Stormy weather - 15 August to 21 August

Once again, the weather has dominated the proceedings this week, with two big storms passing over Gough. The first one was predicted to be huge and well, it wasn't. The second one however lived up to its billing. It dropped close on 200mm of rain on us in about thirty hours. Wind speed maxed out at 37 m/s (133.2 km/h) or in laymans terms, insanely fast! The apparent temperature at midday was -9... The sea has been spectacular too, with wave heights in excess of 15m. If I stood down at the crane, I could see perfect lines stacked to the horizon, a surfer's dream only one problem, there is nowhere to surf on this island. No points, no reefs and no beach breaks. The bottom drops away so steeply that there is no chance of a wave anywhere. Yet another thing to wait for... I shot some videos of the swell but the weather is playing merry hell with our satellite uplink so I could not load them in time. Next week I promise.

Gough is right in the middle of the circles. Pressure dropped all the way down to 963mb.

Monday was a nice day, Michelle and I went fishing at Snoekgat and caught lots of fish, enough to feed us all. It was the "freshest" supper we will have until we are on board the Agulhas. We sadly did not catch any Snoek, despite valiant efforts. I don't know what I am doing wrong, I have tried every type of lure from spinners to spoons to poppers and nothing works. Not to be I guess. Michelle did manage to catch two fish simultaneously though. I really am going to miss the fishing here, you catch a fish on about 8 of 10 casts and unlike at home where you carefully check to see if the fish are the correct size, here you hardly ever catch under size fish.

The smallest fish we caught

The big storm did drop the most snow yet but again as with the previous times, the weather was too unsettled to chance going to play in it. Next time...

Otherwise things have been more settled in the base. Mornay has decided not to join us at meals anymore for whatever reason. I am (and everyone else too) so over caring about why he is like he is. We have so little time left by ourselves on the island that we are not going to let him spoil it. He must just stay out of the way. We have all tried to help and failed. Ons kannie meer nie en ons gaan nie meer nie.

Hail, not snow

Angry sea.