Thanks Martin:) Damned cops always hassling us fine folk. Wish you were with us with your badge.
Michael Farmer > On Dec 13, 2016, at 10:25 PM, Martin Goff <msgmeteori...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Fantastic story guys, glad to you both home safe and sound and managed to get > some goodies too :-) > > Cheers > > Martin > > Martin Goff > www.msg-meteorites.co.uk > IMCA #3387 > Sent from my mobile phone > >> On 14 Dec 2016 05:13, "Michael Farmer via Meteorite-list" >> <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com> wrote: >> It seems like yesterday! Oh wait, it was. >> My suitcases are still on the living room floor. >> Michael Farmer >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >> > On Dec 13, 2016, at 9:50 PM, Greg Hupe via Meteorite-list >> > <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com> wrote: >> > >> > Bolivia Meteorite Adventure >> > By Gregory M. Hupe >> > >> > >> > On November 20, 2016 a massive meteorite event took place over Aiquile, >> > Bolivia at approximately 5:00 p.m. local time. While still daylight, >> > Quechua Indian eyewitnesses saw ‘corkscrew’ smoke trails and heard >> > ‘whooshing’ noises followed by sonic booms and then stones literally >> > falling at their feet! >> > >> > Michael Farmer and I went to Aiquile to hunt for meteorites and attempt to >> > acquire stones from the inhabitants. Things didn’t quite work out that way… >> > >> > Welcome to Aiquile Bolivia. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia1.jpg >> > >> > Possibly the main mass, an approximately 35-kilogram impactor. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia2.jpg >> > >> > Town Square in center of Aiquile. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia3.jpg >> > >> > Charango guitar with caballero and bull sculpture in the town square. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia4.jpg >> > >> > It would take us over two weeks after the fall to fly to Bolivia due to >> > Mike’s yearly show commitment in Japan. Just 24 hours at home after >> > returning from the show, Michael flew to Florida to meet me. On December >> > 8th we began our journey to South America from Miami. Our travels would >> > take us by air to Aiquile by way of La Paz and then on to Cochabamba and >> > then by private hire to Aiquile. With no sleep for over 30 hours of >> > travel from home to the dusty town near the strewnfield, we were exhausted >> > but too excited to rest. We went right to work meeting with fellow >> > meteorite hunter, Dario Ruiz, who had been there for two weeks. He >> > introduced us to individuals about hunting for meteorites or buying some, >> > but our hopes were quickly dampened by the news of the town’s government >> > putting up road blocks to deny access to the strewnfield. It turns out >> > that the officials were confiscating stones from the Quechua finders which >> > put them in a panic and afraid to talk to outsiders. Things quickly >> > became complicated. >> > >> > Dario, Michael and Greg in Aiquile. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia5.jpg >> > >> > View looking up the Aiquile strewnfield from the Quechua trail. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia6.jpg >> > >> > Cactus are a common beauty in the strewnfield. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia7.jpg >> > >> > We realized we were not going to be able to hunt for stones ourselves >> > without the threat of arrest, or far worse, physical harm from protective >> > villagers we were told may use force to stop outsiders from hunting. >> > Knowing this, we immediately went to ‘Plan B’ and were granted secret >> > meetings with owners of pieces from the fall. To our thrill and >> > amazement, we were able to see several stones ranging from small broken >> > fragments to large kilo-sized pieces. Throughout the 48-hours we were on >> > site we were told of several large pieces included a 50-kilo ‘Puzzle >> > Stone’ which we believe to be just rumor as is consistent with most falls. >> > >> > Reflecting upon a fresh meteorite. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia8.jpg >> > >> > 100-plus gram fragment. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia9.jpg >> > >> > Same 100-gram fragment displaying ‘Slickensides’. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia10.jpg >> > >> > Interior indicating a shocked high metal H Chondrite. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia11.jpg >> > >> > On our second day we had an early start with a scheduled meeting to see >> > some stones, but being on ‘Bolivia time’ we sat for several hours waiting, >> > waiting and waiting some more. To keep us from leaving and going to other >> > contacts, our new friend entertained us with some guitar play dressed in >> > his caballero ranch clothing made of javelina, lama and other durable >> > animal skins. Aiquile is known as the ‘Capitol of Charango’ (guitar) >> > where the guitar is manufactured. It was nice to enjoy this flavor of >> > music high in the mountain village. >> > >> > Local Quechua playing a Charango guitar. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia12.jpg >> > >> > Video of the music of Bolivian friendship: >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Videos/AiquileBoliviaVideo1.mp4 >> > >> > Newly fallen meteorite with Charango guitar. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia13.jpg >> > >> > Noon was soon upon us with nobody bearing stones for us to consider so we >> > walked down the street for lunch and chose one of a few street vendors >> > offering potatoes and sausage. We ventured to the local market and town >> > square for a little tourism while we were there. The meal was very tasty >> > and the sightseeing was nice but we were eager to get back to work. >> > >> > Quechua offering an assortment of foods. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia14.jpg >> > >> > Aiquile market stocked with fresh fruits. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia15.jpg >> > >> > Coca leaves, a staple of high altitude living. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia16.jpg >> > >> > Grandmother and granddaughter enjoying an afternoon in town square. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia17.jpg >> > >> > Approaching our meeting place to see the stones we noticed two >> > out-of-place characters on brand new mountain bikes looking our way and >> > pointing a cell phone towards our direction and acting like tourists. We >> > knew immediately they must be government officials with their shiny bikes, >> > mirror sunglasses and new clothing. And we thought WE stood out in the >> > crowd! Most Quechua don’t own bicycles in this town, and if they did they >> > would be very old and worn out. Entering the hotel meeting place we were >> > led to a wall where we were informed that a notice was hastily taped on >> > the wall in the darkness of night. It was a new ‘law’, or heavy >> > suggestion as we surmised, that encouraged locals to hand over their finds >> > and forbid hunting for the meteorite or the sale of them. This new >> > ‘Declaration 69’ would be voted on in 60 days at which time it would >> > either become official law or be struck down. >> > >> > Young Quechua boy wearing chullo cap. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia18.jpg >> > >> > Small Quechua girl shopping early at the market. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia19.jpg >> > >> > Declaration 69 (Page 1). >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia20.jpg >> > >> > Declaration 69 (Page 2). >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia21.jpg >> > >> > Not wanting to tempt fate and be accused of stealing meteorites or be set >> > up by the ‘tourists’ on the mountain bikes, we decided to cut our trip >> > short and bug out early. We didn’t want to alert anyone of our revised >> > plans so we made new appointments for later that day and the next morning. >> > After making arrangements for an inconspicuous ‘escape’ we met with our >> > driver who quickly loaded our small amount of luggage and he made his way >> > through back alleys away from prying eyes. He stopped by an out of town >> > gas station but did not pull in like normal but chose to park behind a >> > large bush for concealment from the cameras at these locations. We would >> > later learn that some cars are stolen from Chile and utilized in small >> > villages in Bolivia without proper plates or registration after the right >> > people are paid off. After filling the tank from a gas can we were easily >> > permitted to travel an old Quechua trail. The trail was a handmade >> > cobblestone road that threaded alongside treacherous mountains with >> > hundreds of hairpin turns without guardrails and lined with 1000-foot >> > drop-offs. Many memorial markers lined the path indicating where many >> > souls met a terrifying death. >> > >> > Handmade Quechua cobblestone road leading towards the mountain pass. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia22.jpg >> > >> > ‘Highway to Hell’. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia23.jpg >> > >> > One of many destroyed vehicles along the Quechua trail. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia24.jpg >> > >> > Video of our route on the ‘Death Road’: >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Videos/AiquileBoliviaVideo2.mp4 >> > >> > After six hours of a white knuckle and frightening ride utilizing five >> > different vehicles, either for evasion from possible followers meaning to >> > do us harm or because of the ‘stolen car’ issue, we finally made it to >> > safety in Cochabamba. During our travels on the ‘Highway from Hell’ as we >> > called it, we received word of meteorites that were in Cochabamba that we >> > could possibly acquire. >> > >> > Three fragments of the Aiquile meteorite. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia27.jpg >> > >> > Fresh 437-gram fragment displaying black fusion crust and impact markings. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia28.jpg >> > >> > We arrived at the pre-determined location and were escorted to a dimly lit >> > corridor in a downtown room without furniture. After much negotiation in >> > Spanish between Michael and the owner, a few pieces were purchased. The >> > large stone was not to be had as the owner wanted to what amounted to the >> > cost of a large ranch. We left content with the few pieces we managed to >> > get and took two different taxis to a hotel we booked online while in >> > route to the meeting. We took no chances of being set up or followed. >> > Risk of false imprisonment in South America is high so we had to >> > constantly be on guard and switch plans on the spot. ‘Head on a swivel’ >> > was the motto here. We managed to get a 2-hour power nap after changing >> > our itinerary back to the U.S. before we had to be at the airport to fly >> > to La Paz. >> > >> > Michael standing next to fountain town square in Cochabamba. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia29.jpg >> > >> > Greg in front of government building at town square. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia30.jpg >> > >> > Upon checking into yet another spur-of-the-moment hotel, we had a few >> > hours for some sightseeing around the neighborhood before getting some >> > rest before yet another 3:00 a.m. wake up call to catch a flight. >> > >> > Pedro Domingo Murillo Plaza in downtown La Paz. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia31.jpg >> > >> > Christmas celebration at San Francisco Plaza. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia32.jpg >> > >> > Quechua woman wearing traditional Bolo hat and attire adding color to >> > downtown. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia33.jpg >> > >> > After departing La Paz, with a quick stop in Santa Cruz, we flew over the >> > jungles of Brazil, Colombia and the northern Caribbean coast over >> > Barranquilla. Next was a narrow of emerald-colored sea that led us over >> > Jamaica and over central Cuba before delivering us to Miami. >> > >> > Flying over the jungles of Colombia. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia34.jpg >> > >> > Leaving South American airspace over Barranquilla, Colombia. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia35.jpg >> > >> > The emerald Caribbean seas embrace the island nation of Jamaica. >> > http://www.naturesvault.net/Images/AiquileBolivia/AiquileBolivia36.jpg >> > >> > While most of the meteorites recovered from this fall were confiscated by >> > the municipal government, some of those will be put on public display in >> > the local museum. This means that of the very few that were legally >> > obtained before any overnight laws potentially go into effect, very little >> > will be available to the collecting community. While we were prepared and >> > had to bug out early due to a challenging and fluid situation, we overcame >> > the difficulties and returned home safely. The Bolivia meteorite >> > adventure was a quick thrill ride composed of; Excitement, Frustration, >> > Disappointment, Danger, Reward and most importantly – A trip we will not >> > soon forget! >> > >> > >> > >> > Best Regards, >> > Greg >> > >> > ==================== >> > Greg Hupe >> > The Hupe Collection >> > gmh...@centurylink.net >> > www.NaturesVault.net (Online Catalog & Reference Site) >> > www.LunarRock.com (Online Planetary Meteorite Site) >> > NaturesVault (Facebook, Pinterest & eBay) >> > http://www.facebook.com/NaturesVault >> > http://pinterest.com/NaturesVault >> > IMCA 3163 >> > ==================== >> > >> > ______________________________________________ >> > >> > Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the >> > Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com >> > Meteorite-list mailing list >> > Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com >> > https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list >> >> ______________________________________________ >> >> Visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/meteoritecentral and the >> Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com >> Meteorite-list mailing list >> Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com >> https://pairlist3.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
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