Pictures of Alpha Five in Santa Rosa

Hi again everyone

It feels like both ages and only yesterday that I deployed with Alpha five at the start of phase three! In fact it feels like that for the whole expedition - only ten days to go now until everyone starts returning home, and what an amazing journey it has been.

I had an absolutely amazing 12 days in Santa Rosa - it is an incredible place and the group is amazing - I was very, very sad to have to leave yesterday to head back to Fieldbase. I know the guys here have been keeping you up to date with what we’ve been doing so I’ll dive straight into the photos...

Olivia carrying our water cans to the camp

Floor and Nick carrying more kit...

The group starting to put the camp together

"Hmmm, so how do these basher beds work then?"

A very tired, but happy Alpha five in their finished camp...

After this we put up our mosquito nets, but decided to brave the elements without tarps over our bashers. Fortunately it's very dry in Santa Rosa so we didn't need to worry abour rain, but the best bit was falling asleep every night under a carpet of stars and waking up to the sun coming up through the trees in the morning... (The view in the morning from my basher)

One of our neighbours, the white-faced Capuchin Monkeys who swang, climbed, ran and jumped their way through our camp every day

The group at the grand opening of BarTico (a highlight in the Santa Rosa social calendar!)

Amy, Mark, Olivia and Davis getting started on the demolition...

Floor, Sophie, Rose and Tish carrying the rubble from the demolised BBQs

Amy and James made easy work of this one...

Floor, Sophie and Isaac demolising another BBQ

The group tuning into Radio Raleigh last Sunday

Here is a selection of our group photo shots taken for the magazine up at the stunning viewpoint...

The group toasting marshmallows when we went stargazing at the viewpoint

Sunrise at the viewpoint

Davis, Isaac, Mark and Rose relaxing after the 13km trek to the beach

A deserted Playa Naranjo, with the magnificent Witch's Rock in the background, which legend has it was deposited there by an angry witch many years ago. The beach is now a legendary surfing spot famous for its hollow right handers (James and I were both very upset not to have our surfboards with us!)

Nick, Floor, Isaac, Rose and Me watching the sun go down Watching the sunset, the perfect end to an amazing day

As you can see, Santa Rosa is truly a magical place, even though I know I’m probably a tiny bit biased! I spoke to Laura just now and she said the group are back into the swing of work already. I'm missing them very much already but I know they’ve got many, more fun times to come in their final week.