Río Macho – Navarro (18(km) 10.3 miles. 2600 feet elevation gain
We got our first rain today and thankfully we were in our accommodation for the night before the rain started because it is really pouring as I write this. Today’s walking was interesting for the first 6 miles as we climbed out of Rio Macho and then dropped down into the next valley. We had nice views, walked in forest and adjacent to large water pipe that supplies the neighboring towns, and crossed through a coffee plantation with plants having both blossoms and fruit.
Coffee blossoms are very fragrant with a lightly sweet perfume scent that smells nothing like coffee,
After exiting the coffee fields we had about 4 miles of walking on paved road. We were adjacent to a very pretty river for most of the time, but walking on the road is not as nice as dirt roads or trails. The surface is hard and hot and you need to pay attention to cars to make sure they see you. My shoes are also taking a beating. I bought a new pair of Altra lone peaktrail runners before the trip and I’m not sure there will be much tread left when we reach the Pacific. I was hoping they’d last me through the summer, but that doesn’t look promising, but I digress. Back to cars and roads: there is a nice custom where cars often give a little toot of their horn when they pass by as a way of saying hi. People here are friendly. I wish I knew more Spanish.
It was hot when we got to a river crossing and we all enjoyed some cold fresh lemon & mint juice that as was sold in bags for $1. The bags are tied shut with the custom being to bite one corner and drink through the resulting hole. It works quite well.
We then had only a short way to go to our cabin where we are spending tonight. We were done by 1:30. Our shortest day yet. We had lunch and then the rain started around 3:00 and it really poured for a while. The rain let up after a couple hours and the temperature cooled off. . It will be interesting to see what happens the next few days weather wise as we still need to gain 3,000 feet before topping out.
