pago pago
Luceyblue
Ina&Buc&Simon&Amanda
Sat 22 Aug 2009 03:42
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14:16.5S 170:41.5W
We made it in by dark, tied up on the quarnteen
dock, and then went ashore! Having demolished several hamburgers at McD, Ina and
the children did some late night laundry, whilst I kept the boat safe, by going
to bed!
On awaking Ina decided to take advantage of the
great laundry, and wash all the bed linnen. So whenSimon woke up, he wandered in
to me to ask, what happened to my blanket?
He and I then went ashore to clear in, and
happened to bump into Ina & Amanda in McD`s! After a quick
breakfast, Simon & I wandered off todo battle with the customs
man. Having passed through tough security, we wandered about
looking for his office, which we eventually found, empty! Back to the
front gate, "oh yes, he won`t be in for another 1/2 hr".
On the way to the offices, Simon & I had seen a
fantastic carving, an entire tree stump, about 25ft high, with figures,
octopuss, turtles, whales, well, you get the picture. So we decided to show it
to the girls, just beside it was a tradititioal round house where some ladies
sat on woven mats, and wove even more, in the traditional way, very intricate
patterns, and all whilst they sat and chatted to each other. The one thing
we have all noticed on the way through the Pacific is how alive the local
culture is. It is not just something the old folks do. Last night
we also watched the entire village play a game of touch rugby, not just the
boys. Just as well it was touch, as some of the players were definately on
the large side!
So, back to the customs man. six offices, some
visited twice, $152 US, five crew lists, and two and a half hours later we
had all the paperwork to leave. After a quick inspection of a very fine
traditional craft being painted on the dockside, we shoved off from the dock,
heading for the fuel dock, oh, did I mention the kids insisted on lunch
at.....you`ll never guess, McD`s.
Anyway, on arrival at the fuel dock, we are asked
if we have arranged for fuel. I should point out here that 60% of all th eTuna
eaten in the USA is canned at the cannery on the opposite side of the bay
(which, yes you can smell) so there are quite a large number of large fishing
boats in and out 24 hrs a day, the fuel dock is some 400ft long, and has no less
than 7 filling stations. We are informed that without prior permission from
HQ we can have no fuel.
We are also informed that it will take about 4 hrs
to get permission from HQ, (HQ is 400 mtrs away up the road), yes a
telephone call can be made, no they cannot fill us on the basis of a telephone
call from HQ.
Now, it is hot and sticky, and I have been dealing
with idiots, sorry paperpushers for the last 3 hrs, so Ina bravely steps up, and
of course in the space of five minutes has ironed out all the problems. Simon in
the mean time has skipped off to chat to the skipper of the tuna boat ahead of
us, and has been given a guided tour of the boat, offered some fish, and a
sword, from a swordfish.
Ina says yes to the fish, and no to the sword 8(. A
piece of fish, in tuna boat language is a 10 kg block. it is a 10 inch chunk cut
out of the middle of a large (6ft+) tuna, and is curenly defrosting on the
foredack!
Fueled up, thanks given to the fishermen, and we
are off again. It is currently 1730, Ina has once againretired to bed,
overcome by her version of seasicknes, which involves lots of burping, and
sleeping. There is 4 kts of wind and we are motoring at 4.5kts, hoping to get in
on the 23rd, but most likely early on the 24th I fear, as I cannot get in at
night..
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