"Yeah, thanks," I reply as I hold out the hat with the tips of my fingers. "The towel, too. I think it would defeat the purpose if I touched it now," I add with a soft laugh, although I do gratefully pluck the soap from the pile and start making my way down toward the river.

"You may be surprised to know that in over twenty years of being a botanist, this is the first time I have landed in a pile of shit." Hopefully I can go another 20 without it happening again.