Hello everyone! Today we spent the morning running our six gallon water jug back and forth between the land and boat, topping off the water tank before our departure. Thank you to Charlie, the island keeper, for allowing us this priveledge. While James hydrated the boat, Amber circled the deck refilling any crevices with silicone anywhere that sea water might possibly leak in during the long journey we have ahead. We calculated the distance to Niue which is 1572 miles south, so with averaging approx. 100 miles a day, we're hoping for a little over two weeks(keep in mind that days without wind will be much slower). We're excited to start moving again. We definitely feel that although the people are great to us and a ton of fun, we've stayed our welcome and it's time to explore new lands! We did get invited tonight for a going away dinner and yacht club hang out afterwards. We're planning to give the crew a couple presents to show our appreciation. Good times!
Yesterday was another arrival and departure day for the scientists and "donors" here on the atoll. Aboard the plane with 12 other researchers, our friend Alex, from Honolulu, arrived around 3:00pm. Just as the rain and thunder clouds cleared, the plane appeared in the blue sky. We greeted everyone after a safe landing and after the crowds cleared away, we managed to get two more sodas AND a box of chocolates from Clay the pilot. We had a cd of pictures from his previous two arrivals and departures, including his incredibly low fly by, so it was an even exchange:-) With a ton of work to do in a short period of time, the researchers went straight to the lab, so we decided to take a hike down the runway, and then search for treasures and bones along the North shore of the islands. Not finding the latter, James did luck out and find an old snorkel and mask in the surge getting pushed under a palm tree. It was a little eerie because we were far away from the camp and the set didn't look weathered enough to be all the way from Hawaii...so where was the owner of this mask....was there a body to be found??...Thankfully no. However, when we got back to camp and showed our hosts what we found, James was the hero of the day! Apparently a well revered volunteer named Bob, lost the set over a month ago while hiking. The mask had prescription lenses built in, so in deed it was a real treasure! James solved the mystery of the missing mask! To our surprise, we were also invited for dinner on the atoll again! More delicious pork roast, baked potatoes, shitake mushrooms, asparagus, and a sweet delight, homemade apricot cheese cake....all followed by premier showing of Finding Nemo on the big screen.(we gotta get out of here before we get too used to this and don't want to leave:-)
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