Lazy River

I made it back to Laos for a second trip. There is something different about the little country; maybe a lack of tourists in outside areas or just the lack of advancement. The people have a gentle nature and are very helpful.

This is the famous tubing that happens in Vang Vien. So good we had to do it again the next day, might be the most relaxing day ever!

USS Lagarto Found in the Gulf of Thailand

Early in 2005 two friends of mine, Jamie Macleod and Stewart Oehl, who own the technical dive boat M.V. Trident rediscovered an American submarine whose exact location had been unknown since it was sunk in World War II. The sub laid in 75 meters (225 feet) in the Gulf of Thailand. The USS Lagarto is believed to have been sunk during a daring convoy attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy minelayer HATSUTAKA, at 0010 on May 4, 1945.

Stuart and Jamie prepared a mission to document the wreck and submit photos and videos for positive identification. I had the pleasure of joining them as the photographer. I agreed to a secrecy agreement in May that stated we would all keep the informational and documentation to ourselves until a certain group released a documentary about the submarine. Now that a year has passed, I've been encouraged to share this with you.

Two grandchildren of one of the sailors, accompanied us on the mission. Their grandfather was one of 86 sailors that went down with the sub. Beth Kenny-Augustine and John Kenny are both from Chicago and allowed me the pleasure of visiting with them while out for the week. It was amazing to hear the effect that finding the sub had on the families. It provided closure for many of the wives and children and helped to bring them together after all these years. Before, the wreck was lost for all practical purposes to the sea.

The highlight of the trip was being able to bring physical images up from the bottom to show the grandchildren, who could not see it for themselves. The sub has been down for a long time, and the sea has taken it over. There is a continuation of life there as corals have found a home among the structure. It is at the same time a melancholy war grave memorial, and a beautiful thing teeming with life.

A fish makes a home in the forward deck gun. One of the identifying features of the Balao class submarines.

A brass fitted top to the snorkel at the top of the conning tower, where air would be accessed while the sub was resting at periscope depth.

A silhouette of the conning tower, most of which has decayed from the years undersea.

America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride

I took it upon myself to train for an endurace event this spring with the Leukemia and Lympomia Socitey's Team in Training. They have people participate in endurance challenges to help raise money for this important cause. Please check out my event website for more information. www.active.com/donate/tntenc/CWHarris.

It's two days till the race, and I am here in Tahoe getting use to the altitude. 100 miles around the lake will difficult, but I am excited. I have been training for months and feel ready.

The Big Day

A Teammate from Raleigh and I on the Lunch Break.




The race went well; I finished 100 miles in 6 hours and 15 minutes, not counting the rest stops. The hardest part was after 80 miles there was a steady uphill climb that took 45 minutes.





Just after the finish. Exhausted, but feeling good. I would love to do it again, just not tomorrow.





The event raised 8 million dollars thanks to all of you who showed your support through donations.

English Camp in Northern Thailand

I just finished up an English Camp in the Surin Province of Thailand. Jeff Gilbert, a friend from Woodberry who has been working with the Peace Corps for the past two years and helps with local community programs like this one, invited me to join him for this camp. I came in as a volunteer to help the teachers and students learn English for two days. They were about 11 to 13 years old and are not taught English on a regular basis, so these camps are there chance to learn a couple of time a year. They were all enthusiastic, and quick learners. Mostly it was numbers, greetings, and animals; very basic elements of the language. It is good to see that even in a rural part of the country they still understand the importance of learning a global communication tool.

Highlights:

1. singing in front of about two hundred Thai locals, and I really don't sing,
2. dancing in front of them, trying to look like a traditional Isan dancer, which I never knew I had a talent for,
3. and signing autographs after the camp for the excited children.
   
   
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Here I am, imitating an elephant in the midst of a song I could not begin to understand, even though it was sung in English.

In the midst of a long hang 

Tech Diving

I am now a qualified Tech diver, which means that I can dive far below the limits of recreational diving. I carry multiple mixtures of gases, and do long decompression stops on the way back to the surface. I have started this for one main reason: my friends, who own the boat I have been training with, search out ship wrecks in the area. They have found an old WWII American sub, believed to be the USS Lagarto, which went missing years ago. It looks like I will be bringing back photos they will use to indentify the sub and be the first person to photograph the site. The wreck lies extremely deep, but with proper training and support it will be quite possible. It is a new pathway for me, and I look forward to where it may take me. The trip is set for the 27th of July.

Meet Mr. Nibbles, he takes care of the house when I am not there.

A Serious Hammock