Raivavae, Les Australes 8 Jul 2010 23.8643S 147.6884W
We came very close to taking off this morning. We’ve had mostly rain and/or strong winds since we arrived, so there’s been very little exploring here. We’ve done lots of cleaning and drying out. We’ve tackled a few boat projects (including recaulking the back windows that were leaking on my books). We’ve made good progress in school. We’ve read a lot. And the boys (big and small) have spent lots of time with their computer games. And when rain isn’t actually pouring down, Logan and Kennan run up top to practice their sword fighting or carving seashells with the Dremel. Logan has now listened to some of the radio labs so many times, I think he’ll soon be reciting them for us verbatim. We’re very eager to visit Frank’s family in Tahiti and as of last night we’d had enough! We were sure to be departing this morning, we’d even hauled up the dinghy and it’s engine. But this morning Frank and I both woke up thinking about that eclipse, we looked again at the route, the weather, the schedule, and reminded ourselves, that one of the reasons for staying here through the 9th, was so that we would be at sea, in a good spot to see the eclipse Sunday morning. And if we were to arrive too early in Tahiti, we might not see it (more clouds likely, and more obstacles, mountains, land, trees). We’ve been thinking, talking and dreaming about this eclipse since we thought this adventure up. Originally we’d planned to be in the exact best spot in the Tuamotus for it, but then as we’ve been flowing with the go, it seemed like too big of a driver of where to go and when to go there, given that it was pretty likely to be cloudy. In view of the last couple weeks of rain, it was probably good that we didn’t plan our whole trip around the eclipse. But now we’re oh so close, and the weather report is looking somewhat favorable for clearer skies, and here we are ready to haul anchor early and throw that chance away – all because of a little cabin fever.
So another day today of projects, school, adding Yahtzee and popcorn to break the monotony. The boat is looking/feeling downright shipshape, more ready to go than usual. Stuff is stowed, engine oil’s been changed, fuel filters changed, watermaker filters changed, windows should be watertight now (knock on wood, just in case, the library has been temporarily relocated to a dry spot on the boat). After a little more of the cupboard dance, the pile of stuff on the chart table now has it’s own drawer. The laundry is down to a minimum, and the washing machine no longer has coins stuck in it’s drainpipe, and no longer fills my clothes drawer with water (an incident that came up after the book incident). We’ve stocked up on peaches (easy up easy down, as an Aussie acquaintance of Marc’s once said). A pot of bacon, lentils and delicious taro (the only crop on this island) is cooked and ready for a few sea meals. Seas are looking sloppy after all this weather from all directions – no worries, we’re ready for it! That’s what leaving a day later instead of a day earlier than expected does for you.
We’re off to see the earth darken, or rather see the sea darken, apocalyptically. What could be more fun?
Les Reveils de Tahiti/Moorea – preparer vous, on arrive!
xoxomo