Oops! My mistake! There was one stop left. This one is in a large field next to camping trailers, our first contact with civilization in eight days.
First, we had to finish our journey. We ran the last section of the river under nice weather. Mind you, we had to paddle an additional 21-22 kilometres, but under clear sunny skies, that was easy. Our youngsters have become more self-sufficient to the point they can now handle the loading and navigation without help.
As we made good time, we stopped for lunch in the shade and took a swim to cool off on this cloudless day.
It was near a bridge that the team pulled up on the shore for the last time. The only thing left was to carry the equipment over some 200 metres to a clearing, site of a former logging camp. For the first time during this expedition, the adventurers welcomed their mosquito nets.
As we were nearing the end of our outdoor trip, the organizers reviewed the highlights of the adventure and asked each participant to summarize their journey in one word. Obviously, everyone found the adventure enriching and will walk away with precious memories that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
There is still more than one day to go, but the members of the expedition have mixed emotions following this intense and unique group experience.