Saturday, 6 December 2008




Hi everyone, Rose here (now back at Field base).

I have loved spending the past 9 days with Alpha One and I thought that I would write to let you know what we have all been up to on San Lucas Island.

The first 2 days of Phase 3 were spent at Field Base eagerly awaiting to find out if we would be deployed to Roca Quemada to finish the school. We had great fun around Field base keeping each other amused! A few of us went on a day trip to Guayabo, Costa Rica’s largest and most important archaeological monument. We also had a fun time celebrating Anna’s birthday with a party and a few games.


We were sad to find out that we wouldn’t be able to go to Roca Quemada but were thrilled when we found out where we would be going instead…
The next day we set out for San Lucas Island. After a bus ride and a very wet boat ride we arrived at the historical and beautiful island. The island was deserted apart from one ranger and a host of exotic wildlife. While we have been here we have seen crabs, eels, snakes, crocodiles, scorpions and a tortoise. Of course I mustn’t forget Lucas – the island’s friendly deer.


Our first night was a little traumatic as we awoke in the middle of the night to find our selves surrounded by crabs – not good if you are terrified of them like me! This episode encouraged us to crack on with building our ‘beach camp’ the next day so we wouldn’t be sleeping on the floor again!

We have spent the other days clearing a path across the island and we also spent a day painting the ranger’s station.






We have been eating like Kings whilst we have been here with Jamie and Pedro as resident master chefs in our camp kitchen. We have eaten crab, fish and coconut – all harvested by our own fair hands! David, the ranger took us on a night walk to catch the crabs!



In our time off, we have been lucky enough to pop to the beach or swim off the pier. It’s paradise! As a group we have been reading ‘The Lonely Men’s Island’. It is a book about the horrible history of the prison on the island. So far no-one has dared sleep in the prison yet but I don’t think it will be long before someone plucks up the courage!

We have also been very adventurous as a group…
Georgie designed an excellent assault course for us to do one morning. Roly and Cam also spent the whole morning setting up a prisoner/ survival challenge for us to do in the afternoon. They had us running all over the island trying to work out clues, complete challenges and escape from our captors! It was fantastic and everyone had great fun.



I am really missing Alpha 1. They are such a brilliant group of people with a huge amount of enthusiasm, initiative and laughter. Keep up the good work Alpha 1!




Messages from The Crab and Blog from Mags

As I mentioned yesterday, Rachel and I dropped in for a cup of tea and cake with the Alpha 3 crew. Mags one of the A3 members is here with us a fieldbase and captions for the photos come from her - enjoy!

Rhys, Andrey, And most of all Daddy Al. This is the chill out time playing lots of cards we learn drifferent tricks.


Matt taking a seat after a hard days work



Andrey, Rhys celebrate victory over daddy al at cards

Emily glad to take her
boots off and rest her feet
and relax after our
hard day work.







Rosie and Jen preparing our lovely lunch of peanutbutter and great kracker's ohh yeah we are happy can't you tell with the smile's on our faces.





Libby, Hattie so proud of the work we have done. Our lovely jungle camp and the wheelchair path we have a solid strong team and we stick together.

Hattie, loves Mum, Dad, Tom, Sam, Dave misses them lots.xxx

Emily sends big hugs to all her friends +family.

Rosie misses all but would love to get more messages.

Al, thanks everyone for all his birthday messages, it was the best birthday ever +He had the most amazing energy bomb cake.

Matt, to everyone who has sent messages to him - thanks.

Jen, sends her love to everyone, can’t wait to see them + is looking forward
To Xmas cuddles to black, spang+ tabby cat+ chee. Lots of love jen xx

Rhys, hey mum+Richard see you at Xmas can’t wait to see your smiling faces again + wedding pics miss you loads. Love Rhys

Dad + Angela, see you at Xmas miss u loads Rhys.
James: I'm using this forum because I imagine that everyone I know here is tired of hearing me talk about Katherine: Katherine is great and I miss her! - (I don't get tired of hearing about you Katherine, I think it's lovely!)

Friday, 5 December 2008

Hi everyone I am back, (not from hybernation June!) but from visiting the wonderful people that make up Alpha 1 and 3. Rachel and I from Field Base took Roly the medic to the island to replace Rose who will be the field base medic for the remainder of the phase. We spent 2 nights on the magical San Lucas Island before popping in for cake and coffee at La Cangreja with Alpha 3. Rachel and I have collected loads of messages for all of you, and have plenty of news on how the groups are going, but it is close to 11pm and my day started at 4am so I will just post some photos which I know you are desperate to see and tell you one more time that these guys are some of the greatest people I have ever met! Oh and Pedro's mum, I am so glad your message made it to the blog, he will be very pleased.