Calamity Resolved - Savusavu Again - Vanua Levu Island, Fiji
Harmonie
Don and Anne Myers
Sun 12 Jul 2009 20:07
|
16:46.690S 179:19.945E
Well, mostly. Not one to give up easily, Don
gave the washing machine another go after we arrived back in
Savusavu and found the wiring diagram for our European washing machine on
the internet. The diagram was helpful except for the fact that it was
written in German. Don persevered and not only successfully diagnosed
the problem, but also mostly translated the wiring diagram as well. The
problem is related to a faulty capacitor. Don was able to rewire things so
that the tub will now turn during the washing and rinsing cycles, it just won't
spin. This was tested today as we ran our first load of laundry and aside
from having to squeeze out the excess water in the kitchen sink after the
clothes were washed, all went well. Shew! Maybe bucket washing isn't
in our future after all. Crisis successfully dodged.
Of course she doesn't know it yet, but our niece
Tracy who will be visiting us in Vanuatu, will be asked to haul a couple of
capacitors out with her along with the eight water filters and two large
packages of dental floss we've already ordered. Forewarning for anyone who
is thinking of visiting us during our travels - leave room in your luggage
for miscellaneous boat parts and travel with a sense of humor as you haul things
like dental floss and emergency supplies of chocolate.
Anyway, as you might have already guessed, we
sailed back to Savusavu from Fawn Harbor on July 9th and have been here in
Savusavu ever since. Most of our time has been spent catching up on things
internet related. We requested a mooring as close to the marina office as
possible in order to pick up a strong wifi signal. Since then
we've been wallowing in the luxury of internet on board and taking care of
things like blog updates, boat insurance renewal and European washing machine
research. We've also been wallowing in the luxury of cheap meals and have
eaten out three times in four days. We're planning to leave tomorrow
(Monday) and it's a good thing since we've run out of restaurants and are
feeling a bit chubby. All we have left to do tomorrow is tie up a few
more internet related loose ends and do a bit of shopping. The
market here is marvelous, but the supermarket leaves something to be
desired. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the cockroaches roaming
the aisles in search of packaging to hide in so they can be taken on board some
unsuspecting (and undeserving) sailboat. The lack of crackers and cheese
is also troubling but we do have a new found love for crystallized ginger which
the supermarket has heaps of for a really cheap price.
Picture 1 - Don hard at work on the European
washing machine. In case you were wondering, it doesn't normally sit on
top of the kitchen counter, it normally lives under it. Take a close
look at Don's hair. Can you tell that I was the one who cut it?
Using clippers borrowed from John on Storyteller? Don't look too closely
because there are hunks half and inch long right next to hunks over two inches
long. From a distance it's not bad though. At least that's what I
keep telling Don. After trying to get an appointment with Reggie the
Polynesian transvestite three times, Don got desperate and allowed me to have a
go at his hair while we were in Albert Cove. John's clippers might never
be the same and pieces of Don's hair are still making appearances in the cockpit
when the wind stirs them up.
Picture 2 - This was our view from our wifi-perfect
mooring spot. These are what we like to call Fiji boats. They
are very similar to their cousins in Tonga except that these are a bit
smaller and more nicely painted. Would you like to cross bits of
ocean in one of these? Maybe not.
Pictures 3 and 4 - The Savusavu market.
Bundles of taro are usually sold outside, while piles of just about everything
else imaginable are sold inside - bok choy, cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, ginger
root, bunches of cilantro, kava root, six kinds of bananas and what looks
like bunches of white carrots which are actually radishes.
Excellent.
Picture 5 - Another sunset. This time in
Savusavu harbor.
Our plan is to leave Savusavu for the last time
tomorrow and head west stopping at various Fijian islands along the way.
At some point in about ten days or so, we plan to visit a 'real' marina (one
with actual docks, power, water, internet and a sailmaker). There we'll
think about having our mainsail repaired, probably fuel up and head out to
Musket Cove, which is the resort marina we stayed in last year with the
rally. From there we'll sail to Vanuatu the first week of August with the
ICA rally, and once in Vanuatu, we'll meet our niece Tracy and nephew Billy who
are planning to brave life on Harmonie for about three weeks. It should be
a blast.
That's it for now. It may be ten days or so
before the next entries are posted since we'll be in areas of Fiji that are not
familiar with the internet.
Cheers -
Anne
|
