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This is where I will post updates from the crew as they are emailed to me. They will be posted with the most recent on top. Enjoy.
Lesley
Keeper of the Stuff
11-15-07
We were pulled out of the water this afternoon about 1:00, everything went well. Got the food cleaned out, Kip from ADELIA took some of the things and shared with several of the other boaters, main thing we had was some frozen fish, sure didn't want to dump that. For the most part we did well not having much left over. Some things will keep til next year, so I'll have a start.
Whangarei has been a great place to be for this last week, walking to everything we needed. We did get two cars to get us to the airport, as we couldn't fit 4 adults and all of our luggage in one of these small cars. Our plans are to finish up with the Special Blend in the AM and leave for Auckland around noon tomorrow, hopefully we can meet up with Gerald parents and with Errol from IVY-RUBY andhis wife Cheryl (they have move here from South Africa.) all before we get on the plane Saturday night.
Can't wait to see you all, it's been a long time, don't look forward to that long flight, but with every good thing there seems to be a little bad.
Will try to talk to you before we leave, if not maybe when we get to LA.
Martha
11-13-07
Winding Down
We packed boxes today and will ship or postal them tomorrow. Mike and Lauri got a car and will spend the next day or so looking around Whangarei. Jim and I will finish the boat packing and cleaning tomorrow and we will pull the boat out noon on Friday. Then we are going to head for Auckland either Fri afternoon or Saturday morning, then be on the plane Saturday night arriving home sometime before midnight Saturday WHEW!! will need a rest.
Can't wait to see all of you, we'll try to scype some tomorrow.
Martha
11-11-07
Finally we have wifi service and pretty good at that. am going to try a few pictures more later. Here are some of my underwater things, and our lunch in Tonga
Miss all of you so much I think we are looking at Fri or Sat coming home.
Lauri and I did laundry and shopped this AM, Jim and Mike started waxing the boat, I jumped in there also in the PM. We had a knock on the door tonight , it was Kip from Adelia. We hope to see some of the other people Tues night. Reva's resturant here at the dock does a yatchies night and everyone comes. That will be a fun send off.
Let me hear from you all.
Martha
11-10-07
We had a beautiful day, sunny and cool. Jim is still fighting the fuel leak. Think we are going to pull the boat out of the water Monday. We still have things to do on it before we can leave. The stableizers are letting a little water in around the seals again, don't need salt water inside the boat, mix that with the fuel and it's too much to deal with
Lauri and I did some shopping, got to go to a real grocercy store and a small mall. It's been a long time. Not much has changed though. Lot of baby doll looking cloths, is that what is in the states also?
Don't know if we are going to be able to get wifi, so far none to the boat, most things are closed here Sat afternoon and Sunday, looks like Monday will be busy getting the boat out, lot to do. Jim is sorta over it at the moment.
Martha
11-9-07
Cannot believe we are actually in New Zealand, wow have we come a long way. We sure have had a wonderful ride, and some said Martha wouldn't be able to do it ------WELL!!!!
Last night was surely a bumpy one we were all glad to get here after that. No way were we ever in any danger. We are tied to the dock at the Town Basin Marina 35*43'.476S/174*19'.599E we will be here until we pull the boat out of the water at Dockland 5 just up the creek.
It is really beautiful here moutains and hills are so green, also cool, we have on the heat tonight. Jim is still trying to locate our fuel leak and smell, maybe tomorrow. We stepped of the boat right into Reva's resturant for dinner what a treat.
Time for bed we are all tired, hope all of you are doing OK. Hope Dane is having a better day.
Miss all of you so much, we'll see you real soon
Martha
11-9-07
WE DID IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4:00PM Friday, Nov 09 2007 we have cleared customs quite painless operation. They did take Jim's Slim Jims and the dried beans. Got to keep the shells, baskets, etc.
We are now on our way to Town Basin Marina, will be there for a few days regrouping to head home.
More later
Martha
11-8-07
The Last 100 nm
It's 9:00pm here and we have less than 100nms to go. 15hrs28min. We are doing 6.2kts / 109* heading. 34*28'.999S/175*38'.650E Should arrive around noon tomorrow Nov 9. The 11th will be 9 months since we left the Keys WOW!!! What a ride. We have had rip roaring seas today, wind has been back up again, we all just had to pick a spot and stay in it most of the day. Don't want this to be over yet, but I think we are all ready to see land. We have had a real bad fuel smell since we got fuel the other day in Tongatapu, no matter what Jim does it's still hanging around. Giving us all headaches and a little nausa. Hard to find where the smell is coming from in a bumpy sea.
Will write more later having a hard time just trying to sit up and control my body
Martha
11-7-07
Our picture perfect day yesterday did not carry thru to today, wind is back up, seas are bumpy ad rolly again. One of those days it throws us all over the boat. Core muscles will be in good shape by the end of this trip.
We are starting to get anxious about our arrival into NZ, they are very strict about what can be brought into the country. NO meat, dairy, grains, rice,eggs, fruits, veggies ect. Customs will board us before we can enter, they will take any of this off and destroy it. Some have said they might also take baskets, weavings, coral, shells, ect. we will be very open and honest and hope they will also be fair.
10:15pm we are 32*32'.570S/177*07'.797E OH WOW, I didn't realize we were East! 205* heading 6.6 kts, 37hrs56min at this speed. One more night after this and we'll be done with this wonderful journey for 2007. Cannot believe we have come this far, and that it's almost over. What a grand time we have had. Just missed everyone lots!!!
We are all doing good, still a bit green at times, especially today!
We have had a little problem again with the generator, seems to have a fuel leak we cannot find---------so water again is very dear. We sure don't need air conditioning any more, we're starting to add more cloths. We're just layering all the dirty ones since we cannot run the washing machine. Keeps them off the floor.
We hope to have wifi at the Marina so we can send some of our pictures. We'll keep you posted on what's, what!
Martha
11-6-07
We have had the most fabulous day out here on the water. It has truly been a picture perfect day. Very little wind, one or two rain showers, sun most of the day, the seas are calm, flat at times, we have pictures that look like we are on a lake. What a change from 2 days ago. We did not stop at Minerva Reef, we have such a good weather window, didn't want to loose it. Some of the boats that were 2 days behind us did stop there today, there is to be some bad weather around the 11th. They would have hit it right on. We should be OK! We might hit some more really rough patches before we arrive.
It is 9:00PM on Tues, 20*12'.877S/178*41'.966W 210* heading, traveling 6.5kts. 397.2nm to go.
How are you all doing? When are they coming for my car? You girls HAVE done a great job while we've been out here, been a lot on you plates, I've been sick for 2 days with a headache (think it's the coming home nerves) Cannot believe this is almost over, I sure have enjoyed it so much, look forward to next year.
Hopefull NZ will have wifi so I can send some pictures, got some good one, a lot of real funnies also.
Martha
11-4-07
Hey all, we are into our 3rd night, everything is going very well. Few of us feeling a little icky, nothing real bad. Seas are still very bumpy sometimes like a washing machine. We do have stars out tonight, fist time in a week.
25*52'.549S/178*17'.969W 691nm to go, computer tells us 99 hours 29 mins. Heading is 198* @ 6.5kts.
Martha
11-2-07
Special Blend is doing very well, seas are a bit bumpy and rolly. Have had 3 big dolphin on but lost all three. One was actually IN the boat and slid out under the door. We lost probably and hours time, but we have now put the rods away for a while. We are doing 7.2 kts @ 1900 rpms ( that is real good for us) 896.1nm to go to Dockland 5 in Whangarei, New Zealand.
The sun is out for the first time in days---yeah! Wind is still up abit, but we can take it. Should calm more by tomorrow. Lauri and I cooked a few dishes before we left, had chicken and dumpling last night. It was enjoyed by all. It's much easier to warm something in the microwave than start from scratch. Especially when it takes all you can do to stand up.
Lesley send us some of the info on Menerva Reef, we have not made the decision to stop or not, it will depend on what the weather will be like closer to NZ if we take a day or so there.
Much love to all,
Martha
11-2-07
We left Tongatapu at 3:30pm, 1032 miles to go. our heading is 211* at the moment we are doing 6.0kts. Position is 21*07'.097S/175*26'.641W. 173hours 51 min and 10 seconds till we reach New Zealand. Seas are not to bad, supposed to get better tomorrow , wind is about 10kts. That is also supposed to get better. All of us are doing fine, I am on the 1st night watch, will wake Lauri in 2 or 3 hours.
We will keep you updated daily, sometimes maybe twice. We have our fingers crossed it will all go without a hitch.
Martha
11-1-07
All is well here tonight the wind finally dropped below 20kts, it's 9:30pm and it is down to 11.0. We were able to take the dink to Big Mama's Yacht Club for dinner and visit with the other yachties. Everyone is a buzz as the weather window opens tomorrow for us to leave, most are leaving Saturday, Fri is not suppose to be a good luck day to set out on a passage, Jim says after we fuel tomorrow, we're out of here. Luck or not! Will update you tomorrow.
Martha
10-31-07
Well we have had several VERY uneventful days! RAIN>RAIN>RAIN---- WIND>WIND>WIND!!! Some gust up to 35kts. Jim did get the generator repaired today YEAH!! we have the air on as we speak. As you well know we also have no wifi, I do have some pictures I would love to share --- later.
I think we are looking around the 2nd or 3rd to head out of here for New Zealand. there's a whole group of boats waiting to leave around the same times. Comfort in numbers.
We did hear from SILKIE, they made it to Australia without any hitches PRISCILLA was a few hours behind them, also safe and sound. ADELIA and CHANTEL are already in NZ, both had a rough ride because they were anxious to get there.
Jim had quite a trip himself to NZ Tonga almost would not let him back in, but he pulled the "good 'ol boy" and here he is.
Martha
10-30-07
all is well. lots of stories and stuff, parts look right, will know today when i put them on. I didn't miss anything here.
Jim
10-29-07
Another rainy,cloudy, windy day. Lauri and I went into town with Jim this morning about 11:0.0 we dropped him off at the DHL office then we headed to our favorite little cafe for the best cappuccino I have ever had, and pancakes with bananas and syrup, yum!!! Wandered around the small stores and the market, got a taxi back to the wharf to get Big Mama's water taxi back to the boat. As we are sitting there ALMOST dry @ 4:45pm I see Jim walk by in his yellow rain jacket. He had not been back to the boat at all. He said-- come on with me in the dink, I'm leaving for NZ in an hour and a half. Thought we were pulling anchor and heading out. NOT----------he had a flight out at 9:00pm to NZ to go get the boat parts we need, he'll be back tomorrow night. Everyone hold your breath, as he has rented a car to drive the 2 hours from Auckland to Whangarei (Fangari) New Zealand, on the wrong side of the road. you know how his dyslexia is. I sure hope he makes it back. IF they sent us the right parts, we can get the generator fixed so we can make water, run the washing machine, and we don't need the air now, but we can have heat. Mike, Lauri and I will boat sit til he gets back. Must run the engine off and on to keep the batteries charged. If the rain lets up we hope to snorkel tomorrow.
Martha
10-28-07
hello-
your martha has a headache so this is in lou of her note, we are back in tongapu harbor because of wind that will be blowing next couple days, i'm going to start tomorrow in preparing for pasage to nz, parts made it to docxkland 5 in nz, charlie is sending them on here, should have by tues or wed.
Really nice and cool here, 72 tonight, hope right parts comes in for generator so we can run reverse cycle a/c systems if we need to on passage. well griffins have retired to thier stateroom, so i guess its time for bed, its almost 9:00
ta ta until later
Jim
10-27-07
We had a really good day, this am we moved the boat to the port area and took on water, Lauri and i shopped with the local produce people. They do have great tomatoes, cucumbers, and some very odd root things, all shapes and sizes. Toro we have eaten but have not tried to cook any. We are finding wonderful apples from New Zealand, canned corn beef is still a really big thing here also.
We are at a new island 21*02.159S/175*08.008W not sure of the name. We walked around it this afternoon not finding any shells or coral to speak of, before dark we went in to start a fire to cook fish. Not sure what the tides had done, but coral (big pieces) and shells were everywhere. Picked up Dane some neat things. We cooked on the big white sandy beach with Tom and Ellen/RASAMANIS and their daughter. The moon is still almost full, what a memory making night. The wind picked up and the waves were beating the dingy around as we tried to get in it to come back to the boat. Jim said "someone is going to get hurt if we don't hurry and get in" just then, a wave caught us and they dink pushed me down and I was half way under it. Not hurt at all just soaked and sandy. Thank goodness I had not used MY water allotment for the day, so I got to have a warn shower when we got back.
Hope tomorrow is another pretty day, this area has some beautiful reefs, sure do want to look at them. Need to practice my underwater photography.
Mike and Lauri say HI!!!
Martha
10-26-07
Hey it's 12:15am here , I can't get to sleep.
Lauri and I went to the market today, big one like the one in Tahiti. Did get Brad a little something. This is a good size city, we have sseen very little of it. I think we are going to some of the other "out" islands, weather is not great, but maybe we can fish or snorkel a bit. It looks like it will be after the 4th of Nov before we get a window of good weather to head to NZ.
Martha
10-26-07
Hello All! We are having a ball - we checked into Tongatapu this morning - Jim did the dirt work and Martha and I went to the market. We got to shore by going to Big Momma's cafe and catching a water taxi - then took a real taxi on shore. Jim left to catch the taxi back at 11:00, and Martha and I stayed on and explored a lot. The next water taxi was at 4:00, so about 3:00 it started pouring rain. We stayed fairly dry and rode the water taxi back to Big Momma's. We waited for Jim, who came dressed in his rain gear, complete with boots, and nothing but his beady little eyes showing. He was kind enough to bring Martha and I a garbage bag each with holes cut out for our arms and head. What a guy!! We laughed the whole way back - Mike got plenty of photos to share. A true Kodak moment.
Weather permitting we will find a snorkle hole tomorrow. On Sunday everything is closed - ALL DAY - so may take a water taxi to another island. I plan to post a Barnacle Scraper log tonight - oh dear! We're 21, 07, 479S and 175, 09, 869W.
We love you all,
Mom and Dad, Mom and Dad
10-25-07
We are now at anchor off Pangaimotu, Tongatapu 21*07'.501S/175*09'.823. We had a wonderful passage, fairly calm water a little wind (in the right direction) and a bright almost full moon. One of our near perfect nights. Caught a dolphin just before dark, now just how much better can you get?
We went into Big Mama's "Yacht Club" for drinks and a hamburger. Lot of our boating friends are here waiting for a good weather window before heading out to NZ. Always fun to talk strategy with everyone. Tomorrow is a big day, have to check in with the officials and take the laundry for someone to do. NO generator---------NO washing machine!! Lauri is starting to hyperventilate. So must calm her down. We are looking forward to doing some shopping, snorkeling, maybe some fishing before we leave.
Martha
10-23-07
We are on the move 4:00pm Wednesday. headed down to Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu, about a 24hr trip. We are now passing BOWERS ROCK, we do hope to go past it, not hit it. It sticks up out of the water, the water around it is 500 to 700 feet.
Nuku'alofa is where the King resides. We do hope to get the parts we need for the generator, and it will be our check out point for NZ. Snorkeling and fishing are supposed to be very good around there. We will be here until the end of the month, or when the weather guru gives us the go ahead.
Lauri got to experience a salt water hair wash and shower today, builds character!! Gives a new meaning to squeaky clean. It is really hot trying to sleep with out the air cond. As we get closer to NZ air cond will not be a big thing.
Martha
10-21-07
Yesterday was a very interesting day. We had a beautiful snorkeling trip, the reef was just out of this world. Lot of very colorful fish and a sea of coral. At 1:00PM we met Linda at the wharf and walked to her house, I was the first in the house, Jamima and Oka were fanning the food to keep the flies away. The table was set and food already on the table. Toro leaves stuffed with corned beef topped with coconut milk cream, fried hot dogs, white yams, and some-kind of fish. I pushed mine around on the plate, shared one of the hot dogs with Lauri as Jim and Mike ate all of theirs. Now while all of this went on Jamima, Oka AND Linda fanned US and the food making sure we enjoyed every bite. We had candy for the kids and corn meal for Linda (she had no clue what to use it for) she did ask for batteries, DVD's, headache meds and a few other things. They gave us papayas, lemons, mangoes and brought a huge stalk of bananas to the boat. Jim shared some of his fish lures and line with Oka.
We were ready to do another snorkel trip when we looked out, the wind & clouds were rolling in. Our anchor started to pull so we pulled up and reset, spent the rest of the night taking turns doing anchor watch.
A boat next to us lost his anchor and had to motor back and forth all night.
Today (Sunday) has been overcast, rainy, and very windy. We went to another island could not be satisfied we would be ok for the night, so we are back at the dock in Pangai. Guess we will be here until we set out for New Zealand. The temperature has dropped, about 74 degrees a welcome thing for Mike and Lauri. I have on a jacket.
We are having yellow fin tuna I caught on our way back.
Martha
10-19-07
We only thought we were in paradise before, Ha'afeua, Tonga is beautiful. We we were not here an hour before a boat came out and one of the locals invited us to her house for a Tongan food. That's tomorrow. On our way here Lauri caught a dolphin, and I had a marlin play with my bait. It was an incrediable day and to night the moon is out and all the stars. We hope tomorrow will be another sunny day with no rain. We did get in a short snorkel before dinner.
All of us are doing well. Mike's knee seems to be holding up.
Do let us hear from you, gets lonely out here.
Love to all Martha
10-18-07
They there, we had a really good day, Jim had to do the check in thing, we had brunch at the Mariners Cafe, when we got back to the boat one of the young local guys was washing the dingy, we got fresh fruit and veggies at the market then Special Blend headed out to do some fishing. We found a great fishing hole yesterday, Mike and Jim could hardly wait to go back.
WE-L-L-L we did see a big marlin, it rolled at our bait, tried to bottom fish, nothing there, rain storm came up so we headed back to the dock. Did get to enjoy the beauty of a pod of whales. we were not close enough for good pictures, but the blow, roll and tail show was wonderful. Before dinner we had an unofficial visit from the customs guy, just wanted to see the boat, he joined us for a drink and invited us to the singing competition tomorrow night. His brother in law came by and offered to take us around the island to sight see. There are several other boats here also, just none of our special friends.
Much love to all,
Martha
10-18-07
Hi - we traveled all night last night and arrived first thing this morning in the second set of islands. Martha caught a dolphin and Jim caught a big 40 lb something (we gave it away to four guys in a little open skiff that had pigs on it). We had delicious stew/soup for dinner, fresh baked bread - yum! Last night had two fellow boaters over for some fresh fish, grits and hushpuppies - really good. We took a little strowl around town took 10 minutes) but will explore more tomorrow. We're having a great time.
All take care, and know that we love you! Hugs and kisses to all, including Boomer. 19 48'.220S, 174 21".107W
Love You,
Mom and Dad, Mom and Dad
10-17-07
It's 11:00pm here, a supply ship just arrived in the little town(Pangai) where we are docked, half the town is out to meet it. Of course Jim had to check it out also, Mike and Lauri have been asleep for hours. We had a good day, rain in the am, cleared this afternoon, beautiful sunset. We will be here tomorrow to check into the Ha'apai Group then we'll move out to another island. We had a great fishing day, got a big jack cravel(?) about 60/70lbs and a nice mahi-mahi. Gave the jack to some locals when we got here
Martha
10-16-07
Arrived safe and sound in the fist islands of the Ha'apai Group. Lauri and I walked the beach around one of the islands, Jim took the dink to explore. Near where we are anchored is the most active of Tonga's volcanoes. We can see it in the distance not sure just how far it is, maybe too far for the dingy. Today was rainy and overcast again, so we didn't get to do any snorkeling, maybe tomorrow.
Got a note from Denise/ADELIA said she was putting some underwater pictures/video I took on her web site (www.adelia-sails.com) might check it out. They headed out today for New Zealand.
Yesterday as we cleared the islands of VaVa'U Mike landed a 40lb wahoo. WAHOO!! fresh fish, and was it good. We had Tom and Ellen/RASA MANIS for dinner. We are just way busy having too much fun. We have laughed, told stories, reminisced, laughed some more. Mike and I go back to the 4th grade. Wow that's a long time.
Tonight I nodded off to sleep while Tom and Ellen were here, Lauri punched me and I jumped and said WHAT!! Time for bed, Lauri said she would write tomorrow.
let us hear from you,
Martha
10-15-07
It is 6:00pm our time Monday Oct 15th, we are on our way out of the harbor in Neiafu, VaVa'U, Tonga headed to the Ha'apai Island Group about 70 miles south of here. Will be an overnighter for us.
We have had the most incredible few days here. I have never seen so may beautiful fish and coral, last night we hiked up a little hill on one of the islands, when we got to the other side it was cliffs looking out on the open ocean. Just breath taking. We cooked chicken on the fire and visited with some of the other boaters. It was dark when we got back to the dingy, there was a crescent moon and Christy's bowl full of stars. the wifi was too slow today for us to get any pictures out, besides it took us most of the day to get checked out and shop for our trip.
Hopefully somewhere will have wifi before we head out to New Zealand.
We are all doing good, Lauri is a pooped little puppy today, but she has done great in the water. the heat for the past few days has been brutal and has whipped us all., sun is starting to set and we'll be in the open water in about 45 mins to an hour. We'll update you in our AM.
Love to all,
Martha
10-13-07
Hey there, we have been having so much fun, it has just been non stop days. Lauri and I spent most of our day walking on an incredible beach and snorkeling, Jim and Mike fished. Had to look at all the pictures we took, then watch a beautiful sunset. Whew! We sure can cram pack a day. We are 18*41'.969S/173*55'.952W Moorings anchorage # 30. Monday we will go back into town and check out of here to the next group of islands.
I have never had so much fun snorkeling. I love to watch the little anemonefish they come up almost to you then dart back into the anemones. these aren't the clown fish, have great pictures. Hope to send them out before we leave------ if the wifi will cooperate!
Martha
10-12-07
We had a wonderful day, sunshine, snorkeling, whales, and caves. Underwater water was beautiful, we got to show Mike and Lauri some of our favorite coral and fish areas. We went to Mariner's cave did not find the entrance, it is underwater and in about 15ft.. As we looked for it something caught my eye, whales were breeching and blowing off in the distance, a little too far for us in the dingy. Maybe tomorrow on the whales. We did go into Swallows Cave in the dingy, several others that were a little smaller. Good day had by all, we'll really sleep good tonight.
Hope all of you are doing well, miss you much. The pictures were great, boys sure have gotten taller, thanks for the DrPepper champaign!! Brad--- loved the card!! thanks for all the cards, books etc, awsome birthday, Thanks!!!!!
Love all of you,
Martha
10-10-07
Mike and Lauri arrived safe and sound, Aquarium cafe held them for us until we got there to pick them up, we have talked non stop, it's 11:30pm, latest we have stayed up in months, plus we have not had rain since they got here. Tomorrow is snorkel day again!!!
Love to all more tomorrow.
Love Martha
10-9-07
Hey I had a really good birthday DAY, just after dinner that night I started feeling sick, continued all night and thru the 8th (your 8th) feeling better today 10th (our 10th). It is rainy, dingy was full this am, bilge pump went out So Jim donned his rain gear to to start a new one. Looks like another shutin day, maybe Mike and Lauri will bring good weather.
Martha
10-8-07
Past few days have been just wonder snorkeling, we had about 10 days of terrible weather, today has started to rain again, maybe it will blow over so we can go into town for birthday dinner.
Martha
10-6-07
We had a large day, this morning we snorkeled the island area we were in for 2 hours, incredible coral, rocks, ledges went from a foot to 60 feet in just a few hundred yards. Had lunch moved the Special Blend to another island location and snorkeled some more, fished a little (no fish) then ended our day at a traditional Tongan feast. Plan to go back next Saturday and take Mike and Lauri, it was that good. The spread was cooked in the ground, served on banana leaves covering the tables, "dishes" were coconuts, banana stalks cut in half and some sort of melon haves we want need to be rocked to sleep tonight. This is the first full day of sun we've had in about 10 days, we are afraid it will be rainy and overcast tomorrow so we tried to do everything in a day.
Miss all of you so much, wish you had been here today WHAT A FUN DAY!!
Love to all,
Martha
10-2-07
RAIN, RAIN,RAIN, today has been so bad we have not even gotten off the boat, part of the day it looked like it might snow, fine mist rain, wind, no sun, and cool. Tom and Suzie left early AM. ADELIA & SOUTHWIND III pulled in the anchorage so we've had a rain party. We're even breaking out the ol' ElPasso taco stuff. Party Time!!! Some kids paddled out to the boat selling papayas and cocnut, we bought all they had. Felt so bad for them, it's crummy outside.
Hope all of you are doing good, miss you. Can't wait to see Mike and Lauri,
Love you much,
Martha
9-29-07
Yeah for me finally got on line and able to send something. These are pix of some of the caves we were in and snorkeling. have had fun with the underwater camera, has been very overcast with little sun so not the best underwater shots, but I am still learning.
Oh by the way check out Priscilla's web site Suzie put a video of the whales, it's really awsome of the whale jumping out of the water, I was in the water at the time.
http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=playmovie&movie_id=28317&go=tomandsuzie
Love to all of you,
Martha
9-28-07
Well Friday was a good day, we did 2 snorkel trips, Jim and Tom tried to find the grouper Tom saw yesterday no luck. Did see a whole lot of different things today, the squid were very curious they look so funny in the water, there are a lot of very poisonous fish and shells around here, and so many different kinds of coral not real colorful. Something called a carpet coralliomorph, 15 different kinds, some can be 30ft across, as a general rule coralliomorphs have beaded tentacles, when disturbed can shoot masses of stinging threads thru a lycra suit. We did see one about 2ft x2ft. It is ugly looking. The fish loved to play in it. I could have floated all day and looked at the beautiful bottom and fish. We heard there was an octopus but missed that.
We had another hole in the dingy, Jim had to patch it, got it during the 40kt winds the other night it really bounced around, we had it tied to the back of the boat. Guess it hit somehow, but we are good to go now.
Sometime tomorrow I guess we'll go back to the harbor in the town area, the market is great, locals have crafts and home grown produce, we actually got okra. Besides we want to go to our "dance" place again. Need to do a send off party for Priscilla. Boohoo they are parting ways!
Martha
9-27-07
For those of you that don't know Andy, he is one of Jim's highschool friends. Here is an excerpt from Andy's website goandy.easyjournal.com that tells what happened to Andy:
In May 2003 Andy suffered a small stroke. It happened in the midst of an IRS audit (obviously a time of some stress). In May 2004, the day before he was to leave for Austin for Jed and Virginia Welford's wedding, he had another small stroke. Testing revealed that Andy has both a patent foramen ovale (PFO or hole in his heart) and lupus anticoagulant, an automimmune disorder. His neurologist, hematologist and cardiologist were in the midst of trying to decide on a course of action when he suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage on July 15.
Andy's wife Tina started a blog to update everyone on Andy's condition. In May of 2005 Andy was able to take over his blog.
It was after Andy's strokes that Jim decided he would live out his dream NOW.
Much Love to Andy's Family,
Lesley
9-26-07
Just opened an email from Bob Duggan, Andy passed away on the 25th sometime during the evening. Sorry we can't be there for Tina, we'll try to visit her later. Andy is why we are out here doing this now! This one is for Andy. Sometime life just isn't fair. Dance while you can!!
LOVE TO ALL OF YOU
Martha
9-26-07
All is Well on Thursday
We had a real blow last night, 40 kt winds lasted for hours. Priscilla had the roughest time here but they are OK just not much sleep. a boat in another anchorage actually was beached, we here headed there this AM to help them off but when the tide came up they were able to get off, so Jim went fishing .No fish.
We will be at out anchorages for a couple more days. Then back to the little town, Neiafu, I think Jim and I want to go dancing again :)
Tina and Andy stay on my mind. So sad. If you hear anything let us know, I don't think we'll call yet.
Martha
9-26-07
Well we just had a FUN evening had Tom and Suzie over just about the time they left a squall came in , we moved to one of the out anchorages today, winds hit 39 kt we drifted some so did the other boats no one hit, at least not yet, it just picked back up again. No sleep here til we're sure all is OK. This is without a doubt the worst weather we have had the whole trip.
We did do a dingy ride today into some of the caves and snorkeled some of the area, saw a lion fish up close and personal and got a good picture, also lot of the blue star fish here. Really look forward to tomorrow to see what we can see. We have the dive sled with us, the one we use to hunt lobster in the Keys, if we find some place shallow enough we are going to us it. Most place go from 200ft to 2ft within a few yards. Really something.
Martha
9-25-07
I have tried 5 times to send you pictures of our whale watch/swim it was awesome. We both were able to get in the water twice with the whales. There was a mom, baby and an escort, not sure if it was male for female. We spent the first 4 hours seeing nothing, then we spotted this group, the weren't real social but we got to hang with them for a short period of time. Denise was taking pictures from the upper deck of the boat, she has us snorkeling and the whales just beyond us. WISH ALL OF YOU COULD HAVE SEEN THIS!!
Martha
9-23-07
Very quiet around here today, the Tongans are very religious people and do nothing on Sundays except church. they ask the boaters to respect their quiet day.
Last night as I said we went to a jam fest at a restaurant on another island. Had to take a taxi, then a boat taxi (the guy was a fisherman by day and water taxi by night,) think he forgot to wash off the boat, smelled real good!!! We waded in the water to and from the boat, climbed up the hill to the restaurant taking our shoes off before we entered. Once there we realized we should have stayed at the Tongan feast where the taxi dropped us off. We were served very expensive Tapas that were awful, drinks were expensive and the music was ....WELLLLLLLLLL! like sitting at Idywilde Elementary School in Sanford Fl, listening to the recorder band play. This group of yatchies were not as talented as the group in Suwarrow. They would be best playing for themselves.
The best nights entrainment was the goat and the dog that came in and out freely,(not taking off their shoes), to the shock of the Moms and kids in the audience, that sexually frustrated goat just about wore that dog out on stage while the "band" played. We can home hungry and aggravated we had been taken so. On our way back we stopped to say hello to some of our friends that stayed at the Tongan feast. Jim and the local kids ate the scraps off the table. As we stared to get into the dingy we heard REAL music. like the kids with the pied piper we followed the sound. One guy with a rhythm key board played music we couldn't sit still to. I had a big good looking Tongan hunk dance around me till I got up and danced with him, and the prettiest Tongan girl pulled Jim on the floor, we came away smiling and congratulating ourselves for ending our evening on such a good "note"
Martha
9-22-07
Today was so much fun, what a beautiful place people so nice, tonight's get together was terrible, but Jim and I went to a place after that had live music. A young Tongan buck zomed in on me and the prettiest young Tongan girl ask Jim to dance and she dedicated a song to us. Country Roads. We had a ball. All the rest of the old farts went to bed, can you believe we stayed up? Martha
9-20-07
The cigarette thing! that's what drove that community in New Potatoes. you know how Dr Phil says you must find a childs currency, well that was all those people could think about. Money meant nothing, I think Dad wrote something about it. Or did you not get Jim's email? Plus they wanted everything and did not trade much if anything in return. It's been the only place I was really glad to leave. I may or maynot get the weaving I traded stuf for. "5th Season" is supposed to bring it to me. At least I left hair products, deod, old towels, stuff I wasn't using. Wish I had just given that also to the family that was burned out.
VaVa'u is very nice, Mike and Lauri are going to love it, it's more Americanized than American Samoa in some ways. Several Americans have business' here. and they do cater to the yatchiting community. Tomorrow we are going on a go-cart tour 15 of us from the boats, anxious to see how that goes.
Martha
9-20-07
Thursday
We are in VaVa'U 18*39"S?173*56"W this is really something it's a group of islands with 42 different anchorages. The Moorings have a place here, they charter sailboats. I think I might do a whale tour, if they find whales we can swim with them.
We are really tired, more later.
Martha
9-19-07
It's Wednesday 10:30pm, we left New Potatoes around 9:30 this morning. Special Blend is 17*08'S/174*02'W 89.22 miles from VaVa'U heading 178* @ 6.0kt. It has been really rough, the fridge/freezer combo in the stairwell dumped everything as I tried to get something out. Have decided that is not a good place for that design. Think I will let Nordhavn know.
We were glad to leave new potatoes, the cigarette thing got tiring, Jim couldn't fish, snorkeling wasn't great and it rained and rained and rained. We did enjoy the fellowship of the cruisers.
Martha
9-18-07
Tuesday
Rained again today, just not all day, we did some snorkelng good but not Suwarrow or Fakarava. Hope VaVa'U will be better. We will leave here in the morning.4 boats came in this afternoon, SILKIE, ASYLUM, 5TH SEASONS, AND ROSI MANIS. We had them all for dinner Tom and Suzie were her also, Jim did his garlic pasta with marlin and tuna.
Tom and Susan(SILKIE) are headed ti Fiji then on to Australia so we want see then again, we have been on the same track with them since Panama, John went through the canal with us. Sad saying goodbye.
It's official, Mike and Lauri Griffin will join us on the 10th or so of Oct. what a great birthday present for me. They will make the trip to New Zealand with us.
Will up date you on our passage tomorrow, should be a 1 day trip.
Martha
9-17-07
Monday
Rained again most of the day. We took some things into the island today one of the families had a fire and lost everything day before yesterday. Everyone was OK, the ladies that weave were making a roof from palm fronds and a group of men were making a make shift house.
Tonight we had Sia and Niko for dinner, she cooked the lunch for us on the beach yesterday. I baked bread, sheppards pie and my apple salad, They speak very good English, she said some of the ladies in the village ask if I had any lotions, shampoos, conditioners, lipstick ect I would like to trade for their weavings. Guess they had me pegged for the type to have those things????? Tomorrow I will go in to see what they have. Jim is going with Niko to the volcano island to get his parents. Should be a fun day.
Martha
9-16-07
Sunday
Today we had a pic nick at one of the out islands, Sia from the village cooked and invited the boaters, she spread mats on the ground and laid out the food. I took my peach cobbler not a morsel left. She had the pig roast the first night we were here and banished from the island. Sia has called us on the radio several time "SPECIAL BLONDE, SPECIAL BLONDE" and of course, I MARTA!!! Had a great day, just the thing Jim loves. I have invited she and her husband to dinner Tues night.
They make the most beautiful mats here tomorrow I'm going into the village(if it doesn't rain) and take pictures.
Martha
9-15-07
It rained so hard this morning, worst we've had, as I was drinking my coffee saw a sailboat pull anchor and float right into another boat. Jim radioed Blue Moon ( He is from St Pete) they were asleep, also we the people on the moving boat, to tell them a collision was about to happe.n people came running out in all stages of dress. No one was hurt just some damage to the other guys solar panel.
By mid afternoon it had cleared a bit so we took the dingy outside the shallow reef area so Jim could fish, I had my snorkel stuff. About a mile away from the boat is a small island we walked around that, very jagged coral, but got to see and take a picture of a BLUE star fish. Oh! My! so beautiful. Jim quickly bored of that so back into the dink to fish. Wind blowing 15 to 20, no need to go INTO the water to snorkel. We picked our way through the shallow area not even a foot at times out to the deeper water, 30, 60, 90ft. Then swells got too big, just at that minute I saw a whale about 75 yards beyond us. My heart just jumped. It was so big, we hung around for a while to watch it, what a thrill! Not sure what kind and didn't get pictures, too rough, it got a little closer but a 12ft boat is just too small to play with whales. and I wasn't ready to swim with one yet. Maybe later. We understand when we get to VaVa'U,Tonga we will get to hear them singing.
Martha
9-12-07
Tonga
We arrived 4:30pm,Tues, (WED) in Tonga, Niuatoputapu Island, the cruisers refer to it as New Potatoes.
15*56'.416S/173*46'.265W a whale was there to greet us blowing twice. Such a thrill. Right away we were invited into a pig roast, knowing we had to check in with the authorities before we went ashore we went anyway. the customs lady met us before we could get to the pig and very sternly informed us we must get back on the boat immediately. That she would deal with us tomorrow. Hope she doesn't send us home.
This island is VERY different from the ones we have seen before, lot of pigs, horses, goats just running loose,a horse was chasing a dog when we got to shore.So far no one has been happy to see us. Guess we'll learn to follow the rules. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Priscilla and Adelia will arrive later tonight or in the morning. We are tired and going to bed.
Love to all
Martha
9-11-07
To: Special Blend
From: POPONUT TRAVEL (poponuttravel@yahoo.com)
Subject: MARY ANN HORNSBY
Date: 9/10/2007 3:15:03p
Hi Martha:
Hope all is well with your sailing, and for Mary Ann, she is doing
great. We will see her off today. She is scheduled to depart Pago Pago @
6:30 p.m. to Apia. She is connecting on NZ flight to Los Angeles and on
to Orlando.
Mary Ann had a great weekend. She attended my niece's wedding (wish you
and hubby were there), enjoyed herself. Yesterday we took her to a
chinese restaurant for lunch, then tour 1/2 way around the west side of
the island, again she enjoyed herself.
Dave (my husbad) picked her up this morning and took her to breakfast,
then came in to the office. Thank God for the travel insurance, they took
care all of her flights.
When you get back to Florida, you can see our pictures(taken in the
office) plus the wedding pictures and more that we took of ourselves with
Mary Ann.
Have a happy and safe sailing!
Priscilla.JPG)
9-10-07
We have been in Pago Pago, American Samoa for over a week 6 out of 7 days it rained and rained and rained. Team that with the smell from Charlie the tuna packing plant and the trash in the water it has not been our best anchorage... in spite of all that it is beautiful and the people are some of the nicest and most helpful we've met.
Pago Pago has a yacht club, it would remind you of an American Legion in a small town in the states. we have had several gatherings with boaters and locals. Last night was a Pizza Hut party. The bowling club had their awards ceremony night before last.
The island is very spread out, the west end is more traditional, the shopping, Cost U Less, KS market, KFC, Pizza Hut and Checkers is about 10 miles South of the harbor. It takes about 45 min on the funniest little bus to get there. Toyota has two dealerships so we rented a car for a few days to make it easier. We found lot of American products we know and love. I am getting used to powdered milk and New Zealand canned butter ..........but nothing beats a RITZ.
In some ways they are very Americanized here, but have kept their Samoan culture alive. Their Kin are buried in the front yards, families have covered gathering places for funerals, weddings ect., and the school kids wear the traditional lava-lava wrap "skirt" to school (boys and girls) with the school logo on them, sent Dane and Brad each one. men wear an I E Faitaga (wrap with pockets and belt loops) Jim's new attire.
Christy ask me the other day what us up with the hair-do!!! WELL I'll tell ya! The humidity is about 200%, any trip to shore is in the dingy,wind blowing 20kt, and a 2ft chop on the water. Mary Ann said from now on she'll never feel right unless she sits in a puddle of water before she goes any where. Kinda hard to keep a DO.
Mary Ann got to experience the joys of being anchored in a bay that is less than perfect. There is no trash in the Pacific cause it's all in the Pago Pago Bay. No way were we making water in that, so Navy showers were in order, most of the time without hot water, and no washing cloths. She did discover it was a bit more physically challenging than she was ready to do, and that a passage might not be a good thing for her. We started looking into getting her flight changed to leave from Samoa rather than Tonga. With a great stroke of luck we popped into PoPoNut Travel, Priscilla and her family were just the people we needed.We used their phone to call the travel agent in Winter Haven and found it was going to take several days to do the paper work right and coordinate the few fights available back. Special Blend needed to head out because of time and weather, so Priscilla said no problem they would care for Mary Ann----- and did they! They have taken her to a traditional Samoan wedding and reception, breakfast, lunch and dinner and will get her to the airport. We did enjoy Mary Ann so much the time she spent with us, and our boating family made her feel so welcome.
We are now moving on to Tonga 2:30 PM Sept 10, 14*31'S/171*00'W 178.2 miles to Tonga heading 245*.
We will spend 5 to 6 weeks there. Mike and Lauri Griffin will join us for the last leg to New Zealand. Yep, finally decided where to end this years journey.
Love to all
Martha
9-10-07
Just a little note to all, our ocens email will not except attachments, pictures ect. Probably when we leave here (Pago Pago) all we will have is the ocens mail. Bummer!!! Don't forget about us though, gets a bit lonely out here not hearing from everyone.
Much love to all
Martha
9-8-07
New Pago Pago Mayor
Hi Guys,
I hope all is well with you and that you're not working to hard, We are certainly enjoying Pago Pago. We have a lot of boats in the bay right now so there ia a lot of people to visit with. I met this nice looking gentlemen dress in the traditional Samoan atire, he looked a lot like your dad. I think he is the new Pago Pago Mayor. I tought you might enjoy the picture. A big hug to both you and Brad. Hope to hear from you soon.
Love Denise
from the
"Adelia" www.adelia-sails.com
9-6-07
BACK UP AND RUNNING
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