G-LAND ... Perfect!!! Seeing as it's been exactly 1 month past and gone from the last report i posted up, the time feels right to starting writing again. And as refreshing as it's been to check out somewhere new for me, coming back here always feels GREAT. The first thing noticeable to change over the past month was how dry it is now. Only 30 days out, but it looks like a different jungle, rippled dry trees and bamboo clump crowns flowering outwards in all shades of brown. Interestingly enough, the local government planned on holding a firefighting theory and demonstration today, including everyone out here. Our crew here plus the locals from up at Kacangan (shell-picker village), down at the boat channel, and from the other 2 camps rounded up in front of our guard shack and listened to a really intelligent and useful breakdown of information that was followed up by a mock fire drill. If you could imagine the boys all gathered together and trying to maintain a fairly serious demeanor through all of this, well you should be imagining a failed attempt. We did all right but since the mock fire drill wasn't fueled by a large, heat-searing fire, we just couldn't really play out the role. But it was a good exercise no matter what. That fire that almost razed the camps back in November 2009 kinda helped the boys take it a little more seriously. And a 3 year delay from then 'til the demo isn't so bad for local time standards!!!
So i was welcomed back by the jungle but not so much so by the swell. Way upreef at Kong's and pretty much about head high or so. A handful of the guys that have been in the camp for at least a couple weeks gave me the breakdown of the past conditions. Good swell with good winds and consistently so. Today was the first day of onshore winds and strong enough to put a little touch of destruction into the waves form. But all good. Fortunately, the water has finally warmed up from what i remember it to be and no need for real rubber at all. Good things to come!!!
WELCOME BACK....
--MICHAEL
