Actually felt the most patriotic today despite being out of the country on it’s most important holiday. Couldn’t find a firework or sparkler all weekend long, so I’ll have to go without. Tinny’s ankle was getting worse yesterday so the team made some switcharoos.
Amanda went with Tinny to the clinic in town as translator (I would have gone, but wasn’t feeling to confident with my Spanish in a medical setting). I joined Debra and Tommy Jones from Jones, Oklahoma in the LEP plot for some ‘boot camp’ seedling mapping.
Seedling mapping is a rough project lots of messing around on the forest floor and lots of getting cut up by all the spiky things that live down there. I definitely prefer shooting infrared lasers at my trees. As TJ and D shouted out species and coordinates I furiously wrote down every single one.
Rained the whole time except for a couple of hours around lunch. Finished a record 10 plots (1/10 ha) by around 3:00pm. As we were nearing completion, Amanda showed up after a successful trip to town with Tinny. A tape measure went missing (Amanda’s) and we’re pretty convinced the Bosques crew is having a blast messing with us.
In the field we saw two snakes including what we think was a baby Fer-de-Lance. Also saw a metallic bug that looked like it belonged in the insect museum from Friday. Other wildlife encounters included a spider that was built like a tank (the armored kind).
Tinny got a solid injection of some anti-inflammatory and some pills for the next few days. The shot made her fell better almost instantly and after a couple days of rest (and me writing down seedling data) we’ll be back out to Lindero Sur and hopefully right back on schedule. Amanda also tracked down boots for me in town that’ll be in on Friday. Good to put that behind me.
Crazy go nuts downpour the whole commute back. Threw on my jeans and goofed off in the office before walking to the comedor in pouring rain for our coffee break. Pretty sure this has been the rainiest day of my summer; welcome to the wet season. Among other realizations today, I though it would be awesome to work in a 3-week research trip here in intersession this January. It would also permit a trip to Costa Rica’s tallest peak.
Fourth of July was on my mind all day long and many other people seemed to have forgotten until I reminded them. Amanda brought gifts for us from Panama, which included a Panama shot glass and fun little bag. Sat and talked at dinner for a long time with Tinny, Karen, and Debra. Feel very jet-laggy right now and looking to hit the sack early.
Out with Team Baby Trees in the morning, hopefully a little less rain and definitely a nicer part of the plot to work in. A picture today because good hair is so essential to being fly. Ideally, less than a month to go, talk to y’all tomorrow.
BP
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