09F 10 Weekers Last Days of Phase One

Today an eerie quiet has settled, disturbed only by the plinking of the rain on the roof and the purr of the Radio. For the first time in over a month there are no PMs or venturers lounging on the porch or listening in rapt attention as Ross and Julian deliver yet another training session (zzzz…). After waving goodbye to the 5 Weekers, Ross became pupil and learnt how to make proper pancakes (a la Raquelle) for the traditional Fieldbase commiseration (celebration?) breakfast held after project deployment. With just three days left of the 10 weeker’s phase one, the tranquil mood is unlikely to last long!

This morning Alpha 1 woke up at Cerro Cacao Ranger Station and summited Cerro Cacao. Unfortunately, it was shrouded in cloud! This is the second of the peaks (the other being Rincon de La Vieja) they have conquered, and the second to fail to reveal its stunning views to them. No fear, Alpha 1 still have smiles on their (now grubby) faces and are continuing their march to Maritza Ranger Station. Tomorrow they will walk the last day of the Guanacaste Trek to Playa Junquillal – no less than 35k!

Alpha 1
Alpha 1 Trekking

Alpha 2 walked up Volcan Cosiguina and watched the sun go down at the volcano crater – a spectacular sight with views of El Salvador, Honduras and the Maribios chain of volcanoes behind them including the stunning Volcan San Cristobal. - Sorry no photos currently but watch this space - Bravo 3 (including photographer Guy) are currently trekking with them and will bring back lots!

Alpha 3 have been digging hundreds of metres of trenches, built captation tanks for water and started both laying and hanging tubes that will carry the water. This afternoon they are taking a walk into Achuapa to visit the Cooperative, Raleigh’s Project Partner.

Alpha 3 revelling in the mud while digging trenches

Alpha 4 have completed the foundations to the Community Centre/Musuem! To do this they have made cement and adobe using a 50/50 mix of dirt and ‘Old Man’s Beard’, a tree native to the Miraflor Nature Reserve. In addition they had a cow milking competition yesterday with the following results:

5^th – Zoe 1m:50s
4^th – Tom Culverwell 1m:35s
3^rd – Gemma 1m:07s
2^nd Charlie Knight :45s
1^st El Benito! :27s

The three PMs, along with perfecting their cow milking, have requested certain treats to be waiting for them at Changeover – Zoe = Fried Chicken, Gemma = Peanut Butter Sandwich, El Benito = a Pop’s Milkshake.

Ross will dutifully oblige because Alpha 4 have maintained the best comms by miles of all the Alpha groups.

Alpha 4 go back to School
Alpha 4 digging foundations

The Alpha groups now have a few days left to cover those last miles, say their goodbyes and write some final reports before they will again invade Fieldbase…

This is Raquelle signing off for today - its supposed to be a day off at Fieldbase apparantly - so it's to Turrialba for milkshakes!