The Chimney

August 26

Have stumbled upon a few comments placed onto blog site up to a month and a half ago. Please feel free to add them, but replies may take awhile as they are seldom checked even when internet available. This foolish flood of folderol is foisted upon you via radio waves.

Just barely able to rerun halyard over only remaining, usable, free sheave pushing from top and pulling from bottom. Masthead is on exponentially growing list of projects for New Zealand. Anyway, checked the 'boat work' box and went diving.

Six of us easily found 'The Chimney' for additional exploration. All went in at top (5 meters) and out at bottom (30 meters) except Stuart whose head explodes at 50 feet. Pretty cool, but there was better. Dave and I found a narrow spooky entrance to 'Bubble Cave', which is completely dark (he had a flashlight, um, torch - he's British, you know). Great schools of fish hang out there hiding, one presumes, from higher food chain creatures. Upper part of cave is above water, but accessible only from below. Exited by easier route and took others back, then into pretty extensive lighted caves and grottos. Topography in open includes deep, narrow, sometimes overhung, chasms. Snakes. Way cool. As today's group is sailing in the morning, may try to gin up interest for reprise with new fun-seekers before departure NLT Monday for Pago Pago.

Tomorrow is a seven man van of caves by car. An uplifted coral atoll, Niue is lousy with them.

Jack