Neurotic Skies - CDS Primitivo to Grand Salime

The second we stepped outside the albergue a COLD gust of wind hit us, and ripped through our weakening psyche. Damn!

We walked 100 yards to the cafe, and it was definitively closed. Just then, another COLD gust ripped through us, this time with drizzle attached. Double Damn!

It was disheartening to say the least. A cup of coffee and a roll make any hiking day better, not just when It’s cold and dark and wet out.

Fortunately, we are made of tough stuff. There was nothing to do but put on another layer, and get moving. We figured we’d warm up after the hill, and so we did.

“The Lord works in mysterious ways.”

We walked to La Mesa in the dark, and we were getting hungry. My accomplice mentioned there was a hotel and restaurant, but we didn’t have high hopes it would be open. Our plan was to eat a soggy 3 day old peanut butter sandwich at the chapel, and keep moving. But, as luck would have it, the restaurant was OPEN! I became a pious man on the spot.

The whole day might have been completely different if that cafe had been closed. But, it wasn’t and we ate toast, butter, jam, coffee, juice, and a banana. After that, we could face anything!

Like this giant hill!

We had neurotic weather all morning. It started to rain, so we put our stinky ponchos on. Why do ponchos never dry? After one use they seem to retain a light coating of water for the rest of their lives.

We had to cross an active cow pasture. Nothing quite like walking though muddy shit in the rain.

Cows are HUGE. I don’t trust them. If they wanted to, they could put a hole in you. And it’s not like I can out run them while wearing a twenty pound pack through a slick shit strewn field. But, these ones were pretty chill, so no chasing was necessary.

We did meet a miserable wet donkey. You’d be a miserable donkey too, if all you had for companions were cows.

The cloud over us broke, and the landscape fell away down to the dam far below.

Go out in bad weather, especially in the winter. If the sun can break through, the whole world can turn quite beautiful for hours on end due to the low angled light. In the summer, these photos wouldn’t be nearly as good.

I like the small vignettes of nature.

Two Dogs.

I love it when an animal’s personality comes shining through. I met this guy at the Venezualan cafe. He had his beer can, and he wanted you to throw it! Here he is waiting for his person to come back out.

And this fella across from the albergue… I’ve never seen a dog lean over the rail like a sailor watching the sea. We went over and gave him a good long back scratch. I don’t think I’ve ever made anyone happier than that dog.