Do you guys remember me promising to post about something I saw on the top of the small rock that boarders my birding patch? I'm keeping my promise, and you are gonna hear the full story.
When I asked around for a trail to climb that rock up, I was told of two different trails, well apart from each other. So I just picked one of them. I set off from home about 6:30 A.M. , walking towards the base of the rock, passing housing schemes and a troop of Dusky Toque Monkeys performing acrobatics on power cables and roof tops.
The climb was pretty steep from the very begging, but there was a decent layer of soil on the rock and enough trees to hang on to. But after a few yards the trees thinned out and I hit sheer granite rock. There were pygmied trees, shrubs and tall grass with razor-sharp blades, scattered over the rock where there was room on it to hold some soil. I somehow hanged on to them, and pulled my self up bit by bit, realizing what a eight-hours-a- day sedentary job can do to your body!
After much puffing,sweating, and getting scratched, I came upon a very small cave, the rock face covered with soil and small trees beyond that all the way to the top. As the sun was literally unbearable then, I squeezed in to the cave and rested a moment, and took this picture.
The rest of the climb was not so bad, and I passed another small cave and fairly big trees.
But I was pretty hacked as I neared the top, but there was excitement and anticipation for I knew what awaited beyond the other side of the rock could make it up to me, and I realized I was right when I saw this!
I could have gazed at that crystal lake, sitting comfortably on the rock, for hours, but had taken far too longer than anticipated, so I reluctantly turned back. Obviously I took the other trail for the descend, which proved to be far easier! It was 11:30 when I finally landed on ground, and I was barely able to drag myself for a cold drink! I saw numerous butterflies,dragonflies, birds including the most stunning bird of prey that I ever saw, and Dusky Toque Monkeys. But I was too busy with my hands at all these encounters, so no photos! :-(