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We were up at 7am today - the intrepid half of our group had already set off for a hard trek to the pinnacles. We chose to do the trek that was in our itinerary and follow the kerangas trail. This entailed a gentle half day walk through the jungle in search of the carnivorous pitcher plants that are only found in this area. The main excitement en route (if that's the correct term to describe it) was the high risk of leeches in that area. We were all dressed a bit like Compo in Last of the Summer Wine, with trousers tucked into socks. Not attractive but better than getting leeches in your socks or worse still your knickers!! I was the first to get a leech on my hand - I tried to shake it off but they are pretty tenacious and it took several attempts to be rid of it. As time went on we all had at least one trying to inch into our boots. We could see them on the ground like a little bendy matchstick waving around in the air trying to scent us. They move a bit like a slinky toy and can zip along quite fast when they want to. Other delights were numerous bugs including fire ants that we were careful to avoid disturbing. All of these hazards have an inhibiting effect on your bladder as the idea of having to hover over the ground with all these potential attackers is enough to make you wait till you return to the relative luxury of camp. Our mission to find the pitcher plants was successful - unfortunately it was the wrong season for the rare orchids that also grow in this area, but overall a pleasant morning. Given the subsequent events we were also relieved that we hadn't attempted the alternative trek. Safely back at camp for lunch, it was at this point that the weather turned and the heavens opened. Our plans for a swim in the river ended up being an afternoon siesta instead. The rest of our group were not so lucky. The most experienced person made it back soaking wet with cuts and bruises in mid afternoon. The second guy didn't make it to the top and arrived back around an hour later. The 2 sisters in our group didn't make it back till around 5 pm, some 11 hours after they set off. These are all experienced hikers but all said it was the hardest thing they had ever done. At the camp that evening we saw a Horny Toad - this isn't a reference to his level if excitement or a double entendre about Jon. A similar routine of rice dinner and early bed followed, ready for another jungle adventure the next day.
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