Hi

Just back from the first tree planting project. Left Guate at 5:09 and arrived in Teleman at 11:15. The road was terrible especially at the beginning. We then loaded up the Nature Defenders motorcross bike in the pickup and headed out to the planting site. Fortunately we did not have to use the cable bridge as the new one was working. We then arrived at the first river and one worker waded into the river to check depth. After much discusion it was concluded that we would try to cross. Water was under a meter deep and we made it ok. Then we travel through the rubber tree farm and arrive at the third river. Now this baby is a bird of a different color. We walk up and down assessing our chances and conclude that there is no way to ford. The rock size is wrong and a good indicator of river velocity. We drive back through the local Finca and head up river to another cable bridge. It is not big enough to drive a truck but we can move the motorbike accross. I get doubled up to the village, whcih is about 5 miles. Meet the family doing the planting and we head over to look at the work to date. They are just starting work on the second hectare. Here are a couple of photos.

One of the land owner planting a tree. In the background starting at his right albow you can see the cleared area where the second hectare is being planted.

The second picture is of the food packets loaded and ready to be carried uphill for the 5 kilometers.

I will try adding a few pictures more as the day goes on.

On the return home the river crossing was a little more scary and we had a blow out. I then managed to back my vehicle into a gate and damaged the same location as last time. Minor but frustrating. I left Teleman at 4:45 and the trip out to the highway tood until 7:30 It was raining for much of the way and the fog came in at dark. I thought the 70 km drive would never end.

Stayed in Tactic for the night and was up at 5:30 for a good hike before starting the trip to Guate. Left at a quarter to 7 and arrived home by 10. It was a big mistake arriving on the edge of the city at 9 o'clock Traffic was backed up for miles and I spent more than an hour turttling down the freeway.

I will add more pictures of this trip soon.


Tim