A day of contrast, giving and taking
Sowell Family's Travels on Gijima
Skipper: Tim Sowell Admiral Tracy Crew Sean & Alex
Thu 22 Apr 2010 07:14
fields that are been burned off before the rainy season setting in. So it
was like the fires over San Diego or Sydney. So we settled into the daily
routine on the dock with home schooling and exercise classes.
But what broke the time was the early wakening to boats off the bar waiting
come in (at last the window has been there for days so people have moved so
we had two come in ) very calm entrance.
But then the day turned with a call about 4 hours after high tide that a
boat was outside the bar and wanted to come in, the issue the tide is going
out (great for surfing as the waves double height but bad for boats coming
in) at this stage we should have realized but we decided to give some lea
way so we said we send a pilot out at 5.30 pm the issue we are 2 hours short
of high tide. When we arrived on a wave ski we were told we were 15 minutes
late (S!!!! where do they get this as we arrange things on a plate), but
they had complained about the wait outside. Well that was not bad, when they
came in they had their radios on different channels and communications
failed and they were a cat broadside to a 6 foot wave no issue if you have
you aft to it, but not in this case. The wave tipped the boat ( which is
debatable that it was cat it was a harbor day sailor with 1/2 foot
clearance) and one engine so they failed to hear the turn Port warning and
the wave passed over them, entering the cockpit and downstairs by 1 foot
over the floor boards. Now what you learn is why did they push to come in
before high tide, and then also have all their ports open???? Then on the
dock not a thank you or acknowledgement this is TAKING!!!!. The feeling on
their arrival was cold, even though the hotel said free room ( as their
bedding was wet) and we will help with cleaning staff they complained yet
the issue was we not a high tide and they would not listen.
We left the dock about 15 minutes later for an evening function at the
island with Jan (the school teacher), we had a big barbeque with all
cruisers and it was fund raiser. Raising a couple of 100 dollars a big
advantage to the school and all we did was turn up on a dark evening, and
have African tiki lights and a great barbeque chicken. We discussed helping
more which Sean, Alex and Tracy and I are doing tomorrow with toys and
soccer balls, and we talked access to computers. We were at Jan's house or
beach area on the front of the house, to do a fund raising at a lady who
already dedicates her time to education of island kids. But this was
cruisers pushing ideas between us on growing the community and how we can
make it happen. So we all had dinner and paid a set price and discussed the
world affairs under the thatched roof. Sand came up through our toes as the
tiki lights flickered back and forth and people moved it was a nice local
atmosphere.
One today was take and abuse, and then we were giving, so how different this
world is, I am enjoying looking at how can I contribute to the community
tomorrow is soccer practice but if I have 10 kids doing it we making a
positive want to learn and team spirit.
Then after coming back we met on another boat for music and laid back time
under the stars, and you say this is cruising life if about relaxing then
building.
There is no doubt I have changed in the last 6 months to want to work
(should not be a surprise) but work when I change the world to a better
place, it could be education, environmental, etc, but no longer the stock
market. We can give a lot but changing is different, and maybe tonight was a
start, and when we go to school tomorrow we start a process so matter how
small!!
But life is about making it a better place to live not mine / mine.
Interesting day.
