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Steve sent another update, this one marked #4, although it's the second one
I've received, I must've just gotten on his list! <g> Go figure! Send
comments to Steve Gerrard at 104164.1441@Co*.co*.
#: 225 S0/CompuServe Mail [MAIL]
11-Jun-96 08:20 EDT
Sb: REPORT#4 EJIDO JACINTO PAT EXPLORATION EXPEDITION
Fm: Steve Gerrard [104164,1441]
To: Joel Markwell [73700,2054]
Monday, June 10th. Third of Exploration. We got hit all day with rain.
A tropical storm moved into the Yucatan coast. I'll take a tropical storm
anyday over a hurricane. Rain makes things sloppy but it keeps everything
cool.
This third day went super smooth. Most everybody is getting into the
"groove".
I hiked out to Basecamp to help with surface support. It's been two weeks
since I was last out there. The Basecamp was 1000% improved. Beautiful!
Everyone is impressed. The portable compressor is running like a champ.
Macco - our full time cook has set up a kitchen that the Waldorf Hotel in NYC
would be envious of.
Kevin Renton, Pierre Turgeon, Buddy Quattlbaum and the Mayans have really
shined. Benches for tanks. Tarps everywhere to protect everything from the
rain.
Generator system that charges all batteries without a hitch. I was
impressed.
Buddy has a system for divers entering the water with assignments. Each
explorer has a specific task in hand.
I studied Rosemary's map of all the lines that have been installed. She
announced
as of Sunday night we have put in 19,500 feet of line. Monday we added 2500
feet of line with one team - Ed Grossenbacher of Austin, Texas still out.
Buddy calls him the "electric Eel". This guy delivers. Ex-student of Jim
Bowden. 27 years old and
spending the summer in Akumal. Rookie two weeks ago. Now a seasoned pro.
Rosemary's map was impressive.
We have one huge trunk line going west. It is called "Frontierland". To get
there, automatic scooter with two stage bottles. We have four divers
specifically being underwater cave sherpas hauling extra stage bottles 2,000
feet in.
Paul Heinerth and Jill Rabjohn put in 680 feet with Brian Kukak (I mispelled
his named before) added 750 on top of it. Big, gorgeous, beautiful cave
passage.
Bian's lined pushed the distance past 5,500 feet. We he turned he was
ascending
up a hill and reached 9 feet in depth, black dirt with lots of catfish
swimming around. Our miracle we have been praying for may happen today. A
Cenote!
We need a Cenote so we can leapfrog ahead. Traditionally, in the past, we
have always hit a cenote within 7,000 feet of any direction. We think today
will be the day.
We have the Mayans ready to make a trail.
Had two teams of divers at Kentucky Castle. I supervised as Divemaster. It
was their second day for all. My observations of their preparation made me
very angry
in my head and frustrated. My philosophy is ...... if you travel a long
distance, spend a huge chunk of change to fly and haul a huge bunch of gear
you should be ready for the task at hand. I felt the concentration level was
poor.
I did something totally uncharacteristic for me. Grabbing a portable radio,
I headed down the trail toward basecamp from Kentucky Castle to report to
Buddy.
In my frustration of what I observed from the two teams, I vented verbally in
language and style that even the US Navy probably could not handle. It was
mean
and nasty, mostly toward one individual. I lost my temper and "popped off".
My closest friends who really know me know I can "pop off" at times. When I
returned with sandwiches, Steve Keene met me on the trail and said, "I be
careful when you go down there". I replied Why? He said the other portable
radio was on. Soon as I heard radio I realized the other radio had been on
and they heard everything I said. Stupid me. Immediately went down,
confronted the stiuation headon, apologized, explained nothing was personal
but the damage had been done. The one individual I slammed ..... you could
see was devistated. Anyway, the situation was tense. I allowed myself to
get too involved in this project too emotionally. One my personal rules is
never take cave diving too serious. It's met to be fun & enjoyable and here I
go and turn it into like it was war or something. Totally assine. I now
felt like I had reached the lowest level in the cave diving comunity - I
became like someone I know in Boca Raton, Florida. A scumbag. Later, I
explained to everyone on the team at Macco's Marvels my actions and everyone
agreed I screwed up but several said in view of the hard work, sacrifice, all
the resources that have been put in place for this limited time - everyone
must realize that concentration and doing your best is most important.
Several suggested that hopefully the individual will "dust off" his pants and
work even harder. That night I apologized to the group in whole.
Everything seemed cool. Several people on the team are now beginning to
realize this exploration is NO picnic. I think a few who visioned laying
line now realize the difficulty with this cave and are now willing to do other
roles. In this project, we have various levels of experience which I did on
purpose. A project of this nature does not happen too often. Opportunity
is a word that we all strive for and this project is allowing many who are
involved to have this opportunity. Those who are capable will shine as many
have already. Others will hopefully realize their roles , which they are, and
we all will work as a TEAM.
Things are going great!
Today, we hope the cenote we dream for will come true. We are now at 140,000
feet approximate total for DOS JOS. The connection on Saturday by Brian
Kukak
between Macco's marvels (M1) and Cenote Kentucky Castle has kept us on
schedule and we are still a few days ahead of our planned schedule. But, you
never know what's going to happen. That's the game of exploration. You never
know until you go.
Tonight I will post another report. Out of time. Will name all the
individuals who have made donations towards this event and DO more commercial
time for our sponsors. Appreciate everyone's support. Thank you for the E
mail letters.
Fantastic! Those who are not behind us, oh well!
Be safe. Hope these reports are interesting. Any feedback is welcomed.
Maintain.
STEVE GERRARD
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