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.