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.