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Re: [OM] Keeping It Dry Advice

Subject: Re: [OM] Keeping It Dry Advice
From: Moose <olymoose@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 16:27:23 -0800
I spent 3 weeks in Costa Rica in the rainy season with an OM-1 and an OM-2n, including lots of days in cloud forest and costal rain forest. I took lots of silica gel packets pre-dried and sealed in double zip-lock bags. I kept a packet in a separate zip-lock with each body and lens whenever not using them and changed the gel packets frequently when equipment was used. Many of the packets I had weren't the kind that turns blue when used up, so I had to guess when to change them. I never had any kind of damp related symptoms, including fungus, nor have they showed up since. An ounce of prevention..... There are certainly fancier solutions, but my simple one worked perfectly for me.

I think that the inside of those plastic bags was the only place close to dry up in the Rara Avis research station. Even fresh sheets were damp, and clothes never really dried. I saw a Nik*n electronic camera sort of self destruct, all the motors whirring out of control out in the rain forest. I guess it got wet enough inside to short out. Amazing place.

The weather in the central plateau areas, like the capital, san Jose, isn't all that humid when it isn't raining, but the rain forests, high and low, are really damp. If you like plants and flowers, check out the Lankester Gardens, an extensive and excellent horticultral garden in a town not far from San Jose. We took public buses there before we rented a car for some further travels. It was just amazing to be in such a huge, varied and wonderful place which was virtually deserted. My only regret was not allowing more time there. We stayed at a wilderness camp on the South Coast where the only roads were a footpath and the ocean, in the Rara Avis station in cloud forest (up what should be the worst road in the world; took a 4wd tractor to get up), at Tortuguera on the Atlantic barrier island (cool turtle nesting), on a west coast beach, visited Arenal Volcano and a butterfly farm, went white water rafting (warm water!!) and some other stuff. Amongst all that I would say Lankester Gardens is still worth a visit and the only place really worth visiting that we hadn't heard about before we got there.

Moose

Winsor Crosby wrote:

My Costa Rica trip planned for last year has finally materialized. It is reputed to be hot, steamy and rainy and although I have my OM1n along for insurance I would like to use my little digicam. None of these things are even weatherized. Any advice on keeping these little electronic whiz bangs dry and functioning?




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