Saturday 19 September 1953 Samarai (cont) to go on board at a moment's notice. I saw Mr. Wilson in Bunting's office this A.M. to make reservations south for the middle of December; both plane & ship-- the latter takes only 4 days to Brisbane & may be better than waiting for the weekly plane. However, I have not yet heard from Mr. Williams in Brisbane concerning sailings to London in December. Spent the P.M. reading. Ailsa invited Geoff and Len for dinner. Geoff is looking better but is still not himself and his arm is still half limp. Dusty showed a few of Len's Menapi Kodachromes--none of them very good. He also showed us his own pictures of local mainland & island spots. The small islands with their reefs & beaches are lovely. They have a boat, the "Wari"--motor & sail. The rain has stopped us from going out to the islands for a swim. Sunday 20 September This looks like our last day here. The weather is breaking & the sea is calmer. Wrote Mother & Kay--sending my diary to date. Read & relaxed. "Jessie" may be ready for our charter trip to Goodenough Island tomorrow. Monday 21 September Sailed at 2:30 P.M. for Goodenough via Normanby & Fergusson Islands. Very heavy rain all A.M. Most of our cargo loaded between squalls. Sun out in P.M. Tide against us in China Strait. Almost full moon tonight. Calm sea. Tuesday 22 September Arrived Normanby Island about 4:00 A.M. Docked at Esa-Ala Government station. This is Administrative headquarters for islands of the D'Entre Casteaux Group. Patrol Officer Robert Greeney is going + with us to Goodenough Island for a few days. Ken spoke to office interpreter who knows something of inland trails. Norm Evennett's boat tied up at wharf too. Had breakfast at D. O.'s home & sailed at 9:30. We are now bound for Fergusson Island to drop Billy & Sigimutu off at their villages on south coast (these are Geoff's boys). Mainland N. G. barely visible to south. Clouds hanging at about 1000 ft. on Fergusson. Entered large bay at west end of Fergusson & docked 2:30 at Mapamoia, site of a Government medical station. Charles Corbett invited us for lunch but we could not stay. Sailed thru passage (Moresby Strait) between Fergusson & Goodenough N. past Mud Bay (volcanic fumeroles on S. side). Docked at Bolu Bolu about 6:00 P.M. We are staying in a tin-roofed office shed put up by American forces during war. Concrete floor. Enough room for all our gear, good work space. We are on a coastal strip backed by ridges to the west running up to 3-4000 ft. To the north the sharp peaks of the island are visible. They jut up 7-8000 ft. Ken will search for a good mt. Camp at about 6000 Ft. We are in grass country with a few patches of scrub in some of the hill gullies. Brought essential gear up & turned in early. A beautiful moon rose early over Fergusson Island. No trapping or jacking tonight. Wednesday 23 September Goodenough Island Bolu Bolu. Village counselors & policemen had received word of arrival of "the Government" (Mr. Greenley) & of the Americans--magic word here! Carriers arrived & our supplies started coming up from the "Jessie." Sorting & storing took most of morning. Cut a track in nearest scrub & put down my first trap line. Very dry, doesn't look too promising. Isilele sick, as are most of the boys, with severe colds caught in Samarai. LikLik put out trap line in grass. Al Ramsden, an old island trader, arrived in his boat & came up for dinner.