Life is Good Panama: Last Day For Now Week 3 day 15

Trail Photo 21

Trail Photo 23

Trail Photo 24

Trail Photo 25

Week 3 Day 15

Today is the last day of 3 weeks allotted to trail building for now. It was important to get a baseline and to discover how quickly and smoothly the trail work would go. Friday and lunch today is hot dogs with beans and rice a little garlic and onion and you have a sort of chili and of course Justo had to help her and tell her how to cook it - the guy is amazing with what all he knows. Since it is the last day I stressed to Justo to tell them I want to try and finish all we have started and to clean it up so it is presentable to others. I wanted to polish up the gem so to speak. The trail off the main path up to the bamboo is looking better actually it is pretty good and is going to be a little longer distance to get up there walking wise but a lot smoother and easier to walk. The rails are looking good and the trail is not cut as wide giving it a nice natural feel. All day long there are at least 6 workers going to the creek gathering rocks in a bag and carrying them up to the trail dumping them and returning.

It is really looking good and making the trails so much more solid and less slippery. Some of the bougainvillea aren’t doing well and Justo pointed out to me that some leaf cutter ants that thought they were tasty. I can tell already this is going to be tough to write because I just keep thinking not so much about the job they did or the people I just got to know a little but more of the all the individual moments of stellar incidents. I was looking again for details to make it better wondering what would really make the place unforgettable but still haven’t found that special thing so I guess the beauty alone will have to suffice and there is plenty of that. I am still looking for that perfect tree for beginning the zip line runs. I have been lost in the ever changing light under the canopy of trees and how it makes the walk down the same trail seem different each time. Each time I see so many other things in the changing light. I can sense a little bit of urgency as they try to finish or at least make everything look good before the end of the day. After a week of coaching even Celestino’s wife is carrying large rocks from the creek two at a time barefoot. As I walk the trails I find my self thinking about the last 14 days of effort and the mini series of events each day. I am really sad this is coming to an end for now and I am going to miss all these people.

The day ended and Justo and I left a little before the crew to go get payroll ready after telling the guys to be sure to wash all the tools and bring them down. We barely got to the van and had the money counted out before they arrived; guess they were ready too. Oh I almost forgot the guy who was working on sanding and polishing the bamboo rails didn’t show up today and I had some one else doing that job. Well about 2 this afternoon he showed up. He told Justo he had just fallen back to sleep when the others took off and had just now gotten there. He walked 2 hours to get there to work just over a hour and then turn around and have to walk 2 hours back home - that is dedication. Well it was payday too so I guess that counts for something.

Rare Hummer on Punta Linda

Ruffus spreading his wings

I did see another humming bird flit on the way out. I am already counting the days until can restart this project. Benny the biologist is supposed to show up at PL on next Saturday so Linda and I will be anxious to see what he has to say.