Up Up Up .... Down Down Down

Gil & I, Lenny & Gina, Wiley & Maggie, Janice & Jeff, Rowena, Gwen & Guilloume,

Rebecca & Mike

We finally had the opportunity to complete a hike we'd been hoping to do - from Grand Etang Lake to the Concord Waterfalls. We were advised that it's best to do this hike with a guide, as the trail is not marked, and could be easily lost. Guilloume & Gwen heard that fellow cruisers, Mike & Rebecca, who had experience doing this trail, were leading a group; and we were fortunate enough to be able to join them.

 our fearless leaders, Mike & Rebecca

Ready, Set, Go.....

'the "before" photo .... if only we could have finished the hike looking like this!

Mike briefed us at the beginning of the hike. Basically, the first half was UP, and the second half was DOWN. There seems to be no such thing as 'flat' on this island. The 'up' part, to Mt. Qua Qua, we'd actually done before. The vistas this part of the trail offers are stunning. 

 Grand Etang (volcanic crater) Lake

 top right shows our anchorage at St. George's and a hint of Grand Anse beach

What? There's still some 'up' to go?

We reached the 'fork in the road,' all hot and sweaty after so much 'up' .....

 That way to Concord Falls...

.... but are we sure we want to do this? 

We haven't started the 'down' part, and look at us!

Onward and downward we trekked....

now that's a humongous cypress tree!

Lenny, Gina & Wiley trekking through the jungle

waiting to regroup .... how many of us were there?

ankle deep in mud

just look at those legs!

waiting to regroup, and a chance to clean up :)

still smiling

R U kidding me?

cruisers are crazy

We made it! We reached Concord waterfalls without any drama. No wonder we're all smiling.

Jeff (in the back), Lenny, Mike & Rebecca, Guilloume & Gwen, Janice

Maggie & Wiley, Rowena, Diana & Gil, Gina

Most of us threw ourselves into the pool of refreshing water at the base of the falls; we were so icky (hot, sweaty, filthy). This, despite our grumbling tummies. Lunch never tasted so good.

After 41/2 hr. it was wonderful to stop. Unfortunately, we had to get up and go again. It was still another 45min. of 'down' to get to a road where our hired taxi could come and get us. That was almost not fair - allowing my body to rest; because making it work again gave me quite the new awareness of my gluts and knees. Onward and downward once more....

Guilloume (in the lead), Gwen, Janice, Rowena, Mike & Rebecca

Gil (foreground), Jeff, Janice, Gwen, Rowena, Rebecca

This guy had a worm in his mouth, but by the time I got my camera out, it had disappeared.

It's over! 

Or so we thought. Mike & Rebecca were unable to get any cell phone reception once we got down to the road; so they weren't able to contact our taxi. They elected to walk further down the road in search of a signal, while the rest of us rushed to gather cold Carib's and Stag's (beer).

We waited and waited (which was quite fine with us). We knew it was about a 30-45min. walk to the main road and the town of Concord. It had been much longer than that since they'd left, however. Even if they had to walk as far as the town, then have to wait for the taxi.... surely, they should be back by now? 

Guilloume & Gwen started down the road, only to reappear shortly after. They had met Mike & Rebecca who had walked pretty much all the way back up to where we were all waiting. Turns out, there was a huge backhoe creeping its way up this narrow road, and the taxi wasn't able to get around it. So.... we needed to walk down the road. 

Are you kidding me?

Hahaha, the joke's on us. 

It was a great day. We arrived back to our home on Serenada tuckered, and not much good for anything else except sundowners, spaghetti, screen time, and zzzzz.....