The big day…installing the compressor pump.  The pump weighs around 350 pounds.  We used the crane on the barge we tow to lift the pump out of Andrew’s truck on shore and onto the Strong.  It probably took us more than two hours to get all of the fittings placed onto the new pump and connect all of the tubing.  The compressor was turned on…all looked good.  One of the aluminum tubes cracked shortly after our first run, but Andrew fixed it rather quickly.

Interestingly, the Mega-Max air compressor designed and built by Andrew can actually produce pressures at 10,000 psi.  Andrew said that valves and fittings within nuclear power plants are tested at that high-pressure level.  Pretty neat.

Andrew and his son are troopers.  They drove non-stop 15 hours from Texas to bring us a new pump.  Both always had smiles on their faces and were very forthcoming to provide whatever assistance was needed.  We certainly thank them and Andrew’s company, Max-Air!

We were able to get close to 5 miles of survey completed before having to board the Tiger Shark (chaser boat) for return to shore, where Harvey Peterson would drive us to Ripley, TN.

Some great news came today while on the Strong.  Lisa and Terry with Federal Express were able to arrange for the seismic equipment to reach Seattle by June 25, at no cost. 

We thank Lisa and Terry and Federal Express for helping us out!