Oct.21, Mon: After my morning exercises, I went to visit Erik. A staff meeting was called in which I was appointed "gopher" (or "coordinator" on your resume ;o]).
Afterwards, I went through the P.O.'s which included such amounts as $30K for a bowthruster (a propellor mounted in a tunnel below the waterline across the bow) and $18K for its conversion, and another $30K for the harbormaster (a giant outboard motor usually mounted on the stern), both of which greatly added to "Rockeater" 's manoeuvrability.
Dick Ladd and the new engineer, Ron Skinner, took me to a lunch-meeting with the yard's Equipment Coordinator, after which I went to the bank and on to Signal Hill to pick up a load of valves, which I unloaded with Pete. Then again, at 17:30, we took the weapon-carrier to get a load of pipes. I typed my La Perouse Bay flow date article and then was assigned a VW and the pleasant task of taking Captain Cook to a suitable motel, for (his first) pizza, and to the Johnsons for talks and drinks.
October 22: Helped Dick Ladd with some 30 D.C. fans he had picked up for $ 15 each, and more of that stuff for "Rockeater'. Lunch with Stan Fishfayer, who showed picts of food-drops, and Pete and Ed.
That afternoon, I was told that Francois and I were to fly to Africa on Sunday!
That evening, I had some trouble locating Captain Cook who had gone on a binge, and wished me "all the joys of spring"; took him to the Stephansen's housewarming party which also included the Hortons and their 3 kids.
October 23: Picked up Captain Cook for breakfast and called Washington. Was told to get there ASAP and to take along one each 4in and 6in golddiver-jet. But I have to go to La Jolla first, I insisted. Pete decided I better do that right away, so Erik took me to the Bank and a car-rental place where I rented a pickup truck for $ 40 p.d. Through the fog I drove to La Jolla getting there by 15:00 to do some administrative formalities and tried to see Inman who had not done anything but promised to meet me the next day. With the rheostat taken from "Rockeater", I went to Hubert Hoover for dinner after which Herb, Bob Nason and Andy helped me load the truck with most of my gear, including the sailfish (which was to be one of the first to cross the Atlantic, be it on board of the "Rockeater". . .). Sacked out at Andy's just before midnight.
October 24,Thur.: Repacked till 10, then no Inman, but Shepard and McGowan signed my report. Then to Dr.McLaughlin (M.D.) for medical exam.
14:00 to 17:00 extended meeting with Inman and McGowan, who attacked my use of the terms "net" and "gross" growth of a coral reef. The difference is the production of calcareous debris, I tried to explain, but McGowan insisted that you cannot measure what you cannot see or don't know. I admitted that some calcite would dissolve. Anyhow, I promised to revise certain sections,
and left in a lousy mood. After a good farewell dinner with good friend Herb, I drove to Long beach where I arrived around 20:00.