 This is my neighbor, Julie. Not Jugee--but Julie. I broke her arm this day. Well, I suppose I didn't break it, but it got broke. And I (being the wonderful ER nurse I am, with x-ray vision) told her it was likely just a sprain and to "watch it" for the next couple days. Whoops. Everything worked out in the end (for me anyway) and she didn't end up with necrotic bones like the doctor teased me could happen. You see, hiking in Kauai is quite a bit different than hiking anywhere else. First of all, it rains. A lot. Like, almost every day. And when it's not raining, it has been for the past week. Which makes it gorgeous! --but muddy. And it isn't just any mud. It's this red clay-like mud that covers the bouldery trails and feels exactly like butter under your feet when the conditions are poor--which, as I mentioned, is just about every day. That doesn't stop me though. And I don't even care that I'm donating my 300 dollar hiking boots to breathtaking views and stunning vistas. I may need to rethink taking people with me though... Jugee and I decided yesterday that it would be a good idea to do the Alaki Swamp Trail up in Kokee Park. I knew it would be muddy, but the guidebook promised a boardwalk to protect us from the slippery mud. What it didn't say is that you have to hike 2 miles in to get to the boardwalk--in the mud. It was completely overcast and though we knew there were beautiful views all around us, the fog was so thick, it made it impossible to see anything off the trail.  After slipping and sliding all the way up and down the rocky trail for quite some time, the clouds parted, just as we came upon the most amazing view. As it came visible, the man in front of us yelled, "Welcome to Jurassic Park!" to which we all had a good laugh. After quickly snapping a couple pictures, it was gone--just as quickly as it had come, and never to be seen again...not for the rest of the day anyway.    It all went downhill after that. The views were completely blanketed in that thick fog and the trail got reeeally tricky. My boots were taking it like a champ, but Jugee quickly discovered that her tennies had zero traction. That's when she got this little beauty:  Just like the views, the camera doesn't do it justice (and it's even better today). We managed to enjoy the rest of the hike, though, and Jugee even got to bust out her poncho which was probably the highlight of the trip. After hiking all the way out on her sore leg, we surveyed the damage.   So if you don't want to come out with broken bones or covered in mud, bruises, and scrapes, maybe you should pass the next time I ask you to climb a mountain. But it sure makes for some good stories.... |
