Five minutes into my morning run down the side of the steep caldera, a dozen donkeys ran past me. I heard a man shouting commands.
Then the light tap of a donkey whip on my right shoulder then left arm.
I turned.
“Problem” said the donkey driver waving his hand to show the path where I could pass the donkeys.
“May we run together a bit?” I asked.
“I will ride with your side” he said.
So with a dozen donkeys in front of me, 15 behind, one on my left and the wrangler on my right, we ran down the steps
After about 100 steps, I tapped the wrangler’s leg and raised my hand.
“Go ahead” I said (donkeys are fast downhill)
He kissed his right palm, patted the side of my head “Good donkey”
I patted the back of his hand, stood on the wall as they passed and continued my run.