We set our alarms for 4:30am in preparation for a morning patrol beginning at 5am. However, we awoke, not just to the sound of our alarms, but to the deafening and constant sound of thunder. The frequent lightening was the only source of light and the rain was insane. Having reluctantly emerged from our mosquito net caves and ventured into the torrential downpour, we were greeted with the news of an aborted mission. The beach was too dangerous in this kind of weather for morning patrol so we cowered back into our cabins and the 'safety' of our beds.
When the sun finally decided to show its face (approximately 7am) we emerged from our nets, once again, to find the moat had become a lake and monkeys in the trees right outside our cabins! We set off to breakfast much more cheerful (rice and beans!) and proceeded to get ready for mid-morning patrol instead.
To our delight, and despite it not really being turtle season, our Pacuare guide, Ida, discovered an opened leatherback turtle nest. Scooping her hand into the hole, she pulled out a baby turtle. However, it was soon clear that he was a slightly handicapped little fellow. After pulling himself round in cirlcles (and NOT towards the sea!) Ida soon realised the problem; he had a weak fin and damaged left eye. He was soon christened Isaac of Team Costa Rica and, when he finally made it to the sea, we waved him off like proud mums.
Isaac soon became the muse for a song (sung to the tune of Copacabana)
His name was Isaac
He was a turtle
He popped his head out on the land
Spread his fins out on the sand
His fin was lazy
His eye was crazy
He spun around upon the sand
So Ida pushed him with her hand
He went into the sea
He waved his fin at me
He was young and he was free
To find a family
The Northern Station
In Costa Rica
There should be turtles everywhere
But the storm just didn't care
The Northern Station
In Costa Riiiiica
Lightening and flashing and thunder and crashing
Costa Riiiiiiicaaaa
We fell in mud!
After patrolling our half of the beach, we walked back to Northern station through the rainforest. Sightings of a jaguar along the same path just a few days earlier added to the atmosphere as we walked. We just saw frogs, snakes and lizards, however, and made it back to the Northern Station safely.
That afternoon, we were motivated to do the first clothes wash of the trip (we were all running out of knickers). Little did we know that absolutely NOTHING dries at Pacuare and our washing actually came out smelling worse than it did before.
Another candlelit dinner was followed by some furious crossword completion; the first of many at Pacuare. We like to call it team bonding!
An early night followed after a cancellation of our night patrol (cancelled patrols: 2) due to, you guessed it, bad weather!
Buenas noches from Team Costa Rica xxx
Bet any money Isaac is still swimming around in circles just where you left him lol
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