The Beginning of the End

So... last blog I was pretty gutted at being able to make the 2 dives on the friday but hay, these things happen. Later that day I arrived back at the camp and as I arrived Amanda and Carrie were set to leave for a few days off and Daniela and Andreia had now left. It felt a little bit odd once the car traveled off into the distance, it was always me, Carrie and Amanda from the day I arrived so the camp had a different feel to it without them, kind of empty. My shift was 1-6am and one of the more comedy shifts. I was set to do the censos on the way back so spent the first couple of hours patroling followed by an hours sleep on the beach. I remember waking up at one point with a sudden pain on my finger, opened my eyes to see a crab on my chest, grabbing hold of my finger. With that I flinched my hand and the crab flew through the air. Huh, wont be trying to eat me again hay. So back to sleep and shortly after 2 smaller crabs were nibbling my toes, cant a guy get any beach sleep around here!

We had a temporary new addition to the camp in the form of Rudy, a Boa Vistian tour guide who was having a bit of a holiday and break from the tourists and was allowed to join our camp on the terms of helping with patrols. He brought 2 surfboards with him, what a legend!! So as you can guess I was over the moon and on the 25th we went for a surf. He is a bit of a pro surfer and surfs a modest 5 foot 2 board, the one I lent must have been 5 foot 5 tops. As a bit of a begginer its fair to say this was a hard surf, great fun trying though.

Since I arrived here I have done a lot of drawing and had some compliments, with which for some reason I find really hard to accept, but am obviously over joyed when I have received them. The soldiers and locals have paid particular interest. I have made a few tshirts for the soldiers, including their military logo design. I have a few more Tee designs to print when I get back :) I have also been working on a tattoo design for myself but cant quite get it together. Its something I have been meaning to do for a good few years but its hard, and weird, the thought of putting a mark on your body for life. Maybe it will never happen.

In my 5 weeks since I arrived I have turned a corner with reading. I have never been a big reader, not because I have not been interested or find actual reading hard but because I find it very hard to get into a book, one- because they're to small. and two- only certain books have grabbed my attention enough to get to the end. There really have only been a handful of books that have entertained me enough to finish them in recent times. I can honestly say ´Atonement´ has been really influential on me. I think it has helped me to write this blog, the descriptions given and the story are a must read for anyone who has not already.

I then read ´Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy´within a day or two, again this is also a must read, so funny and I swear the author must have been high when he came up with the plot, im guessing it was written around the time acid was everywhere.

Since then I have also read ´The Kite Runner´which provides an insight into culture in Afghanistan, it takes you on an experience of emotions and is ultimately a sad story of two friends. I am sure if you have read any of these books then you will agree the recommendation, if you have not already then check them out.

Any way thats my book critic section over, back to the campsite and Rudy is cooking up some food (which will turn out to be the best meal in CaboVerde so far) I have lent him my speakers to play his Ipod through and he has put on some 'Saydi' tunes. Not my kind of music but they made me think of you sis, looking forwards to getting back and catching up with you. He cooked a 3 coures Italian meal and it really made a pleasant change from the usual rice, vegetables and canned meat. I have pretty much become a vegetarian most of the time out here, I find the concept of canned meat unappertizing an just not quite right.

On the 27th I had the early morning shift of 6-10 for the Censos again. The early morning sun is usually the cooler part of the day, but not today! The blistering sun on your back is a force so strong, all you can do is try and press on. Eventually we came across some palm trees and it was sooo nice and cool stepping into the shade. That feeling of walking through a desert trying to escape the heat will be a permanent memory for me.

Later that night I was out on patrol 9.30-2.00 on the same beach as the morning (Curral Velho) the beach is about 5.5k walk so 2 round trips totaled about 22k that day, and this is walking on sand, its really hard work but really rewarding when you get back and think of what you have done. On the patrol we found 3 dead hatchlings from a nest which had hatched ealier that night, and one that the dog got just before us. The dogs are not supposed to come but will sometimes turn up on the patrol. We took the turtle back to camp to try and save him but it did not make it through the night. Thus providing further reasoning, along with the obvious fact that dogs are one of their main predators, that they should not be there in the first place.

I was then up again at 5.45 the following morning (28th) to help with the excavations. We dig up any old nests that look like they have been sabotaged by crabs, already hatched or may be at risk (so for reloaction) We came across a few dead hatchlings that had not been able to make it out of the nest. A lot that had hatched and even more with only a few shells left in the bottom. These ones have been eaten by crabs. Later that eve was a sleepy one, I was knackered.

The following day we received a special visit. In my time since I arrived we have had several visits including some by the organisers, the German camera man making a documentary and various other related guests. Today was different though, through the planning it felt like we were expecting royalty. The visitor was the Minister of Defence for Cabo Verde. The soldiers were in formation and the camp cleaned up to an appropriate level. We introduced ourselves and answered a few questions. She came across as a really pleasant woman and thanked us for our participation and work within biodiversity, she also recognised that it was quite an experience for us as well which I thought was nice touch. It shows she had really thought about it and ment what she was saying.

Its early morning following patrol. As I unwrap my plastered foot, as if it were an unwanted xmas present, I just for one minute look forward to giving my feet a chance to heal. My feet are covered in bites aswell but it is the layers of blisters that are causing the problems. Sand constantly enters my shoe and revolves around. Every time one blister has nearly healed another bobs up from below the previous. You manage though, as soon as you are on that beach in the moon light amongst the turtles you forget about any of that, and realise again that it really is worth it.

30092010 brought about the next soldier exchange and there was a buzz about Lacacao. We would be welcoming back a few of the previous soldiers and I knew at least a few of us who were keen on this. The current ones had been ok but the feeling around the campsite had not been the same as before. Later that evening I had to miss patrol as had begun to feel ill again. When I awoke in the morning I felt much of the same, fortunately this fell on my day off, I was set to head back to Sal Rei.

We arrived in town and instead of doing the sensible thing and getting some rest we went for a beer, later that night, after a pizza snack, Carrie and I cooked up some british fish and chips for Ukie as we were staying at his appartment. A few more beers and my head was banging, I hit the hay and was out for the count.

Today (02102010 + only 9 days left :( Today I have been mostly updating this for who ever may read and myself in the future. I am still really annoyed that I have been unable to share my photos but this will be done when I return to sunny ol´ England. I now know my plans for the rest of the trip and have mixed emotions. I arrive back in England on the 12th, in Manchester of all places. I have however had some contact with an organisation in Costa Rica and applied for a RFA (Research Field Assistant) placement. It would mean no cost to be there and all accomodation/food etc supplied. I would just need to pay to travel out there. I have spoken to a lot of people here who have been, and told me how magical it is. You can be in the rainforest amongst waterfalls one minute, then the next jumping into the tropical sea. I look forwards and hope that my trip takes me to anywhere slightly as incedible as this. The work will again be with turtles, but I will then be looking to extend my trip and work within the rainforest. I love life.

There will be one last blog around the time I get back to the UK, I really hope you have enjoyed the read and look out for pics soon!! See you soon. Sam x