It's a Long Shot II

The mean diver/swimmer Riley is turning 11 today. He's still eating us out of house and...I mean boat..and home but he certainly is handy to have around! I dropped my sunglasses in the water and he managed to dive down and get them. Doug lost $10 overboard and Riley scooped it before it blew away. The gas cap for the outboard motor dropped in and sank - Riley to the rescue. Doug's famous Black Bucket went in without a lanyard and again, Riley dove in. I don't know what we'd do without our happy boy as he seems to keep us all on stable ground.

We were ashore helping the community prepare food for the arrival of the ship which includes the PukaPuka people where the ship goes next. Both villages are involved (the other village is across the atoll) and this event is similar to their other big community events like weddings, anniversaries, 21st birthdays and the first haircut for the first boy of a family (which could be at age 5, or 15 or even 21). Traditionally, they will go to the far side of the island to kill a wide boar rather than use a pig from their own farm. It is understood that you only take a wild one for these big community events. The pig is cut up and marinated in soya sauce, wrapped in tinfoil then placed in an Oopa which is a pit oven. They were also preparing coconut bread placing it in huge cooking pots lined with banana tree palms and placed in an Oopa. I saw huge dishes the size of small paddling pools filled with mashed pumpkin. Food is being prepared everywhere so I'm not sure what else is being made. The young adults have been practicing their dancing every night as well. We've been out until the wee hours with these people and they still put in a 10hr day at the pearl farm. Just as I have seen the amazing Zenert house preparing food for the family, these women work hard and in a well oiled fashion. We helped with the food for the workers last night. While Doug prepared a fire (using coconut husks), I offered to assist a woman filleting flying fish. Now I don't filet fish...ever, so of course I was horrible at it. These fish were the size of jackfish! I think I managed to finish 2, with her help, and she did about 20. This fish was eaten raw. The other 120 flying fish were cooked on the fire whole with salt sprinkled on top. Everyone is wonderful making us feel welcome and going out of their way. Their generosity has been overwhelming. Riley asked for a piece of sugar cane and two men jumped up and hacked down three stalks as tall as him. Little kids were breaking nuts from the tree for Saylor to eat - kinda like almonds. The fishermen all shout, "Charlie!" as they go by. I can't wait to see all the excitement when the ship gets here.

We just had a huge Brownie/Cookie iced cake for Riley and it's time to head ashore. I'm looking forward to posting these pictures!