on our way to a picnic

If you are a regular viewer of this blog, or have lived in Kurdistan, then the word picnic should conjure up images of cars parked at the side of the road, extended families and friends all dressed up in traditional clothing (sparkly sequined sherbet colored dresses and men in their baggy pants with cumberbunds) either preparing/eating or dancing in lines. This picnic was nothing like that. We loaded a truck with water, watermelon, chicken and, salad greens and beer and set off on our way. (Photo by Lesley).
The roads and trails were a little bumpy, but it was nostalgic for me (like being on the back roads of a small town on Vancouver island) to ride in the back of a truck. (Bottom 2 photos by Sarah).
And suddenly it was even more like Canada!On arrival near our picnic spot, we had to divide up all the groceries and cooking equipment and hike, clamber, slide down a treacherous trail (where there was a trail) to the spot where we would picnic. All of us were a little tired and a little terrified of how we would, with all the cooking gear, make our way back up. (The photo below shows the less treacherous and better-known trail that we took on the way back). Note that Lorene's uncle (the one to thank for the boar, carries his boar-hunting rifle).