Expedition Amazon – Part 2
Although one would think sleeping in a thatched hut with no electricity or air conditioning might be very uncomfortable – it was amazingly peaceful and enjoyable. We were careful to tuck in our bed netting all around us to ensure the “forest soldiers” were at bay. We listened to a soft rain fall during the middle of the night which seemed as if the forest were singing us to sleep! We woke to another great meal prepared by the lodge staff and after breakfast we were greeted by local villagers who demonstrated their craft-making to us. Edgardo was a young fit “twenty-something” Amazonian who demonstrated the use of a blow gun. Locals use the guns to hunt monkey and other bush meat in the forest for sustenance. They rub the tips of the dart on the back of a poison...
Expedition Amazon…
We’ve got chiggers swimming in our blood And bot flies in our neck Disease abound from Amazon mud And our hair is a wreck Our bathroom is a scary place With over 50 rules Describing how exactly One should use the loo’s Those bumps aside this place is great As if this trip was planned by fate When we’ve all returned (hopefully intact) We’re bringing the jungle back! ~ Caitlin Verdu, Amazon Expedition Member Our Amazon adventure started with a 35-hour travel excursion (from home to our Amazon Lodge destination). Team members flew in from all parts of the country. The Aughey’s from Florida, John Burr (adult) from Florida, Sandy Patterson (adult) from Virginia, Dr. Bruce Rinker (adult and trip leader) from Virginia and 6 high school students from...
Refuge or Not…
It was a bright sunny Sunday and the Aughey’s once again found themselves looking for another adventure to embark on. It was just after lunch so they knew they couldn’t wander too far since daylight would soon be retiring. Art suggested they check out a local national wildlife refuge on the outskirts of town called Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Rita was interested in this place because she had read a book that contained some interesting info regarding the site’s history. Consisting of over 17,000 acres, the site’s plains and prairies were once inhabited by plains Indians and settlers. In 1942 the site was transformed into a chemicals weapons manufacturing facility by the US Army. They manufactured mustard and nerve gas, napalm and incendiary...
On Safari… In Moab!
The Aughey’s went on safari in early April! Truth be told, not the kind of safari one imagines going on in Africa….but one that entailed adventure, excitement, exploring and danger! April 4th-11th was the 2009 Annual Easter Jeep Safari weekend in Moab, Utah where literally thousands of “Jeepers” converged in Moab to hit the trails. Art, Rita and Brandon decided to check it out with their own Jeep of course! Moab is a small town flanked by several national parks such as Arches and Canyonlands and other public lands where the terrain is akin to what one would expect to find on planet Mars. In fact, many of the old western movies were filmed in Moab back in the day due to its arid yet beautiful scenery. The soil is red sand and various arid plants such as sage,...
Modern Day Explorers…
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a modern day explorer? Basically it entails having an interest in exploration particularly with an emphasis in the sciences. The preeminent society focused on exploration is The Explorers Club headquartered in New York City. Many of its members have been responsible for famous firsts such as being first to reach the North and South Poles, first to land on the moon, first to summit Mount Everest, etc. Guess what? Art recently became a member of the Explorers Club! He was recently sponsored by a close friend who is a fellow of the club, Dr. Bruce Rinker. He joins many esteemed past and current members such as Sir Edmund Hillary, Theodore Roosevelt, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Robert Ballard, John Glenn …to name a few. The...