Today I decided to go for a little stroll on a jungle track, I'd heard there was a cave there. The trails here are often marked with pink ribbons tied to the trees, so I went a little further than I should have wearing just sandals on my feet, no water or anything. Unfortunately I lost the trail, and the hash house harriers mark their trails and dead ends with pink ribbon too, so lots of back tracking and going in circles, but I was completely lost. I decided to follow the ocean sounds as I had started at the blowholes which make enough noise. So I scrambled down a steep rocky hill to discover I was on the edge of a cliff. But under the trees near the cliff edge I met this little guy.
I backtracked again, found a walking trail, then a 4wd track. No mobile phone reception the whole time. Followed the track and it got dark, walked two hours in the dark, dehydrated and sad. The rain didn't help either. I knew the track was seldom used, so just had to keep going. Finally got phone reception, called some colleagues who called police who called national parks who knew the track and knew the only place on the track with phone reception. Police eventually collected me, took me to hospital to be checked out. Gastrolytes administered, betadine on cuts and scrapes and home for a shower.
But at least I met this baby booby bird.
Oh gosh! What an adventure. Lucky you didn't come to too much harm. But you did well to salvage your bad day with this brilliant capture. Very cute shot; love all that fluff.
Best thing about mistakes is the lesson learnt. Such a gorgeous pic. I'd seriously love to make a joke about Boobies but I'd better not ... too many years working with guys... :)
@notliz A male friend was asking me about the different birds on the island and said "what do boobies look like" I was unable to respond, just looked at him with a raised eyebrow, he took a moment to realise what he had said
You poor little guy! Just be thankful you didn't have that nutter Bear Grylls with you...he'd have had you drinking his urine and eating bat guano within 10-mins of you leaving the beaten track! Thanks for remembering to SMS me while awaiting your rescue, too...I hope you didn't feel too mocked, I really was quite concerned :-]
@brizmako I didn't sense any mocking, I sms'd you to be cheered up and was not disappointed. I too am glad Bear Grylls was not there, but if I had to go survivalist the robber crabs would have been far more appetising.
I was counting on you to comment on the alliterative title of this photo.
I think I have disappointed people by being so calm about it all. I have studied the maps of the island enough to know the general area the track was and that if I managed to walk long enough I'd get to a road and help. The police told me I was well outside a search sphere if they had needed a search. They also told me a German tourist disappeared a couple of years ago, never to be seen again, that was in the lecture to tell someone where I am going, apparently he did not and it was days before anyone figured he was missing.
@lbmcshutter I don't know if robber crab would be enhanced any if boiled in Bear Grylls' urine. As for the German tourist story, did you hear his ghost as you passed by that billabong while going waltzing matilda? Perhaps he jumped a return boat trip to Indonesia? ;)
I didn't notice the alliteration - was too intent on reading the story, but a big retrospective bravo to you! 8-D
PS: Just read your story as well. Oh my, you were lucky to get out of that relatively unharmed, sounds quite scary... I mean I hiked in the dark as well because we missed the last gondola down and I was really, really scared but at least I wasn't alone. You brave girl!
Oh my word - glad the dark and the cliff edge parts didn't coincide. This gorgeous bird looks rather sorry for you. I can't believe you weren't panicking and crying hysterically - I get lost with the dog occasionally but getting lost in England doesn't really count unless you're actually up a mountain.
What a story... You must have been frightened. Your chance meeting with this lovely little one must have been the only high point. Glad things resolved for the better!
Wow...what a story!!! I thought my trek through the almost dark woods was scary, but nothing compared to this! Glad you made it out alive! So now you have an incredible story to tell and a wee baby boobie to show for it.
Thanks for the link to Megan's story Judith! @judithg
so bright eyed and fluffy
how lucky
what a story.
take a friend along next time. K.
I feel little embarrassed now
I was counting on you to comment on the alliterative title of this photo.
I think I have disappointed people by being so calm about it all. I have studied the maps of the island enough to know the general area the track was and that if I managed to walk long enough I'd get to a road and help. The police told me I was well outside a search sphere if they had needed a search. They also told me a German tourist disappeared a couple of years ago, never to be seen again, that was in the lecture to tell someone where I am going, apparently he did not and it was days before anyone figured he was missing.
I didn't notice the alliteration - was too intent on reading the story, but a big retrospective bravo to you! 8-D
glad you're OK & great shot!
Thanks for the link to Megan's story Judith! @judithg
@judithg thanks Judith for passing along my sorry tale! It was quite funny for me reading it again