TWO HAPPY CAMPERS

Cascada el Aguacate to Cascada Minas Viejas, San Luis Potosi //

We have one objective this morning before packing up and heading to the next waterfall and that is to head back down to the canyon floor and go for a swim.  This is the perk of being allowed to camp in the parking lot of such a place.  We’re able to enjoy it all for ourselves before the day’s visitors begin to arrive.  It’s hardly swimming weather but Mark and I have come to appreciate cold water.  By the time we take the 175 stairs down to the base of the falls, swim, and then climb back up to the truck, we’re feeling energized and excited for the day ahead.  

A narrow dirt road weaves us through an endless string of sugar cane fields for 27 miles before arriving at the turn for our next destination.  As we turn we see that the sugar cane field lining the road is currently being set on fire.  Two-story tall flames erupt from the field and produce smoke so thick and hot that we can’t see down the road.  Our map shows another road that will get us there, less than a mile to the north.  We get about half way down that road before coming up on another burning field.  Mark and Adam put the trucks in reverse, quickly backing up before the flames get any closer.  

Now cut off from both options, we’re not sure what to do.  Heather suggests returning to the first road to see if that field is done burning.  We arrive back to where we started, a mere fifteen minutes has passed, and sure enough there are no flames remaining, there’s not even a sign of smoke.  The burning and harvesting of the sugar cane fields has been a fascinating thing to witness over the last week.

When we arrive at the entrance of Cascada Minas Viejas Adam takes the lead on communicating with the host to figure out our camping options.  We pay 300 pesos for each truck to park overnight ($15 US) and are pointed to the end of the road.  So far there’s no waterfall to be seen, just a tunnel of thick trees that eventually opens up to a small parking area designated by white spray painted lines in the dirt.  Due to the size of our trucks we take up three of the six small parking spaces and are glad we’re here on a weekday.  These could be cramped living quarters if we were sharing them with the rush of weekend visitors.

A series of stone paths take us through the trees and towards the falls.  Our first glimpse of water is a shock to our eyes, turquoise so bright our brains immediately question if it’s real.  We soon reach the water’s edge where one of the most breathtaking views we’ve ever laid eyes on reveals itself.  The turquoise water is framed by two majestic cascading waterfalls.  I feel as though I’m looking at a photo with color that has been heavily manipulated.  The beauty of it all is enough to take your breath away.  We walk every path, and cross every bridge, taking photos from every possible angle as if beauty this rich can be captured.  Though we know no form of media will ever be able to convey what it feels like to be standing right here right now.  

We eventually make our way back to the trucks for dinner.  While we can still hear the falls, I feel like what we just saw was a figment of my imagination.  Our campsite itself is nothing special, but with access to eden, it feels like $15 well spent.

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