So another Raleigh phase has gone by quicker than a meteor flashing over the Cheviots; here’s a run through of the endeavours of those fine Raleigh guys and gals’
Our trek groups have routed their respective routes. X Ray 1 delved through the heart of Costa Rica, almost coast to coast. Beginning in Barbilla National Park they have breached the continental divide and are celebrating their success at Punta Judas. Whilst Turrisantos may sound like a beach resort, apparently its completely the opposite. And you need to like peanuts. and tang. and getting slightly lost. but mainly peanits.
X Ray 2 conquered the Corcovado, tackling the eponymous national park and La Amistad in the hot and humid southwest of Costa Rica. They finished with three days striding the sands at Playas Madrigal, Carate and Piro.
X Ray 3, up in Nicaragua, mastered the Miratombo trek, with their final days in the Maribios Volcano chain, enjoying stunning views of Volcan Momotombo and Lake Managua. They visited many communities along the way, were treated to food by smiling hosts, slept on volcanoes, traversed deserts and rivers, all celebrating in style at Lake Asoscosas.
X Ray 4 have completed their work on the ‘Quebrada Bonita’ trail in Carara National Park, enjoying a day trip to Playa Hermosa, and celebrating several birthdays throughout the phase. The traditional celebratory energy bomb cake was pimped with addition of oreos. Must have been some huge sugar crashes down in Carara after that...
X Ray 5 in La Amistad have also been productive on the ‘Gigantes del Bosque’ trail (Giants of the Forest’. They have enjoyed various outings to the swimming pool in Altimira, a local farmers market, and to the Valley of Silence Ranger station where Raleigh undertook a project a few years ago.
X Ray 6, after 18 days of pouring rain, finally had a day of sun! They have been working at Volcan Tenorio, undertaking an overhaul of the path to the waterfall on the aquamarine Rio Celeste.
X Ray 7 have continued the work of Alpha 7 on the adobe brick houses in La Naranjita, mixing mud and ‘old man’s beard’ to create a ‘cement’ between the bricks, alongside trips to Esteli and visits to X Ray 8...
...who have completed the community centre in San Jose! This was celebrated with a fiesta yesterday afternoon, featuring all the classics - pass the parcel and some rather competitive musical chairs. They too undertook trips to Esteli, visiting the cigar factory and there was a barely a dry eye when they said good bye on Tuesday morning.
Finally, X Ray 9 in Dorbata. In their one phase, they whipped up a school building faster than a Groundforce montage and have enjoyed the good life in the beautiful surrounds of Chirripo Indigenous Territory. The school is already in use and the group enjoyed a game of football with the locals, the torrential downpour during the fixture making the Brits feel truly at home.
They’ll all be back at HQ tomorrow for all the fun and games of changeover so stayed tuned for the latest goings on at Raleigh Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
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!
Showing posts with label X-Ray 8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label X-Ray 8. Show all posts
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
News from Nicaragua: San Jose, X Ray 8
The war has officially begun between the boys and girls of X Ray 8. After a lovely day at work under Michael’s leadership, Charlie, Andrew, James and Hanko ruined it by soaking Felur, Holly and Georgina, before rolling them in the sand pit! (Official terminology here I believe is: ‘donuting’) Sleep with one eye open boys... On Monday we had a double excitement – half the group headed with Vicki to Esteli on the bus tour a cigar factory, the industry employing around 70% of residents of the town, whilst X Ray 7 paid us all a visit after work, we had a lovely reunion at the water hall. On Tuesday, the second half of the group made the same trip and we were given free cigars; the boys taking the whole experience incredibly seriously!
Jemma also arrived with us on Tuesday and we are now getting started on the painting. The school is already a brilliant blue/green blend, while the murals have been planned out and waiting to be filled in! The community centre is going very smoothly (our rendered walls are like marble). Georgina and Azelle’s ‘Dad’, Don Gustavo, proved a ..help.. with the painting, splashing paint around like nobody’s business! James subsequently spent two hours resurrecting the door.. Cindy then showed up Azelle by out-shovelling. And she’s TINY! Charlie got his tongue in a twist discussing turnips with Fleur, or was it tulips? “You have loads of turnips in Holland right, they’re all over your postcards!”
The Bravo’s (Ale, Holly and Dangerous Dave) arrived on Thursday night – lovely to see them all and receive our messages! We’ve got the drawing board out for our skit – the boy’s are gunning for an auction idea but we’ll see... Charlie does a mean Paddy McGuiness impression so maybe a ‘Take Me Out’ parody is needed. Let the bangers see the mash!
We’re all excited for our fiesta on Monday when we open the community centre! A classic Nicaraguan celebration!
X Ray 8 out!
Jemma also arrived with us on Tuesday and we are now getting started on the painting. The school is already a brilliant blue/green blend, while the murals have been planned out and waiting to be filled in! The community centre is going very smoothly (our rendered walls are like marble). Georgina and Azelle’s ‘Dad’, Don Gustavo, proved a ..help.. with the painting, splashing paint around like nobody’s business! James subsequently spent two hours resurrecting the door.. Cindy then showed up Azelle by out-shovelling. And she’s TINY! Charlie got his tongue in a twist discussing turnips with Fleur, or was it tulips? “You have loads of turnips in Holland right, they’re all over your postcards!”
The Bravo’s (Ale, Holly and Dangerous Dave) arrived on Thursday night – lovely to see them all and receive our messages! We’ve got the drawing board out for our skit – the boy’s are gunning for an auction idea but we’ll see... Charlie does a mean Paddy McGuiness impression so maybe a ‘Take Me Out’ parody is needed. Let the bangers see the mash!
We’re all excited for our fiesta on Monday when we open the community centre! A classic Nicaraguan celebration!
X Ray 8 out!
Monday, 12 March 2012
X-Ray 8: San Jose
X-Ray 8 arrived in Miraflor after 2 days on the bus from Costa Rica and thus far their time has been filled with cement volcanoes and explosive rivers on the worksite. The roof of their community centre is due to go on this week and the mural has been chosen by the community from our list of suggestions. The boys have taken to enjoying the Shania Twain power hour a little too much, mattocking topless in unison to ‘Man I Feel Like A Woman’. The macho-ness exuded by James, Hanko, Charlie and Andrew is almost overwhelming.
On our second night we were treated to an ‘unexpected’ visit from the X-Ray 3 trekking group, who had taken a wrong turn on their route. We spent the evening sharing tales from life on site but did not wake to say goodbye at 3am...
Groups have rotated work at the local school playing vast quantities of ‘heads, shoulders, knees and toes’ in addition to the legendary ninja – the class of 15 can barely contain their excitement when we show up!
We couldn’t write a blog about our community phase without talking our amazing families. Gee and Azelle have had an eye opening experience following Don Gustavo’s topless Macarena and witnessing the slaughter of a pig! Azelle in particular has attained some firsts in experiencing the taste of eggs, and a drink of coffee (separately) for the premier time in her life. Gee on the other hand has failed miserably to teach her young ‘brothers’ ceilidh dancing, much to the amusement of the rest of the group.
Holly and Rosh have become the long lost daughters of doting Mother Angela, who seems to have a never ending family resembling a Spanish soap opera. They are slowly but surely working out who’s who. Hanko and Fu’s Dad is a Lad and has become the party house whilst James and Michael are cosy in the single bed!
On a honey search one evening, Michael managed to get stung in the mouth, but it was well worth it for the prize. Their Mum keeps them happy with hundreds of tortillas – the smell is seeping out of their pores.
Vicki and Jess are kept busy with communal card games and spending the night’s listening to Janer’s spectacular snoring!Andrew and Charlie met their Dad on the first evening in somewhat bizarre circumstances – having a nap against the garden wall.
On our day off we visited a waterfall which was well worth the walk and the group are taking it in turns to visit the cigar factory in Esteli this week.
Within the first day a quote list was compiled which has grown steadily:
Anna: Guys... Did you know i’ve been on trek (x1000)
Holly: Guys... It’s definitely raining.
Gee: Glasgow is better than Edinburgh
- This rain is really wet
James: I HATE people who think that bakewell tarts are the original bakewell puddings. They’re stupid.
Charlie: I’ve just sacrificed a camera saving a biscuit wrapper from that river (Pilkington’s commitment to Raleigh’s ‘Leave No Trace’ policy continues to impress)
Fu: *LOUD NOISES*
All in all X-Ray 8 are having a banging time in Nicaragua and can’t wait to get started on the mural this week.
On our second night we were treated to an ‘unexpected’ visit from the X-Ray 3 trekking group, who had taken a wrong turn on their route. We spent the evening sharing tales from life on site but did not wake to say goodbye at 3am...
Groups have rotated work at the local school playing vast quantities of ‘heads, shoulders, knees and toes’ in addition to the legendary ninja – the class of 15 can barely contain their excitement when we show up!
We couldn’t write a blog about our community phase without talking our amazing families. Gee and Azelle have had an eye opening experience following Don Gustavo’s topless Macarena and witnessing the slaughter of a pig! Azelle in particular has attained some firsts in experiencing the taste of eggs, and a drink of coffee (separately) for the premier time in her life. Gee on the other hand has failed miserably to teach her young ‘brothers’ ceilidh dancing, much to the amusement of the rest of the group.
Holly and Rosh have become the long lost daughters of doting Mother Angela, who seems to have a never ending family resembling a Spanish soap opera. They are slowly but surely working out who’s who. Hanko and Fu’s Dad is a Lad and has become the party house whilst James and Michael are cosy in the single bed!
On a honey search one evening, Michael managed to get stung in the mouth, but it was well worth it for the prize. Their Mum keeps them happy with hundreds of tortillas – the smell is seeping out of their pores.
Vicki and Jess are kept busy with communal card games and spending the night’s listening to Janer’s spectacular snoring!Andrew and Charlie met their Dad on the first evening in somewhat bizarre circumstances – having a nap against the garden wall.
On our day off we visited a waterfall which was well worth the walk and the group are taking it in turns to visit the cigar factory in Esteli this week.
Within the first day a quote list was compiled which has grown steadily:
Anna: Guys... Did you know i’ve been on trek (x1000)
Holly: Guys... It’s definitely raining.
Gee: Glasgow is better than Edinburgh
- This rain is really wet
James: I HATE people who think that bakewell tarts are the original bakewell puddings. They’re stupid.
Charlie: I’ve just sacrificed a camera saving a biscuit wrapper from that river (Pilkington’s commitment to Raleigh’s ‘Leave No Trace’ policy continues to impress)
Fu: *LOUD NOISES*
All in all X-Ray 8 are having a banging time in Nicaragua and can’t wait to get started on the mural this week.
Saturday, 3 March 2012
X-Ray projects, some background
Many of you undoubtedly read the previous post regarding X-Ray allocations and spied some new locations in amongst some familiar names. Well observed. Whilst some of the groups will be continuing the work undertaken by the awesome Alphas, a couple of new projects have cropped up which I will give you a background.
The Turrisantos and Corcovado treks, as you may have guessed, are the same as those that ran in Phase One, albeit with one new addition, the Miratombo trek, which will be tackled by X-Ray 3 during the phase. Starting up in the north of Nicaragua, near to Esteli. This route snakes its way through the Miraflor and Estanzuela wildlife reserve, and for the second half of its duration, the mighty Volcan Momotombo remains within sight; the trekkers celebrate the trip’s climax in the crater lake of Asososca.
Environmental efforts continue at Carara and La Amistad National Parks, with X-Ray 4 and 5 respectively, however the new kid on the block is Volcan Tenorio, visited by X-Ray 6. Located in the north of Costa Rica in Guanacaste province, it is notorious for the ultramarine Rio Celeste, which attains its colour due to mineral deposits and the emanation of sulphur from the volcano. Whilst in the park, X-Ray 6 will be repairing access trails alongside constructing a stair case down to a waterfall on the Celeste. This is one of several projects Raleigh will have undertaken on Volcan Tenorio; previous Raleigh groups assisted with the constructions of a bridge and Latin America’s first disabled access pathway in a rainforest.
X-Rays 7 and 8 will carry on the community projects undertaken in La Naranjita and San Jose up in Miraflor, Nicaragua, whereas X-Ray 9, in a new project, have swung south to Dorbata, in the Chirripo Indigenous Territory which is located on the Caribbean slope in the Matama area. Populated by the Cabecar indigenous people, one of the largest groups in Costa Rica, X-Ray 9 will be constructing a school in the area, which due to its remoteness, is generally only accessible by foot. The majority of the population are subsistence farmers, with one notable import to the community being football boots!
We will of course, bring you news and views from the projects as they break. If you haven’t already, whet your appetite by checking out the fantastic photo review of phase one (see the link on the left hand toolbar), composed by Ale. I can assure you it only gets better the more you watch it.
The Turrisantos and Corcovado treks, as you may have guessed, are the same as those that ran in Phase One, albeit with one new addition, the Miratombo trek, which will be tackled by X-Ray 3 during the phase. Starting up in the north of Nicaragua, near to Esteli. This route snakes its way through the Miraflor and Estanzuela wildlife reserve, and for the second half of its duration, the mighty Volcan Momotombo remains within sight; the trekkers celebrate the trip’s climax in the crater lake of Asososca.
Environmental efforts continue at Carara and La Amistad National Parks, with X-Ray 4 and 5 respectively, however the new kid on the block is Volcan Tenorio, visited by X-Ray 6. Located in the north of Costa Rica in Guanacaste province, it is notorious for the ultramarine Rio Celeste, which attains its colour due to mineral deposits and the emanation of sulphur from the volcano. Whilst in the park, X-Ray 6 will be repairing access trails alongside constructing a stair case down to a waterfall on the Celeste. This is one of several projects Raleigh will have undertaken on Volcan Tenorio; previous Raleigh groups assisted with the constructions of a bridge and Latin America’s first disabled access pathway in a rainforest.
X-Rays 7 and 8 will carry on the community projects undertaken in La Naranjita and San Jose up in Miraflor, Nicaragua, whereas X-Ray 9, in a new project, have swung south to Dorbata, in the Chirripo Indigenous Territory which is located on the Caribbean slope in the Matama area. Populated by the Cabecar indigenous people, one of the largest groups in Costa Rica, X-Ray 9 will be constructing a school in the area, which due to its remoteness, is generally only accessible by foot. The majority of the population are subsistence farmers, with one notable import to the community being football boots!
We will of course, bring you news and views from the projects as they break. If you haven’t already, whet your appetite by checking out the fantastic photo review of phase one (see the link on the left hand toolbar), composed by Ale. I can assure you it only gets better the more you watch it.
X-Ray Exodus
In the mere blink of an eye our Alpha groups have returned, eaten us out of house and home, regrouped, and flown the nest in the form of X-Ray groups. Phase Two is underway. Just two days ago, all was calm at Fieldbase. In a jam packed schedule we’ve welcomed and initiated our Explorers at ‘jungle’ camp, taken the Expedition 12B photo, seen our groups relay the story of phase one in their skits, reformed and ‘broken the ice’ with our new X-Ray groups, and last night celebrated the end of changeover with a super-heroes and villains fancy dress party. They’ll be off for 19 days on a variety of projects, some of which involve continuing work undertaken by the Alpha groups in phase one, some of which are new for expedition. The groups are as follows:
X-Ray 1 – Turrisantos Trek
Clare Wright
Daniel Saborio
Francesca Hodge
Elliot Gordon
Callum E Hunter
Danielle Dowding
Diana Hindle Fisher
Jack Bannenberg
Jose Pablo Castilo Halabi
Lauren Davidson
Phoebe Mackenzie Smith
Savan Shah
Sophie I Jenkins
Lisa Steinmetz
Sam Horbye
X-Ray 2 – Corcovado Trek
Afsana Tahirova
Joseph Donovan
Harry Verma
Dougal Mackenzie Smith
Erika Lobo Sánchez
Louisa Treadwell
Mary Dashfield
Max de Kroon
Valeria Vasquez Cruz
Jonathan Sacarello
Alexi Meghir
Joshua Biggs O'May
Fosca Meyjes
X-Ray 3 – Miratombo Trek (*New*)
Caroline Bolt
Jonathan Baguley
Kelly Mcpherson
Oliver Thomas
Wing Tung Wong
Deyanira Monterrey Centeno
Jarol Jassiel Tercero Morales
Jessica Emerson
Mark Wardle
Rosemary Henry
Samuel Marsden
Sian Lewis
Thea Mikkelsen
Ting Phoa
George Batt
X-Ray 4 – Carara National Park
Alexander E Dennis
Katie Philpott
Lucinda Ryan
Charlotte Rombaut
Ileana Boyes
James Barlow
Julian Heckmatt
Liam J Ward
Mark J Fearon
Nicole R Waller
Sjoerd B Baardman
Tess P de Jongh
Véronique Driebeek
Daniel Meza
Markus Hjorth
X-Ray 5 – La Amistad National Park
Danielle Percival
Matthew Jewers
Gareth Price-Baghurst
Alfredo Salas Garro
Valeria Celeste Polimeni Solís
Anthony Gallagher
Julie Balfour
Kevin Ho
Neneh Mae Whiting
Phillip Houghton
Rachelle Bent
Louis Manders
George Moody
Amelia Christie-Miller
X-Ray 6 – Volcan Tenorio (*New*)
Amanda Payne-Danson
Roeland Terpstra
Mohammed Benyamin Chowdhury
Maria G Gerono
Mercedes White
Benedict J Maclean
Allegra Dowley
Edward M Lilley
George K Cosgrove
Gustavo Badilla Araya
Hannah Voisin
Pamela Quesada Gutierrez
Simon Webb
Sonia Deiters
Timothy J Welander
X-Ray 7 – La Naranjita, Miraflor
Alex Beaumont
Fiona Arakelian
Amanda H Petersson
Amy Craddock
Claire F Edgley
Eika S Webb
Istvan Josue Sepulveda Hernandez
Jack T Griffin
Joni Antonio Moreno Gonzáles
Marvin Uriel Perez Villarreyna
Thomas S Edney
Louis J Worrall
Harvey Burgess
Emma Tivey
X-Ray 8 – San Jose, Miraflor
Jemma Grundon
Jessica Soane
Victoria Brennan
Andrew C Sweerts
James J Wildgoose
Anna Blackwell
Azelle Egbe
Charles A Pilkington
Georgina H Webster
Hanko Gerritsen
Holly K Courtier
Jezreel Lezama
Michael Modesto Romero Herrera
Roisin M Carson
Fleur Jansen
X-Ray 9 – Dorbata, Chirripo Indigenous Reserve (*New*)
Adrianna Rodriguez
Daniel Walsh
Jayshree Jadav
Robert F Sutton-Mattocks
Alexandre Bello
Frederik van Landegem
Brayan Lobo Fallas
Ciara Atkinson
Dara M Sternberg
Josephine Killen
Matthew F Moore
Ravenna A Westerhout
Sophie G van Woerkom
Yzza R Slaoui
From hereon in, if you wish to send a message, please put the NAME OF RECIPIENT and their X-RAY GROUP. Makes admin a little easier. Thanks!
X-Ray 1 – Turrisantos Trek
Clare Wright
Daniel Saborio
Francesca Hodge
Elliot Gordon
Callum E Hunter
Danielle Dowding
Diana Hindle Fisher
Jack Bannenberg
Jose Pablo Castilo Halabi
Lauren Davidson
Phoebe Mackenzie Smith
Savan Shah
Sophie I Jenkins
Lisa Steinmetz
Sam Horbye
X-Ray 2 – Corcovado Trek
Afsana Tahirova
Joseph Donovan
Harry Verma
Dougal Mackenzie Smith
Erika Lobo Sánchez
Louisa Treadwell
Mary Dashfield
Max de Kroon
Valeria Vasquez Cruz
Jonathan Sacarello
Alexi Meghir
Joshua Biggs O'May
Fosca Meyjes
X-Ray 3 – Miratombo Trek (*New*)
Caroline Bolt
Jonathan Baguley
Kelly Mcpherson
Oliver Thomas
Wing Tung Wong
Deyanira Monterrey Centeno
Jarol Jassiel Tercero Morales
Jessica Emerson
Mark Wardle
Rosemary Henry
Samuel Marsden
Sian Lewis
Thea Mikkelsen
Ting Phoa
George Batt
X-Ray 4 – Carara National Park
Alexander E Dennis
Katie Philpott
Lucinda Ryan
Charlotte Rombaut
Ileana Boyes
James Barlow
Julian Heckmatt
Liam J Ward
Mark J Fearon
Nicole R Waller
Sjoerd B Baardman
Tess P de Jongh
Véronique Driebeek
Daniel Meza
Markus Hjorth
X-Ray 5 – La Amistad National Park
Danielle Percival
Matthew Jewers
Gareth Price-Baghurst
Alfredo Salas Garro
Valeria Celeste Polimeni Solís
Anthony Gallagher
Julie Balfour
Kevin Ho
Neneh Mae Whiting
Phillip Houghton
Rachelle Bent
Louis Manders
George Moody
Amelia Christie-Miller
X-Ray 6 – Volcan Tenorio (*New*)
Amanda Payne-Danson
Roeland Terpstra
Mohammed Benyamin Chowdhury
Maria G Gerono
Mercedes White
Benedict J Maclean
Allegra Dowley
Edward M Lilley
George K Cosgrove
Gustavo Badilla Araya
Hannah Voisin
Pamela Quesada Gutierrez
Simon Webb
Sonia Deiters
Timothy J Welander
X-Ray 7 – La Naranjita, Miraflor
Alex Beaumont
Fiona Arakelian
Amanda H Petersson
Amy Craddock
Claire F Edgley
Eika S Webb
Istvan Josue Sepulveda Hernandez
Jack T Griffin
Joni Antonio Moreno Gonzáles
Marvin Uriel Perez Villarreyna
Thomas S Edney
Louis J Worrall
Harvey Burgess
Emma Tivey
X-Ray 8 – San Jose, Miraflor
Jemma Grundon
Jessica Soane
Victoria Brennan
Andrew C Sweerts
James J Wildgoose
Anna Blackwell
Azelle Egbe
Charles A Pilkington
Georgina H Webster
Hanko Gerritsen
Holly K Courtier
Jezreel Lezama
Michael Modesto Romero Herrera
Roisin M Carson
Fleur Jansen
X-Ray 9 – Dorbata, Chirripo Indigenous Reserve (*New*)
Adrianna Rodriguez
Daniel Walsh
Jayshree Jadav
Robert F Sutton-Mattocks
Alexandre Bello
Frederik van Landegem
Brayan Lobo Fallas
Ciara Atkinson
Dara M Sternberg
Josephine Killen
Matthew F Moore
Ravenna A Westerhout
Sophie G van Woerkom
Yzza R Slaoui
From hereon in, if you wish to send a message, please put the NAME OF RECIPIENT and their X-RAY GROUP. Makes admin a little easier. Thanks!
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