Expedition Log

Day 16 Thursday 26th January 2006

At Ora Camp Dave Clucas awoke at 5am in order to record the dawn chorus. He was very disappointed as there didn’t seem to be much life in the jungle there. When it got light he sorted out a camp fire and made coffee and cooked some rice for breakfast. When the others got up he made more coffee. Moose was keen to go and do something so, after some discussion, he, Jean-Paul and Robbie set off to search for caves while Tom, Herb and Dave stayed behind to organise the camp.

In Ora the porters reported to Dave Gill after NTM bible class which was held daily from 7am to 8am. He sent up twenty nine loads plus eight small loads with children. Fideli had changed his mind and did not wish to come with us and so returned, at 6.30am, to Nutuve with the 2 porters.

When the porters arrived from Ora, Dave and Tom got them to build a raised platform in front of the cooking table to avoid muddy feet, and to construct a table in the tackle store which could be used by Stephen for his photographic work. They also erected a rack for hanging the ropes up. In the afternoon they were set to work on cutting a new helipad as Jean-Paul was hoping to get a French TV team to land here and do some filming.

One of the Kols was amazing with his axe work. He was felling trees about 60cm diameter at about twenty centimetres above head height. It took him about twenty minutes. The women and children were all helping to clear away the branches laughing and chattering while they worked. As there was a shortage of water some of the women were given water containers and were sent to find some water. They soon returned with the containers full to the brim. No-one knew where they had found it but they hadn’t had time to go to the river.

When Moose, Jean-Paul and Robbie returned they said they’d found some caves but they were blocked with mud and boulders.

Dave Gill, Matt, Nancy, Stephen and James walked to the Ora Resurgence. The porters arrived back from camp at 4-5pm and were all paid. Garry was a great help and sorted out the names of who should be paid. They all went away very happy once more.