David was working in his garden plot high up on the hill when we arrived ashore in the morning so we had another nice chat with his wife who apologised for not reminding him about our 8.30 apointment. He was only a few minutes late and considering no-one wears a watch that was remarkably prompt. The village tour took us through the huts, past a community centre built after the cyclone, along the river, past the large school set round open playing fields framed by massive banyans and then on through banana groves to the kauri tree planted by Davids mother and finally to a lovely swimming hole in the river as it bends under the cliff. I had a refreshing swim while Diana batted away the numerous flies that accompany the cattle grazing along the river bank. Everyone we passed introduced themselves and welcomed us. David showed us his unfinished prebetarian church which lacks a roof. He is a leader and wondered if we might be able to help fund raise for steel roof sheets. His daughter in Port Vila works for Western Union so he gave us her details. He probably asks all his yachties so would need checking out to make sure money does go to the church roof and not to the yacht club. We will see if we can contact a presbetarian church at home when we get back.

On the return leg we met the germans and new zealanders who were seting off on a pick-up truck to see the Kauri forest. David thought that would be a 2 hr ride on rough roads while Jason assured us 20 mins. Bearing in mind the fuel guzzling dinghy ride yesterday that Jason estimated at 10 mins we guessed it would be somewhere between and decided to pass on the trip. David had promised to show us the rock where John Williams had been laid out and eaten after his attackers had suposedly chiselled round his body leaving an imprint like a murder scene chalk mark. The rock was only accesible by dinghy at high tide.

That gave me time to have a go at fixing the wind generator but couldn't find a loose connection and the screw holding it to the post was unmovable so couldn't check the wire to generator connection which I suspect.  We rely mainly on the solar panels for our power but the wind generator does give a little when there is a breeze at anchor. We are having to run the engine more than in the past.

The John Williams rock is hidden in the forest on the opposite bank of the river from the village. It comprises a morraine boulder with a brass plaque and if you squint you might just make out a dimple for his head and a faint line for a leg.

David came back to the boat for tea and cake- I had baked a nice apricot cake along with some bread- it came out rather well even if I do say so myself. David certainly enjoyed it. He took some fishing hooks with him, a pair of  reading glasses and a handful of 'nuts' that we had been given on Tanna, so did quite well. The guides all mention the tradition of gifting stuff to villagers so I imagine David has a drawer full of glasses but hopefully they are distributed round the old people. I don't suppose many people read much. The yacht club has a dusty book swap and we swapped a couple of books.