Monday
Apr102006
Shipwreck
Monday, April 10, 2006 at 03:28PM
A few weeks ago, Mike, my boss, came out to visit me. He took a boat
from a new
site South of Majunga. It was a little motor boat. He stopped in
Majunga to see if I was there and I actually was waiting for a car to
take me up to my site. So we gathered up my giant load of stuff and
threw it on the boat.(Mary and 5 guides from her park were coming up to
my site a few days later so I bought lots of provisions)
We enjoyed the 30 minute ride up to my village. The ocean was calm and the view of the beaches was picturesque. We arrived outside my village and found 2 big pirogues anchored a ways off shore. Our captain rode the boat in-between the pirogues and we made our way toward shore. Once we entered the surf things got really bumpy as we were pounded by waves. Our captain threw out the anchor as a very large wave turned the boat sideways into the surf. A few seconds later the anchor line went taught. We stopped our quick progression toward shore. The waves, however, did not stop their progression toward shore. As the first waves hit, Mike and I were slightly amused. "What in the world is this guy thinking, this is a terrible place to throw anchor.' A few moments later, the boat is being hammered by wave after wave. We are struggling to stay in the boat, which is now quickly filling with water. I look over to see a look of absolute terror on the "captain's" face. I look over at mike as we both come upon the same realization, "OH MY GOD WE ARE GOING TO SINK!!!" I pick up a bucket and start the futile task of bailing water out of the boat. Mike is using cupped hands in an even more futile effort. Spaghetti, oatmeal, and apples are floating around our knees. The captain jumps out of the boat and swims toward the anchor. I prepare myself for what seems like the inevitable swim to shore. Amazingly, Gilligan manages to free the anchor and toss it into the boat. He struggles with the outboard before finally getting it going and taking off into the waves and out to deeper water.
We finish bailing out the water from the boat. I'm furious about the food. I can think of only one thing to say, "Tsy Mahay Ianao!" <You don't know what your doing!> I cool down as we dump the water out of my cooler and collect my stuff that is now scattered around the boat. Now what? We are basically stranded out to sea, but within good sight of the shore. I take off my shirt, watch, and shoes and dive in.
I swim to shore and am greeted by a group of very surprised villagers. "Shawn, how did you get here, why are you wet?" I explain twice because the first time I am constantly interrupted by laughter. They quickly dispatch a small pirogue to the boat to get my things and my boss." The first question they ask the captain is, "Didn't you see our boats out there? Why do you think we would leave them all the way out there?" Gilligan stares at his feet in response. If I wasn't so angry about my food, I'd have felt bad.
We enjoyed the 30 minute ride up to my village. The ocean was calm and the view of the beaches was picturesque. We arrived outside my village and found 2 big pirogues anchored a ways off shore. Our captain rode the boat in-between the pirogues and we made our way toward shore. Once we entered the surf things got really bumpy as we were pounded by waves. Our captain threw out the anchor as a very large wave turned the boat sideways into the surf. A few seconds later the anchor line went taught. We stopped our quick progression toward shore. The waves, however, did not stop their progression toward shore. As the first waves hit, Mike and I were slightly amused. "What in the world is this guy thinking, this is a terrible place to throw anchor.' A few moments later, the boat is being hammered by wave after wave. We are struggling to stay in the boat, which is now quickly filling with water. I look over to see a look of absolute terror on the "captain's" face. I look over at mike as we both come upon the same realization, "OH MY GOD WE ARE GOING TO SINK!!!" I pick up a bucket and start the futile task of bailing water out of the boat. Mike is using cupped hands in an even more futile effort. Spaghetti, oatmeal, and apples are floating around our knees. The captain jumps out of the boat and swims toward the anchor. I prepare myself for what seems like the inevitable swim to shore. Amazingly, Gilligan manages to free the anchor and toss it into the boat. He struggles with the outboard before finally getting it going and taking off into the waves and out to deeper water.
We finish bailing out the water from the boat. I'm furious about the food. I can think of only one thing to say, "Tsy Mahay Ianao!" <You don't know what your doing!> I cool down as we dump the water out of my cooler and collect my stuff that is now scattered around the boat. Now what? We are basically stranded out to sea, but within good sight of the shore. I take off my shirt, watch, and shoes and dive in.
I swim to shore and am greeted by a group of very surprised villagers. "Shawn, how did you get here, why are you wet?" I explain twice because the first time I am constantly interrupted by laughter. They quickly dispatch a small pirogue to the boat to get my things and my boss." The first question they ask the captain is, "Didn't you see our boats out there? Why do you think we would leave them all the way out there?" Gilligan stares at his feet in response. If I wasn't so angry about my food, I'd have felt bad.
Reader Comments (2)
Love, you sis,
JoLynn
Quite an experience, and as usual told really well! I got your letter from May a few weeks ago and responded soon after. I keep forgetting to send the economics book, but will very very soon!
Love and Miss you@
Dad