Position: 19 degrees, 03 minutes south; 169 degrees, 55 minutes west The weather was not cooperating today. We got up bright and early (okay, so the rocking and rolling of the southern swell woke us up) and started our day. The skies were overcast but we were hoping that it was temporary. We were also hoping that the swell was temporary. To go ashore at Niue you take your dinghy to the wharf and then use a crane to pull it up and out of the water and set it on the concrete wharf. Seems easy enough. Unless there is a 3-4 swell that threatens to wash you into the concrete wall as you attempted to attach the lift.

We opted to wait out the swell and try later in the day. Meanwhile I decided it would be a good day to get laundry done. Bob decided it would be a good day for a good book. Bob was right. I was deluded. I got the laundry done but getting it dried was another thing. I hopefully hung all of the clean clothes out to dry in the wind (since there was no sunshine coming through). Let’s just say that after two squalls our laundry was well rinsed and not very dry. I went out and squeezed everything one more time and tried again. Then the laundry dance started. I sat down with a new book and every time I looked up and spied an incoming squall I jumped and pulled in the laundry. I hung it up all around the inside of Charisma and waited for the squall to pass. Then out it went again. In it came again. At least I got some exercise!

The laundry is now 80% dry and hanging throughout the interior of Charisma.

More importantly, Bob put out the flopper-stopper and we only are rolling in a 45 degree arc versus our neighbors on nearby moorings who look like they are making 90 degree arcs. One boat stopped to admire the brilliance of the flopper-stopper. They think Bob is amazing. I am pretty pleased too.

So we did not go ashore today. Tomorrow Orcinius has rented a van and we are touring the island! The Rose is coming with us – after we both go to Immigration and complete our check in. More details on Niue tomorrow, including landing at the wharf! Wish us luck!