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MV Greenpeace / PC 8023
Position: Entering Manila harbour. 09.30hrs
June 5th, 1996
Day 20
In the early morning hours we entered the San Bernadino strait,
the beginning of our passage through the Phillipine islands.
We had moonlight all our watch and many small fishing boats.
Echoes on the radar that did not visibly show lights and lights
that did not show as echoes on the radar. This lead to a touch of pirate paranoia and spending some time checking out the surrounding waters with the night vision binoculars (donated by an Australian supporter when we were
last there). Later during watch I was unaware that Jeannette was
turning on the second radar and it sounded just like a fast boat
coming alongside, another jumpy moment!
All in all it was an interesting but uneventful watch. The
surrounding land silhouetted in the moonlight and many boats to
keep an eye on.
I'm told it was a spectacular sunrise, mirror calm water with a
large flock of birds, volcanic islands that looked as if they had
set the sky on fire.
It has been nice to look up from your work during the day and be
passing by land, with the added bonus of a school of spinner dolphins
off the stern this afternoon. So graceful and fast, flying out of
the water and spinning two or three times in the air before
landing again. They are so full of energy I wish I could have some
of it, as I think would most of the crew. The heat really saps it
out of you, it is hot enough on deck, let alone the engine room
where it is now 43 degrees celsius.
Lynda - our cook - will meet us in Manila, probably expecting a guant
looking crew with our clothes all baggy. We did O.K. but look foward
to her coming back.
By 10 o'clock tomorrow morning we will be throwing the heaving
lines onto the pier in Manila.
Then it will be all on.
Tanya Popp
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