Talk about jinxed
We camped at croc rocks and were greeted by a sad looking Bola who had been flooging this spot for a week with a bong gentleman for the last week without success.
The heat was so bad that we could not fish past 10am and before 5 pm.
There were some very big fish working out at the gym near the other bank and they gave us sleepless afternoons, but as hard as we tried, they would have nothing to do with our offerings.
I had hoped that the rains we had the week before would bring fresh water into the river, but evidently the rain wasn't enough. There was little or no water in the rapids, and people had been flogging croc rocks continously. Probably scared the fish into "keep your mouth shut " posture.
Even tried a little rain dance to liven things up.
We did get a few small mahseer at night, and a few cats that made it to the pot. The tilapia however were very obliging and made no fuss at all.
The elephants, some big langur and deer on the far bank kept out of sight but let us know of their presence. A big croc took to cruising the deep pool in front of us twice a day, and even gave the bathing buffaloes the eye, but i guess it was just too hot for anyone to stir up trouble, so the afternoon burned on while we keept an eye on everything.
Well Jude kept an eye on everything i should say.
We did get a few good pix, and one that i am waiting to get developed, is that of the "Dhoombi". It is a black bee not unlike a bumble bee, and i was finally able to photograph it sitting on a bush with its wings outstretched.
There is a story attached to this bee, and those who have read "Somewhere down the crazy river" will recall Bola relating how this bee while in the throes of mating, would often fall into the river only to be gobbled up by a hungry mahseer. The mahseer would be very dead in a short while, as this bee worked its way out of its flesh through a hole that it made, and away into the sky it would fly to freedom.
Such are the ways of the wild.
The trip had its moments especially late at night, when i could hear Jude and his friend Gavin whispering " Hey! we are sleeping just 5 feet from the water, what if that croc were to come up and grab our legs and pull us in"
Noooo maaan! says Jude the slope is too steep for the croc to climb. Shortly after that i heard them rustling around and shifting their sleeping bags behind me, ensuring that i was between them and the water.
Jude and the Blond Bombshell!
Baby Kudhree Mahseer
The trail of the big croc!
Tilapia
Sundown on the far bank!
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Another small Kudhree
Judes borrowed feathers
Rain Dance!