Where's Bill Ryan?

[778 neighbour of some guy]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
-------

Exploring a river canyon yesterday. In a rare accident, I slipped and bruised a rib, but it doesn't seem broken. The river goes quite a long way up the valley until it emerges on a high plateau. We turned round when it started to rain and thunder, aware of the possibility of a flash flood. More exploration to come.

.............

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=wiIH6gvXQGc

[ulli]

I woke up at around 3 AM with a terrible pain in the right side of my chest, and asked my husband where my gall bladder was. This morning the pain is still there, and he examined me no told me it was a pulled muscle between my ribs...I couldn't imagine where I would have pulled that muscle, but I guess it happened while gardening yesterday.
The weird part is that when I saw this report from you just now I was no longer surprised...this is not the first time I picked up someone else's cross...Marianne's loss of her cousin hit me hard, too..with all the grief and shock that accompanies a death...
Also, another Avalon friend with whom Im in touch via Skype only has to tell me about symptoms she is suffering and I manifest the same symptoms in myself instantly. I'm wondering if I should just ignore this or get more grounded, as I'm definitely becoming more sensitive with each passing month. Who knows where this will end. I'm becoming too identified with Avalonians.

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by ulli (here)
I woke up at around 3 AM with a terrible pain in the right side of my chest, and asked my husband where my gall bladder was. This morning the pain is still there, and he examined me no told me it was a pulled muscle between my ribs...I couldn't imagine where I would have pulled that muscle, but I guess it happened while gardening yesterday.
The weird part is that when I saw this report from you just now I was no longer surprised

Well, it's getting better rapidly!

Posted by Limor (here)
Bill, please take care, The place looks very peaceful and soothing, a very beautiful nature. If you please be so kind as to not cause yourself any harm, the 'keepers' will be ever so grateful, they say you gave them a full time job so far (luckily the wage is not that bad : )

A sincere well wishes for you,

And best of energies ~

limor

Made me laugh. My mother always used to tell me I had a whole flock of guardian angels, feathers flying, overworked, exhausted, and complaining.

Posted by Roisin (here)
In my neck of the woods, we call what you're doing in that photo Bill, "RIVER WALKING". Some of us do that in our fly fishing boots and others just don an old pair of sport shoes with enough traction on their soles to prevent slippage. That section that you're walking through in the photo though would call for 2 walking sticks to navigate it... that's for sure!

Nailed boots would be better still. And yes, two sticks are always best.

Posted by RMorgan (here)
Hey Bill,

Just an advice: Stay out of canyons during rainy seasons, even if the sky is clear.

Hi, Raf! Advice taken seriously. I do know what I'm doing, but I know all about what nature can suddenly do as well. There are plenty of trees to climb and steep ways out... but Mara the dog might have a little more trouble.

(I could just about fit her in my backpack, though, if needed. Some other time I should tell the story of the cat that climbed the Matterhorn... really!)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=3K_N2oWVfFs

PS: get yourself over here! We can then all go jungle-canyoning together.

[WhiteFeather]

Awesome Nature Is. Thanks for sharing Bill. Looks Blissful. Someday in the future when my youngest child of 5 hits 21, its off to South America myself for good. For now i have to take care of my youngest cub.

[RMorgan]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)

Hi, Raf! Advice taken seriously. I do know what I'm doing, but I know all about what nature can suddenly do as well. There are plenty of trees to climb and steep ways out... but Mara the dog might have a little more trouble.

(I could just about fit her in my backpack, though, if needed. Some other time I should tell the story of the cat that climbed the Matterhorn... really!)

PS: get yourself over here! We can then all go jungle-canyoning together.

That's a very cool place, Bill. It looks a lot like Brazil. The state I live in is also surrounded by beautiful mountains and a lot of water.

As a side note, you should do like the dog and cross the creek using 4x4 traction! It's much safer. It's always a good idea to lower your center of gravity in these situations.

All the best, my friend,

Raf.

[mojo]

thank you for sharing Bill. Any luck getting up to the site that you mentioned about the Bruha nearby? (think thats what you called them)

[johnf]

Any caiman,boa, tree anole footage?
This is an awesome thread.
Examples of the treasure the planet has.

jf

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by johnf (here)
Any caiman,boa, tree anole footage?
This is an awesome thread.
Examples of the treasure the planet has.

jf

The area here where I am feels very benign. No snakes, no spiders, not even a single mosquito. (Really.) Absolutely nothing at all that bites.

There are trout in the river, mice in the riverbank, squirrels in the forest, llamas and alpacas high above the treeline, bright-colored birds and hummingbirds in the trees. But no dramatic large creatures to be seen -- alas!

I really did see more wild animals in Britain. But, as all naturalists know, if you can catch sight of just 2% of what's watching YOU -- especially in thick forest -- you're doing well.

Here's the problem when it comes to wildlife-spotting...

Posted by mojo (here)
thank you for sharing Bill. Any luck getting up to the site that you mentioned about the Bruha nearby? (think thats what you called them)

Brujitas = "Little witches". No, not gone up there yet. Waiting for a dry cloudless night, and I'll go up there in Pandora (the faithful old jeep) with a sleeping bag, a good camera, binoculars, Mara the dog, and a couple of flasks of strong coffee.

[Operator]

Absolutely great pictures Bill. They remind me of my trip to Panama last summer. Also a great country with beautiful forests and mountains.
I absolutely love the rainforest on this planet ...

But every time when I see the title of this thread pop up it reminds me of "Where the hell is Matt" and then another
video of a silly birdie dance in the middle of nowhere ...

[RMorgan]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
I really did see more wild animals in Britain. But, as all naturalists know, if you can catch sight of just 2% of what's watching YOU -- especially in thick forest -- you're doing well.

Hey Bill,

Man, this is totally outstanding, right?

I mean, when you have the opportunity to sleep in the rain forest, you literally have the strongest feeling that you're being observed by a million eyes. It can be a little creepy and it's certainly overwhelming.

Here in Brazil, the biggest animals that we have to worry about are the "onças pintadas", call it jaguar or leopard, if you will. They rarely attack humans, but you have to be careful because it's impossible to spot them.

The trick is to pay attention to the sounds. The forest talks to you once you learn to listen.

You know you have something to worry about either when the forest's fauna starts to scream or when it becomes completely silent, which is even creepier.

Years ago, I was camping at Serra do Cipó, next to an amazing waterfall...We were getting ready to spend our third of forth night there when suddenly every single sound went mute. It was like twilight zone, really.

There was all that noise coming from all the bugs and animals, typical from a hot summer afternoon but in a split second everything went silent.

Well, all I know is that we didn't stay there to figure out what was happening. We just packed our stuff as fast as we could. It was the strongest "imminent danger" feeling I ever had...There's no way to describe it.

The natives tell that when the forest becomes silent, it's a sign of death, a sign that there are bad spirits around. When the forest suddenly gets too noisy, it's a sign that there's a dangerous natural predator around.

As a side note, have any of you noticed how some waterfalls have a very bad vibe? I mean, they're all beautiful, but some of them have this dense, almost nauseating energy, specially at night.

Anyway, we had camped several times next to that same waterfall after this incident, but thankfully we had never experienced it again...However, there's certainly something wrong about that waterfall.

If you guys have the chance, come visit Serra do Cipó...The place looks like it was cut and pasted from another planet. It's got an overwhelming inexplicable energy.

Anyway, here's my tip, Bill; Pay attention to the sounds. Your hearing is much more effective than your eyesight in such environments.

Raf.

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by RMorgan (here)

Hey Bill,

Man, this is totally outstanding, right?

I mean, when you have the opportunity to sleep in the rain forest, you literally have the strongest feeling that you're being observed by a million eyes. It can be a little creepy and it's certainly overwhelming.

Great post. Loved it!

And so true. Many years ago I walked back up to the rim from the floor of the Arizona Grand Canyon at night. (Much easier: not nearly so hot!) The trail was covered with scorpions, and there were a zillion frogs. It was a memorable hike, like climbing an upside-down mountain.

What I REALLY remember was looking at a large, bright pair of eyes that were looking at US from a high point above the trail, right above us. The eyes were all we could see. I remarked carefully to my friend:

"Those eyes are in the FRONT of its head, and are VERY wide apart......"

Who knows what it was: very possibly a Mountain Lion. We made a lot of noise, and the eyes disappeared. We reached the top many hours later without incident.

I've never camped out in the forest here, but I'd sure like to. I fully understand about the noises being the key to what's going on out there in the dark. And silence often means the presence of a predator. There are bound to be big cats there, and you'd never see them. In all my time in Africa, I only ever twice saw a leopard (once crossing a dirt road at night). But of course, they're everywhere.

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by Paul (here)
I am pleased to announce a new Moderator has joined the team

• Jeffrey, formerly known as Vivek and then Jeffrey Sewell-Holloway.

Jeffrey hails from North Dallas, the same as myself, but is currently visiting Bill and friends in Ecuador.

He is indeed.

Here are three fun photos: Jeff and I can [just!!] each be seen in the spindly, winding, tangled, Tolkienesque branches of the Cloud Forest (where we got totally lost for a while); and lastly there we are, slightly short of breath, at over 13,000 feet way up in the Andes.

(Right-click on the photos and select 'View Image' if you'd like to see them in larger format.)

[Flash]

oK, i envy both of you, I must admit, there is some jalousy here. The place looks astonishing truly.

[ulli]

Those high altitude cloud forests cannot be beaten when it comes to magical environments.

Joining Flash here with her sentiments.

It's time I plan a trek like that up our local volcano.

There is a forest like that before you get to the ash zone.

Who wants to come and join us?

[seehas]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)

Posted by ulli (here)
I woke up at around 3 AM with a terrible pain in the right side of my chest, and asked my husband where my gall bladder was. This morning the pain is still there, and he examined me no told me it was a pulled muscle between my ribs...I couldn't imagine where I would have pulled that muscle, but I guess it happened while gardening yesterday.
The weird part is that when I saw this report from you just now I was no longer surprised

Well, it's getting better rapidly!

Posted by Limor (here)
Bill, please take care, The place looks very peaceful and soothing, a very beautiful nature. If you please be so kind as to not cause yourself any harm, the 'keepers' will be ever so grateful, they say you gave them a full time job so far (luckily the wage is not that bad : )

A sincere well wishes for you,

And best of energies ~

limor

Made me laugh. My mother always used to tell me I had a whole flock of guardian angels, feathers flying, overworked, exhausted, and complaining.

Posted by Roisin (here)
In my neck of the woods, we call what you're doing in that photo Bill, "RIVER WALKING". Some of us do that in our fly fishing boots and others just don an old pair of sport shoes with enough traction on their soles to prevent slippage. That section that you're walking through in the photo though would call for 2 walking sticks to navigate it... that's for sure!

Nailed boots would be better still. And yes, two sticks are always best.

Posted by RMorgan (here)
Hey Bill,

Just an advice: Stay out of canyons during rainy seasons, even if the sky is clear.

Hi, Raf! Advice taken seriously. I do know what I'm doing, but I know all about what nature can suddenly do as well. There are plenty of trees to climb and steep ways out... but Mara the dog might have a little more trouble.

(I could just about fit her in my backpack, though, if needed. Some other time I should tell the story of the cat that climbed the Matterhorn... really!)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=3K_N2oWVfFs

PS: get yourself over here! We can then all go jungle-canyoning together.

haha that dog didn't liked the water its funny when they mess it up , thats a word bill i will be in ecuador in february and I'm planning to visit vilacabamba anyway

wow amazing pictures can't wait to go there

[4evrneo]

Bill,
Because I am becoming a lover of hiking, I will surely join you next time in a nice day hike in beautiful Ecuador. Enjoy!

[chocolate]

Posted by ulli (here)
Those high altitude cloud forests cannot be beaten when it comes to magical environments.

Joining Flash here with her sentiments.

It's time I plan a trek like that up our local volcano.

There is a forest like that before you get to the ash zone.

Who wants to come and join us?

I so do!!! But I am rather 'low weight' because I wear braces on my teeth and soon will disappear (I will become so thin that nobody will be able to see me especially in that nature). Joking partially.
But if I am assured I can get good coffee and some bread, I will manage.

When I see the forest I already feel pain in my body that I am so far away from this type of nature.
Bill, I understand better how you manage to keep your scope of view so broad in a place like that.

Now I have a sense of scale of how Vivek looks like, not just from his avatar pic. Two very cool looking people.

[ulli]

Posted by chocolate (here)

Posted by ulli (here)
Those high altitude cloud forests cannot be beaten when it comes to magical environments.

Joining Flash here with her sentiments.

It's time I plan a trek like that up our local volcano.

There is a forest like that before you get to the ash zone.

Who wants to come and join us?

I so do!!! But I am rather 'low weight' because I wear braces on my teeth and soon will disappear (I will become so thin that nobody will be able to see me especially in that nature). Joking partially.
But if I am assured I can get good coffee and some bread, I will manage.

When I see the forest I already feel pain in my body that I am so far away from this type of nature.
Bill, I understand better how you manage to keep your scope of view so broad in a place like that.

Now I have a sense of scale of how Vivek looks like, not just from his avatar pic. Two very cool looking people.

I can keep you alive with Costa Rican coffee, and ABC juices made from
Apples, Beetroot and Carrots...
oh and the occasional coconut water (called Pipa)
and avocados, none of it will bother your braces.

[jackovesk]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
-------

This 30-second video might raise a few smiles. ('Pandora' is the name of the ever-faithful, go-anywhere 4x4.)

Enjoy.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=-LdZN5XRFug

Yep, the 'English Cricket Team' need a new Driver...

Any aspirations Bill...

PS - That's the last time I'll mention the 'English Cricket Team'.

You've suffered enough, but they still need a new Driver...

[Nick Matkin]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)

That looks exactly like the west of Scotland; thick scrubby grass growing into a shallow lake, cloud floating around a treeless mountain, no sunshine...

Are you sure you weren't in Scotland for that photo?

Nick