Drew came back to the boat from the store the other day with a package of extra large diapers. The menstrual gods were raining cramps upon me at the time so I knew there was nothing I had to tell him. Was there something he had to tell me? Was I in the dark this entire time and somehow he’d hidden that he was in fact a replica of the fella back home who I believe is currently pregnant with his second child? For those of us who didn’t have the pleasure to know Drew as an infant child, he was a fat-tay!!! Ten pounds, ten ounces at birth so if he did in fact have something to tell me then that would explain the extra large size part. Lucky for us both the diapers were to soak up a little grease spill in the bilge. My boyfriend is in deed all man. Whew, thank heavens : )
Lots and lots of boat projects going on. The water line on the boat continues to rise daily as we rid Dosia of the clutter she’s accumulated over the past five years. We sent all we could spare food, clothing, and tool wise to the victims of the quake and tsunami in American Samoa. Tsunami warnings are becoming quite common these days and while we’ve avoided any potential dangers here thus far, it’s still scary and causing increasing eagerness to head south. We said farewell to another couple of cruising yachts just this morning and watched as they pointed their bows westward to navigate the few miles of calm waterways that separate the islands here all the way to the wide open waters that would eventually carry them southwest 1100 miles to New Zealand. We bid them safe seas and will tune into the single side ban each morning and afternoon to do checkins. Our family of friends on Zen made landfall in New Zealand this morning. We were so happy to know that their journey was a safe one while mildly jealous that they are already done with a trip that most still in the harbor here are loathing. I continue to try and motivate my attitude of the coming passage in a more positive direction. Sometimes it is quite hard when you hear those around you saying how brutal it can be. I know that in Drew’s hands I am in good, safe care and I trust him 100%. This will, however, be my longest length of time at sea (roughly 8 to 10 days) and I am having a hard time getting myself amped up for it. As most sailors will tell you, the passages are often just a means to an end, a way to get from here to there, and very few actually enjoy them. Im just gonna have to put my big gal panties on and suck it up. It will be my last passage for years to come so the least I can do is try my best to enjoy it. I do have two nights in the Sky Tower hotel in downtown Auckland to look forward to so I’ll just keep that tucked safely in the front of my mind when Drew wakes me up for yet another night watch in cold temps.
In any spare time we can find away from boat projects we mosy our way out to a nearby anchorage and relish the peace and quiet. Shortbus’ return has made getting around so much easier. We were anchored in Port Maurelle just last week and took her a few football field lengths around the corner to Swallows Cave and then to deserted beaches so I could do some last effort shell collecting. We’ll continue to work on Dosia everyday until Drew says we’re done and then will test her out after her “diet” to see if the loss of weight affects her performance. Drew thinks she’ll be in top condition and is anxious to see how well she moves on the trip south. By all means, if a little weight loss will get us there quicker then what else do I need to get rid of? I’m willing to make sacrifices as long as it has nothing to do with my footwear!
Category: Vava’u
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Diapers on Dosia (?)
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Tsunami in Samoa and Tonga 2009
2009 Tsunami Damage-Latest Death Toll is 150 and Rising A story fresh off the AP covers the latest news on the tsunami that hit American and Western Samoa and Tonga on Sept 30, two days ago, while this brief article from Latitude 38 covers several cruiser’s experiences around the Pacific. Sitting here in Neiafu, Tonga we didn’t experience much; only a small rise and fall of a few feet in water depth. There was a lot of misinformation going on in the harbor. One boat would come on the radio and announce that they just witnessed a 30 foot drop in water while seconds later, a boat no more than 500 yards away would say they just dropped 2 ft. Meanwhile I’m sitting on one of the moorings closest to shore watching the water rise and fall maybe 1.5 ft, covering and uncovering a tire on the beach a few times. Several boats only a few miles from here did see some crazy tidal shifts and standing waves. A couple of boats dragged across the reefs, while others dropped their entire anchor chain to quickly escape to deeper water.
We managed to escape the bad parts although the epicenter was only 250 miles north of here. As peaceful as it seemed here in the harbor, the chatter on the VHF and SSB kept reminding us how different it was for others out here. Thanks to everyone who checked up on us through email or on facebook.
The past several days have been nothing but work for me. The cockpit lockers are getting a complete makeover and now they’re so organized I’ve convinced myself they need a paintjob. Yesterday, I did a complete engine fluids changeout, changed the belt, reorganized all the wiring, adjusted the transmission, and decided that if I’m painting the lockers, may as well paint in there too. Today, I took apart the entire top end of the outboard for a thorough cleaning and inspection. The carb needed some work and I replaced the spark plugs, but other than that the engine is in great shape. I can’t explain how nice it is to have the Short Bus back!
Meanwhile, Margie found the benefits of third world dentistry. Two days ago, she tagged along Neiafu’s dentist and spent the afternoon teaching the importance of proper dental care to Tongan children. The next day, she visited that same American trained dentist and had a filling replaced and a complete cleaning for $30US. Now she has a lead on free crownwork from the Mormon dentists down in Nuku’alofa on our way to New Zealand!
Speaking of New Zealand, our second family on Zen left this morning. We sure will miss those guys. They had to leave early since Zen is coming out of the water for a huge refit including a new paintjob. They are moving ashore in Whangarei while the work is completed. Everyone else around here is starting to think about the weather too. As for us, Marge and I begin looking at windows in 10 days! Chances are, we’ll still wait around till the end of the month, but if a really good opportunity pops up, we seriously have to consider taking it.
For all those who have emailed me about the sale of Dosia, I’m working as hard as legally allowed here in Tonga to get the page finished. I decided on pricing and the equipment list is building as I clean and organize the entire boat. There’s a ton more photos coming in the next few days. I promise to get back to each and every one of you! Thanks for your interest!
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Luck be a Lady…
You couldn’t wipe the grins off of our faces right now if you tried. We just heard s/v Gillaroo is turning the corner into the harbor here in Neiafu and as far as we know Shortbus is on there somewhere! It’s a believe it when we see it (and hear the outboard rev up) kind of deal but it’s here nonetheless. Drew’s dad posted on our Facebook fan page yesterday that if only the dinghy could talk what a great story she would have to tell, huh!? Drew and I…we are some lucky, lucky folks!
It didn’t take news of our dinghy finding it’s way back to us to make me realize that I’m a pretty lucky gal. I’d be a blind, deaf, dumb dumb not to know that I have it good. On a daily basis I’m experiencing and learning things I never thought possible. Drew came back to the boat the other day after his close encounter swimming with the whales as excited as an eight year old boy at Christmas. A little bummed I had already gotten out of the water…well of course. Seven months on a boat together and aside from better women’s restrooms, no experience out here is completely complete if Drew’s not right there next to me. A day or two later it was like the whales were tuned into my disappointment so they decided to throw me a bone. Heading out the pass in their dinghy with Tom & Monique from Zen, we were gearing up to set anchor to do some reef fishing and snorkeling. Drew and Tom (twins separated at birth I swear it), being the eager beavers they are, were already paddling away looking for their first “victim” of the day. Monique and myself, well we barely had our fins on. Cheers to our slowness because out of nowhere a short distance away a mother whale breached almost completely out of the water. Our view…its only equivalent would be seats on the 50 yard line, about 40 rows up, to watch either my Dawgs vying for a National Championship or Tom Brady playing in the Super Bowl. Oh my gosh…don’t ever make me choose…
Anyway, my fear of whether or not there were hungry reef or tiger sharks below waiting to take a bite out of my wet suit covered tush quickly subsided and I was overboard. While we never were able to catch site of the whales in the water their presence was definitely known via sound. High shrills could have only been the calf saying “mom, look at me,” as s/he flipped and splashed around. Deep, rumbling I could literally feel in my chest must have been the mother saying “dear, stay where I can see you please.” I mean, mother instinct is mother instinct, right? Whale or not? Call it what you will, it was astounding. It is those memories that I have to tuck away somewhere deep and carry with me forever. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again that prior to my time here on the water, I would have responded to the idea of swimming with whales like, “Nice, that must be pretty cool,” but never would have really taken time to grasp the concept. Out here, when you’ve traveled hundreds of miles on the open water without seeing land for six days, it’s only then that you grasp just how MASSIVE its waters are. Then, to see something that can look THAT big in something you already know is so huge, it’s mind blowing. It is something I wish I could share with every single person that I know and love. There are literally times where tears spring to my eyes consisting of a 50/50 mix of happiness and longing to be surrounded by f & f.
The two month countdown to our trip home for the holidays began on the 24th of this month. I told someone the other day that I am trying so hard not to rush through these two months. Trying very hard. I know the time out here in precious and will be very longed for in the future.
For the time being I’ll continue to relish in the families we are surrounded by…the cruisers, the villages, even the whales. We are beginning to talk more and more about setting our pace for the long haul to New Zealand. Slowly, but inevitably surely, cruisers are beginning to make their way south. We’re not far behind. Our search for departure times will begin in a few weeks, mid Octoberish. Stay tuned!
