Mother's Day

We went for Orienteering (that's 'map & compass' in non-outdoors-speak) in the forest outside the city. Chris had a meeting so he wasn't there, but we had fun anyway. After a minor misunderstanding about the starting point (in place of Kostas - the leader - we found a large group of Russians BBQing and drinking Jack Daniels while playing football (note this is 11 am). Although it was tempting to join them, we persevered in our search and finally found the right spot.

Kosta set us all up with maps and compasses and some quick training in how to orient yourself, set the compass, and punch the card with the nifty stapler-type thing to be found at each point.



Then, after some discussion (there has to be discussion!) about who would go where first, we split into 2 groups. There were various degrees of difficulty and we didn't really think the 3.5 km Intermediate route was the best choice for the toddlers, so us Mommies opted instead for the 1 k version (the first 2 points were actually even visible from the base, so we had it pretty easy...). 

Although, the good thing about little people is that if they start wingeing too much about pricklies, you can always put 'em up on your shoulders for a bit. Also they are easily bribed by hike-friendly food such as bananas, crackers and juice - and they can't manage (don't forget to whine as you say this) "are we there yet"- at least not in any recogniseable form! So me & Joji stayed with Daria, Nefeli and Maia. Helen had hurt her leg doing an arabesque out of the shower the other day, so she had honorary toddler-status for the day and came with us.
We found the first two points and then stopped for a brief picnic, when Kosta came down from the base to re-train us on setting the compass (we would have gone off in the wrong direction, so it was a good thing he was keeping an eye out for us...)

Nefeli was in charge of punching the card - she did a great job!


Joji and Maia debate the merits of crackers vs. juice...






Joji practising his orienteering skills on a non-fixed point in the landscape...

Most of the big kids and the non-toddler-age parents went off into the woods, well-armed with compasses and mosquito repellent. They made it halfway through the map before being driven back to base by the downpour. (Those of us in the baby group had spent the rainy season comfortably sheltered under a handy kiosk, eating walnuts and chatting about parenting difficulties.) Now before you begin to think oh, how easy you had it, and those poor kids got soaked, please keep in mind that Joji weighs 12 kg (26 lbs.) and the hip-pack that I had containing snack, water, camera, first aid kit, and extra clothing for him weighed another 7 kg (15 lbs) so my hike up and down the hill, short though it may have been, wasn't exactly a 'lighter than air" experience. More like a trip through the forest with a sand bag tied around my waist and a slightly-squirmy monkey in my sling. (I'm not complaining, just trying to set some perspective...) And although we got under the shelter when it first began to pour, the initial half-hour was a non-stop game of tag with Joji as I tried to keep him under the roof and he ran out to splash in the puddle. Then he was exhausted and fell asleep in my arms, so the last half-hour I was standing and doing the mommy-rock until everyone came back to get their souvenir t-shirts. All this made it into a truly 'Mother-ish' mother's day - wouldn't have traded it for anything!! We ended the day with sunshine, at a taverna with lots of good food, ice cream, and craziness. A great time, lots of fresh air, and good company...