The Tarp

I will now tell you about a recent controversy that has developed over the last few weeks here on Straddie, the drama of the TARP. When we first started the survey up on what is now Mt. Olympus (the scaffolding in the picture), we were tarpless. This meant that we were exposed to any rain squalls that came through, which so far has been very infrequent, and the glorious sun. The sun is our savour, the benefactor of life on this planet, and we soak it up during our sub-tropical stay on this island. The sun is the only thing that keeps our body temperatures up on Mt. Olympus above the uncomfortable hypothermia range, especially when the cold south-easterlies kick up. Along with its warming potential, the sun also turns our skin a nice golden brown, and gives us that “I’ve been doing field research” look (the only drawback being the potential for skin cancer later in life).

A few days after our first survey session Dave, one of the program directors, suggested during the nightly debriefing that we erect a tarp over the scaffolding. This would be an attempt to shield us from the weather, and consequently block out our friend the sun. As expected, none of us liked the idea. A couple of days past with no more mention of the tarp, and we the volunteers were glad that they leaders had forgotten about it. Then suddenly out of the blue, a tarp appeared up on the scaffolding. It sat there in its bag for some time during a lull in whales. Finally we had our first whales of the day round the headland to the south, when Dave decided that would be a good time to set up the tarp. We fumbled with the theo (also known as a theodolite, the device in the center of the photo), and struggled to keep out bearing on the only pod of the day while Dave fastening lines and bungy cords over our heads.

After the deployment of the tarp, our attitudes changed up on Mt. Olympus. Our faces were no longer graced by the rays of our savour, and the cold southern winds chilled our bones to the core. Needless to say we were not happy about the damn tarp. We liked the sun and didn’t mind the occasional shower, the tarp had to go. Our hatred for the tarp was emphasized when the wind climbed above 15 knots. That’s when the tarp would start to taunt us. It would rise slowly than slap abruptly down towards our heads, creating a loud thunder-like roar. It seemed to respond to our complaints, and would talk back at the perfect time to interrupt whatever we were trying to say. I would mention that I hated the tarp, and it would lash back in full force, shaking Mt. Olympus in a deafening defiance. Someone would say,

“ Blow Pod A, 12...SLAAAP”

“Sorry I didn’t catch that could you say again”

“Pod A, 12...SLAAAPPP RUMBLE”

“What, the damn tar.....RUMBLE RUMBLE”

Very hard to work in such conditions; the tarp was cold, loud, and a comedian. Last night we had another gale (strong winds in the 40 knot and above range), and I lay in bed dreaming of the tarp ripping to shreds and blowing away. A awoke to the news that the survey day would be cancel due to wind, meaning that I had a full day of surf ahead of me at Cylinders (the only protected beach on this part of the island). But the best news of all was that the tarp was no more. Apparently someone had scrambled up Mt. Olympus during the night and nicked the tarp and its rigging. Hurray, we all did rejoice, the tarp was now dead...at least in the time being. Later today, we heard word that someone had wrote a note on the door to Mt. Olympus explaining that the tarp was receiving complaints by some of the residents and was removed by the local council. This is an unlikely story, the council members probably wouldn’t go up there on a Sunday night tarp recognisance mission. It was probably a drunken surfer looking to score some free rope.

So the tarp drama continues. Who was it that complained about the tarp? Did the council actually remove it? Will the tarp be brought back from the dead? These questions have yet to be answered, and may never be.

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