Cargo Ship in Selwyn Bay

Monday 23 July 2012

Forecast, which predicted overcast and rain, was wrong again. Would complain bitterly and demand lavish apology, but sniveling seems inappropriate under the circumstances. Wind from right direction today versus yesterday was scarcely enough to help noisy mechanical contraption in bilge push us along, but short hop under mostly sunny sky to Uki Ni Masi Island off north coast of San Cristobal was nevertheless quite agreeable and Selwyn Bay is scenic and calm.

Movie night with Freezing Rain was "Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb". Oh how one yearns for those days when fear and loathing could be unswervingly focused and hiding under one's desk or building a bomb shelter in the back yard was good family fun.

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Awoke this morning with torrential rain (payback for yesterday?), but after delayed departure (using Namba Net as excuse to stay dry) clouds parted and sun shone. Happiness & joy filled the earth. Aeolus, apparently not wishing excessive benevolence, nevertheless provided sufficient wind for an extra knot of boat speed. If humidity would just drop below 99% life would be nearly perfect. If each morning gold bricks were deposited in the head we could get a bigger boat. If cows flew instead of flatulating we'd all be covered in manure and have fewer carcinomas.

WARNING! Unsubstantiated and injudicious opinion to follow: A constant high level of happiness is seldom obtainable as it is a favorable ratio between reality and expectation. Expectation, which is thus effected and changes more quickly, is often an upwardly moving target. Human progress results. Pervasive corruption, as in these islands, tends to prevent this from happening and is why, along with tribal rivalries, The Solomon Islands are the basket case of the South Pacific.

On that chipper note we turn the corner at Maro'u Bay for an evening of rest before crossing to the resort on Guadalcanal for as much debauchery as is available.

Jack

PS Fish on! Details in the fullness of time.