COSTA RICA 2024

My new mission:

I’ve become involved with a project to fight plastic pollution in the oceans.  The Flipflopi project, as it is known is collecting plastic waste from Kenyan beaches and turning it into planks, ribs etc with which to build dhows and furniture.  Our teams have sailed these craft as far as Zanzibar and around Lake Victoria, preaching to all about reducing plastic pollution.  Our team in Lamu even built HM King Charles a throne from this material, with which His Majesty was delighted when it was presented to him on his visit to Lamu.

Now a 60 foot ocean going dhow is under construction that we hope will eventually come to London.

We coat the hull of these boats with colourful flipflops found on the beaches, hence the title!

Now I am turning my attention to Central America and on 21st August, I fly to Costa Rica to set up a similar programme.  The re-established Raleigh International have a base there and together with ex-Op Raleigh venturers, we plan to gather up plastic rubbish swept in from Asia and the Pacific Ocean to litter the beautiful beaches.

COSTA RICA 2024

SITREP 1: THURSDAY 22 AUGUST

A long tiring flight but on time. Raining but warm.Visit to Raleigh camp postponed to 28th but lgnacio will meet me today.Fly to Luna lodge on 24th

SITREP 2: FRIDAY 23 AUGUST

Visited Producol company today. They produce the building materials from waste plastic.The waste plastic comes from over production by companies, hospitals and beachs. Met lgnacio, the Raleigh international organisation boss here. An ex venturer himself and madly enthusiastic. He has a staff of 13 and runs 4 expeditions per year, total 350 venturers , mainly British, 60per cent boys, all over 17. We shall meet the venturers on 28th.

SITREP 3: SUNDAY 25 AUGUST

Flew to Puerto Jimenez in Osa peninsula and drove through forest for 2 hours to the delightful Luna Lodge on edge of Corcovado national park. Lodge owner and ex Raleigh venturer Lana Wedmore greeted us. Have had meetings with director of Operation Rich Coast to discuss cleaning of waste plastic from beaches with a view to future expedition task. Awaiting further discussions with Park director and Raleigh international Costa Rica organiser. Thunder storms and warm weather. 

SITREP 4: WEDNESDAY 28 AUGUST

Very useful meetings with Operation Rich Coast (beach cleaning organisation) , Raleigh International coordinator and Director Corcovado park at Luna lodge. Fly to San Jose tomorrow and straight on to Raleigh base to meet venturers. Weather warm and wet. 

SITREP 5: THURSDAY 29 AUGUST

Enjoyed a great welcome by the Raleigh international venturers and staff at their base . It was the last night of their expedition and they were in tremendous spirit. I spoke with those from UK, Costa Rica, Mexico, Bermuda, Argentina, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Australia, Jersey, USA, Kenya, Panama and other nations. It was just like the days on Op Raleigh in the 1980s. I was most impressed. The Costa Rican organisation are doing a fantastic job and now we must encourage more young people from all over the world to join the expeditions.

SITREP6: SUNDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER

On 30th of August Yolima and I had a most enjoyable lunch with HE Ben Lyster-Binns, the British Ambassador. We briefed him on the proposal for an expedition in 2025 and told him of our meetings with Raleigh International. He was already acquainted with Raleigh and had visited them in the field. On the 31st of August we visited the animal rescue centre in San Jose and saw many creatures that had been brought in by their organisation, including a wide variety of venomous snakes, turtles, monkeys, crocodiles, Cayman and one rather sad looking ocelot. There were also many birds and various lizards. Apparently the zoo has closed down in San Jose, so this centre is one of the few places one can view wildlife. On the 2nd of September, we shall have a further meeting with Producol, the company that converts waste plastic into usable material.

FORTHCOMING EXPEDITION

An expedition is planned in South Western Mongolia for 3-24 July 2025. This is a new area for us. The aim is to set up camera traps to film snow leopard over a period of a year, carry out archaeological, botanical, ornithological and zoological studies as well as to give medical and dental aid to the local people of this mountainous region.

The expedition will be led by Sue Mackenzie with Kate Coleridge as her deputy. Both were members of the 2023 expedition.

We shall know the costs shortly, but if you are interested and are a competent horse rider, please contact us ASAP for further details.