Pictures - Suwarrow
Harmonie
Don and Anne Myers
Sat 7 Jun 2008 01:56
coral atoll Suwarrow.
Picture 1 - This is our view of the crumbling concrete wharf from where we
were anchored in the bay. The Cook Island and World ARC flags were
religiously raised and lowered by the caretaker, John, and his family each
morning and each evening. As is tradition in many of the Polynesian
islands, a giant conch shell 'horn' is blown to signal all kinds of
official business. In the case of Suwarrow, the conch shell horn was
sounded each time the flags were raised or lowered, and also as a good-bye
signal when sailboats left the island.
Picture 2 - Sunset over the Suwarrow lagoon. This was taken from the
beach, which was the scene of our Italian pasta feasts cooked for us by
the crew of OneLife.
Picture 3 - Volka, a German crewing on the South African boat Wizard, is
shown here with the caretaker's four boys. Note Volka's yellow croc shoes
- they've been with him since Ecuador where they helped him charm all the
local young girls. Here in Suwarrow, they helped him captivate the kids.
In the background is the caretaker's raised hut / Suwarrow Yacht Club
headquarters.
Picture 4 - The caretaker John, his wife Veronica, their four boys and the
crew of OneLife posing for a picture in the hut's open air and very
rudimentary kitchen the night of the second Italian pasta feast.
Picture 5 - The caretaker and the boys - from left to right:
John, the Suwarrow caretaker
Young Will from Cleone (he has since lost the beard and mustache and I as
well as his ex-military captain James are very glad to see his face again)
Victor - crew on the South African boat Wizard
Gary - crew on the South African boat Wizard
When we attempted to leave Suwarrow last Saturday and realized our anchor
chain was wrapped around several coral heads, it was John the caretaker
and Suzanne from the other American rally boat that donned their snorkel
gear and dove on our anchor line to get a better look at our underwater
predicament. John in particular stayed in the water for a good hour
directing us to motor this way and that way to unwind ourselves from the
bushy coral 75 feet below. We felt John went well above and beyond his
call of duty for us, which seems to be his normal mode of operation. We
were sad to say good-bye.
Anne
