The Pressure of a Hawaiian Vacation
As I am sure you can imagine, there are some downsides to a couple of weeks in Hawaii. Everything isn’t just sun, fun and great food. Occasionally, we have to deal with pressure in a real way. Take yesterday for example. We had just embarked on our annual trip to Kealakekua Bay to enjoy the beautiful ocean, hang with the fishes and to enjoy a great lunch.
Preparation steps included bringing our snorkels, masks, finding towels that could leave the condo and remembering to actually put on a bunch of sunscreen. A couple of years ago we purchased a case for our digital camera that allows us to carry the camera below the water to take those great “backside of water” pictures. This year we actually remembered to bring the case so it could be used for its originally planned purpose. For some reason, last year we left the case in Utah. I am not sure what it did while we were gone, but it didn't fill the measure of its creation.
We had carefully tested the case in Utah to make sure there were no leaks or any other detectable problem with the sealing system. On the boat as we approached the bay M asked if I could get the case open so she could load in the camera. Evidently she had been working on getting the case open for a bit of time, but to no avail. She actually was beginning to doubt her own strength and was worried that old age was suddenly catching up with us.
Being the ever “macho” guy willing to open difficult containers, reach high places and otherwise impress my bride of thirty some odd years I took the case, operated the latch and discovered that I couldn’t open the case either. At first I was sure I was messing up the operation of the latch, but it really isn’t rocket science, depress tab, open container. It doesn’t seem that difficult.
After being a total failure for several minutes we decided to join forces, one holding on to the case and the other pushing the latch while pulling on the lid. We must have made quite a sight pushing and prying while giving each other “valuable” advise. It seemed like the little plastic camera case might defeat two mechanically literate college graduates.
All at once, with our combined efforts we finally heard a pop just like the cork of a long sealed bottle and the case finally succumbed to our will. With the case open and with the telltale “pop” we realized that the case which had been closed in that “rarified” air of 4500+ feet in Utah resisted being opened at the sea level altitude of our boat. The pressure of the air in Hawaii was just enough greater than the pressure of the air in the case that we almost couldn’t overcome the partial vacuum sealed up in Utah before our trip.
So, as you can plainly see, the “Pressure” of a Hawaiian Vacation can take many forms.
4 comments:
That is a lot of pressure. I had a similar experience with a small bag of trailmix that at sea level was fine. By the time we got to 35000 feet on te fligh home it nearly opened itself. It's fun to hear you guys are working together to over come the "pressure" of vacation.
Is it turtle tracks in the sand? Remember the sack of nuts from the airplane that got bigger and bigger as we went up the mountian? Sounds like you are having a grand time, take care. Love Mother
Sounds about right.
But I don't feel bad for you at all.
Poor you, suffering so. :-)
We've had spill proof cups/bottles turn into geysers on the airplane. Now we know to open and close them several times during take off and landing. You only have to sit in wet pants through one flight to remember that little gem.
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