2 On Sabtang (5/14)

Mayor Max Babalo of Sabtang (in white) paid a visit to our cave camp on Morong Beach on 17 Dec to offer assistance and encouragement. 

He was also stuck on Batan Island for a day as the ferry was cancelled due to bad weather. Photo by Moira 

7 minutes after I texted Chan, at 5.08pm, Bimo texted me "Kathy and Bimo are safe. we were drifted. we will stay at malakdang tourism office and head to basco in the morning." 

Bimo also immediately called Joseph to update him of their location. 

But I would only get to see Bimo's text the next morning when I checked my local phone. At 5.08pm, we must have paddled to an area for my local phone to get the cellphone signal, where there was none before. 

According to Bimo, they decided to turn back sometime after 3pm. There were many good reasons to turn back that day, and everyone fully appreciate and understand their decision. In expedition paddling, good decision making and teamwork are infinitely more valued than skills or fitness. Bimo & Kat are excellent team mates and we would have done everything for them. 

Bimo tried to raise us on the radio many times, but because of his 5w unit, there was no success. They continued to drift with the current and was pulled towards the Sabtang Triangle. Bimo kept telling Kathy they were drifting and had to be careful. 

At 4pm, they reach the northern tip of Sabtang Island, just at the edge of the Triangle. They were less than 1.5km away from shores. They could see E9 and also other beaches along the coasts of Sabtang clearly. At 4.40pm, just as they were about to land on a sheltered cove, a boat came pass. The boat captain offered them a ride back to E5 (Sabtang Centro). They gladly took it as this means they don't have to rent a truck tomorrow to portage the kayaks back to E5.

Around 5pm, they reached Centro (E5), and were greeted warmly by the Mayor Babalo and much of the whole town. Everyone was in festive mood as the Mayor's 99 year old father was having a big birthday bash that night. Mayor Babalo warmly invited Bimo and Kat to Sabtang's big bash of the century! 

At 5pm, Bimo and Kat were the first kayakers to hit shores. The AT was nearing Basco, the trio was drifting off course, and the search pair was about to enter the Sabtang Triangle.