I flew out to California to meet up with Dad and Earthrace. What a rush!



Upon arrival Sunday morning, we received news that the Baja Bash had slowed them up a bit. She arrived around 5:30pm PT into a slip at Driscoll Boat Works. We greeted the ground crew and small crowd including the local press. I pitched in where I could, washing their dishes, toting barrels, hauling trash, etc. Trying to stay out of the way and being in the action is a tough job. A crew from the transmission company and an engine tech from Cummins was there ready to start work. They had hoped to make small repairs, replace the screws (again) and shove off by midnight. Word had been passed that the gearbox would need to be replace, and it was.



While this was happening, a fuel truck full of biodiesel was busy filling the ship's tanks and the extra 35 gallon barrels we loaded up as extra for the long journey. Earthrace's hopes are to pour on the coals (soy coals?) and reach Hawaii faster.

The crew wrapped up by 4am, caught a few winks and were back at it by early Monday morning. They shoved off at 11am, but I got a call from dad saying their was a leak and a vibration. Crap.

These repairs took the afternoon to fix. and by 5:45pm, they shoved off again. Great timing! As I needed to run to the airport and catch the last flight back to Denver. I had just cleared security when Mom called. Dad had just called to tell her they were headed back to port. The batch of diesel was bad. Clogged the engines. Everything had to be flushed, scrubbed and refilled. Crap, crap.

And here they wait. Dad said he spent that night on the boat, while the crew found a hotel room. Tuesday night, he got a room himself.

Tonight should be a go!

Here's to the crew: who never once complained about the 50F water, the crazy hours or the abuse from Baja. Their spirit and team work will make this race a success.

Labels: biodiesel, Earthrace, San Diego