5/11/11 A Bit More Around the Camp

 

5 November, 2011

 

Little swifts/swallows hiding under the tin roof from the heat	This bugger is about 25cm wide! Bugs are big in Gabon.

I've just learned that the ants in Gabon are ANGRY!! Even the tiny little black ants that are found all over the world. We took the rain cover off the chopper, left it folded on the pad for an hour, then when I picked it up, there were a million ants clustered underneath it. They obviously went crazy, scattering in all directions, but I saw that most of them were carrying eggs, so obviously moving house. The ones with the eggs all moved under the skid to hide, while those not carrying eggs (I assume the soldiers) came at me. But not just milled around my feet, I moved over 5m away and they all rushed at me! Not following each other in the way we're all used to seeing ants move,but almost as a wave. I've never known ants of that size to chase someone over such a distance.

A workshop right up against the jungle on the edge of Onal Camp	Workshop area for the large crane trucks - quite novel...

Normally they seem to lose where you are as soon as you're a meter or so away. But these kept aiming for me, not matter where I walked to on the helipad. Very interesting...Well, I thought so... Give me a break... Nothing else is happening today...

Many of these trucks do all the heavy lifting, container movements, etc.	Seriously?! I know I'm a short-arse, but the housekeeper is taking the piss!!