08:31.109S 119:52.118E
Moved to the Eco Lodge anchorage 10/09/13
After yesterday's rant I thought I'd post something a little more positive. I did think about not posting 'wot I wrote' but I've got the impression from emails from people that I've never met that I have a lot of fortitude, patience and all the Bulldog Drummond virtues. Er no, actually. Those who know me personally realise that this is not the case and believe me I've spent a fair bit of time the last year howling at the moon and cursing the fates. So now you know. In fact at one point I thought about changing my name to Murdock (as in the A Team, Howling Mad etc etc. I flew helicopters as well).
Be that as it may, I upped anchor at about 0630 with no dramas or heart attacks and proceeded towards the Eco Lodge anchorage. Hmm, lots of engine revs but also transmission slippage so anything more than tickover was a waste of fuel. HOWEVER, after about ten minutes there was an audible 'click' and we started going a bit faster. I increased revs, we went faster. I then emulated Toad of Toad Hall and went for it. The rubbish in the water flowed past at warp speed. Trouters has not gone so fast under engine power for about three years. I waved my cup of coffee around with a maniacal grin and muttered 'poop poop' under my breath. Happiness. Then it happened. A voice in a very broad Scots accent said...
"I'll noo take it Captain"......I throttled back.
And you thought Volvo was Swedish eh?
Did I mention the welcoming ceremony and gala dinner were well up to the usual high standard? If I didn't they were. Some concerns were voiced that perhaps beer might not be available and some took brown bags with them. In the event when we arrived there was beer for sale on two sides of the seating area, the food was on a third and then there was the stage. My sort of place.
The dancers came from all over Flores, some had traveled twenty four hours by bus to get here. I'm constantly amazed by the dedication and enthusiasm of the young people for traditional dances. This time there were not that many younger ones, most likely because of the distance involved and the youngest seemed to be from Junior High schools. It was all very good and the MC's English was excellent. The event was a little more 'polished' than some other places, which I suppose you'd expect.
An unexpected bonus of the Presidential visit, apart from some frantic cleaning up and laying of tarmac on certain sections of road, has been that the Internet connection has suddenly got better. This can't be a coincidence!
