The Next Level

The upper level barrels get special treatment and get to skip the second drop and the mud bath. They get to do a high wire act as they are rolled along a couple boards precariously not fastened to the edge of the truck and into the container. This would all be hard work and mundane if they were filled with say, milk. It just seemed so much more exciting with the explosive warnings on each drum. Nevertheless, 80 some drums later, we finished just in time for a coke back in the hangar. Don't tell OSHA. :)

Rollin rollin rollin

Over the bumps and through the mud, we made our way to the container. Once inside, they are packed in tight. The ground level ones are usually pretty muddy by the time they get inside. But they are a little easier to work with than the second level bunch.

Next up...

Then you make the plummet to the ground. With another strategically placed tire and just the right amount of roll off the truck, it makes a nice landing on terra firma without too many dents or punctures. You learn to put a lot of trust in whoever made than drum. When you have recovered from your cringe, you grab onto it and start rolling.

Unloading

After the truck backs into position, you take the top drums down and cushion the blow onto the truck bed with a few strategically placed tires. You sort of cringe the first few times as this fifty gallon drum of explosives crashes onto the bed of a truck holding 80 other explosive drums. That's over 4000 gallons of explosive stuff you standing next to. It was intense.

Fuel Truck

It was another exciting day at work. The fuel truck arrived delivering our highland supply of avgas and jet fuel up from the coast. After it arrives we unload the truck into containers and store it until it can be distributed to various airfields around the country our pumped into the plans here. It was an exciting and labor intensive task to say the least. They just don't prepare you for this kind of OSHA approved technique back home. Here is the play by play.

Spider

Also down by the river, we found this great spider. We have seen them around the banana plants often and this one had made its web in the grass along side the path. Leslie was giving it a close inspection and if gives you a little scale for how big these arachnids can be.

Crocodile

The other day, Leslie and I went down to the river just off center and there in the water was a Crocodile just waiting for us. I just had to take a picture. Can you spot him? (this one was for you Dad)

The Andersons are back

Last Friday Neil and Carol arrived back in Ukarumpa after saying goodbye to their village. It was fun to be part of their welcoming crew. We might even get to welcome them home in Spokane in three weeks as well.