My Arabian Adventure - Part 2
- Pipeline
- In Search Of Oil
- My Arabian Adventure
Author: Wallie Ballor
Released 13 November 2004
Bob Bages, Clyde Newcombe, ?, and Wallie Ballor
Photograph Contributed by Jean Posell
We hear that we have one hundred and five ships and two escort carriers now.
We had another life boat drill this afternoon -- in the rain! They ring a buzzer and from wherever you are, you come a-running, dive into the hold to your bunk, get your Mae West and jacket, and proceed orderly (in other words, run like Hell) up to the boat deck and take your station by your lifeboat. Mine is number three and as shipmates I have the skipper, radio man and the purser. We go through all the motions of launching, then comes roll call, "all clear" and back to whatever you were doing.
The life jackets consist of the conventional kapok-filled vest with ties. Along with this, they gave us a red light: one flashlight cell with a red top. This is tied on, snapped on and pinned on. If disaster strikes, no member of the convoy may endanger its cargo or crew by stopping to pick up anyone. That's a job for the destroyers. The little red light will help them locate you.
A week ago today, we boarded this ship. Time hasn't dragged too badly, considering the fact that once we lost sight of land, there's been no change - ships, sky and sea. Sometimes there is sunlight for a while but rarely a bit of moonlight.
Still a long way from land in any direction except down, and I'm not considering that at all.
Everyone is becoming rather bored at this slow rate of speed and rather depressed at having to spend most of the time below in the hold.
We may be held up in Cairo for some time, but a stopover in Egypt should be very interesting.
The last two days the sea has been quite calm. This is a relief as one gets so tired of everything, including the passengers, sliding and tumbling all over the place -- especially the coffee and soup at meal time! We should be seeing The Rock by Saturday or Sunday.
Spirits are a bit better among the men.
Postcard of the Rock of Gibralter
Postcard Contributed by Jean Posell
We finally sighted The Rock. Land really looked good.
As we came into the calm waters of the straits, we saw porpoises flashing and playing. Then we saw a whale idling along on the top of the water. He must have realized that something unusual was going on for he spouted, flipped his tail and headed for the lower regions. The porpoises, though, were entirely unconscious of the drama that was being enacted all around them.
There being many columns of ships approaching the comparatively narrow straits, the convoy had to reform its shape and all reduced speed. Some almost stopped, while others forged ahead slowly, shifting positions until finally, under the watchful eyes of the planes, blimp and escort vessels, they formed a new pattern.
We see the coastline of Africa all the time now. You get the wrong perspective of a country from just looking at maps. This coastline is very rough and rugged -- even mountains with snow on them.
The ship has been very steady since we left the Atlantic -- no rolling at all. The weather is very cool. Passengers have been ordered to wear life preservers at all times. We are making a lot better time than we did in the Atlantic.
Haven't seen land for several days now, and the open Mediterranean is a bit rougher than along the coast.
Time and distance are getting short.
There is a rumor that we won't dock in Alexandria at all, but at Port Said, instead.
Wallie Ballor at Park above North Gate, Catalan Bay, Gibraltar
Photograph Contributed by Jean Posell
We've been passing Alexandria all morning. After having waited twenty-five days to put into port, we sure hate to pass it by.
Your next letter will be written in Cairo and all letters from here on will be censored.
Christmas Eve
Merry Christmas!
Having a lonely time and wish I were there!
Made Port Said this morning and have been spending all morning trying to get away from here.