A heartfelt thanks to all who appreciated my adventure, and my attempt to write it.  And thanks for sharing the mining, roughneck and oil field stories.  Thanks also to stormy present, who reminded me that the damn task was illegal according to OSHA standards.  I couldn't believe that this crew of hard-assed bikers (like Chrome Carl) were teary-eyed beaten coming out of that hold.

A strange end-note.  When i went back to pick up my last check, they asked why i hadn't been back at work.  I told them i thought "go home" meant being fired.  They said no, it just meant i was finished for that night, but that my work was good and i could keep working for them.  After that experience, i declined.

btw, i went out for drinks with some of the crew at a seedy waterfront biker bar later.  i expected they would be laughing at me for being a xxxxx (wimp).  Instead i had won respect, for they said, it was a bad tank, and we shouldn't have been in there.  wow.

5 weeks, every day (i missed 1 and a half days), amongst the hardest in my life.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin