From: dxcoffee@alt119.net.remove-1vz-this   
      
   by Andy VK5MAV/VK9MAV   
   Coral Sea Adventure   
   Part 2. "We';ll go, we';ll rush on deer in the morning early ..." (One of   
   popular Soviet songs in 1970s)   
      
   And so, when it was already beginning to dawn, Chris asked me a simple and   
   obvious question that changed everything ...   
      
   "The Norval trip did not take place. He is now being amended for 2 weeks or   
   more. All your plans and dreams have collapsed. And you don't have too much   
   time - the permits ends on 30th of June. But think out-of-the-box. All the   
   tourist marine business in    
   this area is held not only by Norval. Many ships go to the area not only for   
   fishing. Divers, researchers. Ron is not you, he';s been in this business for   
   more than 20 years, and he has friends and colleagues. Did you ask Ron to find   
   out if anyone was    
   coming to the area soon? "   
      
   The question was acknowledged by all those present to be reasonable, but   
   postponed until the morning - Ron';s day and night were too hard to wake him   
   up. Moreover, I myself saw that he is going through not only because of   
   financial losses, but also    
   because of me.   
      
   The end of our talks had a beneficial effect on me, and even a sleep came at   
   once. Not for long, only for 2 hours, but when I crawled upstairs (sleeping   
   places - under the deck), Ron was already there, preparing the boat for repair.   
      
   Immediately after my question asked, he reached for the phone. I, trying to   
   not frighten off my luck, went to the deck, where Chris and Frostie,   
   absolutely fresh, were engaged in bringing unlucky anglers from the harbor to   
   the shore by a motor boat.   
      
   In less than 15 minutes, Ron came to me and, smiling, said: "There';s my   
   friend';s mother-ship is moored near Diamond Islets at present time. There is   
   a large group of divers. He needs to get some goods delivered and Norval had   
   to bring them. You    
   understand that Norval for a long time will not go anywhere, but he needs the   
   cargo. So I decided to send a speed boat. If you want, you can go with them.   
   Go out now. But there is no comfort there at all. The trip will take 7-8   
   hours. The weather    
   forecast is excellent. Not Marion reef, but you will be happy with Diamonds as   
   well, won't you? "   
      
   To say that I was dumbfounded is not to say anything. This does not happen.   
   But - it is necessary to jump now and here. It';s good that all the things   
   were not unpacked (I did not know about the headset yet). Chris and Frostie   
   immediately threw them into    
   the boat. A small boat, a cruising speed of 40 knots, but can do up to 50. The   
   official name is "South Wind", but above was the unofficial "Wet Hooker".   
      
   Quickly poured a breakfast prepared by Frostie, I, accompanied by the same   
   guys Frostie and Chris, jumped aboard. As it turned out, they are going go   
   with me. Anyway they had nothing to do on the Norval, until the mechanics came   
   in to repair the box.   
      
   It was about 8 am. And we rushed away ...   
      
   Chris is at handwheel, to the right of me is Frostie';s turban. Chris (and   
   Frostie, who succeeded him) stood at the handwheel all the way, I was sitting   
   on the locker in front of the windshield (later, much later, good memories of   
   a comfortable locker    
   will bounce into me, and very much).   
      
   We were rushing almost non-stop, only a couple of times the engine was stopped   
   to refill the fuel tank. The weather was really excellent; visibility was "one   
   million" and virtually no waves. I still have the impression that I even had a   
   nap a couple of    
   times (though, without unclenching hands on the handrails for a second). To   
   talk, alas, there was no possibility - a powerful engine roared so loud that   
   the noise was continuing for a couple of hours when arrrived.   
      
   The first thing I was thrown to the nearest island and helped to transfer the   
   whole cargo (especially when they saw how amusing I am limping - alas, the   
   consequences of doing sports 30 years ago), and then they left to pass the   
   goods.   
      
   Worried, first of all I rushed to unpack, connect and switch on the   
   electronics - I was very afraid that boxes could not stand the trip. Hurray -   
   the generator was wound up at once; everything else was also lit up. Only task   
   remained was to put up    
   antennas. Alas - at this point I learned that I no longer have the headset and   
   will have to work with the internal speaker of the transceiver and CW only.   
      
   By the way - I got the royal conditions there. On the island was a canopy with   
   a huge and a rainwater tank. As it turned out later, the Queensland   
   government, through a special program, installed similar amenities on many   
   islands where camping is allowed.   
    But in this case - perhaps it was not built by the government, but by   
   companies whose ships use Diamonds as a shelter in case of bad weather.   
      
   Frostie and Chris returned soon, got rid of the cargo and bringing me more   
   food, which, in their opinion, was absolutely necessary for me, since I did   
   not take it enough.   
      
   In my terms - it was enough. For 6 days - 8 cans of canned sausages, 4 cans of   
   tuna, several packets of crackers, 2 large chocolate bars, tea, coffee and 20   
   litres of water.   
      
   But they brought two more 2-liter canisters of milk, a kilo of smoked chopped   
   bacon, a couple of loaves of bread and a box of Coke cans. Unfortunately, I   
   did not have a refrigerator and the milk stood peacefully, sour, until some   
   time. I conscientiously    
   ate bacon for two days, and then, in order to avoid poisoning, I threw it into   
   a large plastic bag, where I collected all the garbage.   
      
   They also brought a few cans of beer and salads (but this is more for   
   themselves, before going back to Mackay). We celebrate the arrival and I was   
   left alone. Chris on the left - sits, Frostie lies.   
      
   Ok, now is a time to put antennas up. The beach, as seen in the previous   
   photo, is great and has a lot of space. But the antennas could not be erected   
   too far away, and they stood on the edge of the beach, a meter from the shore.   
   Cables were not too long    
   - I took 30 metres ones. But as it turned out - this was for the best.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)