PART TWO

Up at the ranch in Ojai there were wild peacocks cruising around, all kinds of squirrels and birds, both sticking mostly to the twisted, ancient Oaks that formed a canopy of shade. Our hike to river was awesome. We got to go quietly and respectfully through the horse stables in between camp and our destination. The stories of poison oak and getting lost in the woods begin to trickle into our consciousness as we receive a safety parameter check by our wonderful naturalist guide. She is a Swiss woman who was studying turtles in Costa Rica back when most of these snobby environmentalist crusaders of today were in diapers. Her travels take her to natural wonders all over the globe, and in California there is no home better for her than her trusty Westphalia VW van. She makes sure that all of our kids know that there are dangers that exist. No need to panic. But hey, don't lay in poison oak and try not to sprint away from the group and separate then cross the road by yourselves thinking you lost the group. Two boys got sent home for that. Don't do that.




The riverbed was flowing strong and wide, but only inches deep. Cobblestones make a maze of a bed for the waters to trickle and crest over. The rains were so heavy in southern California this year that we got enough to scare Noah. You know -- Ark, Noah's Ark, never mind. As a result of the rains, there were baby amphibians and reptiles lining the sides of the river. Gently, the kids were able to maintain a miniscule phosphorescent green pet for a few moments at time. At which point they jump back to the ground, the equivalent of us landing a Golden Gate bridge plunge, without even a flinch they are hopping all over.




Another awesome highlight of the outdoor education trip with kids was The Bat Lady. She wore a bat T-shirt, pin, hat, tie, vest, and earrings. She was into bats. We found out some very cool things about their nocturnal lifestyles and that the giant Vampire bats of Costa Rica do not see very well and are genetically unable to swoop down and drink our blood. But they can hit the sleeping cows at night. Down near their ankles they drop their relatively small fangs after some saliva numbs things up so as not to wake the host. We got to see her special pet bat that she helped survive after a nasty injury and had for over eight years. What a little snufalufagus looking, hairy, "rodent-esque" creature! Not like petting a longhaired cat that's for sure. By the way there are a lot of kinds of bats. I forget how many, but there are five different species in Costa Rica alone.




Speaking of which, I will be out of contact in Costa Rica for a time. But when I return, readers, I assure you of some epic wildlife and pura vida magical stories!

Until then . . .

ER Harris

Part 2/2