Preparations

Friday, December 19, 2008
Here is the daily journal for a trip of the Ensco 7500 semi-submersible (hence forth “ship”) drilling vessel from Corpus Christi, TX to Cape Town, South Africa
We departed San Antonio at 1:50 pm, US I-37 to Corpus Christi, Texas HWY 181 to Ingleside. Callisto was with me, and she became quite ill during the trip, vomiting as we crossed the causeway bridge in Corpus. We cleaned everything up and drove on to Ingleside and got a motel. Cali recovered from motion sickness and a histamine reaction okay. Later, we went to dinner and encountered a singer/guitarist who was really good. I really enjoy traveling with her for the good company, good sense of humor, and help. Too, she is a daddy’s girl, and we keep no secrets.

Saturday December 20th
Slept in ‘til mid-morning and had a fine Mexican breakfast. Drove around town, went out to the ship yard to show Cali the ship, the Ensco 7500. It was up on the pontoons with a draft of 21.5 feet, but it was foggy and we couldn’t get a good view. We snuck into the Shipping and Receiving Yard and drove all over the thing and never got caught. I think she got one or two far away photos. About noon, I left her and went to the ship by yard taxi. They pulled me up about 100 feet by crane and personnel basket, and I went onto the payroll. Cali drove back to SAT.

Sunday, December 20 to Monday, December 29
Spent 9 days doing nothing, but getting paid. Missed Christmas again (fifth year in a row). Troubles include getting fuel, much fog, several storms, and some unfortunate planning.

The trip calculates to 7993 nautical miles and should take us about 45 days to do it. We begin the trip at Kiewit Ship Yard (PKS) in Ingleside:
Latitude 27º 51.3956’ North and Longitude -97º 14.334’ West. Our terminus is:
Latitude 33º 52’ South and Longitude 18º 14’ East. A long way.