Changeover challenges

Greetings blogfollowers. After a frenzied weekend of Fieldbase fun, we've sent everyone packing once again. Yesterday morning, Monday 22nd March, the buses rolled out at 4.30am and the brand new teams - our Zulu warriors - headed for their new projects sites for the third and final phase of Expedition 10B.

But before we tell you what they'll be up to in the final three-week stint, here's a quick summary of the weekend's events: X-ray teams arrived back on Friday afternoon with stories a-plenty of their adventures and rucksacks full of dirty washing.

The Saturady morning sunshine was perfect for catch-ups, restocking essential kit and a game of footie before rehersals began for the evening's entertainment: the fabulous Phase Two skit night (daaahling). Each X-ray team was tasked with preparing a five-minute presentation on their achievements and adventures over the last three weeks. The results were truly amazing: we had some extraordinary acting, props including porridge, high-tech videography, audience participation and innovative song lyrics.

X-ray Three re-live their twenty-day trek

Photographer James recalls his time in the Corcovado jungle

Team Los Tololos demonstrate their tool technique

But the winning team plumped for a much more physical approach: X-ray Nine's eye-popping dance routine caught the judges' eye. Congratulations to the Conte Burika champs! Below they claim their prize - a piñata full of sugary treats.

We also had some fond farewells to say this weekend. The seven-week explorers had reached the end of their Raleigh journey and are now bound for pastures new. We waved goodbye to Sebas, Neil, Natalie, Adam, Jonathan, Freddie, Harriet and Emu, plus Project Managers Adri and Nacho. Thanks for helping to make our expedition extra special and best of luck for your next adventure!

Sebas says his goodbyes

Finally, bleary-eyed on Sunday morning we gathered on the terrace to discover what Phase Three had in store for us all. Project Managers performed their legendary pick-and-mix pantomimes as they revealled who'd be joining them on their missions to make Costa Rica and Nicaragua a better place... find out how things turned out in our next blog post. Meanwhile, our teams had just twelve hours to collect kit from the bodega, sort their mountain of Raleigh rations, pack up their rucksacks and squeeze in one final party before the ominous sound of the 3am deployment day alarm...

Zulu Two trek leaders do their final map checks...

Packing rucksacks whilst sheltering from the deployment day downpour at 4am

A quick bite of breakfast...

And a goodbye hug before boarding the buses.

And we're off again - Phase Three, the final frontier. Here at Fieldbase we waved off our Zulu warriors with three gentle little words of encouragement:

GET OUT THERE!