Erutan,

  I agree on the travel.  I've got very little fear of the virus, but that said, I'm also taking reasonable precautions.  Once can't always bat off microbes with fists and personal grit.

  Turns out I won a special lottery where all money had to be spent in three weeks, and was planning to fly myself to Australia, have dinner with Rob, then fly both of us to Balotta's in Peru, spend a week at the yard, and pay cash for a six-pack of Ex40's.  Alas, travel restrictions will not allow it.

  South Korea has it right -- their active cases have been dropping steadily since 10 March and are now 43% below their peak.

  I am astounded that any first-world country considered not replicating their example of early detection, isolation, and tracking.  And yet, very few countries followed their lead.

  Oh well.  We recently ended up having to buy another bit of real estate for a variety of reasons, thereby pushing back my proa plans by X years yet again.  But now I can pretend it's not my fault, and that the delay is instead due to the coronavirus!


Rob,

  Great job on the cargo proas so far!  I'm very sorry to hear that such good work is getting interrupted/delayed by virus issues.

        - Mike

 

I was in British Columbia, with a plan to jump to the Marshals in April to come see your progress and lend a hand. Not able to do that now.

I would not have believed the US would not do mass testing, and they still aren't.

Decided I needed to be home. 3 cancled flights and very
little communication, finaly got on a plane home. It was like a private jet. Empty, and the absolute best service. The little hop from chicago was even better. 1 other person, got bumped to first class, and chatted with the best stewards. Closest I'll get to a private jet, I imagine.

Not nearly a difficult as your trip.

I would get youself to a doc. Your symptoms do not match food poisioning.

Let us know when you get a new plan!

On Sunday, March 22, 2020, 10:44:24 PM EDT, Rob Denney harryproa@gmail.com [harryproa] <harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au> wrote:

Not much to tell.  Plane arrived from Guam (CV cases identified) with a faulty nav system, boarding was delayed for 2 hours.  When we got on, it broke again.  8 hour wait for a replacement plane.  They would not let us back in the terminal but staked out a 15m dia circle around the plane.  Gave us some dodgy tasting fish sandwiches for dinner.  A bunch of us slept on the tarmac, I woke up with a sore stomach.  

Got to Hawaii, missed the connection so booked a hotel.  At midnight the pain was so intense I could hardly walk and couldn’t sit or lie down.  Ordered, ate and threw up a hamburger.   I asked reception for a doctor.  A 911 call, ambulance and a trip to hospital where they took blood, gave me some morphine (nice), did a CAT scan and were generally lovely.  Diagnosis was food poisoning, although the lack of diarrhea was puzzling.  Gave me some pills and ordered a taxi to the airport.  As long as I took the pills, it was sweet.  

Got to Sydney, changed planes, asked for a sick bag, just in case.  Was asked to leave the plane.  Refused, was TOLD to leave.  Could not get back on without a doctor's certificate.  No doctor in the terminal, try 'this' one.  As I stomped off, my glasses fell off my head and one lens broke.  Taxi to 'this' doctor who couldn't do it, try this one.  Another taxi and a wait of 90 minutes (last plane in 60) and turning off data roaming did not make my phone work.  A guy suggested removing the SIM card and replacing it, borrowed an ear ring to get it out and it worked. All with only one eye.    Too late to tell Sue and my sister who were on their way to Bris airport.  They decided to bullshit their way into the Qantas club, have a few chardys and wait.  Then Katy (daughter) turns up at the doc's, which made it all ok.  Doctor (elderly chinese lady with an office full of plants, including on half the inspection table), thought the results from the yanks were rubbish, wouldn't sign the bloody form, sent me to the local hospital.  They admitted me quick smart, took blood etc, then left me in acute pain for an hour.  Finally got a doctor who gave me a pill and I was out like a light for 3 hours.  Doctor came back, agreed with the yanks, said take pain killers and wait for it to go away and signed the form, at 3 am.  

Katy and I Uber'ed to the airport hotel, slept for 5 hours then back to the airport, got the 11 am plane and was home for lunch, except I am not hungry.  Without the pain I am fine, with it I am a quivering wreck.  Now I have 14 days of self isolation.  Fortunately, this is not hugely different to normal.  Can still walk on the beach, might even get the kite out.  

On Mon, Mar 23, 2020 at 1:32 AM Jerry Barth shredderf16@sbcglobal.net [harryproa] <harryproa@yahoogroups..com.au> wrote:

 

Rob,
You were injured on the way back? Sounds like a good story. Please do tell!
Cheers,
Jerry Barth

On March 22, 2020, at 1:13 AM, "Rob Denney harryproa@gmail.com [harryproa]" <harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au> wrote:


 

Once the boat was finished, I decided to leave while I still could, despite having 10 days of contract left.  The Govt had stopped all incoming travellers, Air Nauru stopped all flights, the only exit option was via hawaii, which could be closed on a whim.  So, I had a final sail on the boat (videos up soon) and booked a ticket out.  The journey took 3 times as long as scheduled, I boarded 5 planes, but only flew on three of them, spent one night sleeping on the airport tarmac and 2 in Accident and Emergency wards in different countries.  Timing was good, execution diabolical!    I am now undergoing 14 days isolation and have stopped maxing out my painkiller intake.  

Next project is a prototype 24m/80' cargo proa, but not at all sure how it is going to be done.  I have a shed, labour source and enough (not as much as I thought due to the Aus dollar dropping and the ciost of getting home) cash for most of the materials, but restrictions are likely to mean it's delayed.  We shall see.  

More as it happens.

regards,

rob