One Week To Go

July 29, 2014
by Denise K

I can't believe that we have been here for 16 days.

peaceful morning at the salt lick

I awoke this morning to the distant sound of the Howler monkeys guarding their territory.  A few days ago, they seemed to be right above our cabin.  The sound is haunting - a percussive and pulsating growl that percolates throughout the forest letting everyone and everything know that this is their territory!  I hope they will move closer again so that I can record it.

Breakfast, oh breakfast!  Actually, any meal...they are amazing day after day.  I am so impressed by what Olvideo and the kitchen staff are able to create in these remote conditions -- freshly baked rolls, delicious soups, salads with a lime dressing, pizza, tacos, homemade tortillas, lasagna, and even a homemade birthday cake (with frosting!) when the occasion arises.

At 9:30, our small group headed down the Lago trail to canoe in the lake.  I love hiking on Lago, even though it's a challenging, wet, muddy, and swampy trail.  There are always so many animals on this trail.  Today, we seemed to startle a number of huge birds.  We didn't get to see them, but we could sense their size by the sound of their wings crashing through the branches as they took off through the jungle.  The most surprising animal encounter for me happened on this trail yesterday when we stumbled upon a group of peccary.    We also didn't get to see them (I was okay with that!), but we heard the machine-like clacking of their tusks.  Several of us were a bit scared until we realized that they were moving away from us (they are very unpredictable and can sometimes be aggressive).

The Lago trail leads to the Anaconda trail (named after the 40 foot anaconda that has been spotted in that area) where we saw leaf cutter ants!!!  So cool!  They carry the leaf fragments to their colonies and use them to culture a specific fungus which is their only food.

I was so excited to canoe in the lake.  Our first trip to the lake was guided by Jose, but it rained the entire time, so I was looking forward to seeing the lake on a beautiful, blue sky, sunny day.  The proboscis bats were in their usual spot resting on a stick that emerged straight up from the lake water.

The Common Potoo was hidden in his spot in a collection of trees -- so still, it is nearly impossible to distinguish him from the tree trunk.  The Hoatzins were out, too.  I love their crazy head plummage.

Lunch. Delicious!

We met Juan Carlos and Santiago after lunch for more station service work.  It feels so good to give back to this station -- today we really worked hard!  The workers had stacked five piles of wood off of the Chorongo trail  for us to process.  The wood is from a tree in the cedar family.  It is not especially hard, but it can handle the constant moisture well and is suitable to line the swampy part of our trail.  It has a mesquite type of smell and and a beautiful orange color to it.  It feels so good to be physically active, sweating, and knowing that we are helping, even if in a very small way, to preserve this beautiful environment.

Surprise Mud Bath!

Will not forget the moment that John slammed his wood on a the trail, hitting a sloshy puddle, which sent mud everywhere.  Denise G took the mud bath very well!

We discussed our journal topics in the afternoon.  I find these small group conversations with the students so rewarding.  DG and I had no say in which students were selected for this trip.  I am impressed (everyday!) by their thoughtfulness, insight, sensitivity, and their ability to make anything fun.  I have told them many times that if I couldn't be on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure with my own family, they are the group I'd choose to be with.

Our journal topic discussion led to a planning meeting with Denise G and Kevin on the gazebo as an afternoon rainforest storm was blowing in.  It was stunning to watch the sky darken and the storm clouds seemed to merge at our gazebo from opposite directions.  The sound of the rain can be so loud that it is deafening.  

Denise G, Kevin, and I were in clean dry clothes.  This has become a true luxury and we were not about give that up easily.  We opted to stay in the gazebo long after the students ran back to their cabins in the downpour and even though the storm showed no signs of letting up.  We passed the time by doing yoga with the sounds of the rain.

Our evening ended with an  "Oil Talk" by Diego, the station manager.  Informative, eye opening, and very worrisome.  We left the evening pondering what we can do to stop the destruction of this precious place.  It's overwelming and there is no easy solution.  

I am hopeful, though, that this generation of students will go on to fight for positive environmental changes.  I am hopeful that we have all been changed by this experience, by learning to manage (and enjoy ourselves) even though conditions have been challenging and uncomfortable.  I am hopeful that we will embrace any opportunity to make do with less and lead more simple lives so that this exquisite place will continue to exist for generations to come.  It will not be easy, but I am hopeful.

with so much gratitude, 

denise k