We left Atuona, Hiva Oa yesterday to do a little island hopping. Plan on two nights here then on to Fatu Hiva which is a little Southeast of here by about 45 miles. We had to bypass it on the way in because we could only check into French Polynesia at Hiva Oa. Now we are going to do a little back tracking upwind.

If you like bananas this is he place to be. We bought a green stalk the other day and left them in our dinghy. By the time we got back to our dinghy that evening they were almost ripe. The stalk must have had fifty bananas on it. We ended up giving away 2/3rds of them and still can't eat them all. Making banana nut bread today. Another fruit that is very abundant and popular is the Pompalmoose. Like a giant grapefruit but a little sweeter. Grows on trees everywhere. And of course coconuts both green and ripe.

We have been having more and more problems with the Dinghy motor so I thought I would hire a local to fix it. He never showed so that afternoon I proceeded to pull the carberator off, over the water and got lucky because I never dropped anything into the water. Anyway, pulled it off and apart and the float bowl was completely dry. Cleaned it, put it back together and checked the fuel pump. Thought all was well and fired it up. Now the float was sticking open and raw gas was coming out of the intake port. We got to this Island by late afternoon and I proceeded to remove the carberator again. Quicker the second time. Pulled it apart and sure enough the float was stuck open, fixed it and put it back on the engine. Fired it up and it runs a little better than before the problems but I still think it was defective from the factory so will pursue a new carberator and fuel pump.

I repaired the clew of the symetrical spinnaker and will patch the holes today. Finally pulled the sewing machine out of its hiding place and now that it is out may attempt to repair the heavy spinnaker and sew an awning cover to reduce the afternoon heat.

Also today is scrub the hull day. We are anchored in 18 feet of water looking onto the shore. This is a picturesque, typical beach here in the Marqueses. Will go into the water (94 degrees) and get rid of some of the barnecles that grew on the bottom while crossing the Pacific. It is interesting because where the salt water splashed up on the hull above the waterline, we have green slime growing. You would think it would dry out and die but that hasn't happened. Another interesting thing is that barnecles can grow on a hull even though the water is rushing by. The visibility in the water is over 50 feet. I could see the anchor chain below the bow of the boat from the stern. Not quite crystal clear but very good visibility and I doubt we will get hypothermia.

All for now. Will update after we leave tomorrow and chase down weather.

John & Lisa