MAGICAL AND MYSTICAL– WHAT A WAY TO START THE DAY!
It is chilly in the camper when we wake up. The clock isn’t working (but the thermometer is and it reads 13’C, about 55’ F – chilly enough!) so we don’t know what time it actually is but the sky is light even though the sun isn’t yet shining in the deep valley. The hot springs are steaming and beckoning, so we brave our cold damp suits and head down for an early morning soak. One young man from the big camp is on the trail ahead of us, otherwise the camp is quiet. He disappears on a trail beyond the pools we were in last night. Wonder if there are more pools beyond…we’ll have to investigate that trail NEXT time!
The seepage on the side path is considerably more than the evening before and we have to step carefully to keep from sinking in. As we start down the boulders, Julia’s foot slips on the damp sand and she lands hard, smashing her leg into a rock. Her shin has a bad scrape and deep bruise showing up immediately and where part of a toenail is broken off is starting to bleed. What a way to start the day! She insists on continuing on down to the pools, wanting to experience the misty pools in the early morning light. Not sure of the effect of the hot water, she lays back into the pool, elevating her foot, and finally submersing it once the bleeding subsides. The hot water feels good and seems to help. Despite the injury, we enjoy our soak. The pools are peaceful and steamy in the early morning light and chill.

We enjoy watching the sun getting higher in the sky and filling the valley. A cute little family joins us and we have a fun conversation with one of little boys who is quite friendly and stays to visit with us while his family explores other pools. They are from Moro Bay, California, and have experienced these hot springs on a previous trip.
The hike back to the bus is a challenge but the injuries are minimal. The toe is throbbing and starts bleeding again, but once cleaned, taped and elevated it stops. We are in no hurry to break camp. It is peaceful with the sounds of the river and gurgling of the water seeping out of the hillside. The family from Moro Bay stops by on their way out, curious about the camper. They ‘ooh and aah’ and chat with us while we take down and store the tent, sharing with us about some of their earlier VW connections…everyone loves Volkswagens and almost everyone has a story of some kind!