On the 5 mile gravel ‘driveway’ into the site this morning we saw a python stretched out perpendicular to the road with its head about 6 inches into the road and his tail under the barbed wire fence on the side.  We were about 100 feet past it before we could stop and reverse for a photo.  It continued laying in the same position until we got about halfway back to it, then disappeared.  I paced off 4 paces between the edge of the road and the fence, estimating that it was at least 13 feet long!  It looked about 5 inches in diameter in the middle.  When we got to the site, the Swazis said there was also a python on the loft in the big shed by the river.  We went to look but did not see it among the stacks of crates and lumber stored there.  The Swazis claimed it was at least 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) long.

When the morning broadcast schedule ended and the need antennas became available, we began testing HC100-9 with audio and all the frequencies on which it will be operating starting next week.  It autotuned perfectly each time and only minor adjustments were required for optimum performance on each new frequency and antenna.

Remote controlled gate for the site road

We planned to leave the site right after the evening broadcasts began to meet a work group coming from South Africa to work on some site projects on Saturday.  Before leaving a call came that the remote control gate off the paved road was not closing.  [Remote controlled gates are common here, because gates are an ideal place for carjacking, if the driver has to get out of the car to open the gate, especially at night]  A charged battery (from a cannibalized UPS) and special tools were quickly loaded and taken to the

Gate opener box for motor, battery and electronics

gate.  The special tools  are used to remove the plate steel box covering the battery and electonics — this is to prevent theft (most theives do not carry special kinds of tools)!  When the gate was initially installed there was a solar panel on a steel pole about 20 feet in the air, but that was stolen within the first week!  Now recharged batteries are installed about every 6 months.  After installing the battery, the gate was cycled and worked correctly.

That done we headed off to Manzini to meet the work team coming from South Africa.  We had hoped to get them settled at the site accomodations before dark, but they were delayed some by a Friday night border crossing.  So just after dark we (including Virginia and Lorraine) headed a convoy of five vehicles (two with trailers) on the 20 mile trek back to the site.   We got to the remote controlled gate and it did not open!  Fortunately Steve had a key to the lock on the side manual gate. [Interesting note — since this gate is used by several farmers and TWR, there are locks strung in series so each can unlock the gate as necessary.  Be sure not to bypass any of the locks when locking back up or you might hear from an irritated farmer!]  Finally all the vehicles made it across the low level crossing and to the accommodations across the river from the transmitter building.

This was one well organized work group of about 20 people!  In short order they had a fire going in the braai (BBQ) pit and boerewors (sausages) on the grill.  Meanwhile others were unloading specialized hand and power tools and supplies for the work they would be doing, plus food for two days, and bedding for all and tents for overflow sleeping.  While we were eating the sausages in what looked like large hotdog buns, dessert was on the grill.  Bananas were split down one side with the peel left on, a marshmallow was put in the middle of the slit and a piece of chocolate on each side of the marshmallow.  This was wrapped in foil and put on the grill then eaten with a spoon when ready.  It was amazingly good — a South African version of smores!

After a short time of devotions by the pastor of the group and a time of prayer we headed back to Manzini.  Once again we encoutered the remote controlled gate and decided to try it again.  It opened this time and we drove through, but again it stuck open.  We could not leave it that way since there were cattle in that field.  Fortunately we still had the special tools, plus an LED headlamp that I ‘happened’ to bring, in our
vehicle to once again remove the heavy metal box to gain access for releasing the clutch to the gate’s gear drive so we could close it, re-engage the clutch and reinstall the box.  Something else to repair next
week, but the transmitter will come first!

We finally made it home about midnight — a long day!  Steve and Lorraine would have to leave just after 7am to provide guidance to the work groups.  Since Virginia was to attend a women’s Bible study tomorrow, we would be staying at our bungalow to do other things.