Monthly Archives: June 1970
Madras
So sick of the Indians coming around now they come all day bringing children who are full of sores and all kinds of things, we’ve used all the medicine’s and creams we had on them but we’ve found by experience that if “you give an inch they take a yard” They’ve made a complete nuisance … Continue reading
Madras
Never seen so much sh**t in all my life! Just to get 2 land rovers aboard a boat, even today we have to get more signatures on more pieces of paper, it really is incredible that a port the size of this is being run by so many dimwitted numbskulls. Originally they said it was sailing at … Continue reading
Madras
No sleep just carried straight on into Wednesday. Good day surfing and swimming the water temp is good . Smoked hash and rice toddy in the afternoon and again at night. It was funny someone saw Mouteh coming up the beach and everyone dived into the huts to avoid him, he’s a dam nuisance. All the villagers … Continue reading
Finally left Madras
Letters from M & L Right up to the last minuet we still had problems! Had to get a receipt for LD then got the carnet du passage discharged and to top it all we had to take that back to the office in Lingchety Street and to get an unloading form or something!!! Tried to sell my … Continue reading
Boat GMT + 6½ hour
A night of satisfaction, few beers in comfy bar, good meal surprisingly. After thinking we got the Land Rover safely on board just found out they dropped the big hook off the loading crane onto the bonnet, its made a hell of a mess of it too. Bent the bulkhead out and pushed the bonnet … Continue reading
Boat
Saw chief officer today about the damage to LD had a few beers with him in the process. He had already got a full report down with the insurance agents, with the extent and measurements of the damage, and one copy left in the port. So we should be able to claim ok. Its unbelievable … Continue reading
Boat
Payed a visit to the bridge, invited up by the chief officer, he gave us an informative look around. He’s a decent bloke only 27 and already has the qualifications to be captain. Its pretty boring all day now not a lot to do except read. I’ve stopped going in for lunch its too much … Continue reading
Boat
Wrote a letter today to Pauline’s parents in the hope they will reply to me in Singapore. Making good time on board now should be near the Nicobar Islands tomorrow. Made copy of the third party damage sheet to be sent to the head office in Bombay. After a couple of Brandies today my stomach trouble seems to have cleared … Continue reading
Boat GMT +½ hour
Went down into engine room ! like a visit into hell! The temp down there must have been 190degrees Fahrenheit above the engines. But in the room about 110, the handrails too hot to hold. Main shaft leaking they tried to fix it in Madras by a diver going down but in typical Indian fashion they made it worse. … Continue reading
Boat
Last day and night on the boat so we made the most of it, we all had a win on the Bingo to round off the night, had a good few beers and a sing song only 1 of the scouts joined in but it was quite good, Then after breaking the glass topped table … Continue reading
Penang Malaya
Anchored off Penang had to complete formalities before going in. First sight this morning was the silhouette of a Junk against the silver sunrise. And now Malaya, had as much trouble getting bits of paper to get LD out of the hold, Port charges $20 and third party insurance $15. It’s fantastic here after India. It’s so clean and orderly … Continue reading
Penang Malaya
Had more trouble with LD since we left India than we’ve had the whole of the journey. All the electrics were off this morning bonnet had shorted across the regulator then bonnet stay shorted across the battery so that’sflat now stayed the night on Miami Beach Penang Had good food in George Town. On the way back to the … Continue reading
Penang Malaya
Woke to the sound of ‘Happy Birthday to you’ Baz and Bett singing to Syl, had bought her a birthday card and a packet of cig’s, good of them. Managed to get the bonnet straightened out easily enough, they just beat it out and a quick spray coat of paint, ready in 2 hours, $20. Sent telegram … Continue reading
Penang
Half day cleaning up LD it looks well again. Drive around the Island its only 14 miles long, swam in a mountain stream it was great, then right down to the other side of the Islands covered in dense jungle, with flat stretches in between covered in palms and every kind of tropical tree. Becoming quite good … Continue reading
Penang
Amazing the ease you can get things done after being in India picked up a packing case put all our clothes into it and nailed it up, the next time we see it should be in Fremantle Australia. The cost for a 3 ½ x2x2 was $77 Malay complete. It’ll save us no end of trouble, all we … Continue reading
Penang
Freight all finished with. Telegram arrived from Bangkok £500 a rough guide for LD. Collected our visas from Embassy $10 each, all set now to go to Thailand. Had good cheap meal, steak $2.60, amazing the ease we got things done here and at such speed. Got Baz’s pipe mended ( Bev broke it while hashed up) a chance in … Continue reading
Penang
Baz Bett John and Sandra left today for Singapore, They seemed quite choked at leaving us all. Though I don’t know why these last few days relationships seem to be a bit strained for some reason or other. Now that leaves Brian Alan and Margo. Brian wants to come to Bangkok with us, he and Alan aren’t getting on too well. … Continue reading
Penang
Wrote letter to L, M Spent the day on the beach, cooling off every now and again in the water trough under the road, the local bathroom and washing room for the Indians. Managed to cook up some grub on the old primus stove, so we don’t go hungry. Syl and Bev are down to … Continue reading
On the road to Bangkok 1000 miles, 7 hrs + GMT
Left the beach at 9am drove into town posted letters. Eat good breakfast. Ferry across to the mainland Butterworth. Through customs then on toward Malay Thai border which we reached sooner than expected, and nearly zoomed through without stopping. The road to the boarder was good, through jungle and rubber plantations on both sides of the … Continue reading
Bangkok
About 11pm then drove on through the night. All the signs in Thailand are in Thai which makes it very difficult to know where we are going. Route 4 seems to go all the way into Bangkok, took turns driving and sleeping for the 1000 miles it turned out to be from Penang to Bangkok. Arrived here at 6.30 … Continue reading