More Than Some Awe
05 October 2014 | Neiafu, Vava'u
Humpback Puppy
Tuesday 30 September 2014
Final run into Vava'u was good with all 5 boats from Niue arriving just as officials woke up. Despite dire predictions of tedious delays, clear-in with 4 different agency representatives toptoeing across the 4 boats rafted side by side to customs wharf was pretty darn painless. Spent balance of day exploring town in insufferable heat due unusual north wind.
Thursday
Swimming with humpback whales is one of those very few occasions where the description "awesome" is entirely appropriate. At one site a male's song was so loud while floating above him that it would vibrate one's entire body. At another a female and calf rested, suspended 30 meters below us. Periodically the 2 month old little guy (this is a relative term) would come up right by us for air with mom (somewhat bigger than our boat) making every 2nd or 3rd trip to the surface. Tonga is apparently about the only place one may do this as the Americas' eco-zealots get acutely choleric about people bothering whales which here generally ignored us. Beluga Dive with whom we went made everyone stow all harpoons and have ordered a lifetime ban on anyone named Quequeg.
Saturday
After signing up for next week's festivities and downloading email at the Tropicana Cafe, crew returned to boat where actual work was accomplished. Due continued incursion of salt water onto sea bunk while underway, another attempt to stanch the flow was made with huge amounts of butyl rubber on a shroud chainplate cover and nearby track endcap. If this is ineffective have decided to consider more comprehensive remediation to include dynamite.
Sunday
Eschewed traditional banana pancakes today for brekkie at Mango Cafe. Rugby on telly was proximate inducement, but departure from boat in process of selling former SSB equipment was contributory. For second day in a row, actual work was accomplished.. possibly. Johnson outboard, having become difficult to start of a morning, but running well subsequently until next day, had its carburetor cleaned. Success will be ascertained in the fullness of time.
Jack