Week 2 is almost over yet I can not make my mind up on whether I have been here for ages or actually it is going quite quickly. To start with, I did promise some pictures so will add my favourites here that are also included on my Google+ site and Instagram (cheeky plug) with a quick description of what they could be (only just finished second year remember, not an expert yet). In terms of my actual work for the Map and Thesis, I guess the confusion has ever so slightly subsided however we have definitely picked a challenging area to map. For those who are keen geologists or just enjoy looking at rocks and stuff, this area appears on the outside to have it all. The problem occurs when you try to get to it and you have to fight your way through the sharpest nettles I have ever encountered OR as you get closer to an exposure (an outcrop of exposed rock) you actually realise it is on a vertical drop. All of this added the fact that we see a beautiful, thorn-free path from the distance and as we get closer, it actually was not a path or even better, is prohibited access has made the mapping area a challenge for sure but immense fun!
Ok, picture time...
So here we have me trying to look cool on top of Mallos de Riglos in the very Southern end of my mapping area which is essentially an Alluvial Fan. I had the great pleasure of having to climb up to get to the top and record some stuff about it.
A very beautiful thrusting / folding limestone formation next to Embalse de La Peña on the very Northern end of my mapping area. Unfortunately, no way to climb it (apart from directly up and that is not going to happen).
Overall a successful week, we managed to basically cover the whole North to South walk along the Western side of the River Gállego trying to interpret what actually happened here. It's a funny world looking at it from a geologists perspective as you have to imagine these huge formations of rocks being slowly pushed over each other or against each other creating all the complex geometries that I have the privilege to look at. It does take some imagination along with the scientific logic that I am trying to develop.
So what else? I was made to eat my own words recently as before deploying to Spain, I told the group of guys and girls that I am mapping with that it would not rain as we are in the North and it's hot and will be dry and roasting and I promise etc etc. Well, 80% of my statement was correct, most days have been 30°+ but this week we did witness quite a substantial thunder and lightning storm with very heavy rain that lasted for quite some hours, prior to that we had been out on the mapping area in our summer outing clothes so got appropriately soaked. My bad.
Another photo,
A yet unidentified fossil mould found in some limestone, worth a mention as it is such a good specimen.
Credit: Todd Downing (my mapping partner)
I also celebrated turning 28 this week. I must confess that I am not used to doing much for my birthdays as all but 1 since joining the army at 19 turned out to also be 'working days'. This one was sort of a working day but at least I am in Spain and not back in Afghanistan (like I was for my 24th) or training for Afghanistan (like I was for my 21st) or on royal guard / barrack guard or other duties / work (like I was for my 20th, 22nd 23rd, 25th and 26th). I did have my 27th off but that was because I was on resettlement leave - please forgive the rant. Either way, my uni friends here took me for dinner and paid. I was happy.
The final big news of the week was exam result. I might as well jump straight into this and say that although I am happy with getting a high 2:1, I am disappointed at being 3% off a 1st. Still, I can only blame myself for immersing myself too much into my role as the Senior Under Officer at the OTC (another blog on that) but it was also a dodgy year with an unwanted break up, still trying to find a good routine (it is so hard to re-establish once you lose it) and a general lack of confidence going into the exams. Still it means that a 1st is in sight with some extra work on next year's modules.
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My dead fly count: approx 25 confirmed kills
Andy's dead fly count: lost count
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More photos on my Instagram (twd1988) and my Google Photos
Luv that mountain
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