Blake's last log

LONDON - Following are excerpts of the log entry for Thursday on www.blakexpeditions.com, the web page of Peter Blake who was killed in a shooting in Amazonia after an attack by pirates this morning.

LOCATION Rio Amazonas STATUS Still Motoring CONDITIONS Pleasant AIRTEMP 35deg C WIND 15 knot Easterly SEASTATE Moderate/lumpy VISIBILITY Moderate

Dusk has turned the surface of the river into a greasy grey -- with the sky quickly darkening after the sun's orange and golds have gone. We always hope for a clear night, and tonight the moon will be up soon after 9pm -- but this means two and a half hours of real blackness before then.

There are flashes of lightning up ahead-- with the radar showing a band of rain stretching out either side of our course. There are lights of ships, barge traffic, ferries and small towns; and the flaming floating pots marking the extremities of the fishing nets to avoid.

A cool breeze blows out of the lightning cloud and the as-yet unfelt rain.

The moon is up but soon disappears behind the arriving ragged cloud -- a few cold drops are felt -- but then that passes, leaving us in clearing conditions, the only breeze provided by our forward speed.

The river tonight is flat calm -- then turns choppy briefly in puffs of wind from the clouds -- then calm once more.

There is a crew member on the bow of Seamaster -- on lookout duty -- mainly for large logs, patches of floating weed, or fishing boats without lights. He has the big searchlight with which to check from time to time

The lookout is in contact with the pilot house -- the crew there monitoring engine gauges, making hourly checks of the engine room, pumping fuel, marking our progress on the chart, and keeping an eye on the radar and depth sounder -- our two most useful instruments for this river travel. Hardly more than a few minutes goes by without a change of course to keep in the deepest section, or avoid a sandbar, or pass an island, so there is not much time to relax.

Tonight there are bands of smoke -- thick smoke -- pouring out of some of the inlets and out of the forest -- making walls right across the river. The smell of the burning forest fills the air -- and also our cabins.

Daytime:

Being daytime it is easier to avoid the floating wood and weed rafts, but a keen eye is still required.

We haven't hoisted sails for more than 2 months now -- but this will soon be corrected when we turn left out of the mouth of the river and enter the trade winds;-- early next week, fingers crossed!

Sitting here on the bow in just a pair of shorts, well clear of the drum of the engines, just the slap of the bow wave underneath me, the shadow of our masts and flags on the brown river surface is very clear on our port side. The sun is no longer overhead any more, but in three weeks time will be at its farthest point south and will then begin the six month haul back to its most northern point again.

A standard day is 3 hours on watch and 6 off --but compared to ocean voyaging the stresses are considerably higher, so it's good to catch up on sleep whenever possible and be fully ready for the night again.

Why:

Again I raise the question:-- Why are we here?

What has been the point of leaving Antarctica in March, refitting in Buenos Aires over the southern winter, then undertaking the long haul north to spend some time in the Amazon?

Technology gives us the ability to bring this, (and other), parts of the world into homes and offices and classrooms on an almost immediate basis -- through the internet and our website, www.blakexpeditions.com

If we are hot-- then you know it is now-- not last week or last year.

If we are concerned, or have a problem, it is now.

We are reporting on what we find -- not glamorised-- just how it is.

We could have come here by commercial plane -- stayed a few weeks -- and left. But that wouldn't have given us the essence of the Amazon.

To travel by Seamaster means we appreciate the immensity of this water region -- and in turn have a feeling for it unlike any other.

When we meet people, they also have a different appreciation of what we are and why we are here.

The quality of water and the quality of life in all its infinite forms are critical parts of the overall ongoing health of this planet of ours,-- not just here in the Amazon, --but everywhere.

We want to restart people caring for the environment as it must be cared for.

To win, you have to believe you can do it.

You have to be passionate about it.

You have to really "want" the result -- even if this means years of work.

The hardest part of any big project is to begin.

We have begun -- we are underway -- we have a passion.

We want to make a difference.

Kind regards Peter

- REUTERS


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Peter Blake, 1948-2001

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