We got up very early to head out to the main river so that we could visit a “no contact” indigenous community. On the way we stopped at a Parrot and Parakeet lick. The birds get digestive minerals from the clay lick that are important to their diet and general health. They arrive at the same time, stay there for 15-20 minutes and then disappear back into the jungle. Of course their predictable habits do not go unnoticed by their natural predictor, the Bow snake, which sits patiently in the trees until one makes the mistake of landing on it. From the photos you can see what happens! It swallows it completely whole, digests the meat then regurgitates the skeleton, feathers beaks etc. Yuk! (Sorry Doris it is all part of the jungle).

Up at 5:30..this is getting a little silly! We walk to a tower that was 38 M above the jungle floor, which puts you in great viewing position over the entire canopy. 120 steps to the top, no problem for either of us but still in the humidity and temperature it is noticeable.  We saw several interesting birds but at a distance which meant that photography was out of the question. Harpy Eagle is a very rare bird to actual see and is considered a myth of the jungle. It is very large and apparently could lift a deer, Diago did view one with a full grown monkey. Few have actually been spotted but that morning it was our turn! Lots of buzz around the lodge when we got back, our naturalist, Andres was very excited, as this was his first sighting.

After lunch we went on a jungle walk where vegetation and many insects were found and explained; centipede that, when excited uses a strong Amoretto scent to ward off enemies, obviously it didn’t know us. Termites that when crushed and spread on your skin are a natural insect repellant, tiny little monkeys the size of squirrels and a parasite vine that kills big trees and quite frankly looks like a tree when it is done.  The jungle is amazing and you only see and grasp a tiny bit of what goes on there.

Berniece took the evening walk off as she was not feeling that great, nothing serious just a little R&R. I have included the “dart frog” so you can see how small it is. As the name suggests it is used, along with another powerful anesthetic, is you used in blowguns by the native people. Just a little of the sweat from this little guy is lethal. Imagine the number of hunters who bit the dust learning this little trick?

Our first canoe trip after getting settled into our room wasn’t particularly eventful. we did see many birds and monkeys which were really hard to get a photo of. There many species of bats in the rain forest and this photo is an illustration of just one type.

Our trip was to view some Caymans but unfortunately that wasn’t to be but we did have a wonderful evening and we were ready for bed. After supper of course which goes without mentioning was spendid.

I should mention that this lodge was not what we actual signed up for, somehow that didn’t work out so we were upgraded..and of course there are no complaints.

So today it was up at 5:00 to catch the bus to the airport which is 90 minutes away. We boarded an A320 for a 30 minute flight over the Andes to Coca where we catch a boat to the lodge. I thought you would be amused buy someone’s sense of humor so I included a picture of a “Jet Boat”. The trip down the river took 3 hours in a relatively fast speed boat. The lodge is 80 KLM down the Napo River, which flows into the Amazon River. The entire region is the “Amazon Rain Forest” although we were many miles short of the actual Amazon River. You immediately know you are in the Rain forest as soon as you get off the plane at Coca, temperature  25C and the humidity is anywhere from 85-90%. Very difficult to adjust to immediately, it took a little while.

When we got to the lodge we walked down a path for 15 minutes to a waterway, maybe a creek, which lead into a lake. When we got to the waterway  we took large canoe up the lake to the  lodge, about another 15 minutes.

Very first class! Upon arriving it was a 20 minute  orientation about the rain forest and what to expect then off to our rooms to unpack before an evening canoe trip around the lake.

But I have not told you anything about some of the people we are with!!  First; we discover that there is a couple from Canmore Alberta, Mike and Bonnie that we were in China with..how cool is that! Secondly there is a couple from Ladner, Chris and Penny, who know our good friend Barb M. very well. Chris use to work in the Vancouver Police Department with Barb many years ago, the other, 17  I will mention as we go along, some are from  USA but many are from Canada. Our Guide is Diago, who everyone who has ever been on this trip with Adventures Abroad just raved about and we can sure see why.

But we are humbled by all of the traveling most of them have already done, they make us feel as if we hardly travel at all

!

Just a wonderful day in the local park. We just wandered around and enjoyed the sights, smells, and music. It was fun just being there and feeling like we belonged as everyone was so friendly.

We had our orientation this evening before dinner and it sure sounds like the next few days are going to be a lot of fun…but no internet, phones, iPads or what ever so we will update this blog on thursday when we get back.

We arrive in Quito Ecuador! It was late..well not really late..we got to the hotel at 7:30 pm. The plane trip was good, but then we were in first class so why wouldn’t it be! (Just got tired of being treated like cattle  so we moved up.) The cab ride took forever and that was a little puzzling because we were told about 15 minutes. but then they are DIFFERENT 15 minute measurements we have noticed before but this wasn’t even one of those as it was close to an hour…I thought maybe he misunderstood us and was heading for Seattle. We have had issues with cabs before because apparently I always pick the ones your are not suppose to use and end up paying twice as much and don’t arrive at the right destination.

But we are here so our adventure starts now. We will not be staying here very long,  just today, tomorrow we head to the Amazon. So unless something extra ordinary happens at the hotel the next post will be from there.

We had our good friends, Ken and JoAnne Platt,  gives us a ride to catch the bus from Blaine to SeaTac.  Beats leaving the car there for 5 weeks and the bill associated with it, not to mention the frustration of driving through Seattle at rush hour. (Just as an interesting side bar: Kenny and Jo’s son Travis has his own You Tube channel, Blitzed, a weekly commentary with his fellow host about NFL football.  It is filmed  at the bar  he works in and is quite good, something he has created himself. If you like the NFL look this up! He has just been put under contract so he has someone’s attention! Travis has a degree in communication and has been on the odd TV show as an extra, Glee was one I can remember. Watch him…he is going places!)

We arrived in Miami a little early, 6:00am local time and have a  9 hour layover until we fly to Quito,  Ecuador. We are arriving a day early in Quito to get acclimatized, which is a habit we been getting into and it sure takes the pressure off.  Monday we are off to the Amazon River for 4 days, should be very interesting.

Not sure how many people really take advantage of what is right in their own back yard.  For us we live within 100 miles, 160 klm, ( can’t forget we are still Canadians!) of the most beautiful country you will find anywhere in the world. And there is always lots to do, such as Zip-lining 200 ft  (ok ok 60 meters) above the valley. That first step off the platform into air is the worst part, after that the body seems to accept the fact that you are just crazy with a death wish. Lots of fun!

Well, this is a little trip that only took a few hours. Our grandson, Jaxson, was looking forward to a hike somewhere so we decided to do this one. It is only a short distance from our home to the Larrabee State Park and then a 1.5 hr hike up a fairly steep mountain to the lake. The sign post says about 1.9 miles and that felt about right based on the signals from my leg muscles. Jaxson really enjoyed his first real hike with us and we sure enjoyed having him along. The whole adventure only took the afternoon but the climbs is steep enough to remind you it does take a little effort.

We welcome you to travel with us along the many adventures we have planned. Some are relatively close by while others will take us onto foreign soil. Hopefully you will find this enjoyable and fun!