Halloween
The week began, as weeks usually do, on Monday (so far so good)……16 intrepid eco-volunteers, plus those notorious members of staff (you know who you are) arrived back from Hector’s Island. After a soaking-wet canoe ride (read torrential down-pour) – fun was had by all of course – to Coca (where we had a short stay feasting on all manner of pastries and meats – we were all small Hansels and Grettles bewitched by the infinite varieties of cholesterol) where we hitched a ranchera ride back to camp disembarking in late afternoon.
After a long awaited good night's kip (Hammock sleeping – vis-à-vis Hector’s Island – is not the world’s most comfortable contraption in which to have forty winks),Tuesday dawned and progressed through to Friday (Halloween) naturally enough. The week’s various activities included some local bird mist-netting on the ridge – a glorious number of humming-birds were caught (and some were let go…Jon) and a wonderful Blue-crowned Motmot – in all its regalia – found its way fortuitously into our nets. Two pioneering Shackeltonesque five week BTEC-rs lead their individual bird-surveys….they both did terribly well, so a hearty round of applause and the Royal Geographic Society’s Field’s Medal to them both!!
A small number of EMs departed for sat-camp on the Cascada trail; where they stayed lit by a homely fire overnight, and enjoyed a successful day’s butterfly surveying the following morning – so much so that we thought we might require to follow in the footsteps of Henry Morton Stanley and go and rescue them….EMs I presume? A new area of the reserve – recently trailed – was walked along by a few brave EMs lead by their gallant general Adam C (all returned – none tragically lost thankfully!).
Halloween seemed to arrive in an instant and everyone greeted it with a horrifically ghoulish mood. To mark the event Saturday night was Halloween themed. The evening began well with the camp’s top chef on board – Pete, the apple crumble was delicious – though it slowly went downhill when some of the guys turned up dressed as ladies, particularly because they seemed to enjoy it far too much – Tom & Mark – I have the feeling you do this sort of thing quite often – though you both looked ravishing in your outfits. Everyone else that geared up looked amazing – Andy’s sword-touting pirate was right out of Pirates of the Caribbean, or should that be Pirates of Penzance???
The weekend also involved some fun extra-curricular activities in the guise of tubing – essentially hurling down the river on roped rubber rings whilst trying to hold on with dear life – I am told it was immense fun…a special mention should go to Sophie for managing not to drown herself. In addition all EMs were spiritually cleansed by the local curandero (not a shaman but of a similar heritage) – a very interesting ritual – involving much smoke and brushing of leaves. And finally I would like to record for posterity GVI’s first football win in our local EMs vs. Locals derby – even though there was some funny rule making going on (indoor rules applying to outdoors) – you won far and square guys – if only England could take penalties so well! That rounds off this week’s blog.
After a long awaited good night's kip (Hammock sleeping – vis-à-vis Hector’s Island – is not the world’s most comfortable contraption in which to have forty winks),Tuesday dawned and progressed through to Friday (Halloween) naturally enough. The week’s various activities included some local bird mist-netting on the ridge – a glorious number of humming-birds were caught (and some were let go…Jon) and a wonderful Blue-crowned Motmot – in all its regalia – found its way fortuitously into our nets. Two pioneering Shackeltonesque five week BTEC-rs lead their individual bird-surveys….they both did terribly well, so a hearty round of applause and the Royal Geographic Society’s Field’s Medal to them both!!
A small number of EMs departed for sat-camp on the Cascada trail; where they stayed lit by a homely fire overnight, and enjoyed a successful day’s butterfly surveying the following morning – so much so that we thought we might require to follow in the footsteps of Henry Morton Stanley and go and rescue them….EMs I presume? A new area of the reserve – recently trailed – was walked along by a few brave EMs lead by their gallant general Adam C (all returned – none tragically lost thankfully!).
Halloween seemed to arrive in an instant and everyone greeted it with a horrifically ghoulish mood. To mark the event Saturday night was Halloween themed. The evening began well with the camp’s top chef on board – Pete, the apple crumble was delicious – though it slowly went downhill when some of the guys turned up dressed as ladies, particularly because they seemed to enjoy it far too much – Tom & Mark – I have the feeling you do this sort of thing quite often – though you both looked ravishing in your outfits. Everyone else that geared up looked amazing – Andy’s sword-touting pirate was right out of Pirates of the Caribbean, or should that be Pirates of Penzance???
The weekend also involved some fun extra-curricular activities in the guise of tubing – essentially hurling down the river on roped rubber rings whilst trying to hold on with dear life – I am told it was immense fun…a special mention should go to Sophie for managing not to drown herself. In addition all EMs were spiritually cleansed by the local curandero (not a shaman but of a similar heritage) – a very interesting ritual – involving much smoke and brushing of leaves. And finally I would like to record for posterity GVI’s first football win in our local EMs vs. Locals derby – even though there was some funny rule making going on (indoor rules applying to outdoors) – you won far and square guys – if only England could take penalties so well! That rounds off this week’s blog.
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