Got up this morning at 6:00 o'clock, breakfast wasn't very good, the egg was fried in a lot of fat, I didn't care for it. I then mounted my mule. I hired a mule for the first half of today's hike to a place called Adan, about a 3-hour hike. This was the tough part of the hike, a lot of steep climbs and a lot of steep descents. The boys got off ahead of me, I mounted my mule and eventually caught up to them. As I was getting nearer to them, I noticed Ryan, turned and looked and started running up the trail. I had no idea why he was running. I continued on and caught up to Michael and Michal, the Israeli couple; Michal looked like she was really struggling. Anyways, they let me pass and probably a half-hour later I caught up to Todd. I asked Todd what Ryan was doing and he said there was no way Ryan was going to let me pass riding the mule so he took off running. Eventually we came across Ryan sitting beside the trail and apparently he had caught up to a group that left much earlier and felt he shouldn't pass them so he waited there for us. After about three hours we reached Adan and I gave up my mule. We all had a little rest and I commenced hiking again on foot. Well, I struggled - up and down, up and down, pushing myself to my maximum. I did make it! We eventually arrived at the starting point around 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon.
We had originally planned on doing a 5-day hike and as is customary, we ordered the food that we would want upon our return. However, they didn't have the food prepared for Todd, Ryan and myself because we arrived back a day earlier than what they were expecting. Anyway, they prepared extra food for us, not what we ordered, but whatever they had available and could whip up for us. I ended up having a piece of fish and that's about all I wanted. I think Todd had a bit of steak and I'm not sure what Ryan had.
We had our meals and then jumped into the truck which would take us back to the main highway - it was a very rough road from the start point to the highway. At the highway junction, we caught a minibus back to Santa Marta. We checked into the same hostel that we were at before we left on the hike. They, also, weren't expecting us a day early. We hadn't reserved a room but we were lucky, they said the room was still available and we could have the same room again so that was great. After cleaning up and relaxing a bit, we went down to talk to Laura (girl at front desk) to ask where we could go to get a good western-style hamburger and fries. She said the hostel next door has an excellent bar, an excellent restaurant and menu, and you won't be disappointed.
We headed next door and indeed, we were not disappointed! After gobbling down the hamburgers, some of the best we have ever had, and of course some beer, I decided to drink Gatorade and a bottle of water and another 7-Up type of drink, and the boys had a couple more beers. At 7:00 o'clock the girl running the bar (from Norway) rang the bell which was to announce that it was Happy Hour now - 2 for 1 rum or vodka drinks. Of course we all started drinking rum and coke. The Norwegian girl was absolutely amazed to hear that we had just completed the 4-day trek to the Lost City. She said practically everybody who completes that trek comes back to the hostel and goes right to bed. Around 10:00 o'clock, after quite a few drinks, we headed back to the Emerald Hostel and to bed. I could tell the boys were getting pretty loaded - Ryan was getting loud and Todd was being talkative. We got back to our room and right off the bat, Todd jumps in bed. But I should explain that the sheets that are on the bed are folded halfway down to the bottom of the bed so they only cover the bottom half of the bed. Anyway, Todd jumps into his bed and grabs the top edge of the sheet, where the fold is actually, and pulls it up to cover his torso, shoulders and that. But his feet are sticking out so he makes the announcement "Hey look, I've got a short sheet on my bed tonight." (I am LOL as I write this.) I went over and said "Todd, the problem is, the sheet has been folded down, you have to unfold it and then pull it up." Well, he laughed and laughed and laughed. Then I turned to Ryan and there's Ryan laying in bed with the sheet over his shoulders and his feet sticking out, he was having the same problem (I'm still laughing) so I had to explain to him what he had to do. We laughed about that pretty heavily but I suppose "you had to be there" to see the humor in it.
So that's the end of today's blog and the end of the great trek to the Lost City. I have come to realize that the young people come to this trek not so much to view the Lost City, but more for the challenge of getting there. And a challenge it is!
That's it for tonight, talk to you tomorrow.
We had originally planned on doing a 5-day hike and as is customary, we ordered the food that we would want upon our return. However, they didn't have the food prepared for Todd, Ryan and myself because we arrived back a day earlier than what they were expecting. Anyway, they prepared extra food for us, not what we ordered, but whatever they had available and could whip up for us. I ended up having a piece of fish and that's about all I wanted. I think Todd had a bit of steak and I'm not sure what Ryan had.
We had our meals and then jumped into the truck which would take us back to the main highway - it was a very rough road from the start point to the highway. At the highway junction, we caught a minibus back to Santa Marta. We checked into the same hostel that we were at before we left on the hike. They, also, weren't expecting us a day early. We hadn't reserved a room but we were lucky, they said the room was still available and we could have the same room again so that was great. After cleaning up and relaxing a bit, we went down to talk to Laura (girl at front desk) to ask where we could go to get a good western-style hamburger and fries. She said the hostel next door has an excellent bar, an excellent restaurant and menu, and you won't be disappointed.
We headed next door and indeed, we were not disappointed! After gobbling down the hamburgers, some of the best we have ever had, and of course some beer, I decided to drink Gatorade and a bottle of water and another 7-Up type of drink, and the boys had a couple more beers. At 7:00 o'clock the girl running the bar (from Norway) rang the bell which was to announce that it was Happy Hour now - 2 for 1 rum or vodka drinks. Of course we all started drinking rum and coke. The Norwegian girl was absolutely amazed to hear that we had just completed the 4-day trek to the Lost City. She said practically everybody who completes that trek comes back to the hostel and goes right to bed. Around 10:00 o'clock, after quite a few drinks, we headed back to the Emerald Hostel and to bed. I could tell the boys were getting pretty loaded - Ryan was getting loud and Todd was being talkative. We got back to our room and right off the bat, Todd jumps in bed. But I should explain that the sheets that are on the bed are folded halfway down to the bottom of the bed so they only cover the bottom half of the bed. Anyway, Todd jumps into his bed and grabs the top edge of the sheet, where the fold is actually, and pulls it up to cover his torso, shoulders and that. But his feet are sticking out so he makes the announcement "Hey look, I've got a short sheet on my bed tonight." (I am LOL as I write this.) I went over and said "Todd, the problem is, the sheet has been folded down, you have to unfold it and then pull it up." Well, he laughed and laughed and laughed. Then I turned to Ryan and there's Ryan laying in bed with the sheet over his shoulders and his feet sticking out, he was having the same problem (I'm still laughing) so I had to explain to him what he had to do. We laughed about that pretty heavily but I suppose "you had to be there" to see the humor in it.
So that's the end of today's blog and the end of the great trek to the Lost City. I have come to realize that the young people come to this trek not so much to view the Lost City, but more for the challenge of getting there. And a challenge it is!
That's it for tonight, talk to you tomorrow.
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| Getting ready to ride the mule |
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| On foot again |
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| Nearing the finish line |
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| At the bar |
Todd and Ryan, what dorks (re bed sheets)!
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