Snowed in in Entebbe

John Padilla and I traveled on the 3rd of Dec. We were supposed to leave Entebbe at 1:45 am, but because of snow in Europe our flight was delayed 3 hours.  When we arrived in Amsterdam at 10:30 am, we had already missed our connecting flights, along with most of Europe, it seems.  Amsterdam was a nightmare.  I got a flight out at 5:30 that night. I got the ticket at 5:00 pm and the flight was at 5:30 so I had to run.  John was in line right behind me, so I do not know when he was able to get out and home to Albuquerque, as I had to go. The lines were just awful--people were getting upset and the overworked clerks were losing it  My checked bag, with all my tools in it, did not arrive in Portland, but I kind of expected that. All in all, it was  a great trip for me except for the flight home. I enjoyed doing the blog and hope you all enjoyed it, as well.

last work day

I was out hanging transformers today with the same crew as yesterday. The guys seem to be picking up the connections and are learning how to wire the pots quite well. I am packed and ready to go.  The plane is due in Maridi at about noon tomorrow. Today was Bob's birthday and he had some people over tonight--Alma and some other people from her work.  It was a nice gathering., but I'm up and gone tomorrow. The first picture tonight is of the generators sitting on their pads. The second is of one of the peanut gallery watching us hang a pot. He has what I think is the most popular toy in Maridi--the stick has a string going to the truck and they just pull it around.  The 3rd is a poster on the referendum--there is info on it every where     

generators show up

The generators showed up about 7:00 tonight, so I should be able to see them sitting on the pads built for them. It should make for a big day tomorrow.  We spent today seeing the guys off and hanging transformers. I also presented Augustine with Doug Stockdale's hooks and belt. The guys here have to share tools, including their hooks. Bob said whoever got Doug's stuff, would not have to share. Augustine was a good choice in my opinion. They have a hard time coming up with hand tools, so I decided to  leave most, but not all, of mine. The first picture tonight is of the kind of meter they are installing here--Lane Electric guys take note--2 wire, 240 volt--that is phase to ground-- took a little getting used to when wiring things up--that it was just 2 wires for 240. The next one shows the kind of peanut galleries we get here every time we stop to do any kind of work. The last is me and Augustine with Doug's tools.I thought Doug might like to see who got them. Not much else to report. I'm looking forward to seeing the generators tomorrow and going home the next day.

cutting loose in Maridi

We ran couple of services this morning and then the employees had a going away party for all of us who are leaving this week. The first picture is of John and the guys he worked with dancing. The next needs no explanation. There was lots of good food and drink and everyone had a good time, even though they were sad at us leaving. I'm sure the long term guys will be missed most. Those guys leave for Kampala tomorrow and then I go on Thursday. I kind of feel bad about going but am really looking forward to getting home.

Sunday in Maridi

Another slow Sunday here. John and I made pizza for early lunch and then we all went to the U.N. compound for a goodbye party at the Bangladesh area. They gave all the guys who are leaving a good send off--a great meal and presents. They are very hospitable and very friendly people. The first picture tonight is of me helping get a secondary wire over a small wire so we could pull it up to sag. I had to step off the pole onto the building. The second is of one of the small lizards they have here.  There is one trying to take up a home in the house we live in.  He is not around all the time but we see him from time to time. The last is a sunset taken at the compound.

moving on from sub

As expected we have moved on to hanging transformers. We hung the first bank in Maridi today. That took all morning then we moved on to the Old Market where we hung a single phase transformer. Bob is quite anxious to have as many as  possible ready when the generators show up. Many people have contacted him asking when they can have power. As I get out and do more stuff, people come up to me a lot asking when they can have power and what they have to do to get it. John ,Cody and Arron are due to go to Kampala on Tuesday.  That leaves just Bob and me until Thursday when Arron returns and I leave. The crews have asked if they can have a party for everyone who is leaving next week and I'm sure it will be emotional for many, as these guys have formed some close relationships with some of the people here. Picture taking has slowed down quite a bit only--took one picture today it was of some cows blocking the road as I was driving the digger truck back to the compound.

done with sub

For all intents and purpose the sub is done on our end. I felt it came about as good as a wooden sub could. Everyone here but Bob and Arron are gearing up to go home John and Cody leave on Tuesday Cody to head home and John to get a few things done in Kampala for the project.  I leave on the following Thursday. After we finished up with the sub today I went out with Arron and his crew to hang the transformer that will serve the New Market. I think I will either be hanging pots or running services the rest of my time here. The pictures today are all of the finishing up of the substation.

test

Thanksgiving in Maridi

We had a very good thanksgiving meal prepared by John today. He fixed 2 roasted chickens, spare ribs and he also had some ready to eat dishes from home--mashed potatoes, mushroom rice and cornbread.  Bob fixed some gravy for the potatoes. It was a feast for being in Maridi. We also had some company-- two people who work for a charitable organization here in  Maridi. One is from France and one is from Bosnia. After dinner Cody decided he needed a hair cut so he and I went to town and he got one. One of the things we are thankful for is that we were able to hookup a washer and dryer today.  Tomorrow we hope to get the substation very nearly, if not completely, done so that we are ready for the generators to show up.  Word is that they are in route from Uganda as we speak. With luck I may get to see them sitting on the Pads before I leave. The first two pictures are of Cody getting his hair cut and the last is of me giving out some of the boots donated by the Lane Electric line crew to two of the newest lineman. Philip on my right and Mathew on the left.

one week to go

I spent the day working with Augustine on the sub. We wired the breakers and did some more grounding on the poles. Don't know why, but I am very sleeply tonight. I am going to finish this posting and go to sleep. Most likely a bad idea, I'll be awake at 3 am. The first shot is Bob and John checking out the slab where the generators will sit and the building around them.  The second photo is of Augustine and me running the jumpers from the disconnects to the breakers.

back at the sub

We got both breakers installed today, so we are getting closer on the substation.  It looks like John is going to get the platforms ready for the transformers, so we may even get them up and wired. Things are moving right along on the sub. We should get at least as far along as I hoped, if not more. One little problem that I created today when we got done putting together the frame work for the breakers--we did not have any bolts left to mount them.  If two holes lined up we bolted them.  Turns out we did not need to do that, so we just had to remove some of them and were able to mount the breakers. Will start to wire them tomorrow.  The first photo is the crew who installed them. The last is one of me working on the second breaker.

pictures

I was up a 35 foot pole today with one of the Maridi lineman, when we saw this little frog.  I thought it was kind of wierd to see a frog that far in the air.  The second picture is of Cody, myself and and the linemen from Yei, who were here for some training. They went home on Saturday. The guy to my right is Nelson--he can remember me and I remember him. The guy on my left is Salah--he said he could remember me but I cannot remember him. The last one is of one of the main roads into Maridi.  You can just see the start of the town at the top of the hill.

back on the sub

We finished the secondary wire in the New Market today about lunch time, and then started back on the sub. We are going to try to get the breakers in and wired up. With a little luck, should be done by end of day on Wednesday. I'm hearing some reports of unfair treatment on the tire pressure contest. If I get confirmation I will set it right in the next couple of days. Other than that just plugging away, and starting to think about getting ready to come home.  A little early for that, but still I'm thinking about it. I forgot to check out the pictures so I will have to send a second blog

Sunday in Maridi-----slow

It was a slow Sunday in Maridi, but it was kind of nice to just kick back for a while and just relax. I read quite a bit today and then about 7:00 we went over to the U.N. compound to a party at the Bangladesh area to celebrate their independence. I got no e-mails that I saw so here is the secret. They took a small pebble and put it on the valve stem, covered it with a cloth and just stuck the hose over the stem and it blew the tire up to full pressure. When it rains hard here and then turns hot  thousands of these flying ants come out of the ground. The second picture is of a guy checking his traps. They trap the ants and then I guess they eat them. The last is a picture of how they load a wire trailer here.

something new for me

The compound was short of fuel today so Cody and an armed guard and I went to Farasika to get some. Just as we pulled in, we saw that the front tire was going flat. After we got it changed, we saw that the spare was half flat so we pulled across the road to a place that had a generator and an air compressor. As they pulled out the air hose I saw that there was nothing on the end of the hose.  Since there is no cell service, I thought we were dead in the water. To my surprise they were able to pump the tire up to full pressure. If anyone can figure out how they did it without putting something on the end of the hose, send me an e-mail. I will tell how in next blog and give credit to any one who sends me the right answer. I have to tell you if I had not seen it I would not believe that it would work. The first picture is of Andrea, one of the Maridi lineman.  The scars on his forehead are done  to people of his tribe--I do not know why. The second one is a sign on the main road through Maridi advertising a barber shop. The last is of me and Oscar, one of the contractors who left to go back to Juba today.

not much new

I am still doing secondary wire.  We have moved on to an area known as the new market.  I have slowed down on taking pictures also. How many shots of me up a pole does a person need to see?  I feel like I have taken enough.  So I mostly take pictures of stuff I see that catches my eye. Today I only took 2. I will send them. We had a pretty good thunder and lighting storm this afternoon and had a nice sun set.  I took this on the back porch of the house I'm staying in.  The snail was very large.  I should have put something down to get some comparison--the thing was at least 3 inches long. That was all of the pictures for today

another day in Maridi

We spent the day in an area od Maridi know as the old market, running secondary wire. I belive we were able to finish all of them. I think we will move on to the  tap that will serve the Maridi radio station. John has finished pouring the pads for the breakers and I hope we get them installed next week. Other than that not a lot to report, just trying to get thinks ready so that when the generators show the system will be ready for them. The first picture is of a pretty normal spider in Maridi--the body is about 3/8 of an inch with a leg span of about 2 inches. The second one is how you get a hole dug in Maridi.  The last one is of an intersection that would be about like 10th and Williamette in Eugene. I don't know how the font got changed and cannot figure out how to get it back as should be.

sick no blog

I was sick last night.  I think I just got too much sun and did not drink enough water, but all better today.  Victor leaves tomorrow and we will all miss him, as he is a great guy. I worked on the getaways for the sub today and also ran some secondary wire.  I think we will be running more tomorrow. Other than that just plugging along. The first picture is of a street in the market district of Maridi, the next one is of an iron that they use heated by charcoal--my understanding is that they can still buy these irons--remember, no power. 

big night at the U.N. compound

Cody and I started to hang transformers today. We got a couple and then we had to put up a cutout for a tap. We were using the boom truck to hang the pots and, since there is only one truck, it can take a while to get out of the yard. All the heavy lifting must be done by that truck.

The big news today is that we got invited to the U.N. compound by the Bangladesh contingent They put on quite a spread for us , it was a very good meal. the first picture is of one of the line crews loading a reel of wire on the reel trailer,I have seen them load a full reel of number 2 acsr on it. The next two are at the Bangladesh party.

a slow day in Maridi

We had a quiet Sunday in Maridi. Victor and Bob made a fuel run to Farakasika which is about 25 kilometers  from Maridi.  They have to go there because there are no diesel pumps in Maridi.  The only way to get diesel is in jerry cans and the fuel is very dirty. John and I just hung around the house until the one of the crew guys came by and we went down to the reservoir with a bunch of the people who work here. They had a cook out and a few beers.  We hung out with them for a while; we didn't eat as we did not know that they were planing to eat and we had eaten earlier. We came home and John and I made pizza.  Some of the Bangladesh U.N. people came by and had some and invited us over tomorrow for dinner. They wanted us to come by before Victor leaves on Thursday. The first picture is of Jackie, the only female lineman on the Maridi crewm bringing a case of 16 oz.glass bottles of beer to the cookout. She carried it across the dam you can see in the back ground.  It has a blue railing--all together it was about 600 feet. The next is just some bananas growing wild by the side of the road.  The last is just a bunch of goats.  They are everywhere, and I mean everywhere, thousands and thousands of them.

half day today

We only worked half a day today so we could have a party for all the people who will be leaving next week. It was a lot of fun to spend time with guys in other than the work day. Thats about all to report today. The first picture is of the local computer shop,the second is showing how they unload 90 lbs. cement bags here, The last is advertisement local barber shop.

more of the same

Still working on finishing up little things left undone. Today we were in an area they call the new market. We had to install two anchors. The holes were already dug. They have contractors who are paid by the hole. They had predug our holes. Since most of the construction is done, there is a lot of talk about who will stay and work for the co-op and who will not be here much longer, so there's some tension over that. So not a whole lot new to report.  I am going to send pictures of the market area and one of Augustine and Emanuel, the two guys I have been working with for the last couple of days. There is a photo of some people watching me climb a pole--something that happens quite often.