Caving shoes
Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at 10:09AM John and I have been in the cave for approximately 30 minutes. We are just beginning to get into the deeper regions (aka bowels, for the more dramatically inclined) of the cave. Our group (expeditionary force / fellowship consists of John and I (the heroes), A guide (think gollum only taller and malagasy) and our driver (no we did not drive into the cave, he drove us from majunga) and our ride-along mechanic (cars here are just that good) A musty, mildewy smell permeates the air. Water drips down from gigantic stalagtites (or are those stalagmites?). Small cramped rooms open to gigantic cathedral like chambers that end in small, low, doorways that lead to medium-sized hallways of darkness (and doom). Guide: "We should turn back. It's getting muddy." Shawn and John: "Rur? who cares? Guides shouldn't be afraid of mud!" Driver and driver's nooby friend: "Eww muddy." Uhg. We turn back to explore another, perhaps less muddy passage. John and I start joking around and pay little attention to our companions. After 15 minutes or so, I notice that our driver is decidedly scarred. The word lost is starting to be thrown around a little to frequently. John and I are not too concerned, after all, who hasn't gone into a cave and not gotten turned around a few times? After a few more false starts and dead ends our driver notices a stalagmite that he ignorantly knocked over on the way in. He gets his bearings and correctly points us out of the cave. Good work.... DRIVER! Our guide stays quite for the rest of the journey. That was day one.
On day two, our guide brings along his brother who supposedly is the "actual cave guide." I mention to our guide that when we hired him there was no talk of him being the "amateur, brother of the actual guide." Because, knowing that we certainly would have demanded a better price. Fake guide is unimpressed by my "arguments." Anyway, in we go. For today's quest, I ask to be taken to the underground river which I had heard about. A Baptist missionary in majunga had told me that the best caving was past this river- deep down in the land of Mordor. Our driver refused to go back into the cave on account of still being scarred from the previous day's slight misadventure. The "real guide" tells me that the river is way down in the cave, past a "worm hole" 10 meters long. "Sounds great," I say. "You're not afraid?" he asks. Quite the adventurer this guy is.
After maybe an hour and a half we reach the "worm hole." The guy must have left his tape measure at home last time he was here because by my count the hole was 1 meter long, not 10... but whatever. "Ok, let's get in the water" I say. "No no, I'm not going in there." He says. "Why? Is it dangerous? Are there monsters / animals (same word in gasy)in there?" "Yes, there are fish." "Man eating fish?" "No, just fish." "Right, well, we're going in." "Ok, we'll wait here." After a fun little 15 minutes spent apprehensively frolicking in the very dark, underground river (which is stagnant this time of year) and tiptoeing on very very sharp stones through the shallow parts, we decide to go get the guide and continue down into the cave. "Ok, lets cross over to the other side" I say. "Nope, I told you that I'm not getting in the water" he says. "I thought you meant you didn't want to swim. How are you going to lead us farther into the cave if you want cross over." "I'm not crossing over" he repeats. John and I consider going on without him but decide that we've had enough of the damp darkness for the time being and reluctantly climb back out of the water.
Our quest complete (enough), we return to the surface. Later, we vanquished a hobbit and called it a day. And that was the climax of my trip with John. The rest of the time was spent on other adventures which, while quite enjoyable, exciting and haroing, would be boring to read about.
Reader Comments (2)
It seems to me that your Malagasy cave guides need a refresher course at your local spilunking school. Oh well, you and John had a fabulous time together, I'm sure. You two are sure to make each other laugh!
Love,
Mom