HELLO WORLD MISSION REPORT—SO-CENT-COM-COZ—11/30/14 It has been a strange week these past seven days. Head Quarters at the new location is finally in its finishing stages. A shelf for gear storage has been constructed and only awaits a paint job. A new larger mission board is in place with the old board moving to the classroom. Rental gear is now stored out of the classroom area and two dedicated spaces are now established. After my RECON mission on Saturday the 22nd, I felt the first stages of a head cold coming on. By Monday morning it was full-blown sneezing, watery eyes and runny nose. Water, psudephed and nose blowing were the order of the day. Although I was on STAND DOWN from all missions, the mission board reflected the operations scheduled and the guys continued to deliver troops on the different sites. Eagle Rays are quite prevalent now along with all of the usual suspects. The number of boats on the water is reflecting the bustling economy of the Island. Four cruise ships a day are considered normal. The beginning of the week was looking bright except for the forecasted weather. NORTE--- was building on all radar and prognostic models. Wednesday it hit around midnight just about as scheduled. Through my Theraflu induced sleep I could hear the palm fronds brushing against the side of the house as the wind blew down the channel. Mixed with some slashing rain I did not feel that it would amount to much at all. I knew the port would be closed but only figured for a day. The morning broke rain free, but with the cool temperatures that come with the NORTE’s arrival. I donned a light hoodie as I headed to HQ. Long pants and the warmest jackets the locals own decked out the early morning workers. The location of the new shop has me taking a different rout in to work as the one way streets dictate. I now head past Chedraui to 11 street and then left to the Melgar. As I passed Punta Langosta, the waves were crashing over the sea wall. I looked left and the channel waters were a white froth with swells 3 feet and higher. It was very evident that this NORTE would stay for at least two days. As is the norm when operations go on HOLD, the shop is busy with divers asking about this and how to get to that as they anxiously await the next radio report on the status of the port. A brisk walk along the waterfront is about all the explanation required for any doubters that the port will open. Around mid-morning the headquarters quiets down. I head back to my hootch while paper work and shop items consume the rest of the day. The mission board is filled out for the next day, but we already know that that next day will also be a wash out. The weather models are forecasting another three days before the winds turn and blow in from the East. Feeling miserable at home I find myself beneath a blanket lying on the couch cold but sweating. I cannot remember the last cold that I have gotten, but this one feels like the seven-day type. The kind where it starts in your head and works its way down to your chest. I am still at the head level. As anticipated the next day was a washout. Once again I returned to the hootch to rest and recover, Later that afternoon, feeling better, I tackle house chores. Laundry, sweeping the patio, and getting the galley cleaned up. Feeling quite proud of my laundry debut, I take a pic of my laundry hanging on the two new clotheslines that I have installed. Feeling pretty good about getting this chore accomplished I flashed the pics to the boss in Fairbanks. Although we talk on the Magic Jack daily, I have the feeling she doesn’t always believe me when I tell her that I am doing dishes, sweeping and laundry. GO FIGGURE—now I have the photographic evidence. A few hours later I make the daily call. Would you believe that I had to receive a lesson on how to hang the clothes? My photo showed my tee shirts not quite correctly hung on the line—WHO KNEW THERE WAS A CORRECT METHOD????? I thought the goal was to get them dry. Oh well now I know the RIGHT way to hang a tee shirt. WON’T soon forget that one. Friday morning arrives with cloudy skies and wind blowing still from the NORTH. Three days of port closure is not unprecedented, but it doesn’t happen very often. Two cups of JOE later and I am feeling a lot better. A quick look at the Wind Finder application shows the winds still north, but turning later today. Driving by the bay and seeing white still on the channel waters convinces me that it will be another day of no water activities. By now the Scuba industry is NOT GOOD. Many vacationers eagerly are wanting to dive and one man (the port captain) saying no. It is evident that the channel waters are starting to lie down but the 7 am radio report still has the port CERRADO. The HQ is busy with clients and students all wondering what they are going to do today. Just about then the PORT GOES ABIERTO (OPEN). Well when this happens it is a nightmare at the Caleta. All dive ops hit that small marina at once and it is a mess. We have been through this before and it doesn’t take long to contact divers and get them headed to HQ. The guys have the deuce and a half loaded and have taken off. The two divers who are to report to the shop arrive and then I head down to pick up the next two on the way. We all arrive at the Caleta and soon the Skinny Shark is heading south on another mission. I return to base. We are running two boats today (Two days ago). Although I am feeling much better I have decided to stand down until Monday. Head colds and scuba are not conducive with each other. Besides today I have to prepare the deuce and a half for a complete makeover. The steel plating and rack on the rear has just about completely rusted away. Today we will pick up stainless steel fasteners for the bed replacement. The Sargent has found an old Mayan man who specializes in hard wood fabrications. He had done truck beds before and we have him schedule to do ours. Saturday (Nov 29th) the deuce goes into the shop. Using my good old Ebay truck is working out nicely. Saturday we had four passengers inside, three divemasters and equipment in the back. We have the tank supplier picking up the tanks at the Caleta and that has helped a lot. Sunday—TODAY—and the shop is closed. Since the Ironman is running today we have opted to not open. Travel to the Caleta would be impossible as 3000 ironman contestants start the event at 6:40 with the swim. Our own Cubano is entered for I believe his fourth ironman. He has really dedicated himself to his training and doing this. Someone asked him the other day which out of the three disciplines of the event—swimming—bicycling and running---was his strongest. His response was the bike. I added that was because it was how he escaped Cuba—you know—one of those peddle boats you find along the beach--.Just an hour ago I received word that he finished 4th in his age group and 94th overall. That is 94 out of approximately 3000 contestants. Now how about that????? Congratulations to our own Jorge Cabrera. STINGER OUT.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 01:58:53 +0000
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