Daily Archives: July 12, 2013

Thanks for all the responses

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Thanks to everyone who sent a back a note. It’s a joy to write this when we know that folks are reading it and some are even inspired to do this trip someday as well. That’s how I came to doing this-by reading about others when I was a teenager, so on we’ll go happily blogging away as often as we have something worthy to say.

Pictures of our last few weeks will hopefully become available in two or three more weeks. We’re in such a remote spot that all we can do is send text via our short-wave radio. We need internet for more extensive stuff like photos. We’ll likely be back on the grid in a couple or so more weeks.

Jon, thanks for the engine tips. You bet I’m watching the exhaust smoke like a hawk. It’s clean as a whistle so far after 25 hours. The oil is amazingly clean as well. I changed it along with the fuel when I though it might have been contaminated as well. The engine is actually running better than ever. The injector pump overhaul must have been needed as we’re running smoother than I remember. The only bother is a slight diesel leak from somewhere. About a tablespoon in five hours, so more a bother than a problem. I’ve checked all the lines but no moisture. I suspect it’s the #4 injector. I tightened the hold down nuts on it and #3 today. The bolts went about another 1/4 turn, so maybe that will solve the issue. Hard to know how much to turn as I don’t have a torque wrench(That’s going on the list!) and don’t want to over torque especially since they are just studs coming out of the block

Again, thanks all for the notes! Ann and I appreciated hearing from you all!

S/V Charisma

Fun in Fulaga

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(By Ann) The winds stayed away and the sun came out at just the right times today. It was a lovely day in Fulaga.

We had only hoped to get a good paddle in but were gifted with a delightful party hosted by the villagers. But that was after the paddle.

Spear fish, place over fire...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mouth-watering...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Palm frond floor, lean-to roof...

 

 

 

 

 

 

...and, oh, you weave your own plate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We took off from Charisma and headed toward the shore that we explored on foot a few days back. We were paddling into the wind, about 8 knots of wind, but very little chop so we plowed through until we were in the protected lee of the land. It was wonderful! We glided in water that was anywhere from 3 feet to one foot below our boards. The color of the water went from varying shades of turquoise to the warm browns of the bommies. The sun was behind us and so everything was lit up perfectly for pictures. And then when we turned around it was downwind on the return trip! So fun! Prior to taking off on the paddle boards we had been invited by the villagers to join them in a good-bye fish roast on the beach. We were not really expecting to go but they even sent a dinghy around to personally invite everyone. We are so glad we went!

The villagers had built a sheltered area with a palm frond roof and floor and invited us to come on in! The men had been spearing fish and diving for crabs while the women caught fish in nets. There was jack trevally, barracuda and some other fish I was unable to identify. The fish smoked on sticks over the open fire. No seasonings, just fish cooked the old-fashioned way. And the crab melted in your mouth!

Of course there were a variety of side dishes too: baked bananas, coconut and the ubiquitous cassava in the case, cooked by simply putting it on the coals of the fire. All simply made with loving hands. And to serve the food the women taught us to weave plates out of a banana palms.

We’re going to stay here another couple days as there is still much to do and explore, but we’ll probably plan to move on sometime next week. In the meantime there are some fairly high winds predicted starting tomorrow or the next day, so tomorrow we’ll move Charisma about 200 meters closer to shore to tuck in out of the wind and waves.