crossings - I managed to get my feet wet twice! We eventually arrived at a raging river crossing to our final Pousada which involved using a cage (with no sides!) that was attached to a pulley system to get to the other side.
Our final night's accommodation on the trek was the most basic of the week. It was just a tin-roofed shack with no walls (just tarpaulins to divide up the "rooms"), only one toilet/shower for the whole group, and no electricity or power at all. The ground outside was still sodden from the earlier rain. Many of the group decided to "wash" in the river this evening.
Our luggage arrived shortly after we did via the same route. All the bags had to be offloaded from the mules and sent across the river via the cage. At least one bag fell in the river - thankfully, it was safely retrieved before floating off down the river - which meant that due to this and the earlier rain, many of us had wet clothes and belongings.
Having secured a bed for the night and set up my mosquito net, I had a snooze before we met for our evening meal. After this we had a few beers, jokes and a sing-song round the camp fire. Quite a pleasant evening, despite the basic surroundings and lack of "home comforts", and a surprisingly good night's sleep - all were in bed asleep by 9.30pm!
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