The runway had just been mown when we arrived at Manu Aerodrome

Day 6 April 27th 2006

After checking my metatarsal to make sure I was fit to fly back we got in the boat to take a trip along the river Manu in the dark.
It was a real 'Heart of Darkness' experience with thick mist adding to the gloom and a pilot posted at the front of the boat to spot floating trees that could put us all in the water.
We arrived at the airstrip to find that, not surprisingly, the plane had not left Cusco yet.
It was time to go back to Boca Manu, fifteen minutes away, for the others to have a beer and me to enjoy another out of date Twix and a Coca-Cola.
I tried to teach a captive Parrot to swear in Quechua and soaked up my last few minutes of the jungle.
We got a message over the shortwave radio after about an hour, to tell us that the plane was on it's way so we went back to the airstrip.
A few moments after we arrived, the Twin Otter landed, turned round and we started to board.
A Peruvian Group 42 Air Force Service Flight, the plane was basic but the flight was great as we took off over the seemingly never ending jungle and rose towards the Andes.
We kept rising, flipped over the mountain range and followed the Puno road into Cusco, then descended a little and landed in the sunshine.
I collected my backpack and met up with the chap from Atalaya who had a combi waiting for us.
As I sat ready to go back into Cusco a taxi pulled up and Esther, Salvador and Simone got out, it was lovely to see them and a real surprise.
They joined all of us in the combi and we started relating our tales from the jungle.
Aching all over from the football match, I limped into the cafe and then went home for a well deserved and delicious bath.