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Afternoon played volleyball at the uni 4 against 4, then packed my bags for project. I ate peoples left over dinner then the others came back and we went out for dinner to a thai restaurant, there were 16 of us. Everybody put in money for the bill and we were still 50dolla short, that was already including tax and tip the total was $236 - that's a lot of money.
Up at 6, walked around to the office met Sam and CJ our project supervisors. Went and picked up the rest of the crew. Tim, Catherine, Steph (England), Ceicel, Apoline (France), Ela(Germany), Johinis(Holand), Jacopo (Italy). We are all in the van and sam turns round in a soft voice and says what does the seat belt bunny say…. "Buckle the F#@$ up" with a wrestling mask on. 2hour drive to the canyon listening to country music. Set up tents then began project of putting logs in the ground for shoring up the camp site. The girls cooked dinner and the guys went for a walk through the woods to see the canyon for my first time, it was amazing I love it. Had a great dinner of fish and then sat by the bomb fire of another volunteer group. (CREC)
6am up, finished putting logs in. then went down to the mule yards which were right beside the camp and cleared the rocks, so it was easier on there feet. We then piled into the van and went to our spot in the canyon. Amazing, walked 20min down, and I got given a technical job for my first project of putting liner rocks on the outside of the trail. They were massive rocks and you had to chissle them into shape and then move them with rock bars. Had pork for dinner and then sat round talking loads of fun, I love the variety of countries.
6am up, a full day at the Canyon "lucky". The rock work we do reminds me of what the inca people would have had to do. The phots will show what we do but it is safety wall and it builds the track up so that it will last longer. Im on the outside so it I miss place a rock and it tips over, it could get me if im standing under it. Today we put 3 rocks in and none of them were good enough until the third one that took all morning. Its wicked to have lunch over looking the canyon. All day we put 3 rocks in worked with Tim and Sam, lots of fun. At camp I had my baby wipe shower. Then went to the canyon rec centre. Played table tennis (I lost) had bergers on the bbq and played a wicked game of ultimate Frisbee with the CREC people. I badly hurt my big left toe should be interesting to see how it feels tomorrow. More good chatting under the full moon, such a great group of people.
Saturday, working hump day. 6am up. Breakfast, lunch bag packed on the road for our 10min journey to the Canyon. My left big toe is really sore and swollen and bending inwards a lot more than the other one, so I tried pushing it back, nothing happened just my eyes started to water. I was all trained up so was left to do the work. Put in 4 rocks and dug the ledge for another 6 maybe. You get to see lighting and hear thunder most days I love it, today it was 5seconds away so we all got under a rock for safety. It wasn't as warm today which made work alittle bit easier, you are susposed to drink 6-8 litres of water a day and I easily do that. Stopped of at the supermarket and I just got a note book to keep a dairy while on project. Listening to my ipod while writing at the moment and this song reminds me of rastrick st studying for pathophysiology. Our crew was on dinner tonight we had sausage spaghetti bolognaise. Just found a bug in my tent, what a b*****. Im having a wicked time and so stocked to be working in the grand canyon.
Sun 6am up. Each morning starts with our group of 12 standing a circle going over safety things and we each have to share a tip. Then we each give a stretch to the crew. Usually with a question of the day. Im trying to get used to rock work where you work really hard and little gets done, but in rock work its quiet a lot. It was a hot day today but the inside wall has got under a tree so there is some shade. Morning break we played a game saying hello in your native language to the passers by, very funny. As the week goes on everyone is hiking out of the canyon slower and slower. The girls cooked up a bean beef stir fry with potatoes. As the girls did the dishes we went to the supermarket to buy them chocolate and then we went to the rec centre. I stuffed up and didn't buy ella the right thing - but they let me away with it because im just a kiwi. Im eager to find out how much food we will have over the next few days as we seem to have demolished it.
Tue - Yesterdays workload for me was a shocker, nothing was going right and the inside liners caught right up, but that happens when doing rock work. Dinner was made quick as we wanted to get down to the rec centre to play more ultimate. The plan was if I got the last point in the game I would do the Haka, so I ended up doing it to the group of people. Later that night I taught my own version to the group. (All those that may find it not right that I did differently or did not pronounce the words correctly, then sorry It's a wicked thing to share with cultures). Some of us slept out under the stars for the night it was awesome, no bugs or animals got me that I know of just a few stones thrown at me by ella. So this morning we did the haka to the other volunteers of the park - video will be added soon. Today was a amazing day of work, it was our groups turn to cook dinner it was a beef, bean, stew, pasta and vegi dish. Then we went to get more food as we have run out. After work we drove 20min down the rim to a view point, and four of us missioned out to a rock and did the haka again. I love it here am stocked to be in the GC. Road trips start fri, the guys have offered me a spot to go to LA and the girls would like me to go to Las vegas. But sam the project supervisor has offered to take me canyoneering, as it will have lots of reppelling and be a wicked time. So we will leave fri.
Wed last day at the canyon we worked in the morning cleaning up the trail but I just continued with liner rocks, I was lifting a big rock into place and it slipped and cought my finger between the other rock. Dam it hurt, I just walked away and I couldn't move it and it sweeled up, its not broken but dam it hurts and it just missed my finger nail so it wont look like my thumb still does from dads. So my left side of my body constantly hurts but id rather that than been conservative. We stass all the tools up on a rock for the 6 days that we will not be there. Drove back to flagstaff cleaned out the van, I got the left over oats. Then last night I hung out with all the other under 21s we actually had a really good night.
Im having trouble uploading all the photos, just cause there is so many so I may just have to put some up.
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