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BAHAMAS - FIELD UPDATES - WEEK 6
The Week that Was… Sunday Feb. 25th – Saturday Mar. 3rd 2007-03-03
Alex Brierley
SATURDAY – Today, with the help of Captain America, we collected algae, making sure not to harm corals or other aquatic life. An interesting afternoon was spent dissecting our collection and finding out what a plentitude of beasties lived in it.
We then left for Colours Beach Bar, owned by the wonderful Timmy and Karen, for a Saturday night full of party. On arrival we tucked into the most succulent conch this island had to offer. Afterwards we partied down half the night with the reverend and got some lessons of dance from the 6th member of the Jackson Five, Marvin, the legend.
After we were all partied out, we left, passing Captain America who was passed out on the decking. All of those kite-boarding entrances must have tired him out! We went to the campfire, where we chilled out with some Forfar people, as well as Autec geezers from up the island. There we sang peaceful songs with our new friends, while the Autec boys told us how I could be shot through the eye from 2 miles away!! At the end of the night after one of the smaller, more drunken Autec fellows had been carried off home by his rather large compadre, we returned to the Greenforce truck, to find Travis of Forfar sitting in the driver’s seat, hands on the wheel, thinking he was about to drive us home! After enlightening the poor soul that this was in fact Greenforce’s van and not Forfar’s, we finally managed to get him to jump out, and we headed safely home to the Greenforce campfire.
SUNDAY – Everybody woke a steady rate, many unable to reach breakfast for the holy pancake morning. The day was spent lounging around and recovering from a glorious night at Timmy’s Beach Bar.
MONDAY – An early 6.30am start to fit plenty of diving in. John and Danny had to play with themselves as they were unable to dive. We started Emergency First Response training and made many successful rescues.
TUESDAY – Fish ID tests continued in the water and also on land, and a few elite members passed both tests. This meant they were ready to start training in RDT survey techniques! We also completed our Emergency First Response course.
WEDNESDAY – We passed Emergency First Response Exams in a rain swept morning, before a flat calm, sunny afternoon produced superb diving.
THURSDAY – Out leader turned 30, and to celebrate it we went and attacked 2 of our neighbours sailing vessels in pirate costumes with water guns, and waving our skull and cross-bones flag aloft. There was a feeble defensive water bomb or two, but a full boat side of bums blinded their eyes. Having taken their innocence, we counter attacked by sending a lone pirate to commandeer their ship.
After a mutual cease-fire we headed a return to base. To our dismay, we realised we had forgotten our lone pirate, but remembered the pirate code that ‘he who falls behind, stays behind’. Luckily before a reverse was needed, the lone pirate had sucked up the energy to swim to the boat and climb aboard. In the interest of confidentiality, we will simply call this pirate JOHN ARTHUR!! The rest of the day, we checked out a potential spot for a new campsite, surveying and mapping, slashing and hacking undergrowth and even seahorse spotting!
FRIDAY – Waves meant we were unable to dive, so we continued work on mini projects while the ‘two true men’ Jack and Alex went out to cut down trees for the new school playground, where their mighty power excited the interest of two exquisite local girls. We ended the day with a delicious meal of homemade onion rings, chips and a terrific Italian style bean mix. What a week.
