Please allow all the photos to load while you read. With our friend Harry at the controls of our rented boat, we headed north from Kwajalein to Bigej (prounounced bee-jee), an uninhabited island about 45 minutes away. Passing several islands along the way, the ride was rough at times, especially when we crossed the channel where the ocean meets the lagoon. By the time we arrived at Bigej, we were all completely soaked with salt water. Bigej Island We had planned on spending some time looking for shells and snorkeling. Unfortunately, Big Jeff forgot the snorkel masks, so we just spent the time beachcombing. Bigej is overgrown jungle, last inhabited by the Japanese military during World War II. There are relics from the war but the jungle has re-claimed them. The island looks pristine from the air, with the palm trees in neat rows, planted by the Germans before World War I for harvesting coconuts. A trek into the jungle reveals all sorts of trash left behind from American and Marshallese visitors. Fortunately, the beaches on the lagoon side of the island are fairly clean and the water is crystal clear. After an hour on Bigej, we headed south for a 45 minute ride to the tiny island of Carlson, home to about 300 Marshallese and the capsized wreck of the Prinz Eugen (pronounced prince oy-gun). The Prinz Eugen was a German heavy cruiser in World War II. After the war, the US brought it to the Pacific to use during atomic bomb testing. Despite being sunk almost 60 years ago, the ship still leaks oil into the lagoon. The distinct smell of oil is in the air at the wreck site. Wreck of the Prinz Eugen The three mile ride back to Kwajalein took us accross another channel but it wasn't as bad as earlier. In about 15 minutes, we were back in port and fairly tired from the trip. Please wait for all nine Bigej photos below to load. Click on the smaller ones to see them enlarged.
Lisa & Steph	the ride home	Jeff	Bigej Pier
beach on Bigej	clear water	Captain Harry	Kwaj Harbor

	Jeff receives his diploma from the Commander.
	At home after graduation.

Next trip off-island ... to the mainland from July 16th - Aug 14th!

STEPH'S SITE

BIG JEFF'S SITE

JEFFREY
LISA		STEPH
BIG JEFF