Mountain Pine

Journal #12
Mountain Pine
January 14, 2012

Mountain Pine

The day started with Johnny Cakes and cantaloupe for breakfast. After breakfast we quickly packed for our adventures that we would have today. We were picked up by three tour buses and headed towards Mountain Pine Ridge. The two hours bus ride was full of crazy drivers, lots of holes, washed out roads, and very steep inclines. When we finally got to Mountain Pine it was a blessing to have fresh air and be able to get out of the bus for a while.

Our first stop was at a waterfall. To get there, we had to walk a ways, straight downhill! There were sometimes tree roots and stones that we could use for grip- but they were not always reliable. While at the bottom of the hill, we could see the waterfalls and enjoy the beauty of them- and then it started to downpour! I was worried about some of the people being able to make it back up the hill that we had just come down- but, we all did!

After we left the falls, we headed to a little lookout where we would have lunch. We had sandwiches and sodas. There was a Mennonite group there that was making lunch, playing games, and talking... and they were fun to watch and talk to.

We then headed to a cave. While entering the park where the cave was located- we had to check in with the guards. The first bus that was with us did not stop to check in, and they were chased down by the guards. The guards had to escort us to the cave because of some things that have happened in the past... there have been tourists robbed because the cave is really far away from anything or anybody, and the Guatemalans sneak over the border to steal plant leaves as well as harass tourists. The cave was absolutely amazing and was like nothing I had ever seen before- it was huge, with openings on both ends, a beach inside, and lots, lots more!

After the cave we headed to a spot where there were waterfalls and a section of the river that we could swim in. Because it was very cool and rainy, I decided that I did not want to swim in the chilly water. There is no warm water anywhere, so I felt like it would be hard to get warmed back up after diving in.

The ride home was a very bumpy, two hour bus ride. The scenery was very pretty, and the sky was finally turning blue for the day- right before it turned dark.

When we got back to camp, the cooks had dinner ready for us- chicken, rice & beans, salsa, and watermelon. We were all really hungry from only having sandwiches for lunch, so we ate lots! The food was excellent- and it was our last dinner meal here at the camp. Tomorrow we are leaving after lunch to head towards Columbia.

It is now pouring rain again, like it did all night last night, and cooling off even more. I am not sure what tomorrow holds, but I know that after church and lunch, we are in for a long bus ride to Columbia (4 hours they say!)!