Despite the inclement weather, nine vehicles gathered at the Monroe Road junction – within 35 minutes of the designated time – Gary, Raffick, Calvin, Sheldon, Frankie, Gauph, Roy, Harold and that nice guy with the blue jeep.
We drove to the bird sanctuary via a grade 1 trail between Monroe road and Caroni Savannah road. The trail was slightly muddier than on Wednesday when we checked it, (thanks to Raffick and Sheldon for the plotting) but everyone got through ok except Sheldon who had street recaps on his Vitara.
Keith was waiting for us at the Visitors Center (our thanks to the staff for letting us use the facilities without charge), and we and the mosquitoes had lunch there. By the time we boarded the boat the weather had cleared up nicely, and the mosquitoes, their stomachs now full, had gone their way.
Twenty Eight of us excitedly boarded the boat to go see the Scarlet Ibises. Sadly, our Events Manager was apparently unable to muster up the necessary boat fare, so he stayed ashore. This caused him to miss seeing a beautiful large boa that was coiled around a mangrove branch not too far overhead. But his family was able to view the reptile on his behalf, and Frankie took photographs of it. Sheldon also missed the boat trip because of an engagement (his?).
Sadly too, was the revelation (when we were well underway) that this is the nesting season for the scarlet ibis, and we would only be able to see the birds fly overhead –not perching on trees in great numbers or such. So we parked up and waited and saw a few birds fly overhead. Our guide said that there were about fifteen thousand birds in the swamp. We figured that if we only saw twenty five birds in the twenty minutes we were there, it was going to be quite a while before we saw all of them, so we asked the guy to take us back.
Although we did not see too many “bud”, no one seemed too disappointed, because the boat trip was scenic and relaxing, and the company pleasant. Combined with the fun we had on the trail, the evening was a very enjoyable one.
Thanks to Raff for organizing the event, and thanks to the members and their families for making it a success.
Respectfully submitted.......Trevor.
------------------------
Hey Trev,
Thanks for the write up and may be when you guys delegate me as the
grounds and vehicle caretaker you did'nt realize that I had to remain and
take care of business. Nonetheless, collect fees for me the next time
around; by the way the next time around is the Tobago Event, begin now to
collect those fares.
Anyway thanks to all those that attended yesterday's event Gauph, Keith,
Frankie, Trevor, Calvin, Raffick, Sheldon, Harold, Roy and their families
(or part thereof).
Thanks for the Curry, the stew, roti (dhal pouri, & buss-up shut) paleau,
fried rice ect, drinks, snacks, coffee and cookies. Special thanks to Mrs.
Rampersadsingh for the black cake ( I thought there is a rule that no
drinking of alcohol is allowed on trail, may-be we are allowed to eat it).
It was delicious.
Many thanks again to all........Raff.
(and is this the proposed new club mascot..?...it has 4 wheel drive..)
Back to Home Page