It’s been cold and rainy here.
“Just like Seattle weather,” we say to each other, secretly delighted. I stayed on board today and made chili, just because it sounded like what I needed to do on a rainy fall day.
We are still enjoying the Vava’u group of islands in Tonga. We have spent most of the time close to town, but now are anchored in one of the outer bays (#16). We are here with our friends aboard Fafner, who have girls Molly and Jessie’s age.
The sailors you become close to out here are those that choose the same islands as you to stop at; you tend to follow each other across the span of the South Pacific, and it is like old home week every time you drop your anchor, look around, and spot your buddies a few boats over. Having something in common is key; it could be that they have kids, or a fast boat like yours, or a love of snorkeling and hiking. Maybe they are in need of a good mechanic and you happen to be one. Whatever the bond, it strengthens each time you anchor near each other.
Karin and Patti are two women on a Baltic 48 named “Ahti”. They are from the Seattle area, and are doing an admirable job of taking care of all their boating needs themselves. They have had some mechanical and electrical problems, and Jim has been able to give them bits of advice, but they usually end up doing the actual work themselves. We see them at almost every island we go to, and they e-mail us and let us know how things are before we arrive. We do the same for them.
The “Fafner” folks became friends mostly because of their daughters, Claire and Alex. Same with “Escapade” from Holland; they have two boys that have formed a bond with our girls, even though they don’t speak English. “Coconut”, from Norway, also has kids on board. They all speak in delightful British/Norwegian accents, since the mother is from South Africa. Peter and Ginger, aboard “Marcy”, are also from the Seattle area. They seem to like to visit the more remote islands, so we see them less often, but are always happy when we get together. “Soul’s Calling” is a big catamaran from Denver. Their daughter, Mikaela, is eleven, and Molly and Jessie enjoy spending time with her. It’s fun for them when the sleepover is on the cat - the main salon is like a gymnasium, and Mikaela’s bedroom spans almost one entire ama of the boat.
Right now, Claire, Alex, Molly and Jessie are on shore, building yet another tree house in a huge Banyan tree at the water’s edge. They came back to the boat for short time to pick up supplies: rope, matches, a second machete, Oreo cookies, Band-Aids, and bug spray. Oh, they also came back for Jim – they needed some of his expertise.
We had hoped to do some snorkeling and hiking, but the weather is quite ugly. Maybe it will clear up enough by tomorrow that we can go play. The weather has kept us from our whale expedition; I have heard Humpback whales will dive deep and stay there if the surface water is too choppy.
This Seattle weather has been making me think of home. I am imagining our friends, getting ready for the new school year; about family getting ready for the fall season and all that it brings, and about our business and the upcoming Seattle Boat Show. If I get too melancholy, all I have to do is look outside and see the smoke wafting through the palm trees (Smoke!??! What are those girls doing, anyway???), and the rain dancing on the tropical blue water. Guess I’ll call “Fafner” on the VHF and invite them over for chili and cornbread. Have a great day!
~ Jeanna