After getting lost several times, we made it to the campsite (pretty nice, but only long drop toliets), packed lunch and headed to the work site. The worksite was a bank on the River Verde that runs through an Indian reservation: The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. It was beautiful. Our job was to harvest some Willow branches from big Willows to replant along the bank to strengthen it. We were also to help with the Drainage system they were building and for which the community asked for, as well as make a little trail so they can walk down to the river. We had to attend a seminar on Cultural Sensitivty and take a test before we could work on the Indian ground, but once that was over we set about work - hunting for Willow branches of a certain length and height, before cutting, trimming, counting, tying up and placing in the river to keep the ends soaked. Then the drainage construction guys asked for help, so I offered to go but soon found the help they needed was watering dirt. It's so dry that what they dig up then falls back down, so we hooked up a water pump at the river and began spraying the surface. Then the foreman connected a massive hose, and handed it too me as he said it would be quicker. The moment I saw the mass of water travelling up the hose towards me I knew it was a mistake - out came the gush of water and the pressure sent me flying back (literally!). I couldn't get myself back up under the heavy water pressure, and ended up soaked. The end of that day saw me hooking up my tent washing line before dinner and bed, and that night we also had our first visit from the neighbourhood skunk. It got into one of the food crates which mean't that crate had to be completely discarded...my favorite bagel flavour included.
The next couple of days saw great weather, as we continued to chop off branches and process them for replanting. I liked the processing part best, though taking a saw to a tree and dragging it back through the forest was fun too. I was too busy to even think about spiders as I trudged my way through the trees, though someone did remind us about snakes. We have lunch by the river each day, and when not chopping williows, a couple of us would help out at the drainage site; staking fabric down, sowing grass and flower seeds, plus clearing up. The campsite was cool, though still a bit cold at night and long drop toliets are much to be desired. For one thing they are smelly. At night they look like an onimous black hole that you imagine a small goblin-like creature to dwell in, and by day the sight down there doesn't even bare thinking about. Plus, it really does smell. The skunk made its nightly visit but didn't get in to anymore crates.
The work was a lot more varied and the days flew by. We finished up with some people going across river to replant Willows, while we dug the trail down to the river. I didn't envy those going across the river - they had to go in their underwear and that water was freezing. Everything was going well BUT then the rain came. We abandoned work on Monday, and Monday night was hell. The wind made my tent crash in at the sides so each side were touching my ears, together with torrential rain and lightning too. I was worried about my little tent leaking but I had beforehand carefully contructed a small channel to take water away from the tent and that worked. However, at 12.30am I realised my tent had come out of the ground, so rainboots on (so useful), and headtorch - I ducked out, pushed the pegs back in and went searching in the night for big rocks to weigh them down. It was a hard task but when we finally emerged at 6am, it had paid off. Four people's tents had come down, and they had had to sleep in the truck. Luckily we found all the tents, though one got pretty stuck in a nearby bush. Back to work, and we had actually finished all the work they needed from us by noon and so headed to Scottsdale Mall for food and the cinema. I wanted to see Fantastic Mr Fox but was out-voted and had to see 2012 for a second time. The next day there was time to clear up before the people that put the project together for the Indian Community (The Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Department) treated us to an all-you-can-eat buffet at the Indian's casino. We couldn't believe our eyes. I was however, immediately drawn to the desserts as there was a make-your-own sundae...heaven! They even gave us a goody bag!
Back in Flagstaff, we discovered the rain storm we had in Phoenix was a snow storm in Flagstaff where 3 feet had fallen over night and a further one the next day. I had never seen so much snow. On went the rainboots (best buy) and out I went trudging around. I couldn't believe the massive piles of snow, you just wanted to jump in them. The ploughs were hard at work though and the roads were cleared pretty quickly, though there's still lots of slipping here and there. But its really pretty, and very Christmassy. Not sure I could take a lot of it though, I woke up this morning and the window was frozen...on the inside!
Well, that's my final project finished, now its time to pack up and clear out. Its really sad saying goodbye to the friends I've made and Flagstaff, which has been a lovely little home from home. But it's time to be off to a cosy Hilton hotel in Phoenix for a nice long hot bath (our hot water pipes have frozen at the house) before finally flying home for Christmas. Plane movies to look forward to so all good! x
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