View Full Version : Souther Sudan a letter home
Folks I decided that maybe this would be better if it was a thread of it's own. I've been posting to Katrina 2 but it does not fit. A bit of history ....
Sudan has been at Civil war for over 20 years. Southern Sudan is of mixed religion ... albeit mostly Christian ... while northern Sudan is Muslim. When the government decided to follow Islamic law in or about 1984 the south revolted. Today ..... there is nothing. The south won here as far as they have autonomous government from the north and are setting up a democracy without the use of islamic law.
But folks there is nothing. We are working in the town of Yei. Over 35,000 folks durring the week and 50 or 60 on week ends. No power no water no real government... yet. We have now installed about 15 street lights and are going to have about 35 lit before we leave. We have set almost 100 pole. moving them by hand 15 to 20 guys per pole.... many over 1/2 mile to a mile from the pole yard. We have set them by hand with Pike poles and two handline shives in trees (shives on the 45' pole only. At this time we are installing only secondary for the street lights. (240v phase to ground) ( 50 cycle) Later we will install primary conductor and transformers. We should be able to connect around 1000 meters to businesses and government buildings. We are hopping to connect houses as well in the future. Wages here for grunt labor runs $3.50 per day.
Today a small boy walked by with baggies full of a local fruit drink. (not consumable by Gringo's) ( I used to do this work in Central and South America too) I asked him how much and he said about $0.10 us each. I said dig in guys and in less than 30 seconds the kid had sold out. Cost me $2.50 US to give 25 guys a treat and make a little kids day.
For more background check out my postings to Katrina 2.
This is part of my letter home to my wife. Edited so you linehands don't see the correct way to treat a lady, friend, Girl freind, and wife. My girl is all those and more and I'll stop there. Ok so I cut a bunch of the mushy sh@t out so you guy would not get sick!
We got a bunch more lights and conductor in the air. We now have 15 Lights connected and 3 more in the air that will be able to be energized tommorrow after we pull the connector line by them. I'm worn out but happy that the folks have really turned out to support us and the project. LAst night After we started the genset a guy stopped me and said "USA ALL THE WAY" Please tell Bush thank you and Tell him that if he wants to send his soldiers home from Bagdad just come here and ask us to replace them We've kicked the muslims out of here and we'll clean up Bagdad too .... for you! I told him I'd send Buddy Bush a note for him.
I'm looking around for some souveneers and I think I'v found some. There is a guy who makes his own instruments here. He has a thing that seems to be a cross between a harp and a banjo. Hope I can get it from him.
Some A-hole decided we did not need small reels of conductor. We have 1/2 mile reels and no trucks or equipment to handle them. Man power! 15 guys can roll a 3000 pound reel to the take off. A drill hole thru the pole to mount one end of the mandrel and an a frame made of crossarms for the other side. Then dig up the ground underneeth and guess what ... you can pull wire. We will have 40 guys pulling wire tommorrow. It's the only way to keep it off the ground. One man every 30 feet... no strining blocks .... no nothing.
We carry poles to the cross roads and block the roads with them so we don't have problems with traffic.
Tommorrow we should have about 20 street lights lit from 7 to 9:30 PM
Take care guys.
May God Bless You all and keep you safe!
RWD
Ok guys it's time for bed. It's 10:30 PM here and about 3:30 pm eastern. We're running on solar power now and I'm bone tired. I'll try to post tommorrow night after we string some more of the Quadraplex.
RWD
Swamprat
09-28-2005, 03:38 PM
DAMN MAN!!!!
You ARE out in the Sticks!!! Lookin forward to seein some picts of your "line" when ya get home.
Yes it is a bit out in the sticks. Try one of the sat maps at night .... lets see we are about 7 hours ahead of you. at about 7:30pm we turn on the Genset. It's on until about 9:30 or 10 pm for now. Check it out durring that time frame and you should be able to see the 34 lights we got in the air. They are italian made junk with a white casing so a good portion of the light goes up to the sky.
We have done all that we can do. The big wigs are comming in to put thier blessings on things tommorrow. They Fly in tommorrow and the inauguration is tommorrow between 3pm and 6 pm. Get this we get to turn on the street lights durring the day so they can inaugurate it in time to drive to the airport and go home for the night. They'll be flying out before dark!
To date weve installed 84 poles, about 1.5 miles of Quadraplex a bunch of guys, all 34 lights that made it to the site, and a generator. Tommorrow morning we are practicing "flipping the switch" and doing any small cleanup we need to do.
Sunday we are going to try to take a day of rest (first one since I've been here) and we are going to take it easy on Monday.
Batteries dying so I'll close!
TTFN
RWD
Swamprat
09-30-2005, 03:15 PM
We have done all that we can do. The big wigs are comming in to put thier blessings on things tommorrow. They Fly in tommorrow and the inauguration is tommorrow between 3pm and 6 pm. Get this we get to turn on the street lights durring the day so they can inaugurate it in time to drive to the airport and go home for the night. They'll be flying out before dark!
Yeah, that sounds about right! :-) God forbid they would actually spend the night! :-)
Even if I could find a satellite "real time"....I sorta doubt that they would be aimed at that little corner of Sudan! :-) :-) :-) I'm DAMN sure I couldnt see your 34 lights!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take care man!!!!!!!!!
Ok so the inauguration went off without a hitch. I did make one mistake. Some of the big wigs did spend the night .... I wound up having to bunk with my boss so one of their staff could have my room. Worked out thogh. The Govenor flipped the "switch".
Some how they heard it was a "remote" control Genset. I had two small pocket radios and they gave one to the Govenor he pushed the call button and I ran in and flipped the breaker. ..... I guess that's remote enough for remote control.
The crowd thought it was awsome when he explained that all he had to do was "push this little button to start the genset!
We had between 1500 and 2000 people at the soccer field for the inauguration.
Well as for live Satitlites ... Your right. I don't guess there would be one ... but .... These would also bee the only bright lights in one or two hundred miles. Who knows what it would look like. I can see my house in North Carolina .... and the car in the driveway ... I'd guess with the right feed you could see the lights in Yei.
RWD
LostArt
10-02-2005, 05:13 PM
Hey! You forgot about me RWD..........I would love hearing the romance part of a letter! :D
Glad you are doing well. Keep sending us the stuff. We are all reading, but not all of us respond.
--LA
Walking under the streetlights in Yei ... I'll tell you more about romance when I get to where I write.
I'm back on the way home to my spouse ... Girl Freind, lover and best friend..... She's going to pick me up at the airport.
Did get to see an awsome eclipse today. It was amazing.
Lost art just give the boss a hug and tell him you love him .... even if he stinks .... Feed him yourself now and then and he'll keep you on that pedistall you deserve..
RWD
LostArt
10-03-2005, 09:11 PM
On your way home, eh? Seems like that was a quick trip. But, maybe not for the missus.
Heh. I've been keepin' the boss busy RWD. Uh.......mowin' the grass, trimmin' the hedges.....cookin' out on the grill.......heh....but he had a good grunt (me) yesterday while we took off the lower unit on the boat motor so he can have it rebuilt.
Eclipse? Cool. Glad you are on your way back. Hope it was sucessful and rewarding trip RWD.
--LA
Home .... for now. Lostart ... It was short. I've spent over 24 hours in the air ... one way to work for a few weeks. I'll put this together better once I'm settled in. This was scheduled to be a short one. We nneded to make an innitial impact then wait for the rest of the materials and equipment to get in. Once we get them on site ... and a place to live we'll be spending a bit more time on site.
TTFN
RWD
Hemingray Insulators
10-08-2005, 11:34 AM
Good to here you're home safe.
All in all it was a great trip. Much to ponder on and and increadible experiance. Hemingrey, I brought you a spool insulator from the old system that was destroyed in or around 1982. It's made in China before that was the "common" thing to see. The trip home was uneventfull except for one small bump in Uganda. As we were landing at a dirt strip in a small town to drop off a missionary, A bull decided he wanted to cross the runway. We wound up in the grass swerving to miss the bull. I think the pilot had to change his shorts .... or at least check them he got out once we landed and ran to the bushes.
Other than that it was awsome flying over the White Nile and seeing lake Victoria. From Entebe we spent the night in Kampala. Good food there WE PIGGED OUT! Then it was Entebe to Nirobi. Nirobi Dubai, Dubai Atlanta and Atlanta Raleigh. Over 24 hours in the air. I forgot to get my miles updated!
Once I get the photo's developed I'll get some posted.
RWD
LostArt
10-08-2005, 05:36 PM
LOL! The pilot had to change his shorts, eh? Too funny RWD!
Can't wait for the pictures! Hurry up! **chuckles** Don't take so long, ya hear? Heh.
If this works it's our pole trailer pole trailer If it does not work I'll send it to Lost Art to load up.
RWD
LostArt
10-08-2005, 07:43 PM
If this works it's our pole trailer pole trailer If it does not work I'll send it to Lost Art to load up.
RWD
Crap!! I can't even remember how to get the pic to the readjustment thingy RWD! Tee's me off!
I'm truly sorry. I'm gonna have to reteach myself on this thing again. It's been months since I have tried to post anything. So sorry buddy. But the pics are wonderful! Thanks for sending them so quickly to me!
First week there we had poles and a few bolts swinging clevices and a few upset bolts. The poles a Creosote treated and made from Ucaliptus trees. The pole manufacturer had never had anyone order poles with holes predrilled or planed a pole for a gain. Holes are way out of cant with the gains and the pole sweat puddles of creosote. They are nasty.
They picked us up at the dirt airstrip airport in a microbus. The driver has dreadlocks and is drinking beer driving to fast on a dirt road. On top of it all there is no .... I repeat no offer of beer to us.... I'd guess he was neglected as a child. Air conditioner did not work either.... but then I don't think it ever did.
When we got to our humble abodes .... ok our hovels. We unloaded and went to the office. We were presented with the company vehicle ... a "Tonda" Yes with a "T" Tonday motercycle. Peice of Sh##t. This was to be our transportation for the next few weeks. Well this and our feet.
The office a few weeks before had been a bombed out shell of a house or something. They'd done a bunch to it and even started on the bathroom. A two hole. One will eventually have a true flush toilet ... the other is for those who feel more comfortable using the rustic way. It was not finished yet when we left. The bushes were well watered though and from the odor I assume that fertilizer was placed in stratigic locations as well.
The next day we started moving poles to their locations. 15 to 20 guys per pole gets it moved. We moved several poles and framed them as we could with the materials on hand. Myk had several pike pole made and we actually set one or two in descrete locations to give the guys some training before we had to do it in front of the townspeople. The next day we began in ernest. I'd guess we set 8 pole the first day. We continued that way for several days while we were waiting for our wire and other materials to arrive. The 45 footers we set by double shiving and rope ussing handline shives and pulling off a tree. They were pure hell. 30 guys pulling rope and 15 lifting the pole or moving the gin.
On Sunday one truck came in. On it was our quadraplex and our primary conductor as well as the ground wire and the small Genset. No guy wire though.
Unloading is for another story ... Suffice to say that Ashley and I were trying to figure out how many guys we could take out before they loaded us in a body bag. All kind of worked out in the end though. .... I mean we lived and no one else died either.
Monday we set the last of the poles we needed to in order to string some wire. The reels were larger than the reel stand we had so we made our own stand from cross arms and the pole. I'll post a picture once I figure out how.
Still no guy wire though so we used 1/0 conductor (ACSR) for guy strand ... we'll have to change it out next trip.
Pulling 1/0 quadraplex was not fun. We did not have any stringing blocks and we could not pull the reel stand so we placed guys every 20 feet of conductor pulled off the reel and took off. It was a chore keeping folks from driving over the wire but we got it done and were able to get the wire in the air at least over the roads.
We sagged and deadended the next day. Two dead ends per pole pulling a loop for service drops at each pole.
That night we installed one street light near the plant and at about 6:30 we started up the Genset. The Genset is located in what was the power plant in the early 80's it is also located in what is now the red lamp district.
There were about 20 or 30 people watching and a few moments later 2 or 3 ladies set up shop under the light ..... No not those kind of ladies .... real merchants. They were selling a pastry .... not pies. Myk asked one how much they were and how many she had. (one plate) He paid her about 3 cents each and told the kids to dig in ... they were gone in moments.
The next night we had about 5 lamps installed. there were 200 or 300 folks waiting and watching. We were now the good guys. The lady Myk had bought the paistries from was back under the light .... she had two platefulls tonight .... Ashley bought them and the kids were quick ... they were waiting and it was a neat site to see.
Enough for tonight.
RWD
Hemingray Insulators
10-09-2005, 06:53 PM
send the pics to swamprat, he's the man at picture adjustment.
Swamprat
10-09-2005, 07:45 PM
Here's RWD Drivin the pole truck.
I'm sure he'd be "wrote up" here in the states. I don't see no turn signals, headlights, nothin!! Shit!! Where are the TIRES!!!!
Swamprat
10-09-2005, 07:48 PM
The "Pole Truck".
One Pike pole? YOU the MAN!!
I see ya taught em about the kicker board though. :-)
Swamprat
10-09-2005, 07:58 PM
Really incredible RWD. What a HELL of an experience.
AND....you're goin BACK for "Phase 2". AND....you're gonna Love it again.
There's just somethin bout workin overseas, in shitholes, that make ya humble and proud at the same time.
AND, in the end...ALWAYS Thankful you live in America.
We built a gin out of 2 x-arms and had 4 pike poles ... at this point you can only see one as the other is hidden and the pole still needs to be raised higher for the other pikes to be placed.
Just to make sure you know which person I am .... I'm the guy in the white hard hat!
Thanks Swamp for posting these. I'll try to get some more posted soon.
RWD
Swamprat
10-09-2005, 09:10 PM
We built a gin out of 2 x-arms and had 4 pike poles ... at this point you can only see one as the other is hidden and the pole still needs to be raised higher for the other pikes to be placed.
Just to make sure you know which person I am .... I'm the guy in the white hard hat!
Thanks Swamp for posting these. I'll try to get some more posted soon.
RWD
I was just teasin man...I knew there was more than one pike pole!
If I can help ya, send em to me, I'll be more than happy to reduce em and send em back to ya for you to post.
Swamprat
10-09-2005, 11:11 PM
RWD................................
I admire ya man...
I just looked closer at the picture. This was a 40' pole by the Hospital. We decided to try using ropes and snatchblocks to raise it. If you look close there is a rope being pulled on the right. The photo is being shot from the base of a big old Mango tree. I tied a handline shive in the tree and another to the pole to gain mechanical advantage. We were testing this method on a 40 footer prior to trying it out on the 45 footers later that day. I had to buy about 400 feet of rope to set the 45 foot poles. They were a chore but I felt that it was safer with the rope and handline shives than with pile poles and hands that had never raised poles before. ..... especially hands that did not speak english well enough to listen to the word stop!
RWD
LostArt
10-10-2005, 03:37 PM
..... especially hands that did not speak english well enough to listen to the word stop!
RWD
YIKES!!! Oh man. Well, it's still impressive. I'm with Swamp, you are the bomb RWD!
Ok after the second night with lights it became old hat. Every day we installed more lights and conductor and by the end of the third week we were ahead of the game.
We had to make do without several items that were not in yet. Such as Guy strand. It seems that the guy strand was on the second truck that due to one reason or another was held up at the border ..... Ok I know the reason but again .... thats another story.
We had to use 1/0 ACSR and preformed dead ends for guy strand. It'll have to be replaced later but we got it done. Another makeshift was dead end clevices. they were also on the second truck .... as were the ground rods .... as were the crossarm bolts .... V-braces ...... lead heads.... hard heads ... primary insulators.... you get the picture.
As for the dead end clevices. we yarded them off what was left of the old system. There were 6 poles left standing.
We were unable to install primary so we ran low voltage from the plant. It's amazing how far you can run 240V phase to ground when there is not much load on 1/0.
Another issue we had was the Quadraplex. The wire company had never made it before so I guess they did not know that the insulated wire did not have to be ACSR. Yep ... we have 4 ACSR conductors wrapped around one another. Talk about heavy and talk about a bitch to sag!
In the end we made it. There were lights to turn on for the inauguration.
I hesitate to post this part but .... On the day of the inaguration it was determined that I was to be the guy at the plant to flip the switch. (I don't do Dog and Pony shows well)
I had brought two hand held radios ... you know the little kids walky talkies that go about a mile. I was to be at the plant with the genset running and flip the switch when I heard the radio keyed. Myk gave the other one to the Govenor. (he'd flown in to "flip" the switch) Myk told him to push the button and the lights would come on.
After a bit of a speach ... the Govenor held up the handset and in an emotional statement said "We in Yei have stepped into the future. I have in my hand a "Remote" control ... much like the one used to change the chanel on the Television ..... With the push of this button I will remotly turn on the lights." He pushed the button and I hearing the key ran over and flipped the breaker. I heard that he turned and looked at the lights as they came on and the crowd made the appropriate ooohhsss and awwwws. My kids radios were now remote controls to a modern Genset !!!! Wow!
Ok I'll put the rest of the human interest stuff in another day. There is much to say about Yei and Southern Sudan and the needs that are grossly apparent there. Folks we have it good. Every once and a while try to remember what it'd be like without all the things you have. Without the food, water for drinking and showers, electricity and toilets.
Folks we are blessed ... lets try to keep it this way!
RWD
LostArt
10-11-2005, 07:26 AM
I hesitate to post this part but .... On the day of the inaguration it was determined that I was to be the guy at the plant to flip the switch. (I don't do Dog and Pony shows well)
I had brought two hand held radios ... you know the little kids walky talkies that go about a mile. I was to be at the plant with the genset running and flip the switch when I heard the radio keyed. Myk gave the other one to the Govenor. (he'd flown in to "flip" the switch) Myk told him to push the button and the lights would come on.
After a bit of a speach ... the Govenor held up the handset and in an emotional statement said "We in Yei have stepped into the future. I have in my hand a "Remote" control ... much like the one used to change the chanel on the Television ..... With the push of this button I will remotly turn on the lights." He pushed the button and I hearing the key ran over and flipped the breaker. I heard that he turned and looked at the lights as they came on and the crowd made the appropriate ooohhsss and awwwws. My kids radios were now remote controls to a modern Genset !!!! Wow!
:D Oh man. That is nice. I like these kinds of stories RWD. And I like Dbrown20's also. Have you read his in the Linework forum? Many of you guys have some good stories to tell.
Thanks for sharing your time in telling us this RWD. I, for one, like reading them. Even though I don't understand all the concepts to the "linework", I'm sure the other guys here do.
The boss and the other boss. Myk (right) is the project manager, Mark (Left) is the Make it happen guy. Mark works with the local politics and make airplane tickets Visas and other non-technical things happen. This does not make him the "Office dude." He works hard and on more than one occasion kept us from Deep Du-du. He also made some real hard trips by roads that most mules would not travel to get us a small generator and a small refrigerator so we could have cold beer ... or soda at the end of the day. We could not have done any of this without him.
Myk ..... well Myk is Myk! He's the best all around engineer I've ever had the pleasure to work with. He is also and increadable teacher and has clumb sum. He'll be in the hooks next week because I'm not there and some of the clean up still needs to be completed. His leadership is awsome .... He is able to take large imposible tasks and break them into small managable peices. His skill at substation and line design coupled with hands on experiance and managment skills make you work your ass off and like it. .....and he does not know about this website. .... neither does Mark.
Seen behind this anchor installation is one of the local houses called a "Tucal" The anchor is being tamped by ... I think it's Kenneth a local "crew chief" for lack of a better term.
Here Ashley Johnson and I take a break. Day is done and we're in the office taking a bit of a rest before we go home. Ashley is from South Carolina and one of the hardest working linehands I've ever seen. Quick and soft of tongue. The guys loved him and so did all of the little kids. He was forever giving out candy or toys that he brought with him to the local kids. They followed him around like he was Santa Clause. By the time we were done the local guys were calling him a "White" Dinka. The dinka tribe are known for thier hieght and for thier strength and stamina. Ash is tall skinny and works harder than most mules. And yes that is really the office. The other wall had the computer and the copier on a desk.
Here we are seen loading the pole trailer.
If I did I have to explain things that did not happen while I was there.
There were about 5 butcher shops in Yei. Each killed a cow every day or so and sold it as meat. All cutting was done with an axe or a machete type of knife called a panga. What you get is bone fragments in your fillet minon.
Many thanks to the "swamprat" for editing the photo's for me. Real thanks man! I'll try to get some more edited in the days to come but I'm sure we all have other work to do!
More to come, RWD
LostArt
10-12-2005, 07:29 PM
These are really great RWD. I like that last one. It would make a great watercolor pic.
Can't wait to see more. So............what did the tribesmen call you?
The market pictures I have will soon be posted. Now they would be great watercolors. As for what they called me .... It I told you everyone would know my name.
I'll have to ask as they did not say these things to the person but amongst themselves ... I just happened to hear them talking about Ashley.
they were running bets as to who would give out first. I think I lost. I never gave up but I moved much slower after a while. I am 19 years older than Ash and had been out of the hooks for a few years. New boots! new gear ... Broke all of it in on the pole. Blisters on the feet and calves. It was torture but I loved every minute of it.
RWD
LostArt
10-12-2005, 08:00 PM
Ten four. I just wondered if the tribesmen there had a nickname for you.
Yes, you know I would love the bold colors of those marketplace pics. My medium is not really watercolor. I do colored pencil, but I can just see how a watercolor artist would love that kind of pic.
Are you going back RWD?
Yep there is a lot of work to be done. If I don't do it someone else will have too. I wouldn't want that now would I! I'm trying to free up time in January and february.
RWD
Note my hand in the picture .... Small little guy isn't he. The deer lives in the compound I stayed in ... Wild but acustomed to people. His name was Dik Dik
The little by is turning the wheel that turns the grindstone his father is using to sharpen an axe.
Ok here is one of the market phot'os for you LA
Nuff said It was a small pole
Here is a photo of the reel stand we made.
highlineswitcher
10-12-2005, 10:48 PM
Rwd
Its Been Said For A Long Time Where Theres A Will Theres A Way
Guess You Have The Will .
Great Stories And Pictures Keep Up The Great Work
LostArt
10-13-2005, 12:21 AM
I've not see a deer quit like that one before. Nice pics. And I love the MarketPlace one you posted RWD. Thank you buddy.
Did you take most of the pics yourself?
Ok I guess I did find out who was footing the bill for this little project. I still don't know what the total will be but it's small compaired to most AID projects.
On this Reel of wire you see the folks who paid for this project. USAID stands for the United States Agency for International Developement. Yep this is where some small part of your tax dollars go to. I a humble conservative .... feel that in this case it's a worthy cause.
I will note that the budget on this job will go mostly to materials as there are only 2 long term staffers Myk and Mark. They will be on project 3 years. Other than local labor for grunt work there are a few long term hire locals. Thomas, Kenneth, and Charles. The rest of the training and tallent staff are brought in only when there is actually work to be done and many of us a pure volunteers.
In most cases the company that the lineman works for pays for thier wages as if they were working at the Co-op. USAID thru NRECA pays for the travel and lodging. Some Volunteers that work overseas for NRECA actually take vacation to do so. This is not a paper tiger. This is the real thing. It really hurts to leave these places. Yes you know you have done a good job but there is still so much left to do.
Again Thanks Swamprat for the photo adjustments.
RWD
A local wood shop ready for electricity. Yep he's rip cutting a board with a hand saw.
Here is a shot from the pole by the customs yard. It shows some of the quadraplex installed.
Rained ... And rained.... Only one day though. This was the compound we lived in.
The plane home. They had 2 55 gallon drums freighted in for refueling. This is Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) Great planes and great pilots!
Swamprat
10-13-2005, 08:17 PM
That's really some interesting stuff RWD.
Is there any information for Linemen that might want to get into something like that? I think you said there was, like a 3 year contract on this particular job. I'm sure there's other jobs, and other Co's that are lookin.
I was offered a job a few months back.... settin some poles and stringin some wire for 6 months on Achension Island.....which is basically Solid ROCK. And...No...ya can't Blast the hole, and No there ain't no rock drill........
And NO...
Thank you. :-)
Find Achension Island on Google Earth! :-)
Smack Dab between Middle Africa and Middle South America, and no...it ain't high rez so don't bother.
There's alot of work for American Line personel overseas, and "Line Expertice" overseas nowdays.
And the community of overseas workers.... is very limited.
"Have Tramp Bag...Will Travel". Remember....ya need a Passport.
And it ain't union. :-)
This is through National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) International Programs division. They are based in Arlington Va. They are on the Web but for the most part they take volunteers for short term stints. I've worked as on staff lineman/trainer for them in the past but at this time pick'ns are few and far between to make it full time for them. Mostly companies pay the linehand as if they were at home working and NRECA/USAID picks up travel and expenses plus a small stipind for food and beverage.
RWD
Guys let me know what you think or at least ask me some questions!
RWD
Swamprat
10-14-2005, 09:00 PM
Guys let me know what you think or at least ask me some questions!
RWD
Get use to that RWD. Most on here, just "read, look and dream", and don't comment.
They like to.... hear, learn and look at shit, but are afraid to actually step up to the plate and "get involved in this cyber space world wide community."
"National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)"
That's extremely cool man. People who want to make a difference, and help....AND, it ain't about the money.
Good Stuff man. Keep postin. NGU.
"Never Give Up" in your beliefs. May seem like you're talkin to yourself sometimes....but ya ain't.
The "silent majority" is "readin". :-) :-)
LostArt
10-14-2005, 09:49 PM
"Never Give Up" in your beliefs. May seem like you're talkin to yourself sometimes....but ya ain't.
The "silent majority" is "readin". :-) :-)
I agree.
RWD..........most of the guys that are registered here only read. And the other few thousand just lurk. But, they read. Believe me, they read.
As Swamp said, keep posting!
HighPotter
10-14-2005, 11:24 PM
RWD....what did the original job consist of? The sourse is/was a genset? Were you going to backfeed some x formers?.... What this just to electrify this town..or did it have a specific purpose.
Very interesting man
HP
I guess I should do a bit of a history
Full project scope is to electrify the town of Yei Sudan. It's a town of 36,000 people living on the edge and at the end of a 20 year civil war. The town jumps to 60,000 on week ends. It is expected that 3000 consumers will be connected by the end of the project. Mostly business and government. We are trying to expand to homes as well. ALL WILL BE METERED. the projected price of electricity will be $0.35 per KWH. Yes expensive but it has to pay for itself. The price may go down as the load increases. A Co-op will be created to operate the system.
There is a lot of people taking advantage of the situation to get rich. There is also a lot of projects going on that are health and economic related. Very few projects are "brick and Mortar" Living conditions are rough and most projects start out with houses being built for the foreigner and cars and trucks being ordered for them to drive. About 18 months into a 3 year project most start living there and doing the project or they try to operate by coming in every few weeks to "guide" the locals. We went the other way. The people needed to see results so we gave them street lights in the main part of town.
3 months ago Myk staked the initial lines and ordered materials. Holes were dug and we set poles and installed quadraplex. The power plant installed now is a 75KW that was ordered initially to power the NRECA compound. Diesel powered. We did not have the time to try to determine load for transformer sizing and the primary was designed but the materials did not arrive in time for framing.
The Power plant has been ordered and step up transformers for the substation. The new plant will be a 400kw with switchgear to allow for a second unit to be installed when load is there to support it. The primary will be 11 KV.
Hydro has been talked about but the only local site is about 25 miles away from town and is projected to be around 1000 KW so the expense could never be justified.
The reason ..... These folks need power. The town will stay in the dark ages without it. The local hospital has to start the generator to take an xray. There are several load centers that have their own generators that are costing them about $1.50 per kwh.
This is one of many towns in need. We hope to expand into other towns following this model if the funding shows up. It's really not that expensive compared to construction here in the states.
RWD
Ashley Johnson is a lineman working for a Co-op in South Carolina. While I've talked about him earlier I need to express that without his unselfish and calming presence much of the work accomplished could not have been completed in time. Ashley is a soft spoken gentel man with a deep rooted love for his fellow man. He looks after the little folk. It is amazing how much attention he was able to pay to the children in the town ... and still do more work than the rest of us combined. He never complained when I was lagging behind and looked forward towards completion instead of back at the problems encountered that caused him to shoulder more work load. Hats off to Ashley! His wife and child were also with him in heart and he spoke of them often.
His repoir with the local labor force made them people who worked with us instead of for us. His calm voice drew more attentions than my loud yells. I'd guess these folks had heard a lot of yelling in the past and were not used to soft words of encouragement.
RWD
Okay, I won't just lurk this time. This is your big sister, RWD. I don't know about the lineman stuff, but I enjoyed reading this anyway, loved the photos, and I am very proud of you. Also proud of your wife and that darling child of yours for letting you do this!
Thanks sis. I'll make sure to bring the rest of photo's down next time we get to Highpoint.
RWD
Ok Guys I thought I'd revive this thread. I'm gearing up to go back in January. Myk emialed and asked me to pick up a few more belts and hooks. Get this .... 13 and 14" D's. I'm going to try out a new rig this time myself. Buckingham has a new nylon belt. It's light and there are no worries about mildew or rot while in storage.
Has anyone ever used the rope hoists they sell at Halls? Got a new catalog todya and I'm wondering if I should take a few of them instead of those knuckle busting cable hoists.
Updates as we get closer and updates while I'm there. We have 2 new souls volunteering this time. BTW of the 6 "Gringo's last time 2 came down with Malaria. Modern wonders.
RWD
Swamprat
12-09-2005, 10:06 PM
Damn....don't time just FLY!
Less than a month and you'll be headin back. God Love ya!!! How long this time??? Wish I could talk to ya bout the hoists, but never used em. Hopefully some of the guys have and will respond.
Lookin forward to the pictures man.....Send em! I'll Post em!!!
Enjoy your holiday!
Patriot
12-10-2005, 12:00 AM
Any chances of becoming a volunteer? Even paying my own way?
Patriot I just sent you a private message.
Swamp, It's been quick. I've a pile of stuff to do both for my shop and for the project before I leave. Myk just asked me to pick up a theodolite (transit) fully optical with no electronics. I've already been laughed at by a vendor. I guess trailing edge has moved past optical transits.
Since I left they have recieved two Toyota double cab Hilux pickups and a toyota land Cruiser. They are trying to give the vendor back the land cruiser. Peice of Sh!t. One of the winches was installed upside down on one Hilux and the landcruiser is falling apart.
Hilux is the best damn pickup in the world for that kind of country. I had on in El Salvador. Goes where hummers dare to go! (Myk has a Hummer) his was too wide for some places we played.
Myk indicated they had installed almost all of the secondary we did not get to and they were getting ready to hand the last mile or so towards the market place. We'll be focusing on framing poles and pulling 3 phase primary over the top of the new existing quadraplex.
If he has received pots and meters, we'll hang some of them and hook up some business and government offices too.
As for time? We have to be in Uganda by the 16th of January and I'm scheduled in Orlando by the 14th of February for the NRECA anual meeting, so it look like a little longer on the ground but not much. I hope to have at least a day at home in between so I can wash myself and get some nicer clothes.
We'll see!
RWD
Well folks it's time once again to go to Sudan. This time I'm graced with Tyler Marken from South Dakota and David Alejandro Valdes from Nevada. Both have worked with NRECA as volunteers in the Dominican Republic. They worked in the clean up after a hurricane. I've never met the boys but I'm damn sure they know what their doing ..... and I'm damn sure they're about to have a once in a lifetime experience. We've loaded up on dehydrated foods and tools and some materials. At this point if we've forgotten anything we'll have to make due without. Into the valley rode the 500 ......
I'll try to post as I can. We actually leave our homes Saturday and arrive in Yei on Tuesday .... I think.
I will say that I've added about 20lbs since the last trip. I expect to be back down to 165 or so by the time I return. Need to lose weight ...... Come to the "Sudan"
As I said ... At least this time we have two pick up trucks! We'll have to make our own grounding rigs. Back off safety boys! The substation is not finished yet and there are no connections to the primary yet .... Ok so there is no primary yet but we'll rectify that! No induction, just the possibility of static charge from the dry wind of the dry season. The nearest transmission line is ohhhh about 300 miles away and the nearest primary is a few hundred miles as well. Back feed from a Genset? sorry guys since there are no meters or service drops yet .... Hell there are no wired buildings either.
Next trip I'll bring the stuff for a grounding chain.
I'll update as possible and upload new photo's if I can from there or if not when I get back. Swamp ... do you still have some photo's of the army? If so you can post now. I''ll post some when I return if you don't.
RWd
http://www.nrecainternational.org/international/CountryProjects/projects/sudan/sudan2.htm
Try this one! it's official NRECA
RWD
Co-opman
01-13-2006, 07:32 AM
RWD,
Thanks for taking initiative and letting me get to know you. Be careful over there and I'll be praying for you.
Co-op
LostArt
01-13-2006, 07:35 PM
I'm always interested in the linework, you know that. However, don't forget to take pics of the "other stuff" which is going on. :D You know...........more of an artist angle RWD. Heh.
You take care and I look forward to your return buddy! Be careful!!
Co-op thanks Prayers are welcome ... for some odd reason this feels a little different this time.
LA I'll get you some art this time! Military civillian and some other stuff you might like as stills.
Wheels up around 4 pm Saturday.
RWD
Swamprat
01-13-2006, 11:09 PM
Patriot I just sent you a private message.
Swamp, It's been quick. I've a pile of stuff to do both for my shop and for the project before I leave. Myk just asked me to pick up a theodolite (transit) fully optical with no electronics. I've already been laughed at by a vendor. I guess trailing edge has moved past optical transits.
Since I left they have recieved two Toyota double cab Hilux pickups and a toyota land Cruiser. They are trying to give the vendor back the land cruiser. Peice of Sh!t. One of the winches was installed upside down on one Hilux and the landcruiser is falling apart.
Hilux is the best damn pickup in the world for that kind of country. I had on in El Salvador. Goes where hummers dare to go! (Myk has a Hummer) his was too wide for some places we played.
Myk indicated they had installed almost all of the secondary we did not get to and they were getting ready to hand the last mile or so towards the market place. We'll be focusing on framing poles and pulling 3 phase primary over the top of the new existing quadraplex.
If he has received pots and meters, we'll hang some of them and hook up some business and government offices too.
As for time? We have to be in Uganda by the 16th of January and I'm scheduled in Orlando by the 14th of February for the NRECA anual meeting, so it look like a little longer on the ground but not much. I hope to have at least a day at home in between so I can wash myself and get some nicer clothes.
We'll see!
RWD
Yeah, I remember you said January something you were goin back. Well, Looks like "The TIME has come Today"! Who did that song anyway......I digress...
Take care of yourself over there man. I mean, REALLY. Send some picts and stories when ya get the time. I don't know what day the 14th of Feb. falls on, but drop me a PM and I'll give ya cell phone. If I can, I'd love to meet ya for lunch and bullshit.
Here's the "Army shots". You'll have to explain em. I don't EVEN want to know dudes with Rocket propelled Gernades are walkin round when I'm up a pole.....
Take care man...Lookin forward to hearin from ya.
The first one is the Ugandan army. The LRA (Loards resistance army) were known to be in the area and these bastards are as bad as they come. The LRA to my understanding is trying to get Uganda to change to a government run by the 10 Commandments. They don't even ask for stuff. They simply wipe out a village then take what they want. Thankfully there are not many of these guys and Uganda has permission to enter Sudan to track them down if needed. I'd say these were truck mounted anti air or howitzers ... But I was not in artillery.
The second and third pictures are of the SPLA. This is the Southern Peoples Liberation Army. Many are now being integrated into the Sudanese military. At first were told not to take photo's of them. When we left they said shoot away ... With a camera that is!
Thansk for posting these Swamp.
NRECA meeting is later in the month, 22nd or something. It looks like I'll get to at least change my clothes before I go down to your neck of the woods. I'll get the info to you.
RWD
woody
01-14-2006, 10:52 PM
Man where to start? This is without question the best thread in the forum. I apoligize for not reading it sooner! Haven't posted...because I haven't seen it until tonight. RWD is the MAN as far as I'm concerned in LINEWORK today! And he has a good buddy right beside him...Ashley! Man my hat is tipped to both of you bigtime...right on brothers! Bringing light where it's never been before...truly amazing! The best parts are about human manpower...YES and human endurance and know-how! Man vs. Machine...I saw this one time once when I was younger. I worked on a barge up in alaska and we loaded at a dock with a crane...material for a village community center. We off loaded on the beach at the village...by hand...the entire community showed-up...busted the bands on plywood...2by4rs...etc...and walked them up the beach. We BEAT the loading time by 1 hour! Nothing beats the HUMAN SPIRIT! RWD keep on posting...keep on living...avoid the bad guys...and come back home! LOL woody
Thanks But the truth is it takes a bunch more than me. The folks that live and work here putting things together are the ones I salute! Myk, Mark, and Lupe.Americans who live in the towns we just come to visit.
Anyhow I thought I'd post a note to let you guys know we made it back into Yei. I've only lost one bag. It has the tripod for the theodolite so staking line might be a chore until we get it back.
I'll try to post a bit more tommorrow night when I can get a spare laptop to work on. These guys need all of the screen time they can get to keep the sanity in place.
RWD
Ok second time around on this one!
Damned laptop keeps dumping my blog!
Tuesday we made it in short some luggage but in one peice.
Weds we set some short poles up in the yard and taught how to install crosarms and armor rod.
Thursday Well I pissed off Dave a bit but we did get some work done. We installed two C-1's and one C-2.
Today we installed two c-7's and a C-1. Had to quit early because it was local payday. Guys everywhere want to get off .... early on payday.
Got into the good compound and if all goes well I'll get to stay here a few weeks. If not ... Well that'll suck.
Hope the luggage that was lost shows up! It's got tools and some more Dehydrated foods.
The rest that made it to uganda will show up thursday on the next open flight.
Talk soon guys. Pray for my wife. I'm here having fun and she's running the shop and raising a 14 year old duaghter and two dogs!
RWD
Got to the office about 8am today. Not much going on. We've dropped to a 5 day work week as the heat is off for the time being. This trip we're going to install primary over the 240/415 we installed last time around. The pots have yet to arrive and Myk is not concerned. We're short meters and service drop conductor too. We should be able to get the primary in the air prior to jumping ship this time. Connecting consumers will be next trip out. Looks like June.
Spent the day installing rafters at the office for the kitchen. We also put up a solar clothes drier (clothes line). Then we were off to the NRECA compound which is under consrtuction. Two small three bedroom houses to house the Ex-pats for the rest of the project. There is/was an old water tower on site. abandoned in the 80's we worked on removing the old metal tank and getting it ready for the new tanks to be installed next week end. once we get the line extended to thecompound they'll actually have running water and a real place to live. That'll be in August or so.
It's the dry season here. It's rained a few times at night. almost enough to keep the dust down ...... NOT!
Next week we'll focus on hanging crossarms and insualtors. Then the wire pulling starts. Food is running short so I hope the "lost" and delayed luggage gets here soon.
I've got some used boots in the luggage to give the guy's It'll be nice to see them climbing in something besides dress shoes and rubber boots.
RWD
woody
01-21-2006, 09:10 PM
RWD, sudan has been in a civil war off and on for forty years and travel advisories are only for war correspondents and relief workers. Your part of the latter and have posted about some of the bad guys running about...my question is what kind of security do you have at your location? Also is it much different than say El Salvador...where there are problems also(kidnapping...gangs, etc....didn't say when you were there)? Just wondering...also asking questions about four months late! woody
Swamprat
01-21-2006, 10:54 PM
RWD, sudan has been in a civil war off and on for forty years and travel advisories are only for war correspondents and relief workers. Your part of the latter and have posted about some of the bad guys running about...my question is what kind of security do you have at your location? Also is it much different than say El Salvador...where there are problems also(kidnapping...gangs, etc....didn't say when you were there)? Just wondering...also asking questions about four months late! woody
Takes a special type of a person to go to a place like that Woodster.
What EVER type of work they're doin. Things like security, food, and where you're gonna live, are sorta secondary thinking. I'll wait for RWD's answer to your question.
woody
01-22-2006, 12:15 AM
Yeah swampy, I know it takes a special type and all...but man...2million dead...genocide...I went places for love of country and nothing more. Everything else WAS secondary...SELF PRESERVATION was Primary! But this IS different. Also...was well trained and armed and had many like that all around me. woody
Things are a bit rustic here. Not much in the way of amenities. Yep there are a lot of armed personel here, but ... They all want to see the power on as well. I'm sure there are some wako's ... there always are but You could die from a chicken bone on your front porch too.
As for how we are armed ... Well I'm armed like most folks ... two one on the left and one on the right. Got 5 fingers and a hand on both of them ... some are a bit banged up ... But I don't really guess thats what you meant.
As in all war zones (there is peace here now) being a stranger with a gun makes you a primary target in a fire fight. I decided a long time ago that carrying a weapon is not a positive thing. Lets say I have a nice little 9MM .... All I'm going to do is get the guy with the machete to go get a buddy. If I have an AK ... Well they'll have more .... And as I said. A person with a gun who is not on a side durring a fire fight is a primary target. Kill first and say sorry later. I can duck and run or hide. I try not to be a threat. Woody funny you should mention El Salvador .... Been there ... done that .... Hell I made the shirts. 7 years, My daughter was born there.
I've done this in many countries. It's a bit safer I think. If I truley need a gun ... I don't need to be there. Someone always has a bigger gun.
Food well at least in El Salvador we had decent food in the field. Here we bring Dehydrated food stuffs to eat a big good lunch and make due with local fare for breakfast (if we get one) and dinner. Places to live can vary. This time ... so Far I've been able to stay at the CRS compound. Actually have hot water for a shower when the generator is on. Flush toilet too! Some of the other guys are making due with another compound that has outhouses. Part of the game though.
I do this because I love what I do ... not for the money it's not that good. Not much more than an average lineman this go around. I'll actually lose more money because I'm away from my shop at home than I'll make here.
Besides that If I didn't do it somebody else would get to! Woody I was also 5 years active navy Seabees.
In the end when the book is writen about my life ... will it be boring or would someone enjoy reading it? I prefer to live life doing things that others read and write about rather than living my life through reading about others.
God and country are worth fighting and dying for ... Adventure ... now thats worth living through!
RWD
LostArt
01-22-2006, 10:13 AM
God and country are worth fighting and dying for ... Adventure ... now thats worth living through!
RWD
You Go RWD!
Glad to see you are doing well sir. Hope you at least get to hear from home now and then. Your lovely wife must be a special lady buddy.
Take care and I'll look forward to the next chapter! :D
--LA
CenterPointEX
01-22-2006, 10:27 AM
It may be a sin, but I envy you sir... Godspeed
LA I'm married to my girlfriend, My lover and my wife! She is a very special woman. For some reason she does not like it when I put her on a pedistal ... But she's there in my eyes all the same.
CP What you feel is not a sin! Could you steal it form me ... I think not. To covet or envy is the desire to do that thing above all others. I don't think your there yet. A little desire is not a sin. But then Who am I to preach to the choir?
I've been through much and will continue to remember the good things.... Lifes to short to dwell on the bad ... unless your making a joke out of it ... Kind of like trying to pass an SBD and finding it wern't no gas that passed!
Regardless here is todays run
We pulled 4 spans of primary today. Dead ended and sagged. Not much for a morning but we are teaching new line hands as we go. We also worked with them on raising 4 crossarms and getting things read for the longer pull. The rest of this week We'll be framing poles in the air and hanging the travelers. Shortage on 1/4" pea line will have us climbing all of the poles more than we want to. Last time I was here there was more of it in the market than you could shake a stick at. This time I've even tried 1/16 nylon ... don't work.
The pots won't be in before we leave this time but we may get time to build the structure for the sub. It'll be simple. 3 ,167KVA pots and a little switch gear. This sub is temporary and will be abandoned when we get a final location for the power plant.
Interesting day though. Working with volunteers from all over the states we see different methods of doing the same thing. I've always uses a torpedo level to level a crossarm. Both of the other guys say they never have. Lots of small differences but we're starting to work better together.
I picked up a bit of the croup on Friday and seem to be hacking my lungs out. Guess thats part of the game! I'm taking some stuff for it (Natural) but if it does not go a way in a few more days I'll have to try something stronger ... Like moonshine! ;)
Connection is real slow tonight. I was unable to get onto yahoo mail. I'd have liked to sent a note to my girl friend.... and my wife and daughter. :p
I hope I can tommorrow it seems they've been having a tuff time of it. (I was able to download an E-mail at the other compound durring lunch)
Oh yes! I had to move to a new compound today. Seems some yuckity yuck had more umpf than I do. I'm back to a bath from a bucket and a room with no view. (not that I had a view at the other place) Kind of sucks but if everything was great ..... how would you know it. Got to have bad to understand how good you can have it!
I'm off to read a bit more of the forum and to try once more to log onto yahoo.
Take care guys!
RWD
Well yesterday the genset was down so I was unable to blog. We raised 10 C-1 structures and two C-2 structures. Worn out and get back to no lights and cold food. I just love this new compound!
Today I replaced a few guys and hung some streetlights. We'd used ACSR for guy wire last time as the Guy strand had not come in in time. We're ready to pull wire tommorrrow. My belt hooks and the kellums grip is in the bag that has yet to get to me. I'm climbing in what I brought last time and sharing with 10 other guys. We have 3 belts a 4 sets of hooks. My bag has three more belts and and 3 sets of hooks. It's sheduled in sometime tommorrow if the local bush pilot can be believed.
Anyhow we also rigged 2 c-7's and a C-1 today. We'll run some light clean up in the morning and try to get the center phase pulled on a 3/4 mile run before lunch. Afternoon should be spent pulling in the outside phases and possibly sagging it in.
This Saturday we are hoping to make a run to Juba. The capital of Southern Sudan. It's about 75 miles form here and were told we can make it in about 4 to 5 hours. They say the road is one of the best in and out of Yei. I don't want to try the worst.
On a brighter note I did get a jerry can of hot water tonight to take my bowl wash. Felt nice to get some of the dust off with a hot sponge bath. They heat the water with a wood fire and dip it into a jerry can to bring it to us. I use about 1/2 and hide the can for the next day. That way I can mix the cold water with the scalding water to take the bath when I get to the compound. I don't have to wait several hours to let it cool off first. Ahhh the lap of luxury!
Nice chat folks talk again when I can!
RWD
woody
01-25-2006, 08:12 PM
RWD, hey my hats tipped to you...seebee and all! Meet some seebees once in central america...didn't ask em too many engineering questions(since I was down there tdy as an army engineer;)...I just like asking questions to people that live the life of adventure! You answered them ten-fold...keep posting my friend and come home. Sometimes living the life takes on too much...too much adventure so to speak. Not talking about you of course...but seen it happen to near and good friends. Don't really have anything to add to this. woody
Bear_Boomer
01-26-2006, 12:10 AM
Sounds like your still working with a basic set of tools, just like the Battalions would issue us. Once again you embody the spirit of of a true Seabee! Stay safe and sane in your journey. Bear :cool:
Yes it's basic tools again Bear ... At least we had a bucket and an A frame on Adak! I'll have to tell you how I got the snow removal to start plowing us out and the marines to stop calling alerts everytime we went to the armory to change lights ... but thats another couple of tales.
Woody I was in Central america for 7 years. Loved it. Civillian though. Met some Bee's there too.. Mostly FTNrs' But then they were there for several months attached to a weed end warrior detatchment. Other guys rotated out but the poor Bee's lived in tents and had to put up with the officers who had just come in from the states whre everything and all was avaliable.
Hot and dusty today. I'd love to see a bit of rain. The roads are pure dust and pulling wire today (by hand) was torture. The following Is what I sent my wife. Once again I'm sorry LA I left out the mushy stuff!
As for work ... things went well today. We pulled wire on the long stretch (about 3/4 of a mile) Seems much longer when you walk it 6 time durring a day. I ... so far have not felt any weight loss. The Dehydrated foods are helping a lot. I'm getting one killer tan too. Farmers tan but I'm getting one. Twisted my ankle today. not too bad but I'll limp for a day or two. Tommorrow we sag and tie the wire into the poles. That'll be much less walking. More climbing though.
Both Dave and Tyler are good hands. Thier knowledge far exceeds mine. Both have extensive Co-op experiance and apart or together bring a lot to the table. I wonder if I would be up to thier level if I had stayed at a co-op. Both work well with the guys and we are making great progress. The lost luggage came in today. I'll have the last of the donated boots given away by end of day. I'll try to take a picture of the guys in the shoes to bring back. I'm going to post on my powerline blog for more boot donations for the next trip ... If we can make it happen. The guys are really appreciative. IIt's nice to have the rest of the tools as well. I missed my Bashlin hooks and my personal belt! Some of the guys have already snagged my belt it fits them better than the ones we left here.
Since last time there have been some improvements. Even here at CWEPC the compound I'm now staying in. Actually had edible spagettie tonight. I'll really see how good it was in the morning ..... if I get the shits ... I guess I'll know it was not quite as good as I thought!
Did get to see a few old friends today for the first time since last trip. Crazy lady. who walks around topless and tried to sell me a battery today. I simply said no thanks and walked away. Damn good thing I had my hard hat on! The battery would have hurt if she'd hit me in the head without it! Now before you say "TOPLESS!" I think this ladies "top" shrivled up long ago. Ever seen a banana peel left hanging out for a day or two? That might give you a picture.
Also met the "Crazy guy again. He's still in chains but someone had the coutesy of putting clothes on him .... Too bad they did not teach him to keep the smock closed though ..... He has both feet chaind together and another chain around his waist that also goes to one hand. He tends to walk up to the unexpecting and "show his wares". I guess the keep the chains on him so people can run away.... or if he offends too much so he can't run to fast to be caught. .... I wonder what Freud would think?
Have not seen any real beatings this time. That does not mean they are not happening just that they are not where I'm at.
Had some excitment at the "gas" station today! It's really two 20 foot cargo containers with a pump. Caught on fire and almost went up!
Awsome man!
The power plant will go off soon and alond with it the internet. Write more tommorrow if I can get online!
RWD
Well les\ts see ... where to start. Today we sagged the line we pulled on Thursday. Then clipped it in. 21 poles of three phase some angles but no Neut. We had strung the quadraplex in the neutral possition last time around. Not bad for some old farts and a few new trainies.
Saw a few new sights today too. New crazy guy ... or a real exabitionist! Walking down the main street in nothing but a single rubber boot on his right foot. Walked right up to one of the traffic cops and talked to him for a bit them wandered off. Later he was reported to be seen carrying the boot.
Also saw a guy who must have been straight from the bush. loin skin and a bow and arrow. My my .. The things you see in Yei.
Tommorrow we are off to Juba. Unless the bottom falls out tonight. It's about 100 miles from here and reported to be a 5 hour drive. We are prepaired to spend the night. NO ONE drives on these roads at night.
I'll try to post about the trip when we get back. and no LA ..... I did not take picture of either of the sights today. Got some others though. One good one of a bicycle turned into a grinding wheel.
TTFN
RWD
Drove to Juba today past many burned out tanks and mine feilds. Juba is now the capital of Southern Sudan. We had to drop a truck off for the new guy who will be working there over the next year..... poor sod. System is in real bad shape and since determining that it'll be the new capital there in a major lack of housing. he'll have to live in a tent city for ayear. It's over $1,000 US a month! For a Tent in a secure area! The drive was 4.5 hours each way. It was a long trip. It seems Juba was a southern sudan city controlled by the north. the actuall battle lines were around mile marker 40. We passed the de-mining crew at mile 42. As I said it was 4.5 hours one way! it's less than 100 miles of dirt road littered with the burnt out hunks of tanks and transport trucks that did not finish the war.... or the mines left after the war.
I'm trying to dig up the stuff for a real lunch tommorrow, I can get canned mushrooms and chedar cheese in the market and fresh eggs are plentiful. I'm going for omelets.... now if I can just find a piece of steel to cook them on!
As I said it was a long day!
I'll write more tomorrow if I can get this computer charged up.
RWD
Ok so today was Sunday ... a day of rest .... NOT! Ok so we worked a little. Spent the morning putting a roof over the outdoor kitchen. It'll keep the rain out when it comes and the ladies will be able to cook for the guys in a better place. It's going to sport three cooking units ... Ok 3 barbaque pits. and a lock up for food at night. The rinse/wash table is over by the outhouse.
Also was able to put together the omelete brunch for the rest of the "gringo's" Three egg omeletts with mushrooms cheese onions and Spam! Yep good old Spam! Got pictures too.
Later we replaced the ends on the clutch cable on the Tonda motorcycle. Took acouple of bolts the right size and drilled a hole and stuck it the cable thru. Then Beat it good with a hammer.... It worked. When the nearest parts store is 500 miles it's amazing what you can build or make work!
Regardless it was a good day. Wrote my love about the day to and got an e-mail from the daughter. 14 and she actually told me about a guy she likes ... who likes her too!
Proud I am to have a girl like her!
Tommorrow will be another day!
RWD
LostArt
01-29-2006, 01:53 PM
Hey there RWD! Glad you are still surviving the roughness. Boy howdy you are a tough one.
Whoa............might not be any mooshy stuff in your chapters, but it sure is entertaining in some spots. Nekkidness runs rampid there, eh? Heh. I like reading your..........uh......interesting input on descriptions. :D
You take care and keep us posted buddy!
--LA
As I sit here under the equatorial African sky (stars) typing away one finger stroke at time, misspelling words in the dark and feeling "necked"... I reflect on the days gone by with wishfull thinking. Ok so I'll cut to the chase! LA if'n I was anywhere other that in a religious zelots compound I try to be writing this Neckid.... under the stars But this is the hotel of last resort. If'n I git kicked outa here I'll be sleeping in the office with the goat.... and the other guy who can't get a room in town! Sorry but niether one is my type!
Today was a monday for sure. Many things were done and some were done again. Tools materials and supplies dissapeared and then showed up again as it the were never missing.
We are now working on a shorter section of line that will eventually connect the new powerplant ( to be built in a few months) to the downtown area. It's not all of the line just a small portion that will be extended once the been plant has been intalled. Tuesday we should have the line ready to pull wire and weds we will pull wire sag and if all goes well start clipping in. When this section is done I think Myk and I will break off and start staking line for the next phase of the project. Dave and Tyler will continue to build some of the branch circuits in single phase. We have no meters nor transformers so we can't start connecting consumers yet. They are shceduled to arrive in april or may. Myk is asking of Amanda and I can return in June. She would live with Myk and Lupe and I with Mark.
The houses are comming along well. Both are three bedroom with 2 baths and are small but efficient. They are going to get satelite TV, air conditioning and Washer and dryers and all of the other comforts of home..... OK so this is southern Sudan .... Creature comforts rate high. Myk has also talked about shipping in good food (frozen) packed in dry ice. Right now it's like camping ... Ok an extended camping trip like outward bound .... only the natives are a bit rustic!
The dehydrated foods are holding out well. We should be able to leave some for the staff when we leave. We've been limiting our consumption to one a day with local foods as a suppliment. No bad results so far but who knows where montezuma may pop up.
Tuesday Mark .... The malcontent who is no longer welcome at the other "hotels " in town is going on a shopping trip to Kampala. His goal is to spend a week or so getting appliances for the houses so that food and laundry can be appropriatly processed once they are completed. We wish him luck. If he succedes we will have the only mechanical washer and dryer in a few hundered if not thousands of miles. His only error here has been that he complains when the toilet does not flush or the food suck and is cold. I hope he keeps his mouth shut for a bit until his house is finished and we can all move in.
As for the Necked folks .... Missed them all today. Guess I was too focused or they may have took the day off. I am actually looking forward to sponsoring a wet t-shirt contest next time around ,,,, Yeh right!!!!
LA it was nice to here from you. I see that many folks read but few post and I'd like to here form some of the readers. If the asked questions about things here I'd try to look around a bit and find out more. I'm focused on the work and unless prompted don't look for the human side of the equation.
Thanks again LA.
Talk soon!
RWD
Orgnizdlbr
01-30-2006, 01:37 PM
RWD, it sure sounds "rustic" there for sure. I guess if you can focus on work you can forget about all of the other stuff going on around you. I read your posts with interest. The story about the guy who had one boot on and was naked had me chuckling. It musta been some sight! You stay safe over there....keep yer head down and get back here safe. Orgnizdlbr
Three
01-30-2006, 07:22 PM
I read that the poles you're working with are made of eucalyptus. How are they to climb compared to the pines & such we get back here in the states?
Swamprat
01-30-2006, 08:53 PM
RWD my man...
I admire ya Immensely. Just readin your posts, makes me "Cringe".....
"BTDT"...ain't got the fortitude for it no more.
Neat thing is, ya ain't there that long, makes the time a bit easier....cause, there's an end.
Just that you would do that type of work, speaks Volumes about you RWD. The world needs more people like you.
If ya got any pictures, I'd be happy to post em for ya. Otherwise, Lookin forward to seein em when ya get home.
Be Careful man.....Like I need to tell you that.....
woody
01-30-2006, 09:50 PM
RWD, hope mark completes his mission...geez just goes to show-ya...even in the middle of nowhere...there's always a whinner, complainer! Gotta love it! Hope it's at least entertaining watching the malcotent. Anyways always reading your posts...keep em coming and stay safe. woody
Ok three the Euc. poles here are much better than the one I climbed in central and south america. I was real worried when I was told eucaliptus poles. These seem to be a different species of euc. They are soft much like a cedar but!!!!! they have elevator shafts the size fo the grand canyon. Some of the cracks you can put your hand in. Next order will probably be southern pine from the USA. The pole planst here have never heard of pre-gaining a pole or pre drilling to REA spec. Imagin a pole gain at 20 degrees from the ridge iron holes and cross arm hole that make you wonder who was smoking what ... but a least we know when they were smoking it! The ridge iron holes and the cross arm holes are drilled every which way under the sun and the upset bolt hole is somewhere between a 75 and a 100 degree angle from them. It's a nightmare.
As for Mark ... Don't ne too hard on the guy. I many cases he was just saying things like..... Ummm can't you tie the goats up next to someone elses room?" (Goat sex is loud at 2 in the morning) Or "While I don't know what I just ate ... I'm sure it would be much better if it was at least warm .... that is if it was supposed to be cooked before eaten." Oce in a while he might say ... You know I've told you 4 times that the toilet in my room does not work .... Think you could get off your ass and fix it before the goats come back so I can get a good nights sleep? The guy is good at what he does and keep us out of trouble much of the time because he is always in the thick of it. I'd guess if he has them mad at him they are not focused on screwing us up in one way or another.
I was rather dissapointed in our local entertainment today. The local police (traffic police) would not let me park under the pole I was working on .... next to thier office. Gosh I wonder if the light over thier office will work tonight .... Hmmmm I'll stay home as it's too dark around thier office to see. Perhaps in the morning I'll try to park there again .... If they let me .... maybe I'll check out the light.
One boot did not make a showing today ... Maybe he found ... or lost a boot and was afraid to go out in public. Missed crazy lady too. Guess she's out of batteries to toss. Did see the cops giving a guy with a bow and arrow the third degree. He looked a little down and out and I think the coppers kept his arrows. They were a bit nasty. I'd rather get hit by an AK47 than one of the arrows they use here.
As for work .. It went well today. We are moving a bit slow as we need to get some trees trimmed before we can pull wire tommorrow. We plan to pull wire early afternoon. At 6 pm we were sitting at the office having a beer, and the guy who starts the generator came in and said it was broken. We went down and it seems that sometime durring the day a short had occured on one of the phases. It was/is a phase to ground fault. we isolated the bad phase ..... (at the traffic police station) and quit for the night. In the process ... there is a small steel gate within a gate at the power plant. It's made for someone 4 feet tall. I'm about 6 foot. Once I got the bleeding stopped we washed it and put some antiseptic on it. It'll get better though. When Myk was cleaning it he notice I was getting grey hair. Go figure? I'm going to file the sharp edges off and put some pvc over it this week. Damn that hurt. scalp cuts bleed profusley too.
Thanks for the response guys! sometimes it seems like I'm writing to myself. I'm off to read a bit before the lights go out.
TTFN
RWD
One last note about the eucaliptus. In Central and south america the wood is very hard ... It's like climbing the hardest CCA pole you've ever tried to put a hook in. They also don't take treatment well. They tend to last about 10 years. These ones are soft enough that they took treatment well. The problem is the cracks. Much of the heartwood is untreated and somewhat exposed and they have termites here that make US termites look like peewee herman. We hope we are not going to see early problems that require replacment.
The armes we are using are teak They take treatment well but are a bit twisted and checked due to the lack of kiln drying in africa. We've also had to redrill most of them as again the plant did not know how to drill them properly. In a stack of 50 arms none is exactly the same length and none are drilled close enough to use as a double arm without re drilling them.
We will get arms from the USA next time around as well.
Take care and climb safe .... and if you have to duck to get thru a small door duck further than you think you need too!
RWD
Well today went well. It was a slow day, Had to drop a section of line this morning to let a guy remove a tree. He asked nicely as the last tree he fell .... fell on the line. He knew he would not get a break for the second tree. Also tried to troubleshoot the short from last night. We never did find it but in looking we must have broke it loose or fixed it as the plant is holding on all three ohases tonight.
Worked mostly on trimming trees today. I'll work on it in the morning too. We'll have to finish it prior to pulling wire.
Myks houshold goods came in todya and he spent most of the day getting them out of customs. Mark and Lupe are in Kampala buying kitchen appliances like refrigerators and stoves as well as a washer and drier. They had to back order the stoves ... Imagine that! capital city of a country and they don't have stores that have stoves in stock!
LA! got a picture for you today. It's a beutiful tree in bloom. It's next to one of the schools across the street form the cop shop. I'll post it after I return to the states.
As for the Caption ..... Saw the chained up flasher today. While I was not looking close I did note he was not circumsized. Thought of taking a picture but ..... I guess the thought of taking a picture of another man in the nude .... even on a dirt road main street felt a little odd to me. I guess I've not quite come to grips with my inner woman!
Oh almost forgot! I've a new room mate. I have not determined the sex yet and he/she/it does not take up much room and does not snore either. Got up last night to answere the call of the porcelin god and met he/she/it ... in the glare of my flashlight. \About 10 inches tail to snout .... rodent of some kind. Either a big mouse or a small rat. I'd bet on a small rat. He/she/it seems to get along well with my lizzard too..... No LA not "My" lizzard but one of the other beings that shares my room!
All other things asside it was a wonderfull day.
TTFN
RWD
LostArt
02-01-2006, 07:38 PM
LA! got a picture for you today. It's a beutiful tree in bloom. It's next to one of the schools across the street form the cop shop. I'll post it after I return to the states.
COOL!! I can't wait buddy! :D
He/she/it seems to get along well with my lizzard too..... No LA not "My" lizzard but one of the other beings that shares my room!
:eek: **hits her head with the palm of her hand** Oh gracious.........where is the fainting smilie at???????????????
:D
Hang tough sport! In some of your paragraphs RWD... I almost think you are on a National Geographic tour. :D
Today was much like a monday I wonder if they use Thurdsday as thier monday .... Hmmm I'll have to ask. Spent the morning trimming trees. Cut most of them about 6 feet off the ground. Local police actually told us they were going to arrest us. Hmmm new experiance or something I'd rather not have on my resume....!!!! I guess they did not like the fact that we cut the trees but did not clean up the mess. In most third world countries the mess would be cleaned up by the locals who wanted fire wood. This is not a normal 3rd world.... or 5th world.
Once we got the trees trimmed we were ready to string/pull wire. We've taught 6 guys how to climb and have faith in most of them to actually do what we tell them to. It seems that these guys are from other tribes than the ones close toYei. They were given to us a test cases by the local crew to see if we were going to treat them right. They are now head and shoulders above the other guys in training and just as we were ready to start pulling wire the group came and wanted to substitute some other folks. We said go away and almost had a strike on our hands. We made the pull but tommorrow we will certainly need to deal with the issue. We've vested much time in training these guys and the local folks think they could step in and take over ... without the training. I've two folks identified that I will fire if pushed and three others that I will fight for. Nuff said. The rest of the day was like herding cats.
Today Myk made friends with a couple of swedish guys. They have a bunch of heavy equipment and have the "we have to help eachother" attitude. They "trained" four crane operators unloading Myks household goods container today. There is a good chance we'll be training generator operators for them. They stopped by for a beer ... or three after work. Nice guys. It seems they chew tobacco in sweden too... we swapped a can or two.
on the way home I was doing about 20 miles an hour down main street next to the police station and some idiot decided to cut in front of me.... Did I mention I was riding the "tonda" motorcycle this week? Ok so I'm going to pick the gravel out of my arm after my bath and the road rash on my leg hurts a bit but I'll survive. I was able to get the bike back upright and limped back to the compound. We'll bend the shifter back straight in the morning. It'll still shift but it's a bit of a twist of the anckle to make it work. God loves me or I'd have been in a bit worse shape.
Folks I have a 14 year old daughter and a wife that is being mom dad and rodeo clown all at the same time. She is running our two shops and playing in a R&R band to boot. She also is taking care of our great Dane and his pet dog to boot. Prayers please she's got more sand than most but a lift up in prayer never hurts.
Swamp ... Still hope to see you in orlando. I'll bring the cuban cigars and buy the captain morgans.
TTFN
RWD
Sorry but I was too busy fighting African bees in trees and getting road rash to get any photo's today.
See if'n this rings a bell?
"Here's to you fuzzy wuzzy in your home in the soudan"
Good poem from one of the masters.
TTFN
RWD
Swamprat
02-02-2006, 10:55 PM
Swamp ... Still hope to see you in orlando. I'll bring the cuban cigars and buy the captain morgans.
Lookin forward to it man.
Got to be Mon. - Thurs. though. Drop me a PM. I'll give ya my Cell #. Too Cool RWD...Lookin forward to it man.
Well! here I sit once again late at night under the open stars in Africa bringing the latest in the saga of “Yie … Southern Sudan” AKA “Herding cats in Africa” I don't know if I've fully explained the "under the stars" I am actually sitting in a plastick porch chair, outside about 30 feet from where the Wye-Fi is. Bright stars and little or no light polution .... That is untill we finish our work here.
Today went slow. We’d inadvertently tramped the center phase on the underbuilt. Had to cut in a splice then clip in the last line we built. Later we focused on making a dummy transformer. We built it out of a piece of pole butt. Lags for the sling hangers and two studs with one bolt clamps for secondary bushings. An old insulator made up the primary bushing and Myk made two hanging brackets out of a couple pieces of angle iron. It’s about the size and weight of an old 5 KVA pot. Since we don’t have any transformers yet, and I won’t be back until a month or so after they come in … we are going to practice using our “Pole Pot.” Looks pretty good too. I’ll post a picture when I get back to the states. Anyhow it was a long day.
This week end we are going to lay a platform for the water tanks. Bee’s have decided to nest on the tower so we’ll get to play beekeeper with African bees tomorrow. Fun Fun Fun.
It’s also been decided that I’ll be cook again on Sunday. I’ll make omelets and this time I’ve been requested to make “French Fries” by a sweed who helped us out of a bind this week. I’m going to have to get my materials sometime tomorrow.
Swamp ... I think it's a week day but I'll check and get back to you.
Talk soon!
RWD
Over all the day (Satturday) went well here. I met up with Myk at the compound around 8:30. There is a tower built years ago for a water tank. A couple weeks ago we killed the bee’s that had hived there and removed the old tanks. Today we were going to put up planks and get the tower ready for the new tanks. The Bee’s had returned. I spent the morning climbing up and building fires on the tower. I had built a pretty good one built by noon and we broke for lunch with the idea we would return at dusk to plug the holes so a new hive would not settle back in. I then went to the market and bought potatoes and onions, and mushrooms and other items for tomorrows brunch. I then spent an hour or so cleaning potatoes. It’s the common opinion here among the gringos that you need to peel and cut the potatoes the day before and soak them in water overnight in the fridge. I’ll see how it works and let you know. When I got back at 7pm the hives were not dead! They were greatly reduced but still buzzing. As the darkness fell they swarming so I went back up with steel wool and silicon and patched over the holes. I think we’ve got them this time. I worked with the Bee’s all day and did not get stung. The only person stung was a local worker who walked by as I was working. God was with me I guess. No one else would even go near the Bee’s
In the morning we’ll put the supports and the planks on the tower beams and around 10:30 or so I’ll start brunch. I made friends with a Britt on a water project here who has some extra pipe Myk may be able to use for the compounds new water system. I invited him to brunch too. We’ll have a crowd. Two Swedes a Britt, Dave, Tyler, Myk and Myself. Mark and Lupe are still in Kampala buying house goods. They get back on Tuesday. We’ll see how the day goes … I hope I found and plugged all of the Bee holes!
Sunday
Well the net went off before I could post Saturday so I’ll post both this evening. I guess we did not close up all of the holes. You see the platform is made of 6” galvanized pipe. There were several bullet holes in the pipe we missed last night. So this morning we put silicone on some more steel woll and I plugged more holes. By 9:30 or so I was able to mount some Teaque 2x4” and lay teaque planking over it and nail it down. Another day with no bee stings! Then I made french-fries and omelets for all. Around 3 … well sated and ready for a nap, I came back to the compound and tried to nap. It was a sauna. Around 5pm I decided it was time to wipe the sweat off and walked out of my hovel to see one of the guys I had made breakfast for. He invited me out for a warm beer with three of his friends. We were minding our own business when … A cop showed up and asks us for our papers. None of us had them with us. It was a shakedown but we went through all of the motions. I told the man that we should be able to take care of it in the morning but he insisted we take care of it right now. I simply said “ok lets do! Lets go talk to your boss and see what he has to say about this.” David and I left the others at the pub and went with the cop on foot to the police station. He did not want to but he was in too deep. His boss was a bit upset at being disturbed but the policeman dropped out of English and went to one of the local languages. I’d guess he made it sound like we were causing trouble but the boss agreed and said let’s take care of this in the morning. Nice man! We were a bit worried about the other guys as a policeman was left to keep them from running …. As if there was someplace to run! When we got back they were laughing and having a great old time. It seems they called one of their workers who was nearby and he had a bit of a history with the top brass during the war. The policeman and his officer came over and apologized for any inconvineince and indicated that they need not worry about papers …. Go figure!
David and I still need to show up at the cop shop in the morning with our papers. Well this is Sunday in Yei. I hope Monday is a good day. I'm wondering if the light at the police station will work tomorrow night?
Well it's time for my bath and I'm beat.
TTFN
RWD
Well I made out and it seems the cops will have lights another day or two at least. I think they know they are pushing the limits.
This morning I got my papers out of the safe and the officer of the watch looked them over and said "sorry to have troubled you sir" I almost went out and cut the wires to the police station street lights. If they give us any other shit I will.
Today went slow. We had a small line to build and we let the guys do it on thier own. Three poles only and they actually did a great job. We only had to correct them three times. mostly minor stuff. It's hot and dry and as I told you Colora has broken out in Yei. We are being very carful and are taking precautions ... even to the point of giving classes to our workers on how to keep from getting it. Mostly it's hygene. We gave them soap to take home and wash with. The other stuff is real basic. Don't share water glasses, Wash oyur hands before each meal. Don't drink river water. There have been some deaths here but it's not an epidemic yet. officially 4 confirmed dead. Unoficial is best guess. I've heard up to 40. Who knows?
Had some fun with the Sweeds Sunday though. It seems they now have a swimming pool. I'll try to go swimming if it's around next saturday. They had a big scandia dump truck and caulked the back door then filled it up with water. Put an air hose in it and called it a pool. Since they use it as a dump truck durring the week I'll hope they still have it and are willing to fill it up next week end. Hmm swiming in yei in a mobile pool!
Stay safe and happy! It's once again my time for a bath. RWD
sorry but I kind of forgot to ask .... who won the Super Bowl and ... What was the score? Was it agood game?
RWD
Swamprat
02-06-2006, 01:03 PM
Steelers. 21-10.
I only saw the last half, so I'll leave the opinions to those that watched the whole game. Some of the Comercials were pretty cool though.
Umm are the stealers still from pitssburg?
Well today went well. I made several trips to the well to get clean water for the boys. It's official we have 840 confirmed cases of colera and 14 dead. Most are in the SPLA army who are stationed close to here but some are in town and in the surrounding villages. We just need to stay on top of it. Most are infected by river water. The colera comes from fecal matter. when a person is sick the locals clean up the vomit or diareah and dump it into the river. Then those downstream use the water and a new crop of colera erupts. They are constantly told not to dump the waste in the river but as soon as the back is turned .... or the truck drives away they spot them dumping in the river again. It'll peak in a few weeks. We'll see. Colera is a dry season problem. Wells run dry and people need water. They don't boil it like they should they just use it. I'm over the hump and on the short side of gone. A week from today I'll be on the plane for Entebe and after a night in Kampala I'll board the plane for home. I look forward to a hot shower and a good meal....... and some quality time with the missus and our daughter.
Today we spent the day teaching how to hang a transformer. Also how to connect it to the system ground. I built a block and tackle and Tyler had brought an old pole top transformer gin. Last week we built a mock-up of a transformer out of an old pole butt and some hardware.
Tomorrow we'll string a 5 pole primary tap. Single phase. and actually get them tp practice installing our dummy pot on a 35 foot pole. The real pots won't be in until april and since I'm not going to be back until June we though ... that with the proper training ... They might be able to install a pot under Myks supervision. Myk can climb but it's been a while and he is a leader ... not a climber. I hope to get started on the staking of the new line as well. I'd like to know what I'm going to be building next time!
TTFN until then SDFSD
RWD
Swamprat
02-07-2006, 11:02 PM
Umm are the stealers still from pitssburg?
Yup.
Remember the "Steel Curtain"? Franco Harris, William Perry?
Time for you to come home man. Hopin you can make it to Orlando...and we can knock back a few. Lunch is on me man. Hope we can get together.
Perry was with Chicago, 1985.
Thanks for the update. We're talking the "Refrigerator" if I remember Perry from the old days.
Well Today has been an interesting day. I’m sicker than a dog with a summer cold and have not been worth much. Mostly I drove the water truck to and from the well today. Dave and Tyler showed the guys what lightning arresters are and how to intall them and they also let the guys build a single phase primary line on their own… mostly. They guys forgot some of the materials and equipment so it was a long drawn out day. I’d say they learned the 6 p”s though. Proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance.
Cops killed a guy today as well. Evidently he was a bit on the wanted side. When they tried to stop him he opened fire. One pistol against several AK47’s. He lost.
Last night I chanced to meet a delegation that was here from the UK. They were nice folks and one mentioned that she liked wine not beer. Today on the way home I bought a bottle of red Italian wine. It was not great stuff by any means but I presented it to them at dinner. It turns out that I have now served wine to what I believe is the British version of a US Senator. She was very grateful and presented me with a card holder. The kind you put your business cards in to keep them from getting damaged in your pocket. It’s very nice with an engraving of the seal of the House of Lords. “The Baroness Cox, Of Queensbury” Go figure … I come to Yei and meet a Baroness. Also she is by trade a nurse. She noted I had a cold and gave me medicine to get over it as well as mask the symptoms. Now I’m Wining and Dining with the big guys and girls. They are leaving tomorrow so it’ll be back to the peasants for me!
Anyhow it’s late and time for bed.
Much better today. The stuff the "Baroness" cox gave me is helping a bunch. Yep I have "super tonic" and it's helping but she gave me equenasia as well as something like contact. A regular Florence Nightengale she was!
Again today went slow. We let the guys do all the work and just watched them ... ocasionally giving them pointers. They are learning. We installed 3 sets of lightning arresters and played around a bit. It's nice to be well ahead of schedule for a change. We (myk and I) also worked some more on the water tower. Welding braces to the existing steel. It should be ready for us to install the tanks by Saturday. Myk started staking the new section of line today. I'll work with him on it tommorrow. We'll set the guys to digging holes on monday and getting it ready for construction when the new poles and materials arrive.
Saw none of the regular charactors today. Bummer. I did have a drunk mess with me a bit bit suprise suprise suprise! A local cop came over and ran him off. Later Tyler went to thank him again for his assistance and the cop said .... thats OK I know the other white guy. I hope that was a good thing.
Oh we did energize our first Tucal! A tucal is what they call the local houses. We happen to have on on the lot that the power house is on and one of our employee's is allowed to live in it so he can start the generator and turn it off when needed. We decided to make his Tucal the first consumer in Yei. One light and one outlet. Connected from an underground feed from the powerhouse. Ok so he's not really a consumer but it is one of the local mud huts with thatched roof. He has sprused it up a bit. He's laid down linolium and has a desk and a bed in it.
Well it's time for my sponge bath and once again I have to take it by myself!
:( Sad times in Yei!
RWD
Today went well here. Dave and Tyler worked with the guys. They tested many of them on what we had been training them on and touched on pole top rescue. Tyler and I will give a demonstration Monday. Myk and I staked a few Kilometers of line. We finished the day within three or four poles of where we hope to put the power plant.
One thing I guess I've failed to note is the color here. Oh yes it's dry and dusty. Green and brown with the dry grass and the green trees ... but there is much color. We see it in the shirt folks here wear. "I attended the Smith family reunion 2003 San Franscisco" Or "Bills bar and grill Fargo north dakota" I'd love to get some pictures and send them to the places the shirts were made for to show them where they finally wound up. High school sports teams, Middle school class shirts. It's amazing. What is also amazing is that most of the folks don't know what they are wearing. One guy was going down the street today with a shirt that read "daddy's little Girl" Another had a pair of bib overalls on with flowers embriodered on them. I wonder who they were made for?
Bugs are out heavy tonight. It's almost like there is something in the air. A few clouds but I can still see the stars.
Well Dinner is served and I'm ready to pass out. We are going to try to raise the water tanks in the morning and Myk and I are going to try to finish staking the line to the proposed power plant in the afternoon. I also have to prepare for Sunday's brunch!
TTFN
RWD
Today we worked at the housing compound most of the day. Myk and I installed the water pipes in the trenches and along with Tyler and Dave we got the water tanks lifted into place on the water tower platform. Tommorrow Myk wants to place the conduit for the electrical service in the trenches and pull the wire through them to the houses from the place where the generator is going to go. We'll also attempt to get the water fittings and pipes from the tanks down to ground level so we can get some water into the tanks to keep the wind from blowing them off the platform. We have them tied down for now with rope but I don't feel too secure about leaving them for a month like thay are.
Dave and Tyler used the computer before me so it's a bit late. I've just eaten .... hmmm rice was the only thing left on the buffet. Good thing I had a packet of Tuna fish to mix in with it. The other guys (not our guys) that came in were a bit upset that all that was left was Rice. They were also a little jelouse of my Tuna! They were still hungry but not willing to try any resaraunts due to the Colera. I feel they made a good decision. A little hungry is better than Colera.
Tonight I write from under a cloudy sky with a new full moon peeking through the clouds. I hope there is some rain in those clouds! Not likely though.
Rumors also abound. The LRA attacked a UNECEF compound in Yambio. Some rumors say 2 dead andother says 3 unacounted for. Who knows! all of it may just be a rumor. It seems that someone called the boss of the LRA a common terrorest so he decided to show them a little more of his tallent.
Time for my bath before the lights go out. Look forward to being home soon.
RWD
Orgnizdlbr
02-11-2006, 03:21 PM
RWD, keep your head down over there, will ya....your a better man than me brother, .......and I think I go into bad nieghborhoods here!.....
LostArt
02-11-2006, 08:47 PM
Yeah, and Labor is like................the Sapranos and stuff. :D
You be careful RWD. What is the ONE thing you want right now (besides wife and family)? What do you miss the most besides your family?
Keep posting buddy. As you see, we all are reading. :)
--LA
Thanks for your concern ... Colera is the issue here. The LRA are in the Yambio area..... the town I one day hope to take over the electrical construction portion of the project ... if the funding shows up. Yambio is about 100 miles from here and by local standards ... 2 days by truck. I'm not sure but I've been told the LRA are on foot. I've also mentioned a bit on the "assault" in the portion below I copied from a letter home this evening to my wife.
It's raining at home right now and My Loving wife is not happy about it, I know she won't see it this way but right now a lake and rain sound good. The heat here has been a bit much. I've been making do but it's sweating yourself to sleep to the sound of african drums. I'll get my ticket info out of the safe tommorrow and start packing for the trip home tomrrow night. I guess Monday night is my last night in Yei for this trip. We spend one night in Uganda on the way out then it's all the way home. If I make another it'll be staying in an air conditioned room in Myk or Brother Marks house. We worked the morning at the compound and were able to get the conduit and electrical wire in for the Generator and station service fo the houses. It'll still be a few months before the houses are ready and the power turned on to the houses but if we had not been here to help Myk it would have been REAL difficult on him. We are going to try to work some more on the water system tommorrow to ensure what we built won't fall down while we are gone. Around 11:00 am we stopped for lunch. Again I searved up omelets for all including the Two swedes whom we seem to have adopted. They are nice guys in thier late 20's. At home one is a Scandia truck mechanic who works directly for scandia and the other is a paramedic. The paramedic is doing 3 months teaching drivers and crane operators and the mechanic is training folks on basic scandia maintenance procedures. They both have three month contracts.
Other than working on the water system we are planing to stake a bit more line in order to give the guys some digging to do while Myk is gone. Tyler and I will give a live demonstration on pole top Rescue as well. We'll see who gets to be the Dummy. Then it's packing for the trip out of Sudan to Kampala .... and a nice hot shower. I'm about sick of bucket baths. ..... But I still need to get mine tonight ... ASAP. I can smell myself from here! And the red dust in every crack is a bit oppressive.
Newest news on the LRA assault in Yambio! No dead no wounded ... It seems they just came up to the compound and asked for food. Wonder what we'll hear about it tommorrow. Rumors are a wonderfull thing to hear!
All of you who post ... thanks for letting me know that you are there and care!
On another note ... I thought the "to kill an American" was a wonderfull post. Damn the bugs are out in force tonight.
I'm going to take a bath and curl up under my mosquito net. It's a pretty blue onethat actially lets some breeze thru ... some of the smaller bugs tooo I'm afraid, but I can deal with gnats it's the malaria mosquito's I don't want to deal with!
TTFN
RWD
Orgnizdlbr
02-12-2006, 12:01 PM
Talk about contrast, you're dry, dusty, and hot.....I woke up to over 2 feet of snow this morning...and its still snowing like a bitch! Hope all is well, stafe safe RWD.
Honestly If I were to boil it down to one thing ..... Electricity and the things that come with it. Barring that ... Good consumable food. The stuff we eat here is bland and in many cases unpalatible. We brought a goodly amound of "Meals Ready to Eat" this time around and we've at least had good lunches using them as our best and most important meal of the day. MRE's get old though. I'm looking forward to a warm shower in Kampala and a good meal there as well. I've made up my mind if they put me in room 105 again at the speke hotel in Kampala I'm going to have the manager show me how to turn on the hot water. I've been in it twice now and there is no hot water ... each time they look at me and say "perhaps you did not know how to turn it on" When I tell them I let both knobs run for 15 minutes they say " We'll have to look at it, sorry."
Ok I'll get off my high horse but at over $100.00 US a night you can at least expect a few amenities to work!
RWD
I grew up in Idaho and spent many years in Utah Colorado and Alaska as a lineman ... I also worked Wyoming in the winter .... I'd rather have the dry dust thank you!!! My Toes and fingers start to hurt at 60 degrees now from the many close bouts with frostbite!
RWD
LostArt
02-12-2006, 01:27 PM
Have a safe trip home RWD and I sincerely hope you don't get room 105 and a room that has hot water! My wish for you until you reach home! :D
Then, I look forward to you putting Swamp to work. However, I have a hosting site now and I can post some of those pics for you if you like. That way..........our retired workingman Swamp won't have to do too many. :D And I don't mind!
Take care,
LA
Ok here is the deal. I’ve not been on line yet so I’m writing in word and I’ll post it to you in a moment. We spent the day (myk and I ) worked at the compound installing the water system and finished the electrical part of the compound as well. Later we changed the oil in the town Generator and in one of the pick up’s as well. Tomorrow we’ll be off to Uganda in the morning. We’ll get a hot shower and a good meal before we get on the plane to Dubai/London/Raleigh. I’ll get to Raleigh at 4:15 PM on the 16th. Of Feb. I ave an E-ticket and it does not let me know the flight numbers. I suspect I’ll be coming in on terminal C as that is the one I left on. I’ll try to let you know is London.
Hope all is well with all
Take care all ... LA I'm not sure if I'll get the chance to see swamp in Orlando ... I'm in and out .. but we'll try.
Take care all! the bugs are out in force tonight!
RWD
Orgnizdlbr
02-13-2006, 03:31 PM
Have a safe trip home RW...........
woody
02-13-2006, 05:15 PM
RWD, safe journey home my brother. woody
BigClive
02-13-2006, 08:15 PM
Some A-hole decided we did not need small reels of conductor. We have 1/2 mile reels and no trucks or equipment to handle them.
Hey, sounds like he works for one of the companies I work with. It costs them marginally less to get all the cable put on one huge drum. I usually have a "staring into space" moment when the truck arrives with it. :)
I didn't realise the nature of the work you're doing. Good on yer.
I hadn't even looked at this thread until now because I thought it was one of the tedious American politics threads. I didn't realise it was RWD writing home from his heroic deeds. Well I've just read the whole damn lot in a one'er and I'm well impressed.
Flight to Entebe went off without a hitch. MAF was quite late getting to Yei but we made it. Last night in Kampala was a bitch though. It seems that Uganda is dealing with a power shortage as well as