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06th
April 1998
In previous reports we have told you about the progress
of the boat crew, our archaeological discoveries and the
amazing places that we have been to. So, we thought that
we should turn to more practical matters for this report.
Once a camping location has been decided upon, the Colonel's
team will go on a recce down river, Capt. Jim Masters
will take a team to check on the boat crew and re-supply
them if necessary, and those who are left erect the camp.
Four people put up the tents and set up the kitchen. We
have several four-man tents and four one-man tents. There
is just enough room to store your gear and lay out your
sleeping bag.
We then find a location, as private as possible, to dig
the toilet. This basically consists of two poles with
a plastic screen between them, a hole in the ground and
a shovel (the explorer's flush).
In other news, Heavy rain has raised water levels, but
they are still at the lowest in living memory. Whilst
this has made the going tough for the boat crew, the vehicle
borne archaeological teams have been able to reach hitherto
inaccessible areas. In view of the prevailing low water
levels Capt Jim Masters is pushing his smallest craft
ahead. "Pachachotec" (God Of Creation) commanded by Lt
Luke Cox RE escorted by the Avon inflatable support boat
have now reached Eucaliptus. In the crew two teenagers,
Aymara Indian Alexander Catari(17) and Mark Lobel(18)
of London have won praise for their efforts.
Further south the explorers are finding more and more
early sites, mainly from the Wankarani and Tiwanaku period
(3000BC - 1400AD). Toby Marriner is inspecting Jim Allen's
Channel to see if it is natural or man-made and also assessing
the effects of El Nino on various environmentally important
lakes on behalf of the Bolivian Governement.
The Expedition is now only 90kms from Lake Poopo and expects
to reach it on the 12 of April. |
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