Life at Field Base

With all the volunteers and volunteer managers out at their various projects/treks life becomes much quieter at Field base.  The first few days are very chill - mainly cleaning up!  Then we start planning for Trek food drops, NRM fresh food drop, project site visits (PSVs), etc.  The Alphas have to report in twice a day with an update on their plans, any messages/issues, injuries/illnesses, behavioral issues, etc.  

Below is "Field Base' - bit like a hippy commune.  It is within an agricultural college called CATIE, so we are surrounded by fields containing cattle and crops such as sugar cane. There are many banana/plantain trees but we have not picked any as yet.  Just when we think they are ready either the cows eat them or they get harvested.    CATIE is about 20 minutes walk from the nearest town - Turrialba - which has a good supermarket (MaxiPali), restaurants (Sodas), coffee shops, etc.   This is my "world" for three months although I do get to drive out to make food drops or to visit projects.  

This is "Casablanca" where we sleep 

Porch to rear - breakfast with the cows!

Our toilet/showers - Not!! We have a bathroom inside

My commute to the office

The Office - with the volunteers "Hotel"

Inside the "Hotel"

Porch off the office for lunch, dinner, meetings

The nature around us is fascinating - lots of birds including tucans, geckos, bats, weird insects/bugs. huge cockroaches, toads, and millions of ants.  You have to be careful where you stand to avoid the biting ants - tiny little creatures that pack a punch.  Below are leaf eating ants - these live in incredibly well organized "society".

Leaf cutting ants

And the tree they are attacking

We do drink a lot of great Costa Rica coffee and here is how we make it - with a coffee condom (or sock in polite company!).

Coffee Condom - just add coffee and hot water

Everyone is back at Base

19 days after leaving everyone is back at fieldbase.  Phase 1 equipment is cleaned and handed back then its time to see old friends again and chill after the hard work.    Its back to sleeping in the "Hotel" for the volunteers and "Casablanca" for the Volunteer Managers.  

Julie's bus (Alpha 3) Arriving

A number of events are held to keep the V's occupied -like this awesome dance class below:  At some point the VMs are notified of their new assignment and then in turn the Vs find out their new groups.  Julie is assigned to Alpha 2 - Dragon Trek - a 280km walkover 19 days in a rough horseshoe shape on the west of Costa Rica.  Starting close to the beach they should end up on another beach on the pacific coast.  

My main role is to dole out the tents, equipment and food - this is the equipment for the new Alpha 4 who will be building a new school room.

They Are Off Again! - Phase 2

Just three days after arriving back from Phase 1 the Volunteers are off to start their next phase.  

It's an early start for all.  Alphas 2 & 3 are off at 5:00am, packing the bus at 4:30am - so breakfast at 3:30am!  I slept at Field base in case the volunteers needed anything and to put breakfast out. 

 

The buses were a little late, leaving plenty of time for the volunteers to say goodbye to their friends and to watch the lovely sunrise. 

The volcano in Turrialba is normally obscured by cloud but put in a rare appearance.  Someone got in the way of a great photo!!

Turrialba Volcano photo bombed by Luis!

Once the last bus has gone quiet once again descends over fieldbase.  It takes just a couple of hours to clean up everything and to hose down the hotel.  Tons of "stuff" has been left behind - all will end up in Lost Property ready fro the Vs return.  Can't wait!!

Trekkie Reccie!!

The Trek route (Pura Vida) is due to end near to La Cangreja but, given they have walked almost the whole width of Costa Rica, it would seem better to have it end on a beach.  Hanz, Georgie and I went looking at a possible route and assessing it for risks, route directions, places to stay, etc.  

We covered over 500km and for much of this we were in 4 wheel drive mode going up/down quite steep slopes - incredible dirt/gravel and occasional tarmac roads, hugging the mountains.  Quite often we would be either in or above the clouds which tend to hand quite low over the rain forest.  I wish I had taken more photos of the fantastic views but a was little difficult whilst being thrown around!

We did eventually reach the beach and it was lovely.  The sun was setting when we pitched our tents and a local restaurant "Mar Y Sol" provided dinner.

The "Team" - Paul, Georgie and Hanz

Sunset

Quite a hot night so no fly

Perfect sunrise

For some unknown reason Raleigh loves early morning starts.  We had left Field Base at 4:30am on the Wednesday and then the beach at 6:00am on Thursday.   We checked out some routes for another Trek route (Dragon Tail) qnd then arrived at a community centre in San Francisco to meet up with the Trek team - Alpha 1 and to stay the night with them

Community Centre 

Adjacent Soccer Field

It was great to see Alpha 1 and to hear their stories and feedback.  The "boys" have a regular poker game which I joined and was pleased not to lose my shirt!  Wake up call was at 4:00am but it took them almost 2 hours to have breakfast and to get ready.

Team Papaya

Getting ready to move on

Alpha 1 - Team photo

We left around the same time and were back at base just after 9:00am.   

Phase 1 Commences

There are 4 group in Phase 1 and these are known as "Alphas".  

Alpha 1 will be going on the "Pura Vida" trek -   roughly 260km over 19 days. It starts in the indigenous area of Grano de Oro and was supposed to end in the "La Cangreja" National park but that has recently changed - more later on that.

Alpha 2 is based at "La Marta" Wildlife Refuge (https://lamarta.org/) and they will be cleaning up trails, painting signs, building benches and making improvements as required by the rangers.

Alpha 3 is at "La Cangreja" (The Crab) National Park (https://www.sinac.go.cr/ES/ac/accvc/pnlc/Paginas/default.aspx) .  This is the group that Julie is a "VM" for, along with Eyder and Emperatriz.  They are clearing trails, painting signs and making other improvements.

Shelter for eating

Tent City!!

Showers and cooking area

This National Park is about 5 hours away from Fieldbase by bus, followed by a 1km walk from the park gates as the road is too rough for the bus to navigate!  So the poor volunteers had to carry their own gear plus food, cooking stove, gas tanks, etc and all their tools on the last section.  

Very Jurassic Park Like!

I was able to visit for a few days - it was great seeing Julie of course.  The volunteers are so impressive - at least three of them are going to Cambridge this year, one runs her own fashion label and is going to Bristol University to study Criminology!  Others have overcome challenges in their youth to end up with University degrees and a complete new outlook on life.  

Starting the day with yoga

Boxing lessons from Stan

Prepping for "Action Day"

Alpha 4 is at "Centro Educativo Kokotsakubata" which is a school at which they will build a new house for the teachers to live in.

Prepping the foundations

Making the windows

Some of "Alpha 4"