Sunday 13 November 2016

Just wanted to write to give everyone the news as it may have slipped by you. Donald Trump has been elected president of the US. Oh sure, I know it was a foregone conclusion, but being compassionate and kind wanted to comfort all you sensitive, caring guys and gals who voted for Hillary either as the lesser of 2 weasels or because you really, really think she's a great women's roll model and because she wants to bomb the crap out of anyone who pisses her off. The disappointment will fade over time and lets face it, her administration would have been dull and predictable, not to mention dispiriting what with all the lawsuits and such. The excitement of having a game show host president who hasn't got a clue about how to head anything bigger than a casino will be terrific. Since no one has a clue what he's going to do, we can assume the fun surprises will come fast and furious. Man, I can't wait for all the cool stuff and subsequent gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair from the usual suspects and to be honest, as long as no one steals my savings and pension (and we remain on the other side of earth to avoid splatter), it's all going to be great theater. For anyone who gives a crap (and there's no reason you should) I didn't vote for either the crook or the art of the dealer, but thinking in terms of ideas, not specific buttheads and not concerned that either major weasel will, contrary to pundits and scare-mongers, actually destroy the country before the next election, cast a ballot, as always, for the Libertarian. Most of you live your lives socially tolerant and fiscally responsible, why not vote that way? Oh, never mind, you should probably disregard all after "...president of the US."

So the interminable campaign season has ended and we can all resume our actual lives and pretend the whole thing was an LSD flashback. Not having used the stuff, Jan & I must resort to gin and wine to make it go away, but hey, whatever works.

Wednesday

Now that we've returned from the western hemisphere and I've pissed off nearly everyone in the US and confused everyone else, it's back to writing about crap that happens while living on a boat in the wilds of Southeast Asia.

Sorong harbor is a smelly pit. Anchorage is just in front of a shipyard, a fish market and a creek that with each rain flushes out tons of waste including rotting fish and feces. Do NOT go in the water. Nevertheless found many necessary parts in town and people to fix a broken exhaust manifold on the Panda and get the 2 Kw Honda generator running. Yesterday with installation of a new pump also got the water maker churning out beautiful sweet water. Thanks Wick for all your help. Glad tidings of great joy for the fixes and that we haven't grown a third eye or second head. As of Tuesday, however, we have moved on. Goodbye Sorong - forever.

Friday

After a couple nights of rest and relaxation in the clear, clean water of an open roadstead 10 west of Sorong we headed for a deep bay on the northeast end of Batanta that was reputed to be awash in hornbills. We saw 3. However, there must have been over a hundred fruit bats circling as they relocated from tree to tree. These guys are big. Really big. I mean BIG. With the new and outrageously expensive stabilized, 14 power binoculars (if you're going to squander assets, may as well be on really cool toys) we could see the expressions on their foxy faces like we were inside their formation. It's a good thing they're not carnivores and/or most of us are not fruits or vegetables. OK, we've met a few kumquats, but they're a rare exception.

On to Manta Sandy where, oddly enough, we hope to see mantas and sand. Pretty confident about the sand.

Jack