The Young Explorers (52), Trainee Leaders (8) and Leaders (10) met up at Heathrow at 19.40 BST (British Summer Time). Further members of the group include the Advance Leader team (5) who left England a week ago and are now in Manu and setting up base camp, as well as Chris Beirne, the chief science leader, who has been in the country a while working on the science plan… this totals 76 persons.
Members of the fire Taramandua (Angus, Benedict, Elly, Ethan, Fergus, Finlay, Fran, George, Hazel and Kathryn, Trainee Leader James and Leaders Jo and Dom) finally checked in their luggage at around 9pm. Organising the checking-in of a group of 60 young people (all with heavy rucksacks) as well as masses of shared kit is no easy process; but British Exploring has the experience of over 130 expeditions to many remote destinations, and their organisation of this process is admirable.
Members of the fire Taramandua (Angus, Benedict, Elly, Ethan, Fergus, Finlay, Fran, George, Hazel and Kathryn, Trainee Leader James and Leaders Jo and Dom) finally checked in their luggage at around 9pm. Organising the checking-in of a group of 60 young people (all with heavy rucksacks) as well as masses of shared kit is no easy process; but British Exploring has the experience of over 130 expeditions to many remote destinations, and their organisation of this process is admirable.
The Flight:
Heathrow - Bogota (Colombia) – nonstop
Departure 22.40 (terminal 2), they actually departed 22.43
Arrival (Eldorado Airport) 04.05 (local time).
Flight Duration 11 hrs 25 mins
Distance 5262 mile