Living it up by the lake with Echo Four

GUEST BLOG BY Doug Meehan

On Wednesday Polly B and I were lucky enough to head out on The Loop to Echo Four in Huskahardi. With jungle covered hills on the horizon and the reservoir stretching out in front of the camp we walked into a warm welcome from the project team and Anna, who had arrived the day before. After settling in we were given a guided tour of the site, christened ‘Reservoir Digs’, which as well as cooking, dining and toileting areas includes the basher sleeping area, all individually named with titles such as ‘Guest basher No.1 Sunset view’ on bamboo plaques.

With such a picturesque setting it would be easy to forget the work that is to be done, however Echo Four have been working hard as well as relaxing hard. And as a reminder of just how important the project is, Manju the Raleigh Driver awoke to find two elephants either side of our car over night.

Every morning the camp wakes at 5:30 to have breakfast before heading out at 6:00 to get a full mornings’ work done during the cooler hours. Polly B and I joined the trenching detail and got stuck in to help dig part of the 30m trench that Echo Four have dug to protect local crops. Meanwhile another team from the group put the finishing touches to a 500m new section of solar powered electric fencing, which doubled up with the trenches will be sure to keep those hungry elephants away.

With a days’ work done the afternoons are free to swim, sleep, read, or paddle yourself around in one of the local boats. And whilst we were on site the group also had time to practice their theatrical skills and lip-syncing as Polly B filmed them for the soon to be released Raleigh cover of ‘I gotta feeling’ by the Black Eyed Peas.

 

An army marches on its stomach, and Echo Four have been putting just as much work into their meals as their camp and work sites. With the help of a newly constructed ‘pizza oven’ and fresh fish caught by Mr Binmaker, the head of the family whose land is being protected, we were treated to dining that would put restaurants to shame.

After four great days as guest members of Echo Four we have now returned to field base to prepare for all the groups return, and Phase Two deployments in five days!

Text by Doug Meehan, guest blogger (still available for all events and occasions in the Mysore area) and photos by Polly Baldwin http://www.dynamicpictures.co.uk/ (unless stated otherwise).