Welcome to the official blog for Expedition 13A. We'll be keeping you posted on all the happenings of life on expedition from 10th January to 11th April. Check back and please send us your comments, it's free and easy. ¡Pura vida!
Anyone who signs up for driving duty here has to get to grips with more than just driving. When we're out and about it's not going to be much good to rely on the AA or RAC to get us out of trouble.
Every driver needs to be able to perform a vehicle check before setting off to make sure that each of the Land Rovers (Bravos 1, 2, 3 and, wait for it, 4) is in good working order. But if the unexpected does happen we need to be able to change tyres, jump start the engine and generally get unstuck. And of course it's useful to have some driving tips to try and avoid getting stuck in the first place.
The other important thing is to make sure you know where you're going - I know it sounds obvious but you'd be surprised. There's a lot to think about, right hand drive, road signs in Spanish, sometimes we won't be on road at all. So preparation is king and map reading skills and route planning essential.
After several days of fairly intense learning, practising and assessment the drivers are all ready and raring to go.
Today we bid farewell to Bravo 2 (Pedro, Kelly, Jayshree,
Dave Frazer) as they began their tour of Costa Rica’s stunning south – first stop,
La Amistad International Park to visit Alpha 4. As I’m sure you may now
realise, in the absence of some 94 venturers, 20 PMs and another 4 fieldbase
staff members, things are quieter than snow around Turrialba HQ. Indeed the
Logs Team, God bless ‘em, barely know what to do with themselves. After weeks
of sorting and sourcing various goods and supplies, a brief period of respite
is as unnatural to them as finding the afore mentioned white stuff blanketing
the Costa Rican countryside.
Later on Bravo One in the guise of Tim, Holly and David will
be visiting Alpha One at San Joaquin, where their fourth day’s trekking
culminates. We’ll be gathering all the goss’ from life on the Turrisantos Trek,
and hopefully have some pictures to share with you on the blog tomorrow.
This is Kat here - the lovely Dawn is currently in Nicaragua with Bravo 1 (Phil, Abi and Emily) visiting all our groups up there so the rest of the team at fieldbase will be keeping you updated for a while!
Last night was my turn to sleep in the Comms Room. I’m not sure if this has been explained before so I will attempt to describe what it entails... so every night one member of the fieldbase team spends the night in the Comms room- this is where the radio and phones live. This is so that the teams can contact us at any time should they need to. It is interesting trying to get to sleep with the whirring of the radio in the background! The best bit about it is you get to wake up at 6am and speak to the groups who go through what we call a SITREP (situation rep) or a Message Check. It’s great to hear from them and find out what they achieved yesterday, where they are (especially useful for the trek groups!), what they intend to be doing throughout the day ahead and so on... There are always some funny stories and requests and of course now that football season has started the boys (PM Tom in particular!) want to be kept informed about who is beating who!
So, this is what I learnt this morning:
X-ray 1 are all in great spirits and are doing really well. Bravo 3 (Sarah (aka Wellard), Laura, Amy and Cathy) went to visit them yesterday to drop off some food and camp with them. The weather has been being kind to them too which was good to hear!
X-ray 2 were already making great progress on the day’s trek when I spoke to them at 06.45 this morning! I think they had quite a short days walk today as well so they would have reached their destination pretty early and had a nice relaxing afternoon!
X-ray 3 visited a deserted village on the other side of the volcano yesterday... it sounded really interesting (and a bit creepy!) and today they were continuing their work building and painting the fences on the trail. Bravo 3 are off to stay with them tonight in their cute little cottage on the side of the volcano. I think they will also be receiving some bread pudding lovingly made by Pedro here at fieldbase. Apparently X-ray 1 wolfed it down last night!
X-Ray 3's volcano view lodgings
X-ray 4 were working on the plant nurseries yesterday and today were going on a trip to the river Rio Negro to a waterfall/natural Jacuzzi apparently! (I’m rather jealous to say the least!)
X-ray 5 are doing a really good job up in Miraflor. I visited the community they are staying with on the last phase, they were so incredibly hospitable and the food was incredible! I'm sure X-ray 5 will all have a turn at milking the cows too... and if they are lucky get to try a very fresh chocolate milkshake like we did!
The locals will show them how it is done!
X-ray 6 are being visited by Bravo 1 today and some of the team had walked out to meet the car... Bravo 1 are in for a treat as the houses the team are sleeping in are amazing. Last phase the family I stayed with gave Wellard and I their bedroom and in the morning we were woken up to freshly cooked eggs, rice, cheese and beans! Yum! The group are making great progress on getting the water pipes to some of the more remote houses.
Emily enjoying the Nicaraguan countryside
Victor 1 (this is what Carwyn, Jon and HCV Daniel decided they wanted to be called?!) have successfully completed their recce for a new section of the Miratombo trek for the next expedition which is exciting! They crossed the border back into Costa Rica today so I will be seeing them shortly no doubt.
Sorry that I haven't been able to provide you with photos of the venturers today - I'm doing my stint at fieldbase so haven't been to visit the groups. As and when the roadtrips return we will have dozens for you I'm sure!
Well, that is all for now. Hopefully Bravo 3 will come back with a venturer blog tomorrow and I can send that your way!
It was with a heavy heart that the Bravo 1 landrover crew (left to right: Bob, Laura, and Tom from logistics as well as Gerry, your blogger) left Nicaragua a couple of days ago.
Planning a route outside our co-operative partner's building, Achuapa
Team Bravo 1: Bob, Laura, Gerry and Tom
Bob and Tom to the rescue! One giant log loaded on one small trailer
Big smiles and waves have greeted us from hot, dusty roadsides as we drove by looking for the remote communities where our projects are based.
If the locals think you're lost, they're the first to offer help. We've heard tales from the Delta 2 Momotombo trek of villagers insisting on giving them precious water even though the locals will have to hike miles to replace it.
The straw-brown dusty fields, herds of dozy cows, and often flimsy wooden, corrugated iron and thatched huts (with barbed wire for washing lines!) are frequently embraced by looming volcanoes like sleepy giants watching over the vibrant landscape.
I've seen a (small!) tornado in a field, a snake catching prey, and stars amongst the brightest I've ever seen. Nicaragua is a very special place. Made even more special because we've been lucky enough to catch up with our fellow volunteer managers on our fleeting visits:
Bravo 1 visiting Delta 5 in Potosi
With Alpha 5 after a sweltering day trip to a river in Achuapa
Of course, Nicaragua is also a place with little money, resources or investment. The difference in living standards as soon as we crossed the Nicaraguan border into Costa Rica is huge.
I hope this is 'luega' ('see you later') from me to Nicaragua rather than 'adios' forever.
