Echo 5 and the Elephants

An account of the first few days at Echo 5 has kindly been provided by Rosie Mellor.

Despite an enthusiastic start, filled with excited trepidation, we left field base 30 minutes late. With the case of the missing tentpoles solved and backpacks lining the inside of the bus we finally set off. With friendly banter filling the bus, we stopped for an early lunch at Amoor where we got to know each other further over Masala Dosas and chai. Conversations focused on the amazing adventures we had to come.

We arrived in Cowdelhi an hour later where we entertained ourselves by doing Raleigh Olympics - made up of skipping ropes, football and dodging the water pistol. Some local children joined in our fun and they loved the water pistol wriggling with delight as the water cooled their skin in the blistering heat.


That evening, camping at the Ranger's Station, we sat around for the first time as a group and found out our likes, dislikes and the reasons we decided to come on Raleigh.


"Sitting on the dusty ground,
We all begin to wonder
Who we are and why we're here
and what we hope to conquer."


We woke early the next morning to a combination of sounds - packs of dogs barking, groups of monkeys squealing and the local mosque doing the dawn call to prayer. Morale was high as we packed up the bus and set onwards towards our destination.


We arrived at our drop off point and unloaded our backpacks and group kit in the village next to the national park entrance. We were to walk 9km to our site with a tractor helping us with the largest items. So, with one walking boot in front of the other and running high on adrenaline we began. In the blistering 40 degree heat we took regular breaks. We have flavoured powder called Tang which takes the nasty chlorine taste away in the water . Tang's popularity within the group has risen as quickly as "Glee" back home and all breaks are now known as Tang-time!  


2km from our camp the tractor loaded up with the group kit (barrels, bamboo poles, tents and food for three weeks etc) couldn't get down the almost vertical hill and we were stuck as to what to do. Could we physically carry so much or would we be destined to set up camp here for the night? Salvation came in the form of the Ranger in his jeep who took trips up and down the hill with our kit. Hoorah!


It was almost as if the mist rose and our headaches lifted and before us was the most beautiful of views. A sun drenched beach, golden sands, fresh flowing water and mountains enveloping us. It had all been worth it all the stress and physical aches just to be here and know that we will call this home for the next 3 weeks.

The environmental project we'll be working on for the next three weeks is based near Bandipur National Park on the border between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In this first phase we'll be building a ranger's station in order to help them stop poachers in the park. There used to be a whole range of animals here - tigers, cheetahs, panthers but their numbers have diminished because of the poachers. It is really satisfying to know we'll be helping in such a positive and sustainable way by aiding rangers stop the illegal poaching of animals.

In order to build the station we need to transport sand and water up the steep hill where the station is to be built. For the last 4 days we've created a chain up to the top with each one of us walking a small part transporting the sand and water. Along the way, we've had a few adventures and it's only day 5! Earlier in the week we were called by the Ranger to witness a family of elephants drinking in the river. It was an amazing sight to see, 5 elephants including 2 baby ones and to know that we're helping to save them and their habitat.

Anna and I went to visit the Echo 5 group and from the first sight on our arrival it could be mistaken that we had been sent on a jolly as the location resembles the much envied shipwrecked beach although on further investigation you notice the steepness of the hill and the large mound of sand that sits at the top which the venturers have lost much sweat and time to.

On the day of our arrival the venturer's were excited ( it goes without saying I am sure that we contributed to most of this) however a small element of the fury also belonged to the arrival of the mason. The group were itching to get started with the building and put their hard work transporting the sand and water to good use.

The same sense of group spirit that we encountered at Echo 4 had manifested itself in Echo 5 and the group had all already established fun nicknames. Below we have Jay-Z and Pye Face hard at it!

and...........

The Lady and the Diva!

At camp site the group were eagerly reading your messages from the blog!

If Raleigh ever produce a calendar we have some potential entries below as testerone runs high with the men at work pose!

It is not all work, work, work though as lunchtime breaks, to escape the burn of the midday sun, and the end of the day finish with a communal swim in the river which is so refreshing if you can avoid the little nips of the fish swimming at your feet!