Ann at The Arches

A wild ride at our mooring (photo courtesy of Sockdologer)

John and Pat from The Rose had their snorkel gear. A little later the waves were breaking over the wharf

Pat diving the wharf. You can just see John two waves out

Due to the threat of adverse weather today, Bob chose to stay aboard Charisma while Lisa and John from Orcinius and John and Pat from the Rose and I went ashore. Getting back to our boats required a much bigger effort than we ever dreamed!

But at the risk of forgetting to tell you about another amazing Niue adventure let me tell you about our return later.

So Bob dropped me ashore and I joined the others as we headed to an EarthCache on Niue. I know, we are hooked. But EarthCaches don’t have treasures like the GeoCaches, just something interesting to see and report back about. We ventured out to a spot on the Northwestern coast of Niue called Talava Arches. We trekked down a nicely laid out path (complete with specific “rest-areas” that the Johns took to heart and rested) to a spot that dropped down into a cavern that looked out to the ocean. Three arches graced the area and stalactites and stalagmites decorated the caverns. It’s truly amazing what the combined forces of wind, waves and salt water can do. Off to the right of the caverns was a sunken caldera that was filled with vegetation and surrounded by coral rocks. You had to be very careful traversing the area because one slip and you could slice up your leg on this coral. As always, stunning, wild and wonderful.

We also stopped by a “bore” on the interior of the island that was a water source. Because the island is made up of volcanic uplifted coral the rain water runs right through it and collects deep under the surface. The bores bring the water to the surface for use. Our trip took us deep into the rain forest and back out to the highland fields. We actually found a corn crop planted in the middle of no-where. We discussed how interesting it would be to try to introduce sustainable farming to this land. Taro and papayas appear to be their only crops. This impacts the island greatly because everything must be brought in by boat or plane. As an example, eggs brought in by plane are $12.50 per dozen. The plane comes every Friday. Eggs brought in by boat are $8.50 per dozen and arrive about once a month. A box of 120 gallon size garbage bags is $90!!! How do they survive here? But I digress. As we ended our day of trekking and a little shopping (yes, I paid $12.50 for eggs but they are needed in ginger cookies!) we arrived back at the wharf prepared to get in our dinghies and get back to our boats. When we checked with Bob to see if he desperately needed anything (we were really done shopping but just in case…) he asked that Orcinius give me a ride back. No problem, we thought.

The weather conditions at the wharf were not great when we left but the winds had shifted to the west and the swell was up to about 5 feet up against the wharf. “No problem”, says John, “let’s launch the dinghy”. Well we gave it a good try but almost dumped John out of the dinghy as a wave came barreling into the wharf as we lowered him. “Up, up, up!”, he hollered! No, we will not launch the dinghy right now.

Meanwhile John and Pat from The Rose have decided that without an engine on their dinghy and with a dog that needs them on their boat they will don their snorkels and fins and swim out to their boat. Are they nuts???? I guess not, because they made it look easy. Pat even offered to swim to our boats and bring us our snorkeling gear. She said it was easier than chasing the whale yesterday. John, Lisa and I passed on her offer assuming that by high tide (about 5:30) the waves would subside a bit. So we wandered off to the yacht club to waste time. The yacht club was filled with cruisers hoping for the waves to subside so they also could get back to their boats. We counted four other dinghies on shore still.

As 5:15 approached we returned to the wharf only to find that the situation had deteriorated. Yuk! Bob, come save us! So we called Bob to see if he thought he could swoop in and rescue us. This is how it happened. First Bob collected life jackets off of The Rose so that Lisa and I would feel safer. Then he aimed for the wharf and looked like the knight in shining dinghy some to our rescue! It took two attempts to throw the life jackets ashore and then the fun began. Here were my instructions. “When I come by thestairs throw yourself in the dinghy. Aim for the bottom, do not be concerned about landing in a sitting position.”

Because I have seen this man in action I had total faith and although I was scared to tears (literally) I was willing to go first. Also because Lisa and I were both trying to work up the nerve and scaring each other. So Bob starts coming in on a swell and maneuvers the dinghy toward the wharf, swoops in, I leap and voila! I am safe in the bottom of the dinghy! Yahoo!!!! Bob delivers me to Orcinius which is the closest boat and goes back for Lisa. It works the same; maneuver, swoop, jump, success! Lisa has also landed in the dinghy and is now at the bow whooping for joy! Bob drops Lisa at Orcinius and goes back for John. Lisa and I watch with bated breath as Bob heads for the wharf, and pulls away without John. Darn. He sets up on the next set of waves and swoops in again and John makes the leap! Yeah! Three for three! Lisa and I celebrate with a shot of tequila!!!

As Bob drops John at Orcinius I jump in, John jumps out. We make it back to Charisma and the swell lifts us up and almost onto the boat! Phew!!

Then the call comes from Sockdolager, “Charisma, the boat just up wind from you has chafed through one of its two mooring lines and they are ashore. Just wanted to let you know.” What now? Not enough excitement yet? John and Bob end up grabbing a new mooring line from Orcinius and replacing the chafed line on this boat. Good thing because his back up line was also chafed half way through! I do not know how John hung on on the bow while the boat hobby horsed into the water burying the bowsprit. Meanwhile Bob was in the dinghy hanging on for dear life as he threaded the new line through the eye-splice on the mooring cable to be reattached to the mooring. Very treacherous. Luckily the rescue was completed just as light was fading and John was returned to Orcinius and Bob returned to Charisma safely! Even the sushi that I picked up for Bob (instead of ice cream – yes, they are both sold at the same place) had made it safely back to Charisma. The rest of my groceries are in the refrigerator at the yacht club until tomorrow when we can safely retrieve them!

So now we are relaxing and letting the adrenaline subside and waiting for the wind to shift directions and the swell to lessen.

(From Bob: How sketchy was this whole maneuver? Those who know me will know by this answer. I wore a life jacket when I got into the dinghy).