Monday the start of any ordinary work week!
Life is good! Mine is starting in the jungle of Panama with 6 Indians and a 67 year old Morse Code Specialist for a translator. The first day of any job is always one of the most trying but to be honest with you it wasn’t really that bad (that being the key word). I had asked and arranged to have 6 Indians with their boss. So a total of 7 but wasn’t too bad. Half of the crew started right in with shovels and a pick working on a bank to make steps, the boss was with them to make sure they didn’t mess it up. The other 3 went with Justo and me as we explored around The World Famous Punta Linda looking for trails and places of interest. The 3 Indians where amazing they chopped through the jungle like a weed eater on steroids - it was amazing. 3 wide the Indians cutting a 5 meter wide path wherever you pointed them. I had tried to get Justo to convey exactly what I wanted before we got started but guess it lost something in the translation. We where chopping on a trail on the ridge just next to the creek and I wandered down closer to the creek to where this huge tree (whose name I will find out) was. The base of this tree has this ribbon of roots surrounding it, I had always really wanted to be able to highlight the beauty of it and the serenity. I hollered up to Justo where I was and that I had wanted a path to the tree. He hollered up to the Indians on the ridge to make a trail to where I was. They proceeded to stop point towards me and cut a 100 meter trail 5 meters wide to where I was which was over ground that could only be described as a very high ridge and a cliff. 10 minutes into their chopping I realized what was happening and tried to holler to Justo to have them cut a trail back and forth and to find the easiest way to me. Guess that lost something in translation. In 20 minutes they had a 5 meter trail right to where I was standing that only a mountain goat would ever be able to climb back up. I wonder if next time I start at the top and have them cut to me it would work. I am sure I will get several more opportunities to find out. The next exploration we did was around this huge almendro tree that was down that we are cutting our posts for the rails from. Right across from the tree is a valley with the most unique tree. The tree is over 100 meters high but 40 meters up a branch goes downwards then has grown into the ground about 6 meters from the base, Other than a banyan tree I have never seen any thing like this. When we got up there Justo remarked this would be a great place for a cabana which I readily agreed.
Next we continued back to the ridge and continued to chop upwards. I had been here earlier on one of my explorations but when it had gotten too thick I had to stop, but the Indians sure didn’t. They where so busy chopping only stopping to pull their files out to sharpen their machetes that they didn’t see a sloth only 3 meters from us up right at eye level, well I didn’t notice it either but Justo pointed him out to me. I had my camera but as I had found out earlier there was just too much humidity, and with me sweating so much there was nothing dry around to clean the lens from the instant fog that formed on it, I am sure he will be in close to the same spot later. Did you know that sloths only come down the tree once every two weeks to defecate? As slow as they are it almost takes them that long to get down. At last just as I had hoped the trail opened up to just under the ridge of the left hand slide of PL. Making our way to the top I know Justo thinks I was a broken record repeating over and over "suave" meaning smooth, the closest thing I have learned so far to mean not too steep. A quick chop across the ridge, 5 meters wide, and it was lunch time. I hollered to Justo to tell them to chop on the way down must again think it lost something in translation. They where like a horses headed for the barn, their back sides soon disappeared from site as Justo and I made our way down.
I met Justo’s brother, his wife and his step father and mother. To his house we hiked off the main road down a river in a plantain field, it was interesting as I drank a cup of coffee with them while their pet parrot tried to bite my ear. He was telling a few stories which I got a quick translation by Justo as I drank some of the darkest richest coffee I had ever had. We talked for a while as I sipped the coffee and he agreed to $.10 per foot cutting the wood from the tree that was already down on PL, of course I bought the oil and the gas and gave him some money for a new chain which he said he would take off the price I paid him. I shook his hand and said that sounded fair which Justo translated. Well after giving Justo $100 for gas and a new bar and chain he showed up. The first day they showed up a quick storm popped up blowing debris all over and breaking branches they left shortly after that. It isn’t fun to get hit by falling debris from 200 meters up so they next day got a good start and cut 530’ of lumber which isn’t the dimensions I had said but none the less we could make it work. It’s something that is almost growing on me as I softly chuckle under my breath and mutter panama.
Once Justo and I made it down to the bottom where the rest of the guys were I smiled as I watched the guys who had just cut a 5 meter trail faster then I had ever seen take off their boots and where soaking their feet in the creek. Remembered again why I was here. I realized that tomorrow I was going to need to bring my chain saw since Justo’s brother had not shown up to cut some fallen debris which could be used for bridges to. I left while they ate lunch and went and picked up the extra pick axe I had in my van and grabbed some lunch which I had forgot to bring up with me. Before I left I mentioned to Justo to have them cut a path to the bamboo which is a huge grove of bamboo you can see from a long way off where there had once been a corral. When I returned they where gone but I looked upwards and saw a 5 meter path straight up the cliff leading to the bamboo. I have got to find a better word in Spanish to communicate “gentle, easy” trail. Climbing up the newly cleared cliff feeling like was in a gym climbing one of those artificial walls with the only difference being that the gym didn’t have the humidity, or the bugs. Once getting to the bamboo I found them clearing the area around there and be honest it looked great so let them chop away. It wasn’t any thing towards putting in the trails but I was happy to see the progress. Justo told me it was getting time for them to leave and they could head down and we could check out a repair his brother had made on the fence. I told Justo to tell them on the way down to chop the path wider but again something in that translation thing. After making our way down I started talking to Justo about what time it was and he told me 2:45. I started thinking we start at 7 am, 30 minute lunch, the numbers don’t work. As I gave Justo a ride home I asked him about that he said they only took a 30 minute lunch so they could get off early. Not bad work 7, get paid for 8 but he also told me tomorrow they would work longer. All and all not a bad first day.
After work I went to Mario’s where he had given me the downstairs cabana to stay in which I was thrilled about since this one also has hot water and grabbed a shower the best shower in the world and headed out to grab some chain saw oil and some gas "opps" my gas can was missing. When Mario got home later about 9 pm I asked him about it and he said his working Enil had it and called him to have his son bring it in the morning. After going to the feriterria - the only hardware store in two towns and picking up the supplies; I then went to the internet café in Chiriquí Grande and spent some time on the net researching mazes - it’s a idea I had to maybe make Punta Linda different if I could. I always told you I was an idea man didn’t mean they where all good.
Life is good! Mine is starting in the jungle of Panama with 6 Indians and a 67 year old Morse Code Specialist for a translator. The first day of any job is always one of the most trying but to be honest with you it wasn’t really that bad (that being the key word). I had asked and arranged to have 6 Indians with their boss. So a total of 7 but wasn’t too bad. Half of the crew started right in with shovels and a pick working on a bank to make steps, the boss was with them to make sure they didn’t mess it up. The other 3 went with Justo and me as we explored around The World Famous Punta Linda looking for trails and places of interest. The 3 Indians where amazing they chopped through the jungle like a weed eater on steroids - it was amazing. 3 wide the Indians cutting a 5 meter wide path wherever you pointed them. I had tried to get Justo to convey exactly what I wanted before we got started but guess it lost something in the translation. We where chopping on a trail on the ridge just next to the creek and I wandered down closer to the creek to where this huge tree (whose name I will find out) was. The base of this tree has this ribbon of roots surrounding it, I had always really wanted to be able to highlight the beauty of it and the serenity. I hollered up to Justo where I was and that I had wanted a path to the tree. He hollered up to the Indians on the ridge to make a trail to where I was. They proceeded to stop point towards me and cut a 100 meter trail 5 meters wide to where I was which was over ground that could only be described as a very high ridge and a cliff. 10 minutes into their chopping I realized what was happening and tried to holler to Justo to have them cut a trail back and forth and to find the easiest way to me. Guess that lost something in translation. In 20 minutes they had a 5 meter trail right to where I was standing that only a mountain goat would ever be able to climb back up. I wonder if next time I start at the top and have them cut to me it would work. I am sure I will get several more opportunities to find out. The next exploration we did was around this huge almendro tree that was down that we are cutting our posts for the rails from. Right across from the tree is a valley with the most unique tree. The tree is over 100 meters high but 40 meters up a branch goes downwards then has grown into the ground about 6 meters from the base, Other than a banyan tree I have never seen any thing like this. When we got up there Justo remarked this would be a great place for a cabana which I readily agreed.
Next we continued back to the ridge and continued to chop upwards. I had been here earlier on one of my explorations but when it had gotten too thick I had to stop, but the Indians sure didn’t. They where so busy chopping only stopping to pull their files out to sharpen their machetes that they didn’t see a sloth only 3 meters from us up right at eye level, well I didn’t notice it either but Justo pointed him out to me. I had my camera but as I had found out earlier there was just too much humidity, and with me sweating so much there was nothing dry around to clean the lens from the instant fog that formed on it, I am sure he will be in close to the same spot later. Did you know that sloths only come down the tree once every two weeks to defecate? As slow as they are it almost takes them that long to get down. At last just as I had hoped the trail opened up to just under the ridge of the left hand slide of PL. Making our way to the top I know Justo thinks I was a broken record repeating over and over "suave" meaning smooth, the closest thing I have learned so far to mean not too steep. A quick chop across the ridge, 5 meters wide, and it was lunch time. I hollered to Justo to tell them to chop on the way down must again think it lost something in translation. They where like a horses headed for the barn, their back sides soon disappeared from site as Justo and I made our way down.
I met Justo’s brother, his wife and his step father and mother. To his house we hiked off the main road down a river in a plantain field, it was interesting as I drank a cup of coffee with them while their pet parrot tried to bite my ear. He was telling a few stories which I got a quick translation by Justo as I drank some of the darkest richest coffee I had ever had. We talked for a while as I sipped the coffee and he agreed to $.10 per foot cutting the wood from the tree that was already down on PL, of course I bought the oil and the gas and gave him some money for a new chain which he said he would take off the price I paid him. I shook his hand and said that sounded fair which Justo translated. Well after giving Justo $100 for gas and a new bar and chain he showed up. The first day they showed up a quick storm popped up blowing debris all over and breaking branches they left shortly after that. It isn’t fun to get hit by falling debris from 200 meters up so they next day got a good start and cut 530’ of lumber which isn’t the dimensions I had said but none the less we could make it work. It’s something that is almost growing on me as I softly chuckle under my breath and mutter panama.
Once Justo and I made it down to the bottom where the rest of the guys were I smiled as I watched the guys who had just cut a 5 meter trail faster then I had ever seen take off their boots and where soaking their feet in the creek. Remembered again why I was here. I realized that tomorrow I was going to need to bring my chain saw since Justo’s brother had not shown up to cut some fallen debris which could be used for bridges to. I left while they ate lunch and went and picked up the extra pick axe I had in my van and grabbed some lunch which I had forgot to bring up with me. Before I left I mentioned to Justo to have them cut a path to the bamboo which is a huge grove of bamboo you can see from a long way off where there had once been a corral. When I returned they where gone but I looked upwards and saw a 5 meter path straight up the cliff leading to the bamboo. I have got to find a better word in Spanish to communicate “gentle, easy” trail. Climbing up the newly cleared cliff feeling like was in a gym climbing one of those artificial walls with the only difference being that the gym didn’t have the humidity, or the bugs. Once getting to the bamboo I found them clearing the area around there and be honest it looked great so let them chop away. It wasn’t any thing towards putting in the trails but I was happy to see the progress. Justo told me it was getting time for them to leave and they could head down and we could check out a repair his brother had made on the fence. I told Justo to tell them on the way down to chop the path wider but again something in that translation thing. After making our way down I started talking to Justo about what time it was and he told me 2:45. I started thinking we start at 7 am, 30 minute lunch, the numbers don’t work. As I gave Justo a ride home I asked him about that he said they only took a 30 minute lunch so they could get off early. Not bad work 7, get paid for 8 but he also told me tomorrow they would work longer. All and all not a bad first day.
After work I went to Mario’s where he had given me the downstairs cabana to stay in which I was thrilled about since this one also has hot water and grabbed a shower the best shower in the world and headed out to grab some chain saw oil and some gas "opps" my gas can was missing. When Mario got home later about 9 pm I asked him about it and he said his working Enil had it and called him to have his son bring it in the morning. After going to the feriterria - the only hardware store in two towns and picking up the supplies; I then went to the internet café in Chiriquí Grande and spent some time on the net researching mazes - it’s a idea I had to maybe make Punta Linda different if I could. I always told you I was an idea man didn’t mean they where all good.
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This is so exciting! I can't wait to come down and visit you guys! We are going to set up a timeline for our move to Panama!!!!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget I want to be your horse rental and/or sea kayak guide! Maybe my friend, Pat, will want to be your whitewater kayak guide.