The gale increases steadily and the noise wakes me up a couple of times in the night. By morning the shore outside has been transformed. Even in the lagoon, big waves are riding over the sea wall and flooding the upper beach.
People are salvaging equipment and boats.
The barrier reef on the horizon is an impressive sight – a heaving mountainous line of foam. It produces a noticeable bass roar as a background to the shore waves.
Nevertheless, after breakfast we board our 4 boats, brought round to the lee side of the town, and brave the elements. Cut through the mangrove channel again and roar northwards.
The barrier comes steadily nearer shore and we land where it joins the shore as a fringing reef. Walk beside the thundering waves a good 2 miles northwards to Reef Point, where we examine Pleistocene reefs. Collect shells on the tar-spoilt beach. Lunch at the boats at 1.30. Decide it would be too turbid and dangerous to justify a swim. So we roar south and regain our hotel at 3.
George Herman and I inspect a pile of refuse shells and collect a few giants. I rinse out the putrid, stinking livers still remaining in the spires, in the Hotel!
Snifter and relax, watching terns fishing, and frigate birds robbing them, right in front of us.
Supper is good. Then a comic “exam” and ridiculous ceremony of presenting us with the certificate for the course.
Pack. Bed at 11.
