Ummm… yeah maybe I should explain. I’m not quitting already. I mean, I’ve only been a “beat blogger” for a few weeks now. No, I’m just giving my vacation notice. I’m not sure if I’ve earned a paid vacation yet (I am getting paid for this, right?) but before I took this job I had already scheduled a vacation, so I’m giving notice that this particular beat blogger will be absent from for the next few weeks.
Where exactly am I going, that I won’t be dutifully fulfilling my blogging obligations, you ask? Well, Corey and Renato have made such a convincing argument for birding in Ecuador that I am going too! By the time I get back, I am sure that Corey will have blogged much of his trip, and I expect that Renato will be captivating us for some time to come, so I’ll probably blog a little bit about my trip here upon my return, but not wishing to be redundant, I promise I won’t do too much.
Of course, I’ve been really devoting much of my mental facilities to making sure that my wife and I are prepared for the trip – reviewing our itinerary & studying the field guide, which I’ve been doing since we booked the trip, but now thinking mostly about packing, and what we’ll want to bring. This will be our third trip to Central/northern South America, so I think I am starting to get this packing thing down – lightweight pants that can zip off into shorts in a pinch, long-sleeve button-down shirts with plenty of vents and with sleeves I can easily roll up, lightweight hiking boots, ‘Neos’ overshoes for those muddy trails, packable rain gear (including a raincover for the backpack which will be holding the photo gear), and plenty of dry socks. Everything should be able to be washed in a sink and hang-dry overnight.
Knowing how large the readership is at 10,000 Birds, and the wide range of experience that exists here, I’d love to hear of any tips or tricks that you’ve learned in your travels. Things you’ve done or didn’t do that worked out well for you in your travels. Stories that you think that we (and by we, I do mean everyone that reads 10,000 Birds) would enjoy or benefit from.
I look forward to your comments and suggestions, and can’t wait to share a story or two of my own when I return
Here’s a thing for the “not recommended” list – On my first trip to Costa Rica my hiking boots got really wet. Although they were waterproof, they couldn’t take the relentless rain we had. We finally got to a hotel where they had hair dryers in the room. I turned on a dryer and stuck it in my shoe for a good while. Unfortunately, it melted the rubber insole a bit and the insole curled up on itself. Suffice to say, the rest of the trip wasn’t too comfortable in that shoe. I eventually tore out the insole. At least the shoes were dry. Have a blast on your trip.
Tip based on experience: Remember to put the insect repellent and sunscreen in the checked suitcase, unless they meet the 3-oz. plane criteria. It can be really hard to replace these items in Quito.
Maybe all the Beat Writers should go to Ecuador for Charlie’s 60th!
60TH!? Clare, how could you – you have no idea how far my heart just sank at seeing the words ‘Charlie’ and ’60th’ together for the first time…I wonder whether 10,000 Birds will exist in another ten years? More importantly, will ten thousand birds…? If either, then, yes, what a birthday that would be…
Charlie, the plan is in place!
Clare, I like the way you think!
And, Christopher, use a spare set of clothes (or just clean boxers and socks) as padding for your optics in your carry-on. That way, when your luggage is lost you have everything you need for at least a couple of days. That technique made me MUCH more comfortable when my luggage got to Ecuador two full days after I did.
Wish you the best and don´t doubt to contact us if you need anything. Make sure you bring your boots and a small umbrella tucked in your backpack all the times. You never know when the big one is coming down like a downpour.
P.S. I hope to see you and the others back in Ecuador for Charlie´s birthday soon!