In a couple of hours I'll head off to the Atlanta airport to begin the annual trek way, way south to Bocas del Toro, Panama. I''ll spend the next week getting stuff ready for the 2008 Rainforest Treeclimbing Expedition, or at least that's my excuse for getting there a week ahead of the other expedition members.

Abe Winters will fly down next week with the rest of the expedition. The other expedition members will be coming from several southeastern states and the United Kingdom. We likely will also be joined for two or three days by a small group of college students from various schools throughout North America and Europe.

This will be our fifth expedition to the coastal rainforests of Panama. As usual, we will be based at the Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation, a working biological field station in the tiny beachfront community of Boca del Drago, on the western end of Isla Colon near the border with Costa Rica. A quick check of the local weather forecast showed daytime highs in the upper 80s and lower 90s, with overnight lows in the upper 60s.

All right, now you are just showing off... (going down a week early)

Best wishes and have a safe trip!

Preperation? Does that mean that you are going to make sure that the cervezas are cold and the tag lines are all set? I expect nothing less. While you are at it Bill,Vould you tell your brother that I also expect that a nice platform will be lashed into Bolivar by the time I arrive. Did I say cerveza? I meant a rum and coke on ice. Oh yea I like my ceviche with extra carrots while you are getting stuff ready.

I would very much also like to keep my feet dry while I am there. I don't know what this will involve, but since I am acustumed to wearing flip-flops in Florida I will be bringing only those. Please ensure that a proper board walk has been established to all of thwe best trees before my arrival. On that note I dont remember reading about it in the brouchure, but certainly ITEC has a sattelite TV and a hot tub by now, right? I couldn't bear to miss my Beverly Hillbilly reruns.

And what is all of this hot latin nights buisiness? I can't live without air conditioning dude. I don't wan,t to be dealing with any hot latin nights unless they involve Catharin Zeta Jones.

Last but not least, while you are getting "stuff ready" make sure to have the clouds seeded prior to my arrival. I would hate to have my visit to the rain forest ruined by, well, you know... rain.

In my mind I am already there. My job performance is severely suffering. See you in 7 days dude.

Huna,
Don't worry there is plenty of air conditioning, It is what ever condition the air is in when it comes through the window!
P.S. air is not the only that comes through the windows, don't forget your mosquito netting.
I also had about a 4 inch long frog camped out under my bed. (The 4" dimension was just his body.)

Oh Ya, there is plenty of electricity to as long as you have things plugged in in the evening between 7:00 and 11:00 when the generator is on.

A stickup self contained LED light for the bathroom is an excellent addition, one of the other people in my cabin brought one along and it was a real good thing.

You will have a blast!!
I am having a bad case of envy!!!

In keeping with the topic of hot nites in Panama I am watching a TV a show with Daisy Fuentes the Hot Cuban Actris/model that Joe loves. She was Cooking some Cuban Food in Sabanah GA with Paula Deen. "Bringing Habana to Sabannah" Daisy is a fine looking lady and cooks well too!. Last year I sent some pictures to Joe of the Jungle and he replies with a big Whoauhhhhhh. Take it easy Wildman remember you have your Hot Lady back home at the waffle house in GA.

http://www.sitioswebcr.com/modelos/daisy/im07.htm

Well I have been back from Panama for almost a week now and I am just starting to come out of my post-Bocas deppresion. I had the time of my life and would recommend the trip to anyone with a keen sense for adventure. I will start working on a full write up soon and I have already started working on a video, but both may take a little time. I want to do it right so bear with me.

Huna,
Welcome back!
I am looking forward to your pictures / Video and your writeup.

Pirates of the Carabiners...?

Does anybody recognize this, uh, oops, hunh, whatever... person who was caught in the camera lens in January in Bocas del Toro, Panama?


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There were a lot of questionable characters running the streets of bocas. Some of them were quite intimidating looking. I personally would not want to make a guy with A. LOU 4EVA tattooed on his knuckles angry.

Well it was about time you guys start posting some fun pictures from "Adventures of the Caribean". That is a good one. Looking forward to the rest of the fotos, videos and the write up. Yeah!