Guam - Santiago Sep. 8 - Oct. 17. Missives from The Andesite Line on Pursuit

[highplanesdrifters]

Just now, Rancher Dave said:

wife and I were talking about Marcel as we ate dinner tonight. Think he will be on our invite list for dinner one of the nights. 

 

JIC I plan to bring a box of transderm scop with me. Last time I used any was when working on a 110' boat in GOM during a hurricane.   There were people not well in 2m in South Pacific Tropical areas. 

 

I particularly like watching the stars when the ship is bobbing.

 

What's GOM?  Sounds like a good story....hijack if you're in the mood.

 

[highplanesdrifters]

In the "What the Heck" category.....our neighbor has this:

 

 

 

We were told he has permission. Some BS about communicating with the bridge.  Looks pretty Ham Radio to us.

 

 

On the last leg there was a Russian with a drone.  Flew it all over the place.  Very annoying to have a drone buzzing you while floating around a remote atoll.  We were told he had permission too.

[Rancher Dave]

6 minutes ago, highplanesdrifters said:

 

I particularly like watching the stars when the ship is bobbing.

 

What's GOM?  Sounds like a good story....hijack if you're in the mood.

 

Gulf of Mexico. 

 

The antenna in your pic sure looks like a HAM Radio...wonder if they got permission. 

 

If my drone was small enough I might try to get permission to fly it in Chile around the glaciers. I know that they are not allowed in Antarctica, ironically though it seems there are pics used that had to be from a drone.  Agree if operator doesn't care about annoying others a drone could easily tick off loads of people. 

[lincslady]

Apologies for being the one who mentioned the word C......   Because I can barely use a computer, my missives underline wrong spelling, (usually mistyped words) but don't correct it automatically.  I know someone could change this for me, but as I am not short of time I leave it as it is.   The only prize I won at school was for perfect spelling, and sadly was a book about ponies and horses, in which I had zero interest at the time. Misspellings should not annoy me, but sadly do, eventually.  Thanks for your patience.

[highplanesdrifters]

Just now, Rancher Dave said:

The antenna in your pic sure looks like a HAM Radio...wonder if they got permission. 

 

According to guest services they did. 

[highplanesdrifters]

Good Morning Pitcairn. 

 

 

The ship has been bobbing and shaking for the last hour trying to stay in place with the Dynamic Positioning System. Captain is having trouble finding a lee. Should be an interesting day.

 

Landing site. Plenty of waves crashing in Bounty Bay.

 

 

Pitcarin is 2,235 km from Tahiti, 2,035 km from Easter Island. Imagine The Bounty crew finding this spit of land and calling it home. Anarchy, mayhem, and murder awaits.

 

 

The island must have a pretty decent stash of evil spirits.   It's modern reputation comprises needing to build a jail to hold all the pedophiles. I kid you not.

 

 

 

Edited October 4 by highplanesdrifters

[Robisan]

13 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

In the "What the Heck" category.....our neighbor has this:

 

 

 

We were told he has permission. Some BS about communicating with the bridge.  Looks pretty Ham Radio to us.

 

 

On the last leg there was a Russian with a drone.  Flew it all over the place.  Very annoying to have a drone buzzing you while floating around a remote atoll.  We were told he had permission too.

What an eyesore. Did you get a discount or some OBC for being placed in the ship's commercial/industrial section?

 

The threshold for permission ought to be whether they could grant it to every guest. Imagine multiple antenna rigs off of verandas or tens of drones buzzing overhead. No thanks. Permission for one is permission for all.

[highplanesdrifters]

Just now, Robisan said:

What an eyesore. Did you get a discount or some OBC for being placed in the ship's commercial/industrial section?

 

The threshold for permission ought to be whether they could grant it to every guest. Imagine multiple antenna rigs off of verandas or tens of drones buzzing overhead. No thanks. Permission for one is permission for all.

 

Exactly!

[highplanesdrifters]

All systems go!

 

Well maybe not all systems. 😁  Guests have been warned.  DO NOT attempt to come onshore unless you are extremely agile. You must be able to balance on one foot.  You will get wet, very wet.  Oh boy, can't wait! Especially can't wait to see who ignores the warnings.

 

 

 

[DTtravelers]

Do not wear your white sneakers!  Do they issue you bog boots for Pacific trips?

 

I am surprised that they haven't come up with a more modern way of communicating out there in the Pacific.  They could call it "Starlink" or something catchy like that.

 

Anxiously awaiting your return report!

 

[markandjie]

8 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

 It's modern reputation comprises needing to build a jail to hold all the pedophiles. I kid you not.

 

Went down the Wikipedia rabbit hole. Wish I didn't. Seriously disturbing culture. 

[highplanesdrifters]

Details to come.

 

You want Expedition? Oh....you're gonna get Expedition!

 

Edited October 4 by highplanesdrifters

[Rancher Dave]

5 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

Details to come.

 

You want Expedition? Oh....you're gonna get Expedition!

 

Love those natural frames.  I found a way to pull that off on some of our island visits. 

 

Trying to recall, are the USB wall outlets a standard USB connection or USB C?  Thinking old standard kind, but want to confirm since I would need to get some new old USB to C style. 

[highplanesdrifters]

1 hour ago, DTtravelers said:

Do not wear your white sneakers!  Do they issue you bog boots for Pacific trips?

 

I am surprised that they haven't come up with a more modern way of communicating out there in the Pacific.  They could call it "Starlink" or something catchy like that.

 

Anxiously awaiting your return report!

 

 

"White sneakers" has been added to the trips lexicon.   This leg has an unusually large number of them.  There is also penny loafer guy.   No matter where we go he wears them and dresses like country club brunch.

[highplanesdrifters]

Just now, markandjie said:

 

Went down the Wikipedia rabbit hole. Wish I didn't. Seriously disturbing culture. 

It is a dark rabbit hole.

[highplanesdrifters]

Just now, Rancher Dave said:

Love those natural frames.  I found a way to pull that off on some of our island visits. 

 

Trying to recall, are the USB wall outlets a standard USB connection or USB C?  Thinking old standard kind, but want to confirm since I would need to get some new old USB to C style. 

 

It's a USB A.  It puts out about 2 amps, enough to charge a phone. Does this help?

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Pitcarin 

The Journey

 

I've been in a few zodiacs.  This trip was one of the most challenging. Top three for sure. We were warned repeatedly, at the briefing, morning announcement,  and once again very aggressively at the landing. Many did not heed that warning.  Plenty of "white sneaker" types, cane's, and penny loafer guy.  None were tall enough to get on this ride, including possibly myself.    The "A Team" Juan and Claudio aided by incredible AB's and the Expedition team landed 112 people.  I did not hear of any serious injuries. However, I can guarantee there are plenty of bumps, bruises and "that's gonna leave a mark" issues today.

 

Three meter swells came in sets of 3 and 5 about 14 seconds apart. Timing was crucial.  The zodiac bobbed 3-5 feet up and down.  Getting in, catch it on the down swing,  exit on the up.  There was no usual  box in the zodiac. A big step up or a jump down was required.  

 

The landing was flooded all day. Look at the size of the team.

 

 

Step on the rib, jump in and sit NOW!  You can see how quickly the zodiac descends, already down a foot plus. This entry was the picture of grace!

 

Waiting to unload.

 

This was an easy unload.  I hope it gives you a sense of the elevation change. Almost as difficult was hanging on at the gate while bobbing up and down and being slammed into the ship. 

 

 

TBC

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rancher Dave]

1 hour ago, highplanesdrifters said:

 

It's a USB A.  It puts out about 2 amps, enough to charge a phone. Does this help?

 

 

Thank you!!!  That is what I was remembering, so I just need to get some A-C cables. Or adapters.  Need one for current computer anyhow. 

 

Time to head to ranch for chores there. First big load of arctic wear just arrived, a couple more and we should be set to pack.

[highplanesdrifters]

Journey II

 

 

The journey ashore was bumpy but for the most part a non event.

 

 

Getting in and out of the tiny harbor was another story as was exiting the zodiac.

 

 

Expedition team had a wave watcher stationed at the head. Zodiacs entered the harbor then unloaded under his watchful eye and commands via walkie talkie. Entering was easy enough as we just rode a wave in. Hmmm, how do we get out?  Shouts of WAVE...BIG WAVE all day.  I had four SIT - STAND commands before I could exit the zodiac.  It was a well choreographed synchronized event. 

 

 

Our black rubber chariots await.

 

 

Look at the agility of the team as they wait. I'd be flat on my face!

 

 

Now we have to get out of the harbor.  The wave watcher yells NOW, NOW, NOW. Over that wave we go.  It's sends us all up in the air a foot or two.  Wahoo baby.  I put my camera away and held on after that one. Yikes.

 

 

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Another shout out to the entire Pursuit team, Captain, AB's, Expedition,  etc.   This team was on fire. So often it's just one part of the trip that's tough.  In Pitcarin every step of the way was a major challenge. 

 

A final shout out to Captain Ertan Vasvi who gave the final go ahead. In addition to saying yes he executed a  maneuver called sweeping. He moved the ship diagonally back and forth using the opposite azipods which give the team a little lee and calmer seas.

 

He lives up to his picture.😄

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Just now, Rancher Dave said:

Thank you!!!  That is what I was remembering, so I just need to get some A-C cables. Or adapters.  Need one for current computer anyhow. 

 

Time to head to ranch for chores there. First big load of arctic wear just arrived, a couple more and we should be set to pack.

 

Best get those chores done lickity split.  Pretty soon you'll be wrangling penguins!

 

Yell if you need any Antarctica packing advice.  

[Robisan]

Curious about this footwear. Does anyone know the brand? Is that a pax foot or is that what the crew is outfitted with? TIA

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Pitcarin 

 

We made it!

 

 

There were two difficult hikes offered along with a guided town walk. One hike to St. Paul's Pool and a second to the high Peak Pawala Valley Ridge.  Lovie did the second and I will post about that next.  Folks who did St. Paul's said it was steep and challenging as promised.  St. Paul's Pool was beautiful but they couldn't enter due to the tide.  It might just wash them out the other side into the ocean, something that recently happened with tourists. 🙄 They were rescued. 

 

 

I choose the easier path to town up the 'Hill of Difficulty '.....on the back of a 4x4 for the price of $5. Due to operational difficulties walking up the hill was not an option, and I pulled a muscle in the zodiac. 😄 Had it not been for them I would have been stuck at the bottom with the tourism board. 

 

 

This was only a fraction of the way up.

 

 

We were dropped at the center of "town".  The locals were set up with plenty of Pitcarin swag.  The grocery store was closed as they didn't want to sell their precious supplies to tourists. Easily understandable given the lack of supply ships .

 

 

Swag made on the island was rather inexpensive. Hand carved bits and bobs for $5-$20. Stamps, t shirts, hats, local honey, were also on offer.  I bought a shark and some spoons.  Don't judge me.

 

 

We hit all the highlights.  Woo hoo!

 

The Bounty Anchor and baby cannon.

 

 

The Museum was small and nice housing a bit of history and Bounty bits from the bottom of the sea.

 

 

The holy grail. A bounty Cannon rescued and restored In New Zealand.

 

 

Air BNB

 

Town square

 

 

Invasive species.

 

 

Why do a few dozen people need a police station?

 

 

Where are we?

 

Plaques commemorating the Bounty and those who said on her.

The Tahitians were added 15 years after the mutineers. 

 

 

Rocks 

 

Another Bounty cannon left to disintegrate outside.

 

 

John Adam's grave.  The last of the mutineers. 

 

Church

 

Quite an interesting place.

 

 

For those that choose to go down the rabbit hole of Pitcarins very recent dark past, link below.  WARNING....it is very disturbing. 

 

 As we met some of the residents I could not help but wonder if they were involved.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Pitcairn_Islands_sexual_assault_trial

[highplanesdrifters]

Just now, Robisan said:

Curious about this footwear. Does anyone know the brand? Is that a pax foot or is that what the crew is outfitted with? TIA

 

 

 

 

So sorry, no clue.  It belonged to a guest.  

[Redking]

We  visited Pitcairn back in March. Was surprised by its beauty; expected a barren rocky outcrop.

 

To this day, I am still trying to process its recent dark history. Given its population, we did indeed meet those who were convicted and their families. One of them actually gave us a tour around the island, although I was unaware of it until Google told me once I was back on board. My opinion was once very black and white on these matters. They say travel broadens the mind, Pitcairn certainly challenges your thinking.

 

 I doubt I will ever visit anywhere else like it. Enjoy Easter Island.🗿

[Fletcher]

3 hours ago, Redking said:

They say travel broadens the mind, Pitcairn certainly challenges your thinking.

 

 

It is very easy for us who live in the west, in big advanced and diverse societies, to impose our values on different parts of the world.  Yes, the Pitcairners - or Pitkerners as they say - speak English (or a hybrid, 18th century version of it), yes they are a British Overseas Territory, yes they are governed by New Zealand, but they are also a Polynesian society, living in virtual isolation,  a gene-depleted society, the descendants of a race war and of sexual violence that killed almost everyone on the island, then contaminated by Christian (that word!) religious dogma, and so on and so on.   For me, this is far from black-and-white, holier-than-thou.  

Edited October 6 by Fletcher