Raleigh Costa Rica and Nicaragua: So Macho! Alpha Ten trek on...

Monday, 22 February 2010

So Macho! Alpha Ten trek on...

Bravo Three's wheels hardly touched the ground this weekend - laden with goodies from the legendary Raleigh Bodega, we tootled all around central Costa Rica dropping off food for our hungry hikers. On Sunday we caught up with the unstoppable Macho Bares trekkers Alpha Ten...

...who were overnighting in a small village after a tough day on the trail. With fourteen days down and four to go, the group reflected on their journey so far...

Now, blisters aside, there's few more miles to go for these tough-footed types. Since we left them the group tackled the mighty Cerro Bares mountain, successfully summiting at sunrise this morning. Now with only two more days pootling the final 40km down to the balmy shores of Punta Judas, no wonder super-trekker Becca is all smiles...

Next up: we drop in on Alpha Three on Day 15 of their Coast to Coast odyssey...

7 comments:

Alex H.23 February 2010 at 06:38
Yay, go Super-Becca-Becca-Becca! Looks like you're having loads of fun there. I knew you could do it.
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Alex Maxwell23 February 2010 at 11:42
Caroline Finnegan (alpha 10)
Hi hi, route looks amazing, you look...also quite nice!! lovely seeing you in the blog though.
hope you'll get my first letter sometime soon, not much going on this end. I'm trying to drag Rach harling to circuits at no avail thus far, will keep you posted.
Managed to spend half an hour looking through the Borneo blog before realising you weren't on an island in Southeast Asia (dropping the geogers!)
the semi-secret Tim & Hailey love affair continues at this end, although rumbling them isn't nearly as much fun on my own,haha
Hope your having a really great time Caz, look after the ears,xxx
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Anonymous24 February 2010 at 11:13
For Dan Lawson, Alpha 10. Hi Dan, good to see the video from you all - it looks like a great team you're with there and everyone's having fun. Seeing those maps on the video shows that the journey has been quite some trek, so well done. I guess by the time you get this you'll be just about finished the trek and looking on to the next phase. R and S want to know what happened to your hair. The photos look like it's pretty warm over there, unlike here where it's still snowing. Keep going and enjoy the experience. Love Dad, Mum, R and S.
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Jenny Finnegan25 February 2010 at 09:37
Caroline Finnegan (Alpha 10)

Alex's message to you is right on top of mine!! Looks like you're all having a fantastic time - must be a welcome site to see the ocean after all the hard trekking. Think it's a great idea to have you all individually show your lovely faces on the video - If you get back for the change over this weekend and get a chance to call would love to hear from you - but buy a phone card(charge it to me) as the reverse charge phone call cost £80! Everything OK at home - Take care and am thinking of you. Love Mom xxx
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Jenny Finnegan26 February 2010 at 15:28
Caroline Finnegan Alpha 10
I sent a message yesterday but for whatever reasons I can't find it on the blog. Looks like all the treks were a fabulous experience and it was great to see all your lovely faces on the video - that was such a great idea for you all to individually chat on the video - good to hear your voice again 'Hi, this is Caroline' Oh, this is Caroline again!! Will try and get your flight sorted out over the weekend and will let you know what I've been able to arrange. If you manage to call, please get a phone card (charge to my card) as last reverse charge call cost £80!!! Hope you're all having a blast on the changeover this weekend - am thinking of you..love Mom xxx
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Bou Teeuwen27 February 2010 at 04:05
Nicoline Teeuwen (Alpha 10)

Hee Kiekje!
yeeaah, je bent der heel aangekomen! ik ben trots op je hoor lieve zus!
vanochtend ben ik ook weer aangekomen van skireis! het was echt fantastisch! mooi weer, leuke docenten, gezellig met alle vriendinnen en natuurlijk heerlijk (apres) skiën.. hahaha! maar niets gebroken of gekneush of pijn, dus dat is chill! 1e dag was het heerlijk aan het sneeuwen toen we daar aankwamen, dus de volgende dag was het heeeerlijk! zon scheen en er lag heerlijke sneeuw! voor de rest van de week was het eigenlijk hetzelfde, alleen dan hadden we na 13.00u papsneeuw omdat het zo warm was! gelukkig hoefde we niet te lopen, zoals bij jou! hahaha
het huisje was heeel erg relaxed! sliep helemaal boven tegenover vd Zeeuw (die sliep vroeg want hij had z'n kinders meegenomen, helemaal prima) met Anna, Britta en Janinka (zusje van Dasha) was echt helemaal super! we hadden zelfs een keukentje derbij en een zithoek en balkon met prachtig uitzicht! laat de 10 foto's die ik heb gemaakt wel zien als je terug bent! voor de rest was het eten echt niet te kanen, zelfs de docenten gingen over hun nek, dus heerlijk niets gegeten daar in de avond! (5 mensen moesten barven vanwege het eten, haha)
hoe is het eten daar? heb al een paar foto's gezien, en natuurlijk jullie filmpje! wat zie je er toch heerlijk uit! lekker gezond!

lieve zus, ik ga nu tukken, heb echt niet geslapen in de bus!

Ik mis je,
Bou
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Anonymous1 March 2010 at 09:29
For natalyla chapman!
not sure if this is the right site? but hope this get through to you, i saw your picture and i was like aww she looks so brown and happy! i sent you a facebook inbox, i am still upset i never got to speak to you- infact i was almost heart broken! but i am glad you are having such an awesome time! i cant wait to see you when you finally get back to london town! missing you and hope you are having the most incredible time- i am so jealous it hurts! anna herdman xxxxxx
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Raleigh Lingo

Copy that?

Sometimes our Raleigh technical terms can be a tad confusing so we've put together a glossary for you blog followers. This will appear as a quick-reference section on the right-hand column so you can translate our Tico-terms into something a bit more palatable. And for those keen to brush up their Central American Spanish, we've included some handy translations. Here's a few to get you started...

Alpha, X-Ray and Zulu groups
(Grupos Alfa, X-Ray y Zulu)
The official name for project groups during the phases of CR&N 13A. Alpha will be out on project from 3rd to 23rd February, X-Ray from 24th February to 15th March and Zulu from 17th March to 5th April. Project groups are allocated during induction

Basha
Jungle ‘bed’: consists of a tarpaulin for shelter, a hammock and mosquito net. A basha is hung up between two trees and supported by rope, bamboo and canvas straps

Bodega
A Spanish word meaning store or warehouse

Bravo
A term of endearment for our hard-working Land Rovers. The four vehicles are officially, and imaginatively named Bravo One, Two, Three and Four

C.A.T.I.E.
The agricultural and development research institute on whose campus Fieldbase is situated. Find out more at http://www.catie.ac.cr/

Changeover (Cambio de Fase)
Two day period where all staff and Venturers return from their project sites for some respite before they are all reallocated and sent off to do it all over again...

Chicas, Chicos
Spanish term meaning girls (chicas) or guys (chicos) or both (chicos aswell). As in “Vamonos chicos!” or “Let’s go guys!”

Craic
A way to gauge how people are feeling, usually measured from 0 to 90. If your ‘craic’ is high, you’re pretty happy. If you announce a low craic, people will probably fix you up with an energy bomb and a nice big hug

CR&N 13A
Costa Rica and Nicaragua expeditions 13A

Day Leader (DL) (Líder del día)
Every day on project, one of the Team is designated DL – they are in charge of the day, including organising the day’s briefing, keeping group morale up, dealing with any problems, sticking to schedule and de-briefing at the end of the day. The DL role rotates round the whole group so everyone takes a turn

Energizer (Actividad Levanta Muertos)
An activity to gather the group together and raise energy levels. Can be used at the beginning of the day, or whenever a quick pick-me-up is required

Energy bombs (Explosión de azucar)
A trekking treat – mix together oats, raisins, condensed milk and chocolate powder and roll into little balls of gooey goodness to power you through the day

Fieldbase (FB) (Campo Base)
Refers to the Raleigh ‘office residence’ which is where the Fieldbase staff eat, sleep and work, whilst organising the expedition, manning the radios round the clock, supporting the projects, planning transport and logistics, keeping tabs on the finances and much, much more

Field Base Volunteer Managers (Equipo Logístico Voluntario del Campo Base)
Volunteer support staff for the expedition. The team looks after the ‘behind the scenes’ of the expedition and ensures everything runs smoothly. This consists of three permanent staff members - the Country Director, Country Project Manager and Country Expedition Manager - plus a team of volunteer staff including the, Medic, Photographer, Administrator, Finance Officer, three Logistics (logs) team members and the Communications Officer

Gallo Pinto
A traditional Costa Rican dish of rice and beans (yum!)

Icebreaker (Rompe Hielos)
A getting-to-know-you game

Longdrop (Letrina)
The camp loo. Literally a deep hole in the ground, it is one of the first tasks to complete when setting up jungle camp for obvious reasons! Short drops are similar, normally used for overnight stops when a shallower trench will suffice

Longs (Pantalones)
From 6pm onwards, we all don long trousers and sleeves to discourage the bugs that aren’t deterred by DEET

Maxis
Short for Maxi Pali, the stock-everything shop about a kilometer from Fieldbase where you can buy all those things you forgot/ran out of/lost

Nicas
An affectionate term referring to the native population of Nicaragua

Ninja
A popular game/energizer used by venturers and Project managers alike. Everyone stands in a circle and tries to hit the team members either side of them on the hand via a single ninja movements. Sound effects welcome

POPS
Legendary milkshake and ice-cream parlour chain found all over Costa Rica – perfect for a sweet splurge

Pork and beans (Frijoles con cerdo)
Another staple foodstuff for trekkers: tinned beans with a slightly sausage twang, served cold for lunch. Usually accompanied by dry cracker dust, sprinkled liberally on to the top. If you’re in a hurry, this can be consumed without cutlery straight from the can

Project Managers (PMs) (Guías)
Project staff for the expedition. Each of the groups has at least two PMs who work with the Venturers to develop skills, lead projects and challenge themselves

PURA VIDA!
A very special Costa Rican phrase that means hello, goodbye, I’m great, it’s good, pure life, basically any positive, feel-good thing can be Pura vida!

Radio check (Chequeo de Radio)
As well as a daily SITREP, all Alpha projects are required to complete a second radio call-in each day to check in, receive messages and report any developments

Review (Revisión)
A round-up that assesses how everyone feels, what went well and what needs work. This is sometimes an ‘activity’, sometimes a chat around the campfire, or sometimes just a bit of time to reflect. It’s an important part of everyone’s personal development so we make sure it happens every day

Roadtrip (Paseo Volando Rueda)
The logistics team and some of the Field Base team drive the Bravos on a loop round to each of the accessible project sites once per phase. They deliver kit, supplies, site visitors, messages from the blog and of course the all important post

Ropa Americana
Purveyors of the finest second hand American threads. Perfect for fancy dress/obtaining that long coveted college sports jersey

SITREP (Reporte de la Situación)
Literally Situation Report. A special radio message sent from the satellite project sites back to fieldbase once a day. It follows a certain format and includes all sort of handy information like where they are, what they’ve been up to, what they need and what they’re planning to do next

Tang
A fruity powder that is used to make squash. Jolly useful for taking away the chlorine taste of purified water

Ticos
An affectionate term referring to the native population of Costa Rica

Trangia (Mini Cocina)
A portable cooking stove. Used primarily for trekking, a trangia’s compact design makes it perfect for easy transportation. Literal translation in spanish - mini kitchen. Makes sense

Turrialba
The location of Fieldbase

Venturers (Aventureros)
Participants in the Raleigh expedition. Aged 17 to 24, they come in three varieties: Host Country Venturers (from Costa Rica and Nicaragua), Partnership Venturers (positive young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the UK who participate in Raleigh expeditions as part of a longer term development programme) and UK and International Fundraising Participants (who work hard to raise money to contribute towards the charities work and expenses in order to take part in the expedition)

Wash up (Revisión Final)
The last few days of expedition, spent debriefing, returning equipment, performing skits, and most importantly enjoying the farewell party (tears alert)

Zero (Cero)
A radio term that identifies the radio controller at Fieldbase. Fieldbase monitors the radios 24-7, listening out on three frequencies for calls from our satellite project sites. When the radio alarm sounds, we might answer something like this: “Hello unknown call sign, hello unknown call sign, this is Zero, this is zero, do you copy, OVER?”