OCEAN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

January 4, Saturday: Went to the office where Dave told me that we geologists were "persona(e) non grata(e)" in CDM. Willard had disliked the idea of replacing his proposed caisson method by the expensive Benotas. I told Dave about the enthusiastic discussion (in Afrikaans) of the CDM engineers about the machine I had overheard at the New Year's eve party, when their comments about our proposal and methods had been rather scathing. I did not mention, but pondered about the effect of my own story told to Walker at the party about "inventing" a cantilevered crane; also wondered how much the Denise affaire contributed to their decision? Anyhow, the entire matter made me feel bad, but Dave and later John Hoyt cheered me up and told me how much they needed me for the marine operations. That afternoon, I went apartment hunting with Peter, which proved a hard job, especially around the Gardens. We went to Clifton and ate oysters in a small hotel. Next, we visited the "Diamantkus" and the Lamont's R.V. "Conrad". The day was brought to a close with drinks in the Coral Room.

January 5, Sunday: In the morning, Peter and I went to see off the "Diamantkus", which left an hour late but with plenty of celebrating. It did rain a bit. We had lunch in the Tulbach Hotel, with a lot of cheese, made an appointment with Dave for 16:30 and were invited for dinner by the Hoyts which lasted till 20:30. I then dropped by Rita's and got back to the hotel at 23:00.

Marine Diamond Corporation's Dredge "DIAMANTKUS" departing for Chameis Bay, S.W.A

January 6: Up early and checked out of the Mount Nelson. Went to the OSESA office where John Hoyt explained the "Sparker" survey we are finishing up with the chartered freighter "Xhosa Coast". There are boxloads full of records, vast expanses of maps, charts, profiles and cross-sections. John is very eager to produce several scientific papers about the survey, in contrast to his associates John Mills and Richard Shumway, who had just left. (NOTE in 2003: Shumway was to leave SIO with his wife, daughter of Roger Revelle, to settle in PA and study Conestoga rifles; she later took an M.Ed at Millersville State College and received a Woodrow Wilson Fellowhip; Roger was the commencement speaker at her graduation, which I attended as a faculty member of that College). John took me for a good and long lunch in the Tudor, after which I went on searching for a room in the nearby Gardens. I talked with a lady woodcarver who had her studio/kitchen/bedroom in a sun-room, a nurse occupying a tiny room (or large closet) and a girl living with an illegal dog. No space to be found, sadly, not even in the YMCA. Finally, at 19:00, I talked to the receptionist of the White House (Hotel), who said she had a room for rent. She also fixed me up with a room at the Carlton for that night which had been reserved and cancelled. After dinner in the Tulbach with Peter, we visited the house of the receptionist, Mrs. van Zijl, at 86 New Church Street, where I rented a good-size room for ten English pounds a week on a "no women" condition (suited my N.Y. resolution, but...). Went to bed at the Carlton rather early and enjoyed reading Steinbeck.