« Solomons to Australia voyage - basecamp update #2 | Main | Solomons to Australia voyage - Update #1 »

July 16, 2000

Solomons to Australia voyage - basecamp update #3

Making Ready...
Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 14:27:51 -0700 (PDT)
Tulagi Report #4
Tulagi Island
Central Province, Solomon Islands

The stiff bristle brush skimmed the nylon covering of the mattress, coaxing dirt from its surface. Rivulets of sweat coursed down my arms, running along my sides. I looked forward to the cool water from the hose when I would begin the 'rinse cycle' on this stack of laundry. Soaking nearby, in a tub full of diesel, lay rust covered tools, an attempt being made to dislodge the salt residue which had welded the moving parts. They were the next job on my list.

Cleaning bits and pieces of kit from Moksha was my afternoon task. Close quarters without much ventilation, hot temperatures, coupled with a humid ocean environment had created a job requiring a bit more elbow grease to get items properly cleaned and in working condition.

Finishing the sleeping pad, I had now plunged my hands into the diesel, selecting a particularly crusty open end wrench. "Hmmmm," I pondered. I could make short work of this with a wire brush. Jason, however, called to me from the other side of the dock, "I could use a hand with this wind generator, please, A."

Placing the wrench back in its diesel bath, I walked over to the edge of the dock where a couple of sailors from a local fishing boat were watching Jason work. These were some of my 'new best friends,' which I had made earlier in the week. They had been an appreciative audience as I'd told them stories of Jason's travels, displaying their interest and commenting, "He's a brave man!" When I'd shared with them the fact that I was Jason's next pedaler, but I'd never been to sea, they were quiet for a moment. Eyebrows raised as what I'd just said soaked in, "Ohhhhh... he's a Very Brave Man!" They were a good lot, and throughout the week, had been quite helpful, cheerfully taking me through an accelerated course in nautical knot tying.

Meanwhile, the job at hand was trying to figure out why the wind generator hadn't been producing as much power as expected over the last voyage. Jason was pulling it apart to check the wiring. I was holding Moksha close to the dock while he used an Allen wrench to remove the bolt holding the cap. A bit of unexpected chop in the harbor suddenly sent Moksha upwards. The Allen wrench was dislodged from Jason's hand and we watched in horror as it plummeted downward, missing Moksha's deck and landing in five meters of murky water.

The two sailors had seen the episode unfold and their group had now swelled to ten, all bent forward over the water looking for the elusive wrench. Jason, meanwhile, had resorted to using a pair of pliers in place of the wrench, but in vain. He concluded the inevitable, a dive to the bottom in search of the rusty Allen wrench was the only solution. After rummaging around in the boat for his snorkeling gear, he made an unsuccessful first try, his mask filling with water at a depth of two meters. He surfaced to clear the mask and dove once again.

I had noticed a sailor standing beside me, one who had watched with interest whenever I had been aboard Moksha. He'd appeared to be quite a shy fellow. He left the group of onlookers, then suddenly reappeared with a snorkeling mask. Diving off the dock, he immediately swam to the bottom, surfacing a minute later clutching the Allen wrench. The crowd of onlookers 'Ohhhhhed!' their approval. This diver's manner was matter-of-fact, however, as if to say, "If this isn't the right size, I'll go back down to get you another!" His grin, though, was from ear to ear. Jason and I laughed in delight at his talent. I was touched, not only by this man's selfless action, but also by the fact of having witnessed, once again, another example of how human powered this expedition truly is.

We finished the wind generator and I wandered back to continue cleaning my diesel-soaked tools.

April

Posted on July 16, 2000 12:48 PM