The Native Iowan

Around Gizo the last couple days…

Flew in here yesterday (Monday) morn about 10am. The seas where millpond flat. I hopped in a canoe and was in Liapari by 1130. Had a good look at the Alcol with Noel, had some lunch then “took the long way” home running inshore, checking out little islands and generally having a whale of a time.

Spent last night with Hans at Sanbis. Woke to rain on the sago palm roof. Commuted to work in a gentle rain and have been hanging at the depot getting work done since.

Really good couple runs and a great night.

Do like the west…

05 powwderfinger

1-08 Just My Imagination

Some of my faithful readers know Dr. Chris. Those that do know his passion for the work he does here in the Solomons.

Have a look at his recent doings…

http://scientistatwork.blogs.nytimes.com/

You’ll be impressed and enlightened.

01 Track 01

06 old man

Now that I am retired I find my work consistently running over-due.

Way behind and running short of time.

And I am retired!

Wonders never cease

10 c knockin

so I’ll drop some music in…
07 layla

12 god

05 a forevener young

Sitting in the Sydney, Virgin Lounge, waiting for my flight back to BNE.

Was up at 330am, on the road by 4am. On a plane to Sydney at 6am. In Sydney by 730am. In a meeting by 9am (after a nice breakfast with the folks I am meeting with). Broke at 1pm for a coffee. Left the meeting at 4pm. Taxi’d to the airport where I was early for my 6pm flight to Brisbane.

So here we sit…

Will arrive (hopefully) in Brisbane by 730 am. Get to the car easily by 8pm, then fight traffic to get “home”. I expect to not get done with this day until 9pm.

A nice, pleasing 17 hour day.

I have my daughter, Connie, traveling with me. She is now-a-days our company legal manager and has been fortunate enough to be included in this fun filled trip.

We fly back to Honiara on Monday morning. If we get all our work done she may get a chance to do some shopping, maybe, on Sunday.

maybe…

weather not great but not terrible. Had a nice ride today. Was forced to take the long way home to listen to this a second time…
05 hurricane

been having off n on weather. Have had some short rides. All good.

sum rid’n music…
01 Track 01

well, maybe, … hang’n with the pups…

and it is a hoot…

… which is always a pleasure. Noel and Rosey were in fine form.

The bottom is out from the Alcol so the freaky pict of an engine room with water visible.

flight scheds dictated that I flew into Gizo late. So I spent my first night with Hans at SanBis. This is what I woke up to…

back in Honiara. A good run west. Have some interesting picts to post but not real ambitious right now. Will post some music here and sort the picts out tomorrow.

10 Saga Of The Old West

disconnected…

I sit in a small house on a small island in the fuck’n huge Pacific Ocean.

My buddy Noel is the king here. Uncle Noel to most. He’s a prince and a devil. He’s rebuilding a 300 ton barge for us.

I rocked over this morning. Seas are high and it’s pretty rough and wild. I throttled back, ran with the seas and enjoyed the run.

Liapari is a weird, mythical, fictional sorta place. I first set foot here in 1982. It was luxury after being a bush bunny for 2 years. Better than a catholic mission station. Proper commercial colonialism.

Noel, Rosy and I told stories ’till late. At 930 the power goes off here and we talked well into the dark.

After a grand meal and a few solbrews. The old stories.

As the wind howls and seas sing.

Liapari.

Flying West tomorrow. Will spend a night or two at an amazing place called, Liapari. Many of you been to Liapari. Many of you have heard of Liapari.

10 NM from Gizo. Liapari is a full blown slip-way where our mate, Noel Hudson, runs a kick arse operation.

Also very near Barakoma airfield… The place Pappy Boington flew out if in WW2. Remember “Ba Ba Black Sheep”?

In the Solomons, Liapari is shrouded in myth, legend and lore.

The LC Alcol is on the slip there. Been up for better part fo a year getting a new hull created. We’re just about done.

So I get to work on the boat and investigate some wonderful light tackle country.

This will be as fun as a good motorcycle…

02 How To Be Righteous