Bravo Four arrived in Nicaragua on Saturday to catch up with the Raleigh teams living among communities in the remote north. First stop was Los Tololos, a tranquil village close to Achuapa where X-ray Seven have been hard at work excavating a spring, building water tanks and digging trenches to lay piping to bring safe, clean water to the village homes. But when we arrived, there was no one to be seen... after a week of hard graft, the group had hot-footed up nearby Cerro Juan Sapo for a Saturday night bivvy under the stars. We found them sitting at the summit, looking rather pleased with themselves...
The Seveners, atop Cerro Juan Sapo
Sunday morning stroll back to Los Tololos
After our night out with the seveners, they showed us round their family homes and treated us to a Nicaraguan breakfast...
Izzy and Telisha tuck into coffee, gallo pinto and tortilla
After breakfast, X-ray Seven challenged the community to a spot of Sunday soccer...
The boys braved the 43-degree heat to take on the local team
The girls provided some much-needed support - from the sidelines
Sunday is a day of rest for the workers but Bravo Four headed up the hill to see the fruits of their labours...
Left: Zoe and Don Chico survey the two-stage filter at the spring source; Right: 10km of trenches have already been dug to pipe water from the tank down into the village
Julian and Don Chico check out the first water tank - a second will be finished by the time the team leaves this Thursday to return to Fieldbase.
Coming soon: Bravo Four drop in on X-ray Eight and Ten in Miraflor wildlife reserve
To Bravo four,
ReplyDeleteI hope this comes before you leave to visit X-Ray 4 because I would like you to give my cousin Hannah[Johns] a hug from me. I would like to see her jungle one day. I am getting older now - I was 5 and a half years old last week. I tell my class in school about you. I like the pictures. Love, Jack XXX
love, Jack
Michaela xray 7
ReplyDeleteHi Micky
Just been catching up on your news and photos that was posted today. You look really well and healthy obviously hard work suits you!Now i know that you can dig trenches you can help me with the digging down the allottment.Got sunburnt ysterday and Monday but no where near as nice as your tan, mine's in the shape of my T shirt.Oh well at least it's getting warmer here at long last. Andy and Carl are down the gym at West Hants at the moment. They're working hard at getting into shape but all that will be undone at the weekend as they're all going out both nights and Andy has already asked if he can crash here on Sunday night. Nan asked if i would go on a day trip with her on Friday to the Cotswold, I have a feeling that it will be the Saga coach and i'll be the youngest one there which is saying something. Told nan i would take a couple of bottles of wine for the coach trip but she got all worried that we would be thrown off the coach for taking alcohol on it oh well it will have to be a flask of tea!
Must go as i need to try and finish this uni assignment which needs to be in by Sunday oh how i hate it and i'm def missing the help of my researcher.
Lots of hugs and kisses
Love mum, dad,Carl and Daniel Xxxxxxxx
hi neil(xray7)
ReplyDeleteloved the new pics on the blog. good to see your keeping up your footie skills. well done to you all for your hard work on this stage of the project.have fun back at base camp. looking forward to seeing you next week. lots of love mum, dad and linsey x
Hello Izzy (xray7)
ReplyDeleteGreat to see some pics of you and the rest of the team, you're obviously working hard - but how are you coping in that heat?! Loved the pic of you in your family's home - I bet youre the only one used to having hens wandering into the house!!
Spring seems to have finally sprung here and its quite warm at last with some sunshine and birds singing and I think Judith is about to lamb too.
Hope we can speak when you get back to base camp - I cant wait to hear all your news.
Love you lots, Mum and all at riverbank xxx