On the last day of our reunion in Ballina we visited the Maritime Museum. I thought the most exciting exhibit was the raft from the Las Balsas Expedition in 1973. This expedition was made up of three rafts named Guayaquil, Mooloolaba and Aztlan lead by Vital Alsar a Spaniard who wanted to prove that it was possible that early South American peoples could have sailed across the great expanse of the Pacific Ocean to Australia.
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| This is a model of one of the rafts. |
The three rafts left Guayaquil, Ecuador in May 1973 and after a gruelling adventure they arrived in Ballina in November 1973. They were supposed to make landfall in Maloolaba on the Queensland
coast but a strong current pushed them down the coast to Ballina in NSW. One raft was too waterlogged to get over the bar into the river and it was let go. The other two were salvaged and the one in the museum was recreated with original timbers of the remaining two rafts. The rafts were made from all natural materials. There were no nails or screws.
coast but a strong current pushed them down the coast to Ballina in NSW. One raft was too waterlogged to get over the bar into the river and it was let go. The other two were salvaged and the one in the museum was recreated with original timbers of the remaining two rafts. The rafts were made from all natural materials. There were no nails or screws.
The cabin quarters behind the sail.
Then it was time for our last lunch together until next year. It was a fun 3 days.
On a different note. I will probably not be blogging for the next two weeks as I am flying over the great expanse of the Pacific Ocean to LA on Wednesday to spend two weeks with my two little grandsons and their parents. It will take me 13 hours while it took La Balsas 178 days.
Looking forward to seeing you again Fox and Banjo. I hope I get lots of hugs and kisses.
Great to see these photos. I am very glad it isn't taking you 178 days to get over to see your adorable grandsons Diane. Happy traveling:)
ReplyDeleteHave a good trip.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that Fox and Banjo will be quite spoilt for 2 weeks.
Cheers
Colin
What brave men to have sailed across the pacific on rafts! Enjoy your time in LA.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting story. I did not know about it. Have a great time with the kids.
ReplyDeleteWhat a difference in time to cross the ocean, have a nice time with the boys.
ReplyDeleteMy, they have grown. Thirteen hours as against 178 days, you will be there before you know it.
ReplyDeleteWow that was a reconstructed adventure. And I'm also glad you don't take that long to reach your cute little boys. Enjoy every minute. Jo
ReplyDeleteHello Diane, Neat museum! I think I would prefer flying over the Pacific than the slower boat ride. I am sure your grandsons will be very happy to have their grandmother visiting. Have fun!
ReplyDeletehave fun in LA, those beautiful boys are waiting for you... I love that table you are all sitting at. and not me on that raft, they were brave to do it.
ReplyDeleteHave a brilliant time with you grandchildren Diane, lucky duck :) your pics for your 1001 post are gorgeous, I think you have a very good understanding of your new camera.
ReplyDeleteBtw your new header shot is fab.
Have a brilliant time with you grandchildren Diane, lucky duck :) your pics for your 1001 post are gorgeous, I think you have a very good understanding of your new camera.
ReplyDeleteBtw your new header shot is fab.
the raft adventure must have been amazing! glad they made it. and i hope you have safe travels!
ReplyDeleteWow those rafts are amazing. Glad you had such a great time.
ReplyDeleteHave a safe trip to LA and enjoy your family. Take care t'other Diane
Diane have a safe flight. Your grandsons are lovely
ReplyDeleteDiane, I'm so glad you're not going to be crossing the Pacific on one of those rafts! Looks like you had a lovely reunion. Now have a safe trip and a fun time with those Grandboys! They've grown so much!
ReplyDeleteAmazing they sailed so far...vast difference to flying. Have a wonderful safe journey...take care, Margaret xx
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos I can imagine how excited you will be to see the grandchildren again.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it won't take you as long to get across the Pacific as it took the rafts to get across. I'm very sure you're going to get lots of hugs and kisses.
ReplyDeleteJust doesn't seem right that something I can remember happening should make a museum exhibit. That's the recreated adventure, not the original !! Have a great flight and a wonderful time with the family, Di. Love the new header, too.
ReplyDeletePrecious grandsons! Enjoy your visit. You will be missed.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm sure zillions of hugs and kisses await... Have a wonderful trip and time (as if I have to tell you). Very interesting comparing your trip to the one of these adventurers!
ReplyDeleteAnother wonderful travelog. But I bet the trips you look forward to the most are the ones to reunite with those darling grandsons! Hope you have a safe trip with lots of hugs and kisses.
ReplyDeleteSafe travels, Diane, and this latest adventure will surely be another memorable one based on the last photo of who you will be seeing.
ReplyDeleteI have sat here for quite some time catching up on your posts. I can't help noticing how you continue to document your life in photos and you do it well. A belated Happy Anniversary! I know at the moment you are enjoying your time with Fox and Banjo. I saw this photo of them and can hardly believe how much they have grown. Enjoy your time together.
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased you're not setting sail in one of those slow sea vessels ... you would be sea-sick for sure.
ReplyDeleteHappy travels Diane and enjoy time with your lovely Family.
What a nice excursion ! So you will be off to LA ! Have a nice flight and enjoy your stay !
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your relatively short journey and your stay in LA!
ReplyDeleteWhat an undertaking on such a flimsy craft. Have a safe flight and a wonderful time with those two darling boys and family.
ReplyDeleteI think we tend to forget that 'ancient' people are just modern people with no iPhones. They may have had primitive technology, but their brains were the same as ours. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
I just love this post! I am so fascinated by "pre-history" and knowing someone in our lifetime proved that the journey could have been made in those dark, mysterious days, is wonderful to me! Loved seeing the raft model and hearing about the journey. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time in LA and those precious grandkids! Have a safe trip!
At least your trip won't be as harrowing! I think the rafts too are very interesting and glad you enjoyed your reunion and now are off to see those babies!
ReplyDeletesuch an amazing raft this is. Reminds me of the rafts that the Hawaiians traveled so many miles in. They even had gardens in between their boats. Can you imagine a trip like that!!!
ReplyDelete