OCEAN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

January 18: Saturday: In the morning, I read through Rose's diary - also kept on 3 x 5 cards and get a different impression about her. Send her a telegram. Read TIME and brought racetrack cards to Rhoda Bascom, who treated me to coffee and cake. Searched for Paarden Island where I picked up weightbelts from a nice guy at Reid Bros. Brief note from Denise who said she was sorry. Called Rosemarie for date to-morrow. Played classical records.

Jan.19: Mrs van Zyl brought me a nice breakfast. Talked with John Hoyt, had lunch with Mrs van Zijl's sister. Drove through strong wind to Miller's Bay which was quite calm. Made a nice dive, many algae and shells, got a bit dizzy. After some cokes, I picked up Rosemarie and we had dinner at Tulbachs, where I saw Rhoda and secretary again. After drinks, I took her home. We seem to like each other.

Jan. 20 Monday : Still tired, we talked with Mr. Brown about current measurements and I persuaded Dave to leave that to me. I called Prof. Simpson who could loan us an Ekman current meter. Also ordered materials to fabricate current crosses. Had dinner with Pete in a self-service place with gypsie types. We then went to the "bioskoop" and watched Peter Seller's "Trial and Error", quite good. Finally a quick beer in the wicked Del Monico.

Jan. 21: Nice chat with Joan Koppel who works in hospital two nights a week.

Jan. 22, Wednesday: After working on Sparker records and cruise plan in the morning, I went to Capetown University that afternoon. Mr. Shipley took me to their ship and showed their Ekman, rather complicated:

A most ingenious device which after a certain number of revolutions of the rotor drops a small ball into one of 36 compartments of a circular box which remains "oriented" to the North . . .

From: NOAA images please click to enlarge image

while the meter itself can swivel freely and orients itself with the current by means of tailwings. After dinner and drinks with Peter in Clifton, I visited Rosemarie where I also found George . . .

Jan. 23, Thursday : Worked on winch arrangements. Lunch with Joan Koppel, and saw the wives of Willard and Dave once again. Afternoon work on cruise plan. At 17:30, I collected Rosemarie at Marie's and took her for dinner and drinks in the Mount Nelson, followed by a race to the railroad station to catch her train to Windhoek, S.W.A. Strange to realize that she'd only arrive there on Sunday morning!