Suriname Coast Guard

I rolled into Suriname in the wee hours before the sun crept up, stepping off the plane out of Miami then Aruba into damp warmth the scent of jungle.  It was almost six in the morning before I finally hauled my bags into my room along the muddy river of Paramaribo, and I slept very, very well.  My first foray into the skies of Suriname happened to be a previously organized training sortie with the Suriname Coast Guard, bouncing along happily in warm West Indies seas.  It was a tad challenging for the first time airborne since Morocco in the fall, but once offshore and located, we moved to the back of the ship as he plowed through the swells at five knots, then lowered my good friend the Rescue Technician down to the heaving deck via the hoist, backed off, lowered a highline, transferred gear back and forth for over an hour while I maintained station, either just aft or overhead to plum the line for a pick up or drop, then recovered our fearless crew member and headed back to base.  Challenging but far more fun than should be allowed.    It was a very good day.....