Huston We May Have a Problem????

Please bear with this, understand that this post came directly off a skype conversation via the internet....like I've said before I don't have to make this stuff up it just happens this way.


March 4th 2009 initially contacting the booking agent via skype chat
9:13:48 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: Good Morning, we urgently need to
know the ETA for the charter bringing in the Orintholiday people, we are
unable to contact air services on the radio, also ask which air strip
they will be using please
[9:26:36 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: appox: 12:30 to 12:45
[9:27:38 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: ok I am to assume this will be the
main airstrip or will they be able to land at the compound
[9:27:50 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: correct
[9:28:17 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: Main airstrip it is then, will be
there with bells on
[9:28:34 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: hold for weather report
[9:30:12 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: 85% high clouds, mostly light at
4,000ft. vis. 12miles and mostly bright sunshine

[9:39:11 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: weather report passed to
ASL...Krishna
[9:46:46 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: Hang on urgent problem
[9:47:21 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: We have a real problem, our vehicle went down last night on the way back from Lethem, and as yet they have not got it back up and running,
[9:47:54 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: Caiman house guys who was transporting our mechanics blew the motor in his vehicle in the middle of the night while doing a run for us.
[9:48:52 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: Diane is now trying to contact katoka
and Point Ranch to see if there is a vehicle available, if not Charter will have to land at the compound airstrip, we have no repeat, NO way of
transporting from the main airstrip.
[9:50:53 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: the only other option is to get hold
of yupakari and see if they can arrange motor bikes to transport these
folks from the main air strip, (Yupakari village 12 miles from Karanambu)
[9:51:53 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: will these people accept a ride on a
motor bike if all else fails.
[9:54:15 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: hold (Rang the phone via skype)
[9:54:34 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: no problem, just needed to get your
attention
[9:56:29 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: ASL cannot give a
confirmation on that right now. Flight enroute to Kaieteur Falls. They
need to speak with the pilot to get that confirmation. I am not 100%
sure the caravan can land at the compound
[9:57:26 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: i suggest you speak with
Yupukari to see if they have vehicle on standby as i am not sure we will
get the flight to land
[9:58:03 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: can you please respond as
i also have a number of other urgent things i am sorting
[9:58:11 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: ok here is another option, they can
land at anni,
[9:58:34 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: but that is further away.
[9:58:42 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: did you check with
Yupykari for a vehicle
[9:58:44 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: we can do a late transfer, we have to
wait for ashley to get back to yupakari and bring down our gas from the vehicle broke down.
[9:59:11 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: no vehicles in yupakari, all in lethem
[9:59:45 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: is there no other
vehicles around
[10:00:01 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: could a vehicle not come
from RV? rather than diverting the flight
[10:00:10 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: we left our gas on the truck last night, but ashley can bring down by boat and we can do an late afternoon
transfer, or Rock View could do the land transfer from there to Karanambu. (boat transfer is approx. 2 hours)
[10:00:52 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: Diane is still trying to find a vehicle from one of the outlying villages, or ranches
[10:00:57 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: but who pays for all this?
[10:01:11 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: well let keep trying that option
[10:01:40 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: if we can't get a vehicle, will they be willing to ride motor bikes if we can get
[10:01:56 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: otherwise, will have to be the Ginep and we'll have to eat that cost
[10:02:24 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: which ever way it is, we will have
to absorb the cost of transfers.
[10:13:51 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: Teri, Colin has no vehicle to come
here, but will standby for Ginep if they can't land here, that's the best we can do at this point
[11:04:51 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: Update, Diane has spoken to the pilot and he is checking with base as to the landing here at Karanambu , things may be looking up, otherwise, Colin is standing by for late afternoon transfer from Ginep.
[11:05:38 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: yes, i just passed another message to ASl and awaiting reply.
[11:05:51 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: how is Diane speaking to the pilot? or is she talking to ASL?
[11:06:13 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: : not sure think she has him on direct radio
[11:06:38 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: she's on the radio right now, so will keep you posted
[11:06:48 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: k
[11:09:29 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: ok Diane is asking if you can call ASL and find out if the pilot has contacted them as yet, she spoke to him direct, he has landed here before, but needed clearance from the office.
[11:09:46 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: checking
[11:09:52 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: she is unable to raise them again on
the radio, lots of traffic on the air.
[11:19:40 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: ok the flight CANNOT land on the compound
[11:20:07 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: do you have the bikes to transport the guest from the airstrip? It is going to be too long of a transfer from Ginep
[11:20:41 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: No, not sure hang on a minute and
let me check back with mike. (he’s in Yupakari 12 miles off)
[11:23:02 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: I'm not so sure there are 5 motor
bikes yupakari, since several are running up and down trying to get parts to vehicles, at any rate have contacted mike to see if they can do, if not, it will have to be Ginep with a 3:30 pickup
[11:24:22 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: what time will you get a reply as the flight is schedule to leave Kaie Falls soon
[11:25:44 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: put the luggage on a horse or something
[11:25:54 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: i do not particularly want the flight to go to Annai.
[11:25:57 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: r u there
[11:26:00 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: please respond
[11:27:18 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: yes was just relaying info to Diane, my damn horses are in Lethem still, bullocks are out on strike, cart broke down. still waiting for mike to respond about motor bikes available
[11:28:57 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: Diane is still trying to chase down another ranch’s vehicle who is out looking for fish, if anything else can go wrong, I don't want to know about it.
[11:29:36 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: hang on a sec
[11:31:13 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: k
[11:32:41 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: ok i am confirming this
flight is coming to Karanambu
[11:34:25 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: ok that's the only way I can
guarantee they will get here at this point, unless we do the ginep,
Diane is unable to raise yupakari, and mike is not responding to his chat either
[11:35:37 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: Diane says the pilot she spoke with said he had landed here before, and airstrip at the compound is ready to go.
[11:35:54 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: yes he has but not with the Caravan. It was an islander
[11:36:22 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: ok, well will hope for the best,
[11:36:31 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: so what is the decision
[11:37:10 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: ok only option at this time is either here at the compound or anni, we have no transport from main airstrip.
[11:37:30 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: do u not have the motor bikes
[11:37:32 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: unable to contact yupakari even on radio, no vehicles
[11:37:47 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: what about the nearby area
[11:37:49 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: no we have no motor bikes here at Karanambu,
[11:38:16 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: these people are not going to be happy going to RV
[11:38:17 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: unable to contact any of the outlying villages on the radio, our best shot was yupakari
[11:39:53 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: well don't see any choice other than another location and come back here later in the trip, we have give it our best shot, if they don't want to land the plane here, it's either that or walk through the heat to the compound, (4 miles) and I know they wont like that, long hot walk.
[11:40:39 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: it not that he does not w ant to land...the aircraft is too big to land on the compound...i have not known the caravan to ever land at the compound
[11:40:46 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: this is an absolute disaster
[11:41:11 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: hold a sec
[11:42:40 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: ]well can't hold anymore, i just told ASl to send the flight to RV.
[11:42:53 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: will arrange lunch at RV
[11:42:59 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: you will have to sort that out too
[11:43:14 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: ok Diane says caravans have landed here before, it not the landing it may be the taking off, but we can extend the strip if need be
[11:44:01 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: more bad news, mike's bike is down, not finding bikes in yupakari, so it's either here or anni. bottom line.
[11:44:31 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: like i said i already told the flight to land at RV.
[11:44:58 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: i will speak with colin and organize the lunch which Karanambu will have to sort out, or would you prefer to speak with Colin
[11:47:00 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: ok Diane says it is not a problem
taking off empty, so they could still land here if you can get them on their way
[11:47:45 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: in other words the caravan can land
here with load, it just can't take off with a load. the caravan has
landed on the compound strip before.
[11:47:45 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: Pat ASL WILL NOT LAND at the Ranch
[11:47:58 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: if Diane would like to
speak with them fine....i have tried all i can
[11:48:23 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: the flight is going to Annai
[11:48:39 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: ok, will let colin know that we will do the ginep transfer at 3:30 this way they will be here before dark.
[11:48:43 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: please make arrangements with Colin re lunch etc
[11:49:07 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: ok roger flight landing in anni, for lunch, ginep transfer at 3:30
[11:49:17 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: done
[11:49:50 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: thanks
[11:52:39 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: ok message sent to RV. 9 guest for lunch there, they are to check with you as to ETA in Anni
[11:54:58 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: Teri, we are really sorry about all this mess, seems when it rains, everyone get the shits, and this mess has been a real pile of it. hopefully our vehicle will be back up and
running sometime today
[11:57:07 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: well Karanambu will have a lot of disgruntled guest to deal with
[11:57:41 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: well it probably won't be the first time, but then again, we do the best we can under the circumstances you're in the middle of no where, and vehicles do break down,
[11:58:17 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: anyway i have to go,
please email me an uodate later
[11:58:42 AM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: i agree but we shoudl have had a back up knowing a group was coming today
[11:58:44 AM] Karanambu Lodge says: will keep you posted, not to worry, when we get them here, they'll forget all the hassle
[12:00 PM] Karanambu Lodge says: Hold the line help has arrived, send plane to Karanambu

[12:01:38 PM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: you could have solved this problem earlier by getting a vehicle from RV or Bina hill to Karanambu and just handle the short transfer
[12:02:56 PM] Karanambu Lodge says: did you see what I just told you we have an unexpected vehicle who is willing to help headed to our airstrip, will you please call air services and let them come on here, forget anni
[12:03:44 PM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: what?
[12:03:59 PM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: pat this is confusing.
[12:04:12 PM] Karanambu Lodge says: call the damn captain of the plane and tell him we have a vehicle waiting there,
[12:04:20 PM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: can you please clarify that you now want the flight to land at KRA
[12:04:40 PM] Karanambu Lodge says: our vehicle is headed that way, as well as another Rupununi savior who will help out, (John Macedo)
[12:05:23 PM] Karanambu Lodge says: Yes, send to Karanambu, we have solved the problem, vehicles will be there to meet the plane,
[12:05:33 PM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: i am trying
[12:05:34 PM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: holdi am trying
[12:05:34 PM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: hold
[12:06:26 PM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: ok message being passed right now.
[12:06:31 PM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: hold for a confirmation
[12:06:42 PM] Karanambu Lodge says: roger
[12:14:01 PM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: Pat flight is still on the ground at Kaieteur...Awaiting a confirmation from ASl that the message is passed to the pilot.
[12:14:06 PM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: will keep you posted.
[12:14:41 PM] Karanambu Lodge says: ok please tell them to land at karanambu airstrip, vehicles will be waiting.
[12:15:37 PM] Karanambu Lodge says: also Diane would like to know eta of karanambu when they leave the falls
[12:21:52 PM] Karanambu Lodge says: lost our connection for a minute sorry
teri, any word on what's happening,
email received from ASL 12:27pm
Hello Patricia,
This is roshini from Air Services Ltd. The aircraft would be landing on
the large airstrip. It is estimated to land there at 1:15 pm.

[12:43:48 PM] Karanambu Lodge says: so says the email I just received from them, we have vehicles standing by. please call them to confirm one more time.
[12:45:19 PM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: yes this information is correct
[12:45:28 PM] Wilderness Explorers Guyana says: plesae advise when they land
[12:47:14 PM] Karanambu Lodge says: will do, our vehicle just arrived here and will be returning to air strip other vehicle already there
[12:57:52 PM] Karanambu Lodge says: red Rover headed back to airstrip with Ms Diane, to collect guest, lunch awaits (whew)

1:20pm, ASL caravan circles Karanambu compound strip twice, (watching
what help is here and not at the main strip run crazy) then flies off!!!!
1:25 Vehicles arrive compound with guest in tow

[1:31:19 PM] Karanambu Lodge says: they're heeeere!
[2:04:47 PM] Karanambu Lodge says: Ok Teri, the Eagle has landed, guest all shown rooms, no one seems worse for wear except for us of course, but all looks good, hopefully we won't have a replay of this anyways soon, thanks for the help, pat is off and clear, doing the hostessing thing.