The trip to the lake in the mountains

Buying supplies!

So Saul wanted to visit this lake higher up in the mountains, about a 3 hour hike. "Sure!" The cab driver of the day left us about where the trail started, fairly deep within the mountains.

This was no tourist route, but a rough and torn trail on which they transport the milk from the cows each day. - I must give it to them, it is a tricky path, and not altogether easy at this altitude. But we trudged on, and kept our eyes open for special orchid leafs on the sides.

Saul found an rare species of Orchid hanging from the tree

We ventured into river, up into trees, through fields of mud to find these 'treasures'! As we  closed in on the 3 hour mark, a valley emerged in front of us, with only cows grazing lazily along a small stream the snaked throw the beautiful valley, surrounded by the neighbouring mountains tops. - "So, Saul, where is your lake??" I asked.

The Missing Lake

Not completely devastated, as the view was indeed rewarding, we sat down to eat.

Me: "Hey Saul! I think I know what happened to your lake!"

"You see these cows down there, I think they drank all of your lake!"

Saul: "Yeah, I think you're right. That must be it, the only logical explanation and it totally makes sense!"

"So maybe if we go down there and poke them, the lake will return!" 

...were the kind of conversations that Stig turned a deaf ear to.

We started our return journey a while later. At the time when the rain-  that had been hanging in the air stared to come down real hard, we had lost Saul in the woods and thus sought shelter on our own. We did find a little roof on the side of the path not too far ahead, and were joined but a skinny little Peruvian who emerged from the down pour with only a piece of garbage bag to cover himself and his rucksack. He kindly invited us to some of his home made spirits. "For the cold!" We accepted, and were surprised by the good quality. He advices us to wait a little longer, so we sat down to listen to his story. As an owner of 5-6 cows, he ventured to the "lake" 2-3 times a week. "Oh yeah, the lake emerges during the raining period!" He answered us kindly. I knew I was right!! 

Our rain shelter

So we marched on a bit later, and arrived at the road just in time to take cover with other cow herder as the next down pour caught up with us. And as promised, another shot at the finish line!

Even though we did not see the lake, I was perfectly happy to trudge through this perfectly peaceful and idyllic landscape decorated with rolling pastures, animals and small family huts on the side of the road that guided you through the hills, off the side of the mountains to the lake that had already been drunken. - I was only missing the small hobbits and a tavern for this day dream to come true!