March for Merazonia: The La Cloche Silhouette Trek

Scenic landscape view of the tree-dotted white quartzite cliffs of the La Cloche Silhouette Trail during the March for Merazonia.

I was out on a day hike in Killarney Provincial Park, located on the shores of Georgian Bay between Parry Sound and Sudbury, Ontario, when the idea struck for the March for Merazonia. It was early May, the weather was beautiful, the northern verdure was blooming and blossoming in every direction, and I was inspired. I thought to […]

Building a Future for Ecuador’s Fauna at Merazonia

I took this photo of the Rio Pastaza just outside of Mera on our way back from Merazonia one day after working hard building a future for Ecuador's fauna.

Imagine zooming along winding mountain roads in a rickety old bus, feasting your eyes on the changing scenery heading south from Quito, insatiable. Imagine chatting away with an amicable Ecuadorian who points out various sights: a famous waterfall, a deep ravine, a bridge off which to bungee jump, a good discoteca, his own restaurant. Imagine being dropped off […]

Last Day at Picaflor Research Centre

Sunrise over the Tambopata River on my last day at Picaflor.

Today’s my last day at Picaflor Research Centre. Oh, no! I woke before the sun was up and went down to the river to watch the sunrise. It was so calm and beautiful, it was hard to stop watching. But it was my last chance to be in the jungle at dawn, so I pulled myself away. I […]

Wildlife Sightings Round-Up from Picaflor

This wildlife sightings round-up from Picaflor Research Centre includes a tiny lizard, here seen in the corner of the shower.

Time for another wildlife sightings round-up from Picaflor! Here are a few tales about the animals I’ve seen in the jungle and around the hacienda lately. Pico and I went for a swim yesterday. On our way to the quebrada, we sighted a red-and-green macaw. On our way back, I saw what might have been an olive tree […]

Sleeping With Tarantulas at Picaflor Research Centre

This spider may or may not be similar to the time when I was sleeping with tarantulas at Picaflor.

Sleeping with tarantulas at Picaflor wasn’t exactly on my itinerary, but in a way, I guess it was meant to be… Johanna discovered a tarantula on the ceiling of her bedroom one morning, but it was her time to leave and she was packing. I went down to the river with Johanna to wait for her boat. While […]

Quest for Cold Drinks: Bushwhacking at Picaflor

When the Tambopata River's this high, it's no good for bushwhacking at Picaflor!

Twice we tried to get to the neighbouring lodge on foot, but it appears that bushwhacking at Picaflor is not so easy. It took a bee attack and crawling over sinking mud before we quit… First Attempt Bushwhacking at Picaflor When Elissa and Joel were here, we got the idea to try to bushwhack our way to Tambopata […]

More Work and Play at Picaflor Research Centre

A view of Picaflor's covered walkway from a the backyard hilltop, which is the site of work and play at Picaflor.

Katie and Eric left Friday morning to continue their honeymoon. For us, more work and play at Picaflor lay ahead. That day, Pico set Johanna and I to weeding the garden. Johanna really enjoys it, but I don’t like gardening. In an impossibly bad mood, I shared my feelings with Johanna so that she would at least understand […]

Wildlife Tales From Picaflor Research Centre

Wildlife tales from Picaflor aren't complete without a capybara such as this Ron look-alike.

I’ve got a few wildlife tales from Picaflor I haven’t told yet, so I’ve collected them here… Capybara One day while Elissa and Joel were here, Ron the capybara was trying to play with me while we were pumping water. He took a tiny little nibble just below my right knee, but he shouldn’t be faulted. He’s just […]

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