Plane journey to LA 10 hours. Got within 5metres of destiny's child coz they were in 1st class. Got inter-state flight to Touson, Arizona. Only an hour like. There was a tornado in the distance. Flying was boss though. Saw Canada and greenland.La looked like na mass of houses pt in assive lines in a valley of a load of mountains. Arizona looked like it only had a single road running thru it. The rest was just waste land. The people were v.friendly and were asking loads of questions about us. Got minibus over bor der and stayed in hotel for $10 a night! Got t.v and shower like! Shared beds between 4 of us (this was 2 bcome the norm thruout the expedition).
Tuesday 10th July 2001
Up at 7.30am. went in a group of 10! to organise a bus 2 Hermacilla. Took 4 hours. Watched the bone collector on TV!! Had second meal of burger king! Saw loads of cactuses on the way, just like in the movies. Got 2 Hermacilla and sat in bus station 4 the day. Later on a group, ie.me, shields, parko, kate, john stanhope , went 4 a beer and sat in late afternoon sun. Once dark we went 2 supermarket 4 some provisons. Quite expensive. left 4 Los mochas at 9.30pm.
Wednesday 11th July 2001
Got there 4.30am Then got a shady bus to the train station. Then got 2nd class to Creel. Longest journey eva on a train! 7am to 8.30pm! Made some mexican friends! The views were amazing. We found a hostel 4 $5 each!! We then went 2 a restaurant in town. Ate chicken, rice, onion and chillis. Went back 2 the hotel and had shower. The beds were well manky.
Thursday 12th July 2001
In the mornin, we went into town 4 souvineirs and project work equipment and food supplies. Took women's group bus into Gonganha. Absolutely abstract scenery. Along with the valley of the Penises that we were camped next to. Had small camp fire.
Friday 13th July 2001
Woke up about 7am. Had jam butty and apple 4 brekkie. Started whitewashing the health centre inside and out. Me and parko went into Creel to get supplies. It was well scary in the sweaty newt. The scenery in Creel is amazing.Its all odd volcanic rock formations. We saw people living in caves as it goes -20 degrees in winter coz its about 7000ft high up. Had tortillas for dinner. I liked them but not many others did. Shields was getting abused but he was doing a big job cooking for 22 people. We sat round campfire talkin until about 11pm.
Saturday 14th July 2001
We redid whitewash with salt so it would stick. Then after luch wqe played OBA, coz I was leader and i brought in a new rule that stated OBA had 2 be played at least once a day. At about 3pm we all went 2 Lake Arecko and washed me clothes in da lake and swam. Had mcdougles for tea, sat and talked about religion v. science all night. and the new world order, ie.shape shifting, 12 foot high, blood sucking, child raping lizards!!!!! O.....K.....am a bit scared of Bresnin now. Help me!
Sunday 15th July 2001
Tensions were high in the big brother house today. Painted inside with a border but my idea was well beta then it rained huge hail stones.
Monday 16th July 2001
Oh dear! guess whos leader 2day? we carried on painting the border and tidyed up the site. William said we r going 2 break the itnerary and go bak 2 creel. just coz they couldnt hack it. We got in2 Creel about 6pm. Went off 4 a meal with the lads. Had chicken tacos and a few beers. Then we went cruisin the streets lookin hard coz the ickle mexicans think theyr boss on their quads. Evry1 went bak 2 the main room, ie.shields and co. 4 a bita party.
Tuesday 17th July 2001
Got up had a shower, went in2 creel 4 brekkie with Gaz. Got frosties. Then lazed around until lunch. Went and had a few borritos in La cabana. Twenty paesos for 2. quite a few of the team av da runs. So we just chilled until about 4pm. We then went out in tent groups 2 buy provisions 4 the copper canyon trk. We met up with the team until about 6.30pm so we cudgo and have a meal 2gether. Much 2 y astonishment, Lunney was on the ale. Crawford tried 2 geg in our table. I had 2 steak burritos and a chicken taco and a lager, all 4 5o peasos (bout 3 or 4 quid-bargain!)We was told dat da local club/teenage nigth life was at Margharitas. The fun began! We got the place packed and put on su english dance music, evry1 was avin a boss time. mayb helped along by a load of tequils on the house. We went bak 2 shields and co.room and played poka until about 11.30pm. Me shields, macca, harvey, Lunney went in2 town 4 a mooch and got a mega pizza. The staff in der were sound and we ada good laf. We went bak 2 da room and talked about the good old dayz of primary skool. wata class night. wouldnt swap it 4 nething. The company was sound topped by the atmosphere and ethos of the group.
