Prologue: You’re about to embark on an incredible journey through Mexico, with the help of your guide, Tammy Carnell (tammy pic2 coming soon) and Murray State College.
Trip
& Activities:
March 15th
We arrive at the school at seven-thirty p.m., and loaded the 100 ft. seine, our binoculars, bird keys, and all of our belongings into the van. With just a general idea of what we were going to do and where we were going, I was ecstatic! We left for the Prairie Kitchen in Ardmore, OK at 10:30 p.m. to meet Emporia State College students. After eating and chatting a few minutes, we were on our way to Laredo, TX
March 16th
*Bustamante Canyon: 26 degrees 32.887 min N,100 degrees 34.988 minutes W and 490 meters altitude.
Ecology observed: Hooded Oriole, Cassin Sparrow, Inca Dove, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, a Greater Roadrunner, and a Diamond-backed water snake
Habitat: very rocky, dry, woody, and mountainous. There were warm (about 80 degrees F) thermal springs in the upper parts of the canyon. It was much impacted by recreational development. Outside the canyon there was more Chihuahuan Desert type vegetation.
Temperature: approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit
Activities: setting up tents, hiking in the mountains, swimming in the springs, getting to know the other schools, including Mississippi State University students, of whom we picked up in Laredo, TX.
* Journal Excerpt: I have never seen such large cacti before! We reached Nuevo Laredo where you drive on unpaved roads, narrowly escaping death from oncoming, careening traffic, and quite possibly, state border patrol. We stopped by the mescal factory and we were able to tour the plant, while Mr.Stewart explained the process of the distillation. We then set up our tents in the dark in Bustamante Canyon, after stopping for drinks and snacks in the town of Bustamante. When we finished setting up our tents, we were able to get our first “baths” in the hot springs. The ice was finally broken between the three schools in Bustamante. We were able to get to know the people that became our companions throughout the journey to San Blas, and during our stay. [tammycarnellpic3] This is the night that we encountered the thieves that had stolen from Mississippi Sate during the night, which resulted in a trip to a town called Villaldama.
*Villaldama
March 17th
Journal Excerpt: We arrived at the policia de estación in Villaldama where we reported the items stolen the night before in Bustamante Canyon. This experience was quite interesting because the police moved very quickly to find the criminals, and locate the missing items as well. Let’s just say that the American justice system is quite different from Mexico’s.
Activities: waiting for the police to find and question the thieves, hanging around town playing hackey-sack and Frisbee.
*San Blas: 21 degrees 28.893 min N, 105 degrees 11.926 min W, 4 meters altitude
March 18th
Journal Excerpt:
This day consisted mostly of the van ride to San Blas. We passed around Tequila, Mexico in the State of Jalisco. The agaves were everywhere! We passed through several states this day, including the large city of Guadalajara. We were also able to observe some animals from the van including a black vulture. The ecology around Guadalajara was somewhat like in the United States. At around three p.m., we arrive in San Blas and my dreams have come true, as well as for several others on the MSC van that had never seen the ocean until then.
Ecology observed: fish, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and ocean wildlife
Habitat: woody, oceanic, rocky
Temperature: very warm and sunny, approximately 80 degrees F.
Activities: unloading the van, setting up tents, splitting into groups and preparing to go on the scheduled outings.
March 18th
- 23rd
We worked in our different groups throughout the week and enjoyed spending our spare time in the neighboring town of Aticama, snorkeling, and hanging out on the beach. We met our friends from the University of Mexico and learned how easily people from two very different cultures can find a common ground.
Activities: Herpetology: In “herps” we used
rubber bands to shoot and stun our specimens, learned how to use a snake hook
and related tools, and keyed the animals we brought back to camp, including many
frogs and lizards. 
Mammalogy: We learned
how to use and set traps for different animals such as field mice and opossums.
We set traps and were able to identify these two animals, after using a bait of
rolled oats and sardines. (yummy) We also set up and used a bat net to catch and
identify several bats that evening. Ichthyology: We used a 100 ft. seine
to catch many different species of ocean wildlife, such as needle-nosed fish,
and flat fish. We learned the technique of using the seine correctly, and then
we were able to “key” the fish, after transporting them back to the camp. We
were also taught how to measure the dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, total
dissolved solids, velocity, area, and transparency of a freshwater stream. Ornithology:
We took a tour in a nearby banana plantation to bird watch. We observed any
different species, like the beautiful Yellow-winged Cacique, and learned the
different calls for each bird. We also learned how to set up a bird net
correctly and efficiently. Unfortunately, our group didn’t catch anything, but
we heard that it was cool. We also observed the preservation of the
Yellow-winged Cacique.
March 24th- This is the day when everyone toured the mangrove swamp by boat. We were able to observe many species of birds, some animals we have in the U.S., such as the squirrel, and lots of huge crocodiles. We were able to swim and snorkel in a beautiful, clear part of the river, too. This is also the day we had to part with our Mexican friends and head for Real de Catorce. So after many a tear shed, the final destination approached...
*Real de Catorce
March 25th
Journal Excerpt:
We arrived in Real de Catorce in the morning after driving all night, and had an excellent breakfast in the hotel restaurant, of which was owned by a very nice man named Humberto. We were able to hike in the mountains if we wished, and just enjoy the culture of the surrounding people, including the Huichol people, and shop.
March 26th
Up early and reluctant to get on with the last leg of their journey, reality hit the students that they were heading home, yet with so many precious memories. After one last stop at Villaldama to retrieve the stolen items, they headed toward the border.
March 27th
We arrive in Ardmore, OK at the Prairie Kitchen, and say goodbye to everyone from Emporia State. Finally heading to MSC, we’ve just experienced an incredible journey of a lifetime, enriched with culture and understanding of the beautiful habitat and people of Mexico.
Some Personal highlights of the trip:
-freshly killed cabrito in a bag in Anahuac, while eating, was carried through the dining area of the restaurant to be served later.
-Villaldama police officers with their laid-back attitudes, brandishing assault rifles, waiting for the next pursuit of Mexican justice
-San Blas taxi cab drivers running numerous stop signs and letting us pile eight people in a compact car for a twenty-five mile ride home
-And finally, Real de Catorce’s hotel Real that served lasagna...yes, I said lasagna, and pancakes. Enough said.
Contact me at: lil_T_376@hotmail.com