Reality Check or Don't Complain About How Sore Your Legs Are

We slept in. Until 6:00. Dusty could barely move the night before, but was now able to get out of bed without help. Coffee made getting up a necessity.

We passed by the pool and garden area on the way to breakfast and Dusty was quite busy with her binoculars checking out the hummingbirds flitting around the area.

Having learned that we were getting fed generous meals we opted for fruit, yogurt, carrot bread, and a half order of Eggs Benedict.

After hiking back to our room from breakfast we decided that I should take the trail through he orchid gardens and Dusty would save her steps for later.

The trail into the forest started right behind our room. From the map I had seen it should eventually join the path through their orchids. So I set off with my camera and hoped to see something interesting.

A little bird here and there with chirping everywhere. Eventually I did find their path through the woods with low stone walls and orchid plants all over. Most were not in bloom, but those that were made up for it.

As I worked my way towards the Urubamba River I saw raised beds with produce being grown for their restaurant. The trail paralleled the river and railroad tracks. Through the forest growth I saw a distinctive outline I recognized from Costa Rica. A large bird with a two long tail feathers ending with a round disc. A motmot!

I already had my long lens on the camera and was ready to take my insurance shot before setting up a better one. I’d rather have one sucky shot than waste time setting up as the bird flies away. Now I could stalk my shot. Move around for better angles, better light, better framing through the leaves and vines. I crept off the trail near a steep drop off above the train tracks and set my feet carefully before taking better shots. I was close enough to put on the flash to make up for the shadow under the canopy. Then a few shots with the iPhone as a backup and to share.

One more bird on the way back that looked like a currasow and all I got was a lousy insurance shot into the sun. Such is life.

I showed the pictures to Dusty back at the room and she said she was happy for me. She had seen her first keeper the evening before and this was my turn.

We packed our bags and had them sent to the train station to be be put onboard the Hiram Bingham train for our journey back to Cusco.

We made our way to the bus stop in Aguas Calientes by way of our the market. A classic setup of row upon row of little stalls locals were opening for the day and trying to get our attention with bright woven goods, stuffed alpaca dolls, and tons of tourist stuff.

When we crossed the bridge over the stream to the bus stop there was a line of people over fifty yards long with three busses already loading and more arriving every few minutes. In line we passed shop after shop trying to entice us to come in and spend a few minutes and a few Peruvian Soles. I must admit there was some temptation and in the future I hope to be able to slow down and sample a bit of everything. After stamping our Machu Picchu entrance permits and scanning our bus passes we were on our way back up the mountain.

Dusty was still sore and I was happy to have the help of a loaned hiking pole when our self pity was shoved into our faces. A man in his wheelchair was passing us as we waited in line at the entrance to the site.

We entered and moved slowly toward the first set of stone steps descending into one of the four routes and caught up with the man we had seen earlier. He lifted himself from his chair like a gymnast on parallel bars and sat at the top of the steps. He pushed his limp legs over the edge and pressed himself up, over, and down to the next step. He repeated this procedure another dozen times and worked his way back into the chair that rangers had carried down.

When we saw him and his wife slightly further on she was taking his picture. As I had with many other visitors I offered to take their picture together. He was from Canada and she was from Russia. We spoke briefly and went on with our respective journeys.

Dusty elected to sit under a thatched shelter with some others and chat while I revisited the Temple of the Sun and Casa del Inca again.

After playing mountain goat for awhile I came back to sit with Dusty in the shade and watched the pros bouncing around the ruins that were there home.