Raleigh Costa Rica and Nicaragua: Delta Romeo 3 are no sloths

Thursday, 24 March 2011

Delta Romeo 3 are no sloths

Words: Scott Baxter
Pictures: Briony Wood

Jungle trail building is hard work. Our typical day involves a 4:50am wakeup call for a hearty porridge breakfast and a fine cup of filtered coffee (a coffee sock is THE essential item to bring on phase) before leaving for work at 6am. As we extend the path the walk has been growing longer and longer. We now have a 90 minute hike through spider, snake and puma-infested jungle to get to the end of our path.

Then the real work begins. It is hot, humid, and there are hazy clouds of flies attached to everyone. However, despite this dreary picture of jungle trail building I have so far painted, it is extremely satisfying seeing an overgrown jungle thicket transform into a brilliantly coloured mud path, through our hard labour.

And we were also lucky enough to see a sloth being re-released into the wild:

I also have to mention the waterfall. After work we often stop at one of the river crossings and wade down the river to get to the most beautiful and secluded rock waterfall that I’ve ever seen. The water is crystal clear, and beneath the falls the water is deep enough to swim in. There are moss-covered boulders for sunbathing. A short boulder-hopping trip past the falls is another waterfall/natural waterslide that ends by a miniature sandy beach (we only recently discovered this and still need to have a closer look).

Our days are hard but when we finish work we relax in style!

Delta Romeo 3 over and out.

9 comments:

Anonymous24 March 2011 at 10:31
jade delta 3 just seen you in the photo keep up the hard work blow the smelly
flyes away keep smiling you look upset in one photo or is it the flys on you face charleene has had her hair cut she now has a fring dad still not done you room janine has her barbqu this saturday the house is soso quit with out you ha ha miss you love you mum xxxxxx
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Anonymous24 March 2011 at 10:59
jade pearson delta3
Hi jade that wee sloth is well cute made it my home page, and hope your no scared eh the spider and that LOL! BTW hannahs has messsed your room haha!only joking mum xxxxxxxx
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wainerocampo24 March 2011 at 11:58
Yendry Castro. Delta Romeo 4

Hola amorictouuu... que enredo me hago cada vez que vengo a este blog con los deltas y alfa y romeo y los numeros. si-a tonto, ve-a... enigueis... mae, como ha estado? que ha hecho? que cuenta? cuando vuelve? porque tanto?
yennn, cuando se devuelve de regreso patras? mae, ahora k lo pienso, que verguenza las yeguadas que escribo aqui.. bueno a mi k...
yen, necesito que me llame para que me diga cuales fechas me vas a poder ayudar con los little fuckers, digo los YE... hehe... btw, vieras que bien me esta yendo en el ultimo curso de la U, piece of cake! mae, manana me operan la cordal (k mello) por lo menoshhh tengo (tenia) mreghhh.. es a la 1pm y por lo visto me voy a perder la fiesta d cumple d Cint xk seguro voy a quedar fatal, bueno no se, espero que no...
en el ambito internacional la fiesta de andrea promete, todavia no sabemos cuando se va la nonis pero se cree que es a mediados de abril. esperemos que su estampa este de regreso...
ahora vamos a los deportes para informar que el otro mes tengo un grupo privado (soccer camp) en turri, pero ud tranquila todo esta bajo control.
en la economia y finanzas = FATAL, ese puta carro me tiene en banca rota jajaja y lo peor es que ni siquiera lo he usado (super rude)...

bueno amorcito, eso es todo por hoy y saludame a nacho del pirucho si lo ve... yo siempre me acuerdo de el pero con todos esos alfas y deltas y romeos se me enredan, y no en cual esta... ahi nos hablamos... no nos llame, lojotroj loj llamamoj.
chao amorcitou..

wai
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Anonymous24 March 2011 at 14:57
Mauricio Otárola (Delta1)... Hola Mau, es cierto que te podemos ir a ver?? Sería posible?? Ojalá!!!!, porque hasta papi se monta y va a donde sea. Fijate que voy a correr la media maratón este domingo. Espero que me vaya bien, porque me lesioné (por ayudar a un muchacho en silla de ruedas). El cumpleaños de David estuvo muy divertido. Los amigos de la escuela lo quieren mucho y la pasamos muy bien.
Espero que a usted me le hayan cantado cumpleaños feliz!!!!. Te amo mucho y te extraño más.
Coroco.
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wainerocampo24 March 2011 at 22:40
Yendry Castro Delta Romero 4!

Hola amorcitoooo... aqui reportandome.. mae, vieras que rico helado compro Wil hoy de queso con fresas, suena raro pero mae rajado de rico. ah y le pusimos baileys *(callate de loj ojoj) vieras que delicia... pero gueno, salada, espero que su avena o oatmeal lo que sea que este comiendo le este sustentando jk...
mae, manana me operan la cordeal, ahora si se armo el ocho, k meyo... llame a la ejtaicy pa que me acompanie, vieras que sustillo tengo secretly thou. no en serio mae.. pero ud tranquila todo va a salir bien...
es definitivo, me perdere el cumple de cint, pero le vamos hacer una cena en la casa el otro viernes, por cierto manana tengo exposicion sobre the holy crail in British literature ughhhh, super rude.. that's why i am writing in here instead of writing my paper hahaha. that's called procrastination (btw, I love that word) anyways, yean, I miss you, come back now... I havent talked to your mom lately and for some reason I started typing in English... maybe it's because I was thinking about my stupid brit. lit. class.... anyways, ud tranqula que todo va a salir bien.. mae, vieras que chiva mi compu...
el fin de semana estare incacitado con la trompa hinchada (espero que no).. mae, vieras los amigos que hice en Panama, se los tengo que presentar ella es tica y el frances y viven en europa y son super tuanis y tienen dos hijos chivisimas, acaban de regresar a costa por un tiempo...
bueno, ya tengo sueno me voy a dormir, digo a terminar mi trabajo para manana.. chao amorcito... se cuida y no noj llame, lojotroj lo llamamoj..
chauuu

wai
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Jane Hedges25 March 2011 at 03:54
To Elizabeth Hedges, Delta Romeo 3

JR say yes fine so I have booked your flights, same asours, out on 18 May back on 1 June!!!!!
lots of love, Mum xxxxxxx
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Xinia Loría25 March 2011 at 11:28
para ignacio camacho / delta romeo 3
de: papás de yendry-corazón de león.

q bien se ve nacho, aun lo reconocemos con esa buena melena jaja. su peluquero va a hacer fiesta cuando regrese jajaja.
Un abrazo fuerte de edgar y mío. Cuidese bastante y disfrute montones ..es increible ya están casi en la ultima fase, ADELANTE!!!!!!!
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Anonymous25 March 2011 at 12:27
jade delta 3
Hello my dear, how are you then ? BBQ went well going to save a bit of cake but... someone eat it :L hope your enjoying the weather, nice tan hopefuly. Please smile in next photo :D That sloth looked weird but mum said it looks cute. Love from Janine & Anne xxxxx
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Grettel10 April 2011 at 20:07
Para Ignacio Camacho. Delta romeo 3.

Hola cosito!!!! como vas? por aqui nosotros extrañandote un monton. Esperamos que estes muy bien y disfrutando bastante... por cierto nos dejaste claveados con el chisme... este blog es demasiado complicado para nosotros los de la tercera edad ;)...nunca lo encontramos.
Aqui estamos usando tu carro el de nosotros esta en el taller de los inyectores chochos :).
PAra semana santa vamos para Guana, solo vas a faltar vos vamos con el roquillo y Ana V. (nos vas a hacer falta). Y luego vamos a visitar a tu mama en Limon tambien.

No te podes imaginar lo grande que esta Emma!!! no la vas a conocer cuando volvas.

Un gran abrazo de parte de Emma, Ruben y tu cuñis favorita ;)

PD: como veras este mensaje es un sancocho de ideas entre Ruben y yo pero con mucho amor.
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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?”