Friday 4 July 2014

Happy Independence America. Now go out and celebrate your freedom from King George by blowing up stuff and getting completely stinko.

Crew of Rewa showed up yesterday morning and we accompanied them as they snorkeled and Jan & I dove below. The three ladies, wife and visitors from Australia and Peru, were a tad squeamish about sharks, so didn't want to get away from docks near shore. Today, however, we went together and used the tried and true methods that mothers have employed across the millennia - trickery and deceit. Started them out in shallow water on an outgoing tide and they were swept along through sharks and out into the channel by the time they realized that nothing infelicitous had happened. A fun time was had by all. This afternoon we tentatively dive with Captain David through the deep part, then all get together ashore for a bonfire (but regrettably no hotdogs, burgers, marshmallows or detonating incendiary devices) to celebrate. Other-countried revelers will be redesignated Americans for the day.

- Later

The ladies, having now converted to addicts, commandeered their captain to again take them snorkeling, so Anthem crew proceeded on our own. Another terrific dive with a wealth of white-tips circling a great school of big silver fish at initial drop-off. Didn't see any actual predation, but the lower food chain assembly seemed a bit skittish. Also saw our first green turtle in the Tuamotus, a big one; had begun to think they were boycotting the French, perhaps for that atomic bomb testing thing awhile ago. Apparently not all of them. Must break Dave free for a dive tomorrow.

- Laterer (not a real word), but not a lot more

Change of plans as scant bonfire material available, so will dine at Rewa, then proceed ashore for brownies and what diversion may be found.

Will end here after postulating that post-observance sentience may be compromised by one or more of us being, you know, stinko.

Jack