Phase three finale - Echo Two

Paul Mohan, star of the above documentary, recalls those heady days in Huskurhadi:

It's good, no?

"It is a sunny afternoon in Huskurhadi village. We have just finished our last day of digging our part of the elephant-proof fence. Looking back, it is hard to believe that just two and a half weeks ago, this section of trench, which now stands at 50 miles in length and 1 metre depth, was just flat ground. Needless to say the group are very proud of what they have achieved.

Now that's what I call a trench!

Vicky makes sure Tom is well-balanced

Rengith, is that a digging pole or a snooker cue?

Daniel moments before extreme pickaxe action 

Tomorrow the group will be taking down the campsite and getting ready to return to field base on Thursday morning. The group will also be attending a leaving ceremony which will be held at the community school. There are definitely mixed feelings of excitement and sadness in the air, as in just a few days the 10 week expedition will be over. But whether travelling on or going home the venturers will undoubtedly take some amazing memories with them.

The villagers check out the sound system

 

A regular at the trench, one of the village elders, fondly known as "Papa Smurf"

Scott vamps it up

Rengith evades the camera with a bandalay as a shield

For me the memories I will take from this phase include swimming in the reservoir everyday; playing rounders; chatting; laughing and playing games around the fire; stargazing; celebrating Kyle's and Rengith's 24th and 25th birthdays; watching people chasing chickens out of the campsite; listening to Will's amazing guitar skills; using the pull-up bar Tom constructed out of bamboo and the day trips to the Golden Temple and Mysore Palace.

Taking the weight off their feet, it's Vicky, Tom and birthday boy Kyle

Louise, Vicky and Rengith snap a stunning sky

Rengith's delicious birthday banquet

Put that in your cakehole!

For this venturer, the environmental phase was the perfect phase to finish off what has been an incredible expedition."

  An unstoppable workforce

Louise receives her garland at the leaving ceremony

Will is honoured for his hard work too 

A jubilant Echo Two