As promised, here is the longer post I had assured everyone was coming. I basically filled up the void yesterday with pictures, so now you’ll have some narrative to go along with that.

Yesterday I woke up and ambled from my room down the path and past my new friend, the big spider. The Argonauts have named her Charlotte and she is quite large and menacing-looking, about the size of my palm (legs included). Here is a good picture of her.

Yesterday was also my first attempt at doing a local load of laundry. I schlepped my clothes down to the river and synthesized a detergent from indigenous berries and moss. Once the paste was ready I worked it into a lather using crude monkey-made tools whilst chanting to the god of laundry: Maytag. Ok, so I went to the laundry room and used the washer, so sue me.

I made a concerted effort yesterday to go outside and see what the deal is with this “rainforest.” I spent some time at our first broadcast location up Fausto trail. Yesterday’s photo of me was taken during the shoot with Argonauts, scientists, and broadcast crew all milling about. They are hoisting kids up into the canopy and taking measurements of those large diptryx trees. The kids had to be very quiet walking near one of the trees because a family of bats lives inside. I’m positive that they’ll wake up during one live show and swarm everywhere. That will push the Hijinx and Hilarity Index (HHI) to at least 9.

The weather up in the forest is really nice, it’s very shady and moist. You sweat but you don’t feel uncomfortable. Of course when you notice ticks on you, it’s not that much fun. I’ve heard there are things here called “tick balls” that are basically big globs of swarming ticks that occasionally can fall from trees. Gotta watch out for those. There are agoutis everywhere, constantly walking around with the diptryx seeds in their mouths. The seeds are pretty big, like a Silly Putty egg. They come screaming down from the treetops and thud to the ground. No one has been hit with one yet though. A tourist got clocked with one last week and it gave her a big cut and an egg on the head. The seeds are hard and have a green fleshy inside that smells like kiwi.

So while not working on the student journals (“Kids, no double-space after periods!”), I did manage to see the sights and animals and wild insanity of a live shoot. Although these were just rehearsals, we go live on Monday.

As the day wound down, it suddenly dawned on me that everyone was talking about leaving the island for the night because we earned a day off for Sunday. It also became obvious that I was not included in this plan. At 5:30 everyone started heading for the boats and STRI became very empty. Just me, C., the doctor, a cameraman, and a few scientists. The feeling of abandonment was palpable. The prospect of spending 24-36 hours with hardly anyone around on a remote island was a little unsettling. To rub in the guilt, I went down to the dock and waved goodbye.

Dinner commenced and word spread within our small group that Randy “The Bug Man” Morgan was going out on a bug hunt that night. Being bored and up for some Hot Bug Action, I joined up. I duct-taped-, head-lamped-, DEETed-, and suited-up with our group of 6 and we set off down Donato Trail, a new one for me.

It instantly became apparent that headlamps should not be used out here at night. Every imaginable insect makes right for your mouth and eyes. Handheld flashlights were deployed.

We climbed up a riverbank, saw fishing spiders, all very pale and huge and beautiful. It should be noted that Randy Morgan may be the coolest man ever. He is obsessed with bugs, and knows them inside and out. He’s also a little bit nutty, just enough. At one point, he turns out the lights, leaving us dark in the huge woods, and says in a low voice: “Does anyone here... have a dark side? AH HA HA HA HA MUAH HA!”

He also goes around finding insects in the pitch black, picking up walking sticks and saying, “These squirt some nasty smelling goo!” and then holding it right up to his nose to catch the aroma. At one point he shines his light on a tree and spots the infamous bullet ant. I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned these before but the bullet ant is about 1.5 inches long, has big mandibles, and possesses one of the more debilitating stings in the insect world. Those who have been stung say it feels like having your hand slammed in a car door over and over again for 24 straight hours. Of course Randy walks around the tree tickling the bullet ant with his finger, trying to get a better look at it. At this point C. steps in and mentions to Randy that he is the host for the broadcast and we might need him alive.

Further up the very steep, dark, cool, humid trail we approach the scorpion’s lair. Several people had seen the scorpion living in the base of a rotted-out tree. He wasn’t there, or at least retreated down out of the reach of our shovels, but we did find a tailless whip scorpion, which looks like a well armored spider.

Good Randy quote: “You could totally groove out to the reticulations on that thing.”

At this point the HHI began to creep upwards as we were all out of our element yet totally enjoying our surroundings. A tarantula hole was spotted and the young, cocky Bryson (an 19-year old canopy climbing assistant) wanted the tarantula. Much hilarity ensued with him fighting the spider with sticks, mimicking a bug’s footsteps around his hole, trying to dig it out, sticking his face in the hole etc. The tarantula was not caught, but further attempts have been scheduled because it is huge and hairy and red.

The rainforest at night is astounding. We walked into a clearing and Compton Tucker (A NASA satellite scientist with a great name) shined his extremely powerful light up to the sky. The canopy closes in around 100 feet above you, forming a think dense mat that covers the sky completely. It’s similar to looking down at the grass, but you are looking upwards.

We also veered off the path (thanks Bryson) to go look at a massive tree that Bryson had spotted. It was about 20 meters into the woods. This tree is called an “emergent tree” because it reaches all the way out and above the canopy. These are sort of the alpha trees in the forest. The first branch didn’t appear until at least 100 feet above the ground. Bryson decided he would climb it tomorrow.

At this point we headed back down the trail. Bryson, C., and I went ahead as the three scientists behind us examined every tree and log on the way back down. Good quote from C.: “Those damn scientists, always gotta be asking questions!”

Once at the bottom of the trail, we were at the docks. We caught a glimpse of a croc but more impressive were the bats swooping low over the water catching fish. I don’t know how that all works, but I’m sure evolution happened in there somewhere.

Finding myself locked out of the computer room, I finally ventured into the lounge and enjoyed a couple 65 cent beers with everyone. I think the scientists were glad that I was finally drinking with them. Maybe soon they will let me join their Science Club and wear really cool science pants! Kidding. They are great guys (and gals) who have a wealth of experience to listen to.

And so on to bed at a relatively late 12am. Today is a light work load and will mostly be spent catching some sun and reading a book or something. I hear they have hammocks up at the visitor’s center: 192 steep stairs up, officially (and sarcastically) named the “stairway to heaven.” They don’t call this Stairmaster Island for nothing!

So I am doing well, not too stressed, seeing cool things, eating well, somewhat homesick, more Erin-sick, and at least happy that the HHI is ticking upward every day.

Until I blog again, leave comments and visit the archives!