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May 22, 2005
Arrival Dili
Day 11. 22st May 2005. 1300 hrs local Darwin
LAT: S 8 degs, 31. 07'
LONG: E 125 degs, 36.71'
Wind: SE2
Heading: 215 degrees M
So the wind gods finally took mercy on our plight yesterday afternoon and blessed us with a wonderful 10 knot inshore breeze that helped overcome the tortuous counter-current. At around 7pm the wind died, as we knew it would being a local phenomenon connected with the heating of the island of Timor in the day, but just 20 minutes later started up in the opposite direction as the outgoing offshore breeze. Magical!
Reinforced with this show of faith from the elements we cranked hard through the night. No problems keeping awake now! Dili was within our sites and making the high tide at or shortly after 11am was our next incentive, to avoid any undue difficulties navigating in around the reef systems.
At the time of writing we are making our final approach past the statue of Christ, with another 4 miles to go before making landfall, which short of a some unforseen blunder (like knocking the cork out the bottom of the boat) we should do in the next couple of hours. Our pedal unit #1 failed this morning, thankfully a good way out from any obstructions/lee shores so we had ample time to change it out for one of the spares.
A big thanks to all directly involved with making the crossing from Darwin a safe and surprise-free one: my father for weather forecasting and acting as point person, Kenny Brown our documentary cameraman for taking on the grueling task of sitting in Dili and drinking beer these past 3 days while waiting for our arrival, the Darwin Marine Fisheries Police and AUSSAR for standing by in the event of a drama.
After scraping off the salt we'll be thrown into the tumult of getting the kayaks ready for the next section up through to Singapore. We hope to turn things around and be out of Dili within the week, if not before. Watch this space!
Jason + Lourdes
The Moksha Motors
Posted on May 22, 2005 4:09 AM
Comments
Yay! I knew you'd do it!
Posted by: astrid at May 22, 2005 11:51 PM
how great to have a milestone so quickly completed! so how the heck do you change a pedal unit in the middle of the ocean?
Posted by: gl. at May 22, 2005 11:25 PM
Greetings From Colorado Jason.....
Glad to hear that you are doing well and that your journey has been going smoothly. (Large reptile encounters aside)
We just want you to know how much we miss you and have been thinking of you. All is well here. Hot right now.....record heat yesterday. 95 F Sure it is plenty warm and humid where you are as well. What do you eat for your meals in that part of the world?
Travel safely Matey!
All the best,
Craig
Posted by: Craig & Michelle at May 22, 2005 4:46 PM