To Palmerston
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Fri 18 Oct 2013 11:07
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To Palmerston
 After such an historic beginning, the
rest of our two hundred and four mile journey was very peaceful. Of the forty
hours at sea, twenty seven were spent motor sailing, the sailing bit was fast
and good. The sunset we had on our second night at
sea.
 I know, I know, the marketing people
will be all over me like a rash, when they see the resting
captain. I also know I have to get the mower out on the facial hair
too.
 Heading into a bit of messy weather,
nice rainbow though.
 A squall as Palmerston came into sight putting us in a very grey
day.
 Quite a
swell as we neared and took the sails in.
 At ten o’clock this morning, midst
the big swell and twenty knot plus wind, we could see a
little boat waiting patiently for us outside the reef, It was Bill and
his family come to welcome us. They guided us to a mooring ball and told us they
would organise the ‘officials’ to come out and sort the paperwork. We watched
them manoeuvre through the reef and a little while later the radio chirped,
“this is Arthur, I will be with you within the hour.”
 The cockpit ready for
collection. Arthur came aboard, followed by Simon – the
Representative of Palmerston Island and Martha, the nurse, originally from Fiji.
Sadly, she felt seasick and had to repair to Bills dinghy. She felt her Health
Service hat was not required when she found out we were ‘ex trade’. I could have
talked to Arthur all day. A native of the island but twenty years on Murihiti,
was back to look after his aging mum. He was very knowledgeable about the
genealogy of the Marsters family, Leicestershire accents and colloquialisms
(proven by a Liguistics Professor who had visited the island). Paperwork done in
a flash. No need to check the stuff we had brought as Customs had checked it
before we left and we “look like a nice pair who wouldn’t have added contraband
to the collection.” The two men went to help Bear hoist the outboard. Simon saw
our ‘Help for Heroes’ sticker and said he had recently met Tom who had done two
tours in Afghanistan. Oh that’s Alan’s son off Zebedee. “Yes, Alan was
here a little while ago, straight from Tahiti with Tom aboard and you have just
missed Windarra and Tribe.” Oh we are at the back of the
queue, nothing unusual there then.
  Simon and Arthur, swing the outboard over to
Bill.
 A wave from Arthur.
Bill at the engine, Martha buried in her queasiness, Simon
checking the balance of the load, Nagariki (Bill’s son) and Tae Pae (the grey
haired gentleman to the right of Bill) who had stayed the whole time in the
boat, because his leg was playing him up, officially the quarantine official –
hope to make his acquaintance tomorrow. Bill asked what time we would like to be
picked up, but, as it was lunch time we felt it unfair to drag him back out for
the third time today. Ten o’clock on the morrow would be fine.
 We watch the heavily
laden vessel slowly make way.
 Bill expertly navigates
through the tight gaps in the reef.
 Ahead of us the
reef.
   Later the wind picked the top of the
waves.
  Nothing for it but to celebrate with
boiled eggs. As the captain put his first one down, it unfurled into a great egg event.
  Late in the afternoon the tide went out, revealing more reef.
Not expecting to see Bill until
tomorrow morning, it was a surprise when he appeared with Metua (his wife) and
Nagariki, en route to go fishing. This wonderfully kind family handed over a
great big bag of coconuts and breadfruit. An ice cream tub held three big,
frozen, fish fillets “for your supper. We will cook you lunch tomorrow at home.”
Such kindness and generosity we will never forget.
ALL IN ALL THE BEST WELCOME
EVER |