Hike to the Reservoir...

I've written before that Memo, who has lived here in Lo de Marcos over 10 years takes anyone who would like to go on a 1 hour walk on Mondays, and a 2 hour walk on Thursdays.

Yesterday, Seventeen of us hiked up to the reservoir north of town...  eighteen if you count the dog that tagged along.

We did have to cross the river, and the water was somewhat deeper than it has been...  but we all made it across and headed up the road.

The first part of the hike was on a dirt road...  through a banana plantation...

That's Bill...  checking out a hand of bananas...

The road led to a locked gate...

Into a pasture...

Memo had gotten prior permission from the owner for our group to hike through the field up to the reservoir...

However, we're not sure if we had permission from the "keeper of the gate"....

Nothing like a big bull with horns to make a person question their sanity in crossing his path...

But we did....

And his herd of cows were so curious about us that they kept pace with our trek across their field.

We all made it across safe and sound, then headed up into the jungle towards the reservoir...

It was so calm and peaceful looking out over the water...  there were a few ducks ...  and then we saw a big black critter swimming in the water...

A crocodile?

Nope, just Negro, the dog who had tagged along with us...

 There are lots of wildflowers..  more like vines and bushes than fields of flowers..

And loads of butterflies...  all different species....

 But it was soon time around to turn around and head back.  Not exactly bushwhacking, as there is a path, but the weeds were high and wet with morning dew....

 Back to the cattle pasture...  and waiting for us at the entrance was the bull and his herd of cattle.  Negro decided to show the bull who was boss and it was a true Mexican Standoff for a while.  In the end, both the dog and the bull just moved aside...  I guess a gentleman's agreement had been made and everyone saved face.

We walked back through the field.  By this time our group was quite spread out...  a few in the lead, a few here and there...  Bill and I trying to spot some birds...  and a group of stragglers at the end.

We did see a pair of Killdeer...  doing the things Killdeer do...  squawking at us, flying a few feet away...  etc.

Back through the banana plantation...  with a great view of the mountains in the background.

Through the broken fence....

And down the dirt road, back to town.

Memo wanted a group picture while we were all together at the reservoir....

Have you ever seen Seventeen people try to get organized to take a photo?  

(Three of us were taking the photos...  but I managed to catch the one in the blue shirt at lower left, and the one in the red shirt at upper left)...  The background of the sun on the lake made lighting difficult...  but...

Here they all are....  even Negro (Spanish word for black) got included.  Bill's at the upper left, with a woman next to him...  then Memo with the striped jacket over his shoulders, then Christian, our guide.  The rest are all folks from either the USA or Canada, who winter in Lo de Marcos.  

Thanks, Memo and Christian, for another great hike!

That's All For Today!