May 4, 2013
“That is a freaking
hairy spider”
Bright and
early and out to the forest to hike uphill to the bird tower. It is barely light and the tower is held
together with zip-ties. Pedro is our
local guide and he just laughs at our inexperience with everything. Climbing two ladders to the top of the bird
tower was worth it. The view was
gorgeous. Mountains and forests continue
to the edges of the Earth. Incredible. We have figured out that four people need to
be standing in the four corners to stabilize the structure and only five people
can be on it at a time. It is a
beautiful view, and was worth the nervous climb. Breakfast fills our bellies and the entire
group ventures out to plot out forty mammal traps in the woods. Sherman traps are the names of these steel
contraptions. We are trying to measure
and place them every ten meters in four different rows. We are slightly off….okay, we are very
off. These baits are being placed to
trap any small mammals that are venturing bravely in the woods. Everyone has high hopes, I read the
chances. I think it’s slim. Peanut butter is the bait, and that surprised
me. At least we don’t have to dismantle
insects to place inside. It takes us all
the way until lunch, but they are placed and ready to go. The hikes in and out of the main part of the
research station are always nice, if you like hiking. I do enjoy hiking, but I realize my borrowed
boots have dangling soles. Ticks, now is
your chance to get my feet. I start to
think back to all of the nice little critters we have all found one by
one. A “hairy” spider was in a window of
one of the bunk rooms and we knew that it was a red tarantula. Not a fan.
There was a tarantula by the wash bin that was black and very mean
looking. I start to feel itchy, so I am
convinced that the cold water only shower will help. Everyone is finding ticks, one by one. Mosquitoes are everywhere and everyone is
tackling bumps. It is different, yet
still fun. It is eye opening to what you
could live off of and what really is not necessary. The generator goes on at 5:00 pm and turns
off at 10:00 pm. In this time we have to
do all of our computer work and try to Skype the loved ones in the States. It gets frustrating. Lights go off no matter where you are, a
headlamp is now part of the nighttime outfit.
Howler Monkeys can be heard all night long. They are so loud and they just howl and
scream all the time. It is hard to fall
asleep, hard to stay asleep and hard to sleep in. It is light outside at 5:30 am every
morning. It is nice to fall into a
simpler pattern, a world with no fancy clothes and makeup. Life is not as convenient; however, it is
very easy.
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