Day 12: Wednesday 29/06/05 launch day

Bush Pig and the boys left at 4am. The mission was to try to tow the dhow with the power of the rubber dinghies and hopefully get it to our beach. The launch would have to take place here. I woke up feeling miff… showered and put on some make-up. I helped Dr Jones to clean the Landy. After trying all kinds of things the guys managed to get the dhow across and it was a great moment. Everyone was on the beach cheering and taking pictures. We got ready for the launch. This was certainly the most amount of clothing I’d had to wear in 2 weeks. Then we helped out with the preparations for the party. It was so cool. Eventually time came to go to the airport to pick up the sponsors representatives and journos.

What an awesome idea… there were about 12 Landy’s organised to collect all the arrivals, from a 25yr old Landy all the way to our new Disco. It nice to see them all lined up parked next to each other. From there we drove in convoy to a nearby village where a show was put on by the local children, a couple of speeches were made and mozzie nets and peaceful sleep were distributed. After that we drove in convoy all around the town and through the market. It was really exhilarating being part of all of this.

It was almost sun set so we then went through to the camp site which now looked magnificent with all the final touches. Everyone was expected to carry mosquito nets onto the dhow. It was very symbolic. Like each person is doing their bit for the expedition. Then a Muslim priest boarded the dhow and blessed it while his choir sang. Then it was drinks on the dhow.

Soon Bush Pig went to shore and so did I… it was just so sad that it was our last night out there. We didn’t feel like celebrating with the others. It felt like it was their party so we just sat and sulked by the fire. it’s funny how none of the guests really know how difficult the whole process has been, from actually acquiring the dhow, trying to sail it, it breaking down, trying to fix it, trying to get it to that spot or even the weather that has been horrible when it shouldn’t be and then the night of the launch everything just works out perfectly. But I guess as Kingsley says… it all adds to the story of your adventure. If everything worked out all the time, the adventure wouldn’t be a great one.

Yes the evening turned out pear-faced and shit-shaped for everyone!!!! 5 cases of Captain Morgan, black label and countless beers between about 40 people… oooh nasty!!! I don’t even know if I want to mention the little Houdini act I tried to pull (what was I thinking swimming out to sea and taking a midnight stroll, almost naked too, g-string and bra ha ha ha!!) or the VIP I was cavorting by the fire or the Kati, Dr Jones and their drama or the Pierre snogging everyone mission (even Tracy who kissed him back, hee, hee, and I know I didn’t when stuck his tongue in my mouth) or Bush Pig freezing his tackle off or Dr Jones swimming with the memory card and foiling all my dreams of becoming FHM’s latest honey or the fact that we only went to sleep around the time we were supposed to leave.