I took the guys camping this weekend. Let me begin by acknowledging that there a few people out there who think I bring my little “adventures” on myself. That somehow they occur as a result of my own actions. This I vigorously deny. Having said that however…our camping trip was a little…uh…

…adventurous?

See, here’s the thing. The waterfalls where I wanted to take the guys are a little off the beaten path. They’re an hour or so’s drive back into the jungle on a “road” that’s definitely seen better days (the washout from a couple of years ago? Where half the hill came down across the road? They just waited until it dried up and then started driving over it…). A week or so ago I wrote about checking out the road in to make sure it was passable. It was…and I wrote about how impressed with my Tundra’s ability to navigate said road.

Yea, ignore all that. That little Sunday drive was…well, a Sunday drive…in the park…compared to what happened this weekend. I wasn’t even sure we were going to be able to go. We’d planned to go Saturday morning but put it off because of rain. Then in the afternoon it got sunny so we decided to go Sunday instead (Monday was a holiday here, so the guys were all free). We shopped and packed and prepared and threw everything into the truck and away we went after church.

It was sunny and hot and perfect. We stopped for lunch and then suddenly it was cloudy and cool and it looked like rain…and I thought to myself, maybe this wasn’t such a great idea. But then it was sunny and hot and perfect again so I ignored my momentary lack of faith and away we continued.

I should have listened to my little inner voice…

The ride in was a bit treacherous…but passable. At one point a truck was stopped and we were told by it’s driver that someone was stuck up ahead and we wouldn’t be able to get past. I wanted to see for myself, so Jimmy, Ruddy and I hopped out and started walking.

Perhaps this helpful gentleman could have mentioned that the stuck truck was a kilometre or more up the road. Road that was easily driveable. Thankfully (sarcasm, people…sarcasm) the sun decided to come back out (after a series of scattered showers over the past half hour or so) and warm us up…considerably. The truck was stuck pretty bad, but mostly because the driver didn’t really know what he was doing. It was also, contrary to public opinion, quite possible to get past him.

So we walked the kilometre or so back to my truck, and again set off. I’m not saying that it didn’t make my heart beat a little faster as I drove (skidded) past the stuck guy…but again, in light of the next day’s travels…piece of cake.

We arrived safe and sound at the waterfalls, but you’re going to have to wait for the rest of the story.  It’s late and I need to go home.  =)  So if you come back tomorrow (or maybe the next day) I’ll post the rest of the story…along with a few more pictures of our camping experience. But enjoy these pics for the time being. As you can tell…we had a good time!  Oh…and don’t look too closely at the swimming pictures.  You might notice that most of the guys are wearing the American Eagle boxers they got for Christmas.  Seems the guys didn’t want to get their swimming trunks wet and boxers were an acceptable alternative. 

I don’t try to explain these things people.  Anyhow…the pictures…

Stay tuned for more of the story and more pictures…