📸 Photo

Down below, where the waters of the fall struck the earth, I could see another stream. I looked for a place where I could climb down, but by the time I found one, I could no longer hear the rush of water. The stream was not in sight. I didn't want to waste time and energy going back to look for it, so I decided to continue on my way down until I ran into another trickle, which I soon did. This time I was determined to stick with it no matter what.

I followed it down steep inclines and made my way around some small falls. I took great care not to get my feet wet. When I had to cross the stream, I did so by vaulting over it or tiptoeing across the larger rocks in its path. Once in a while I was helped over by fallen trees. Other streams joined the one I was following, and it widened.

I was walking along a river. The ground was flatter, but the undergrowth was quite dense, and without a machete to cut through it, the going was rough. I had no choice but to follow the natural lay of the land, which formed a sort of pathway, frequently obstructed. I scrambled over rocks and crawled under branches. Thorns tore at my clothes. I occasionally stuck my hand into a nettle and was stung. Once I disturbed the wrong branch and was attacked by a trail of fire ants, which dug their way into the back of my neck. The weather had given out as well, and it was pouring rain again. All my efforts to keep my feet from getting wet were wasted.