March 1, 2010 - Tutuila and Transit to Rose Atoll

I have written about places I have been to, seen, experienced and made it all sound like a quixotic adventure. It is but aside from what I do there is quite a bit of activity that goes on a research vessel like the Hi’ialakai. Tonight as I type we are steaming past Manuo’a Islands in the central area of American Samoa island chain on our way to Rose Atoll for five days.

Rainsquall near Tutuila

We started to head back to Tutuila in the morning after mapping the South Bank was completed. We were to return personnel who were heading back to Hawaii, such as our mapper and pick up others who were to report to the ship. I woke up early because this was the day I was to work on the small boat installing a radio. Unfortunately I only had about two and a half hours of sleep. I do not know why I woke up around three in the morning and no matter how many times I tossed and turned I could not fall asleep. I resorted to the old trick of reading a book. Oh, it worked and unfortunately it was 05:30 when it did.

Manuo'a Islands

I didn’t even drink coffee because that was not on my mind. I was grateful that “G” offered to help me install the radio. I am glad he did because he knew where the switches were to turn the power on and off. Plus he is half my age so he can climb up and down the A-frame without fear of aching knees. At first we were looking for something obvious. Cleaned connectors and inspected the antenna and then let’s give it a test. We did a radio check and no indication of transmission. It was the microphone alright as you could wiggle the wire at the radio and an occasional burst. Except this unit had the microphone built in. You could not swap mics; instead you had to replace the entire transceiver. And, so we did and it worked. Besides the rainsquall approaching, I was hot and my red t-shirt felt as if I was standing underneath the rainsquall. A shower and a change of clothes. I must have lost ten pounds!

Starboard Bow Wake. See the Anchor?

I wanted to close everything up as a nasty rainsquall was battering Pago Pago. We were waiting for our small boat to come back with new passengers and not far from shore. After the small boat arrived, it was transit time to Rose Atoll. Quitting time was spent doing laundry. Tomorrow is dive day so after the movies most of the scientists were asleep. No pictures of the moon tonight as it was cloudy.

Onward to Rose Atoll

We should be there early morning. I need to hit the rack. Goodnight from the South Pacific and Manuia-po from American Samoa