Stranded at Sea and Waterfalls
Stranded at Sea and Waterfalls Yesterday, 27th was a day of wonderful memeories. The start was a run ashore to get bread, the islanders looked amused as in pidgeon French I asked for such a ridiculous thing in the small shop deep inside the village of Hanavave. Well I had tried.I also took rubbish ashore as this was the MONTHLY collection day...and we didnt want to miss it. Whilst on my return to the quay, I had the good fortune to see the school's dance morning, beautiful little children from ages 4 -12 doing wonderful traditional Hula dancing and singing..very moving!! The finale was a call for Shakira!! and the mothers were invited up to accompany their children. One little girl stood out as the best dancer, she was just incredible and aged around 6. I couldnt begin to describe the beauty of her hand movements and her hips as she acted out the stories contained within the songs. Her 'Mother' joined her for the last song and she actually was a man dressed as a woman and dancing better than anyone. It was a wonderful, wonderful memory and deeply moving to see the joy, innocence, acceptance and tolerance of a people living as they have for hundreds of years....it put to shame those 'over produced' performances at Aston and Atlanta's old school in London, where only the same few children took leading roles in each production. In this little school in Hanavave they understood life and education far better, each child took a turn at the front, each was given the microphone in turn to sing and the very talented took their place within the line to give all of the others their moment of glory in front of their parents. The tatooed men stood beside their pick-ups on the dusty road outside and I stood beside them as we watched in wonder at that lovely scene within the playground on that beautiful Marquesan morning......................................................... back on the boat a reality check...Atlanta wouldnt do her maths and we were out of eggs!!!! The stress aboard Nakesa was apparently not helped by my return; so to preserve my morning joy I decided to take the dinghy for a run down the coast and to check out a reported restaurant and see if there was a shop in the next bay. In the end Atlanta, on a break came too. We sped across a glistening sea, and it was one of those times when one shouldn't think the thought, I was just enjoying the sensation of the dinghy planing across the waves, the open sea, my beautiful daughter with me and celebrating in my mind the 15hp Yamaha purring sweetly and the Caribe dnghy which I have always hated but now at speed was really performing welll, so stable and fast...when it happened..the engine stiopped..!!! In intense sunshine and 3 miles out to sea we were stranded! Luckily we had a VHF radio and we scould raise Nakesa..a very fed up Phaedra said that she would organise our rescue and after 20 minutes Dave from Samsara arrived to tow us in...thank goodness! Back aboard it was time to go and celebrate Lesley's birthday...I had made us late and I was paying the price...definitely not in favour this morning with Mrs A!!! We had planned a walk up to the water falls but getting ashore proved difficult beacuse the 4hp wouldnt run either. Eventrually made it and set out on the walk, which turned out to be quite arduous and muddy but a lot of fun. The falls were very high probably 300ft and the pool at the bottom very small and deep, cut into black volcanic rock that was polished by the thousands of years of water run off. It was quite challenging to swim up to the base of the falls in cold water but we braved it before collecting ashore for bubbly and canapes!!! Great way to celebrate. Back to boats for a look at the engine.. (without success) and some preparation for dinner which was to be a chinese dinner party aboard Nakesa......it was wonderful and went on very late...James went home early and Lesley stayed.....say no more than Phaedra and Lesley were not at their best on Thursday......!!!!! Moving on! I worked on the autopilot, working I think. Worked on Yamaha 15hp AGAIN (without success)!! As we were just about to settle for dinner, curry again on Nakesa cooked by Atlanta and Aston with James and Leslie..the beautiful schooner Kayalani arrived. We shouted across and after dinner Chris and Holiday and the children joined us for drinks..another late night! We agreed to stay and extra day and have them over for dinner. Friday..another 'BUSY' week! I worked on the ouboard again all morning tajking everything apart but it still wont start..it has a spark, fuel ..I have no idea what is wrong!!! Atlanta finished school and went aboard Kayalani to play. James invited us over for an afternoon beer and to play Risk on the I pad so Aston, P and I went across! Lesley came back aboard for a shower and as our time was drawing to a close together P and L shared wine and talked. We were joined by Mark and his son Oscar from Xanadu who came over to introduce themselves and stayed an hour drinking wine with us. Astn was pleased to meet a 12 year old I think and they got on very well! This social life is getting very tiring!!!!! Holiday arrived followed by Chris who had been fishing..then we had a performance by Atlanta and her friend of a Hawaiian dance and legend..very sweet......my chicken pie which had been quite disrupted in the making by the visitors but turned out okay..and another late one. The final chapter was a midnight call from some neighbours in a dinghy wanting wine in exchange for fish and lobster..with an early start ahead I declined..I know I will pay for this from the crew later!!!!!!! Another week aboard....BLISS, must dash now it is 0700, been at sea for 2 hours and must set the genoa now the wind is up!! |