Walking in the River (Columbia January 2022)

 Experience from a visit to Colombia, about 100 km outside of Bogota.

We were walking up the river to a waterfall with a local guide. After a slow descent along the many paths down to the bottom of the valley, we nearly got lost in the dense vegetation. But we could always hear the rushing of the water.

There it was, milky Grey, curving through the valley. The water finding its way through the shiny black shale rocks. Bamboo growing tall at the banks. 

Sometimes we could walk on the loose pieces of shale. Sometimes we had to step through the water. Carefully feeling with the feet for solid ground. The banks became steep with tall trees growing towards the light.

Leaves tumbling down in the cool air, landing on the rushing water, carried away like little boats. After a short journey, finding a still place to rest. 

They give their lifeforce to the water until a yellow skeleton is left on the black shale. As we splash further following the undulating flow there are patches of Sulphur smell in the air.

White calcite marks the little springs of Sulphur rich water seeping out of the black soil. Mother earth, deep and moist, releases this scent of ancient life. 

The banks close in and the water gets deep. Slowly we wade through, never knowing how deep it really gets. Maybe to the knees, maybe deeper than the thighs, up to the breast, do we have to swim. Will the rushing river carry us away? There are caves at the bottom of the bank. This is where the bats are hiding. Water is dripping down; the mother is at its juiciest. Rushing, undulating, dripping wet.

Then it opens again. Black polished rocks invite us to rest before the next narrow passage. One must climb up a fallen trunk to get to the waterfall. Great fun for some of us.

I stay behind to enjoy this very special place. Laying on the rock, watching the leaves falling and the bright blue butterflies flying to a sunny patch.

I experience the river like a giant snake of life. I am still far away from the head, but I feel it's energy of life. I can see life in the soil and in the air.