Day 10: Final Destination

I spent the last night on the boat in a remote area with the boat moored to a tree. It was a nice and peaceful way to end an exciting and hectic journey down the Mekong.

In the morning of the 10th day the boat and I navigated our way around the most dangerous part of our trip. The river, just before Kemmarat, is very rocky and fast moving. Fortunately Google Maps uses satellite imagery that was taken when the water levels were low so I am able to see which areas are the deepest and stick to those routes. Unfortunately, right before reaching the rapids, I accidentally “butt-deleted” the Google Maps software from my phone. D’oh!! So while using my legs to steer the boat through the rapids I was using my hands to download Google Maps and install it (License Agreements are very annoying when you’re in the middle of a life-and-death situation – needless to say I didn’t read through it). Within a few minutes the software was installed and I could once again see where I was on the map and where I needed to go. That GPS phone and software made this trip MUCH easier. It still would have been possible to navigate the river with just a pair of binoculars but it was really nice to be able to prepare hours in advance which area of the river I should be avoiding and which area I should be aiming for.

Once I approached the town of Kemmarat I could see a group of government officials assembling on the dock. They had been told of my arrival a few days before and were calling all morning to ask when I’d be arriving. After the boat was parked I was greeted by the Deputy Mayor and Mayor of Kemmarat. Their officials helped me secure the boat and to get my bags off the boat. Once I was on land they got me some food and took me to a guesthouse so I could relax for a while. Later in the evening they invited me to a party the Health Department was having. They recently began and Environment and Health campaign so they said the timing of my arrival couldn’t have been better.

While at the party the Mayor invited me up and asked me a few questions. I was really tired so I’m pretty sure what I said didn’t make any sense but everyone was very nice and understanding.

In the morning I went back to the government building on the river and talked with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor about the plans for the boat. They were REALLY interested in keeping the boat and use it for their environmental campaign. I had always thought that the boat would be taken a part and recycled after its journey but if it can continue to be used to encourage people to protect their environment then WHY NOT! Once we agreed to donate the boat to the Municipality of Kemmarat they had a team go down to the boat and remove the batteries, solar panel, and inverter. Those were the items we purchased and want to continue using back at Isara. We did, however, donate a smaller solar panel and a charger/inverter to them. They were all very pleased and I could see quite a few of the employees really interested in test driving the boat. At one point there were 11 people on the boat at one time. I think that’s a new record. She’s a strong boat!

After all the items were removed I said my goodbyes to the boat and gave her one last pat on the back for a job well done. I’m certain the people of Kemmarat will take good care of her and make sure she continues to help the environment. We’ll check-in on the boats progress over the coming months and years but, for now, we’re very relieved she found a good home.

Thank you to everyone who made the “Think Before You Throw” project a success. None of this could have been possible without the support of our sponsors and volunteers. Thank you!!