18 June - Nepal - Chitwan National Park

It's poured all night & we all wonder what we will do today!

We assemble as planned - & discover we are on track for the canoe down the river, 6 hour trek through the jungle to the ' bush camp'. So off we go .....Monsoon or not ... We climb into our canoes, fortunately for me here are 8 to a canoe and we have a crew, just as well as the river is flowing very fast & is murky & brown. We see a few birds & a bedraggled looking crocodile lurking close to the bank trying to shelter under leaves.
It's about 90 mins to our drop off point & I'm ' stuck' in position on the wooden seat. At this stage the prime objective is keep the small day packs dry. Ponchos do a great job. Off we set into the jungle ... We start by dodging the puddles & mud but soon give up and just tramp on through everything - wet from above & beneath. After a comfort stop in the bushes we become aware of leeches... Things that are as thin as a pin until they latch on to you, suck like crazy until they so bloated that they fall off. If you try to pick them off they stick like glue. Because of the wet they are everywhere.
A packed lunch from the hotel was consumed 2 stories up on a very rickety platform with a roof .... So at least it was away from the leeches & rain!! We did not see any wildlife .. Apparently the guides heard a rhino but it was not seen.
I certainly pushed some boundaries today. Crossing a fast flowing river balancing on a log with another held up as a handrail,
Climbing the platform wobbling in my hands, then fording the river again getting wet up to my thighs, all the while trying to keep the backpack dry as it had a set of dry clothes & by this time I am totally soaked!!
Our final challenge was a canoe ride back across the fast flowing river. We were in the second group across & by then the heavens opened.. At least we are warm & wet!!!
We stagger into camp, our expectations are exceeded with our own room & a bathroom!!!
After a shower, restorative coffee then beer the world looked better.
It's still by the way raining solidly, only stopping for a few minutes whilst we had dinner. A delicious entirely home cooked meal by the owners of the hotel / bush camp.

Bed beckons early... Especially since we are on the road at 7am! tomorrow morning