Yep, that's us with Big Mama
Charisma waiting at the fuel dock
The fuel station. "Lincoln" the manager is in the middle.
A run through the market for fresh veggies and fruit
Yes, lots of boat work followed by dinner and cards with Big Mama (and our new friends Nila and Ed on Quixotic).
So, count-down time to New Zealand. Today we went over to the mainland first thing in the morning and fueled up, filled the water tank and got a few groceries. Then back to Pangai Motu and boat projects including Ann cleaning the hull some more and making a batch of cookie dough and Bob changing the filters and the oil. Good thing on the filters as I found about an ounce of water in the fuel filter (Racor). First time I’ve ever seen water in there. South Seas diesel isn’t as clean as we’re used to in the US. We took about 50 gallons of diesel, which was the first we’ve taken since mid-August so we’re doing pretty well in not running the engine much.
We finished our boat projects in the mid-afternoon, so had a chance to walk around the island (Pangai). Nice sand all the way around. Took about 45 minutes. Back to the boat for a Charisma just before sundown and then in to Big Mama’s where we met up with Ed and Nila. We were joined by Big Mama herself as well. We all had dinner together and then played Whist out on the deck over the water looking out over Nuku’alofa. Can’t beat the view and the company.
Tomorrow, it looks like we’ll rent a car and tour Nuku’alofa a bit, then hit the market for fresh produce, then back to Charisma to prepare some food for the passage. We’re likely to leave on Friday or Saturday latest. We’ll make some pasta salad, hard-boiled eggs for late snacking (better than stuff with sugar which makes you fall asleep) and I’ll make a stew in the pressure cooker so we don’t have to cook the first day or so.
Counting down. Ready to go. We’ve done a ton of boat work the last two days and feel really ready for sea. Just waiting for a weather window so we’re going downwind instead of upwind. Right now everyone out there is motoring because of headwinds. Saturday looks like a switch to easterly or downwind weather. We’ll wait ’till then.
Happy Halloween! And you know Mom was smiling down on you!! Kate is going as a penguin with another friend and Emily is a unicorn and Jackson may stay at home and hand out candy!! xxoo Happy sailing!
Sounds exciting! I can’t believe it is already time to go to New Zealand! You guys have been gone ages!
At the very least you are experiencing better weather than over here. Poor Molly moved to NYC about two and a half weeks ago, just in time for Hurricane Sandy. She is now without power in an apartment with no natural light to begin with, and I had to send her to my friend’s apartment uptown. Hopefully the power comes back soon, but may be up to a week. Michigan had some crazy wind because of the storm on the coast, but nothing like the city got.
Hope your passage goes great! Can’t wait to see the picture in just two months now!