This morning I drafted a document titled “Security System Notes” to provide a one page summary directed to workers for operating the site alarm system and two additional pages for the person maintaining the system to know what features have been changed from default, with instructions for things might normally need to be changed.

Last night, I discovered that the way to overcome a wrong code entry, was to ‘stop, press * and start over again’. This was found in a one line statement in all 100 plus pages of three manuals for the system. I found it by downloading all three manuals via the internet and searching for ‘entry error’, ‘wrong’ , etc., until a search for ‘mistake’ found it. When I tested this ‘error correcting’ procedure, it worked, but was confusing. When a mistake was made and the * key was pressed you often would no longer get the ‘beep’, which is typically given as each keystroke was ‘confirmed’. This must be a tactic of the system to ‘fool’ an unauthorized person into thinking the keypad has been disabled (like it was doing to me for a while!). If you persevered and continued the entry without becoming rattled, it would usually work. This information will now be incorporated into the ‘System Notes’.

On the way to the site after lunch, I noticed a ship at the airport dock. It must be delivering jet fuel for the storage tanks there. Getting closer to the site, I noticed that the ship was still loading at the salt pier. This time they were filling the middle of its three holds. This must mean that after almost a day of loading, they were half filled.

At the site, I continued reprogramming the security system to the specifications that TWR Bonaire wants, then, where possible, tested each change to make sure it worked. Also made notes as reminders to incorporate certain features into the ‘System Notes’. One of the programmed features added was one-button access to the Time/Date of the system. This was needed in preparation for reprogramming the system to AutoArm at a specific time. This will automatically arm the system if someone forgets.

Upon leaving the site, I noticed that the salt ship’s bow was about 2 feet lower than it was shortly after noon. They still have the front hold to fill.

We went for another refreshing swim this evening, but this time with the huge Emerald Princess berthed not far away. Passengers were streaming back on board in preparation for departure. The cruise ships tend to leave about sunset to make the journey to the next location. This one is headed for Aruba.

After taking a shower to wash the salt water off, we decided to go back to the beach to watch the Emerald Princess leave.

[An interesting fact — the Emerald Princess like most large cruise ships do not need tugs to maneuver them into or out of port. They have rotatable pods under the ship that allows them to move any direction, even sideways!] Her departure was ultra-slow to prevent a wake that could damage the beaches, or boats. When close to half mile from shore, she slightly in increased her speed, which caused a few waves that were slightly higher than normal to reach shore.

For supper we had a Japanese dish of chicken and rice. Anyone noticing a theme here?! NOTE to Nathaniel Simone — you would love the food here! 🙂

NOTE — To see a bigger (and in some cases, expanded) version of any of the images, just click on the one you want to see.