Sunday 8 January
Only half a day driving today. We awoke to find that the threat of awarding the knickers has eventuated. Anybody who refers to the truck as a bus has to wear the ‘knickers’ on the outside of their other clothing until such time as somebody else sins. Not surprisingly, it was Tim wearing them and he was not at all concerned – thriving on the attention in fact. Helen pretty soon took them off him and later Dan won them.
I managed a stretch and lotus session before breakfast, which was very pleasant. We drove off into a landscape of eucalypt plantations – very thin and very straight. The soil was red just like home and there was a time that we drove through a deep valley just like the Kimberleys. I got into another Risk game which was interrupted by our arrival at the handover point.
This is Bob - the TRUCK
Spongebob Squarepants that is
This is the trucks that go into the Pantanal
There was an open-backed truck waiting for us and we transferred with day packs for 3 nights on the Pantanal, a huge area of inland freshwater which floods during summer (now). It is the largest wetlands in the world. As seems to be the case around the world, the weather patterns are running late or have changed. It’s more like the Nile than the Okavango inasmuch as the water does drain into a river eventually – it is just a flood plain.
There was about an hour’s drive and then we reached the farm/ranch, Santa Clara.
We are all in 6 bed dorms with ensuites and airconditioning. The accommodation buildings surround a pool and there are several Palm frond covered shelters that are strung with hammocks. We had lunch and a quick internet then went out at 4pm for a hike with a local guide. It was initially very hot but once we go into the forest it felt better and we saw a few different types of animals and birds. Firstly a pair of rare Hyacinth Macaws then a small deer.
Followed by Howler monkeys which proved hard to see in the canopy but you could definitely see and hear them moving over the top of the palm trees. Almost felt like a being on the set of Predator as the branches moved wildly but you couldn’t see what was making it do so.
The best shot I managed to get of the Howler
A storm was approaching and the cooling breeze ahead of it was a very welcome relief as we continued on. A rodent the size of a rabbit went darting off when we got too close. Located a Mother Coati and 2 youngens as we wandered further along.
Mum Coati
We happened across a whole tribe of Coati of various ages and colours who were dashing from one stand of greenery to another. We were encouraged to go scrambling in after them quickly and were able to get quite good shots and views of a lot of them. They are fast and they dart up trees.
Baby up the tree
Concerned Mum
J almost trod on a tiny snake on the road back, which was then picked up and passed around for closer inspection. Then got a fly past of the Hyacinth Macaws.
The hand raised Peccary (pig) and her baby were greeting people with a head rub . They have hand reared Macaws and other parrots flying around the grounds and 2 young Toucans are housed in the large laundry building. Nature all around.
Orange & yellow and green & red macaws
Luke & Tim playing volleyball
The drinking game continued long into the night, with the dreaded underpants moving from one person to the next with Chris being one of the unlucky recipients – he wore them on his head. There is now an added no no word – MINE. You are not allowed to say it as an answer but you can if it is in a question. Penalty if 10 push ups or sit ups. They are clever at baiting you as well, “Whose book is this?’ “Mine” BAM, on the floor. We just won’t talk to anyone for the next 3 months.
Tim in underpants
then Danny
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