TELs Update – November

In the weeks leading up to the new Trekkers group arrival the TELs worked hard to plan and prepare for the re-vamped jungle training experience. We all made ambitious jungle training plans and transport plans…only a few minor errors. Fortunately Boo and Colin were constantly on hand to guide and ridicule our attempts.
The final days of our own training included more work on river crossings. It is fair to say we weren’t entirely on form…again Jade ended up drifting down the river as Frankie threw a line but forgot to hold his end of it, this was followed by various inaccurate attempts with the throw line, the safety line was not secured and ended off downstream and we topped it all off by leaving all the kit and nearly driving off in the landrover! Not our finest hour, summarized by Colin as a total shamble. We redeemed ourselves in our second attempt in which all crossings were successfully completed…no people or ropes ended up downstream.
We completed our preparations just in time for the arrival of the new group. Day one of Jungle Training at Sylvestre Village we allocated buddy pairs by blindfolding the Trekkers and getting them to mime and make animal noises in order to find their partner. Dr Doug stole the show with his impression of a panda eating bamboo!
Everyone seemed to enjoy the training – the Trekkers mastered several jungle ninja skills including navigation, first aid, machete use, shelter building and trap making. To test their abilities we sent the Trekkers off on a solo night. It happened to fall on Friday 13th so Doug, Jade and Boo decided a bit of spooking was in order. We tried to creep with ninja stealth around the camps and even had sticks moving spookily across the camps on the end of fishing line. The Trekkers apparently heard our giggling and not so stealth-like crashing through the jungle and remained totally unphased by our attempts.
In an attempt to heighten the senses of the Trekkers to the sounds of the jungle we went on a night walk without headlamps up a nearby hill. At the top we all stood quietly in a circle for a few minutes to listen to the night sounds before everyone took it in turns to share their highlights of the trip so far. It was a quality moment.
Jungle Training concluded with the Trekkers successfully completing a belt kit night followed by the usual antics at the legendary Jungle Jim’s party.
Next we surprised the Trekkers with a canoe trip from the ruins at Lamanai. Having told them that we only had 2 canoes – Colin and Boo sat in the safety boat and we persuaded everyone else to cram into the other one. 9+ people in a canoe - the result was inevitable!
Unfortunately we got lost in the labyrinth of small rivers and it was left to Colin and Frankie to wade waist deep in the swamp to find a way out. Frankie commented that it looked like someone else had been through here. Colin decided that wasn’t the moment to tell him they were following a trail made by a crocodile.
The Trekkers are now working hard at El Pilar archaeological site building benches, a palapa and steps. Highlights so far include sneaking across the border to see Mayan treasure holes, and spotting toucans and spider monkeys.
And so our story comes to an end – it has been physically, mentally and emotionally draining, it has had some serious low points and some definite “what are we doing here” moments. But, ultimately the knowledge and satisfaction that we can wander into the jungle armed with only a machete (ok, a match as well!) and happily survive has made it all so worthwhile. The jungle has become our friend rather than our enemy now. What more can you ask for?

Bosh