Well, now it is almost November 14, and I am just getting around to writing about last month. Where has the time gone? Apparently, life took over, and writing became a last priority, but I have missed it, so it’s time to get back to it. A few weeks ago, after a very stressful week of work, I was looking forward to going outer island camping on the tiny island of Mellu, just a few miles by B-boat from Roi-Namur. Everything started out fairly uneventfully, and we had a fabulous time setting up camp, exploring the island, and getting a camp fire going in which to enjoy some time around with good friends and fascinating conversation. But, the next morning began with white caps in the ocean all around us, and my fiancé was particularly concerned that the small motor boats scheduled to pick us up at high tide that afternoon wouldn’t be able to come out due to a small craft warning. We used the radio several times to ask about a possible warning, but there was nothing. No warning, and before we knew it, the boats were on their way out to “rescue” us from our adventurous overnight camping trip to Mellu Island.
After loading our stuff in very rough surf, we climbed aboard and tried to find a secure spot to hold onto in the tumultuous waters churning around us. No such luck. Not more than 5-10 minutes after departing the island, we crashed hard into a rising wave, swamping the boat and sending one of our anchor lines flying to the back of the boat and fouling the prop. Thanks to my darling, the prop was unfouled, but the engines were too full of water to start again. The Boston Whalers we have out here are “unsinkable,” which I can verify is true, at least as far as our experience. The boat was filled with water, but not sinking. We called our dilemma into the marina and were able to off load shortly onto the police boat, so that the determined and hardy marina crew was able to empty the boat of the offending salt water and get the engines going again, but the ensuing trauma and rough ride took its toll on everyone, especially me. Unfortunately, I had my second experience with getting sick off the side of the boat. It probably would have been in the boat if my honey hadn’t been there to help me over the side and hang onto me while I was “feeding the fishes,” so to speak.
Contrary to my blog subject heading, we weren’t really “lost at sea,” but our stuff was. Our entire Rubbermaid container of camping gear, including my camera and my better half’s keys were lost to the ocean when the boat was swamped. From my safe position on the bow of the boat, I watched our stuff float away, thankful that I was with it. Everyone came back safe, and that was all that mattered in the end. In fact, we had a fun time the next day (which was absolutely calm and pleasant on the water) diving a fairly complex search pattern using our compasses to attempt to find our lost gear. We had no luck, although it was good for me to go right back out on the water, so that I won’t even have a chance to be nervous again the next time I venture out on the high seas. J
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