[ADXA] [Fwd: VP6DX - News #24- 2008 Mar 01]

[Earl]

FYI !!
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-------- Original Message --------
Subject: VP6DX - News #24- 2008 Mar 01
Date: Sat, 01 Mar 2008 20:11:01 +0100


Highlights:
... Operator team continues homeward journey ...
... High volume of inquiries about, and corrections to, donations ...

Homeward journey
****************

Feb 28 Thursday found the M/V Braveheart motoring west-northwest away from Ducie
Island. By mid-afternoon the radar picked out Henderson Island, another member
of the Pitcairn group.

Henderson Island was discovered and inhabited by Polynesians. The Spanish
navigator Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, aboard the sailing vessel "San Pablo", was
the first European visitor on 1606 January 29, nine days after Quiros became the
first European visitor to Ducie Island.

Henderson appear forbidding from sea. A typical Makatea-type island, 15m high
undercut cliffs drop into the sea on all sides but the north. Makatea-type
islands are old coral atolls that have been uplifted, exposing the old coral bed
above the sea. Crevasses and other irregularities make travel through the
interior slow and treacherous.

Landing on Henderson's northern beaches through the fringing reef's surf is
difficult. The island is reported to be invested by mice and rats. We did not
attempt a landing, but motored along the northern half of the island, admiring
the dramatic terrain and vegetation in the low, late afternoon light. Although
we trolled some lines, no fish were caught. Then the ship turned its stern
toward Henderson and set course for an overnight journey to Oeno atoll.

At 9am today, Friday, we anchored off the northern barrier reef of Oeno. Oeno
was discovered much later on 1891 Jan 19 by Captain Henderson. A low and
dangerous atoll, its lagoon contains two beautiful sandy islands with coconut
palms and some shorter trees. These islands migrate within the lagoon and at
times are joined together by a sandy spit. Some time was spend diving, fishing
and snorkling. A freshly-caught tuna will serve as lunch today. We had hoped to
picnic ashore today, but a northerly swell has raised the surf across the entire
northern reef line, closing off a narrow and shallow gap that occasionally
provides access the lagoon.

After lunch, we will depart Oeno Atoll for Mangareva. The eastern skies
presently contain a line of towering cumulus and rain showers, the deteriorating
weather that we largely avoided with a prompt departure from Ducie. We wish to
stay ahead of it for the remainder of our sea voyage.

High volume of inquiries
************************

The expedition webmaster has reported large traffic volumes on the website. We
are grateful for the interest in the expedition and thank those who have made
financial contributions via the web. Not surprisingly, a percentage of some
transactions go awry; the most common problem occurring when the contributor
forgets to include his callsign. We haven't fully automated the recognition of
contributions on the website, and we are falling behind. This generates
additional traffic along the lines of "did you receive my donation" and related
questions about LOTW credits.

We are getting some additional help to handle these matters, but that will be
much easier accomplished when we get home next week. Please be patient if your
inquiry has not been answered right away, or your contribution has not yet been
recognized on the website. We intend to bring matters up to date by March 10.



We would be delighted if DX editors would publish this information as widely as
possible and DXers bring it to the attention of their clubs and fellow DXers.


-- 
Earl F. Smith - N5ZM

PO Box 20065
White Hall, AR  71612-0065