October 29

Shuttled to town for produce and groceries. Eggs are sold by the piece or in open pallets of three or four dozen, so containers will be taken in tomorrow. Also expect to procure lime and tonic. Tongans, it was revealed, do not eat olives so martinis will not be dirty and salads will be less exciting. Capers are completely beyond the pale.

Stanchion bases are surrounded and engulfed in messy adhesive sealer making all involved feel better. As with free range chicken, holistic medicine and do- gooders in general, feeling good is what counts. Likelihood of actually sealing leaks however, though not zero, is miniscule. Interior is screwed back together, cushions are cleaned (loose chunks) and heavy objects (except for the 170 pound appendaged one) have been secured. Latest forecast shows, to no one's surprise, winds too strong, too light and then on the bow.

Rally send-off and Big Mama's 8th anniversary party was the best. Mama had a ten piece band (including trumpet and trombone) playing tunes from 1940s to present - no hiphop. They were all Tongan and nearly as good as the originals. Huge crowds of sailors and locals had a grand time.

Cabin hasn't been this clean (and with cool breeze whipping through anchorage at 20 and better, also dry) in a coon's age, although, based on observed flattened evidence, a racoon's lifespan is appreciably shorter than the expression purports to mean.

Jack