August 24

Day 9. Just before we left Wallis, our good friend Thierry gave us one last drive through the familiar spots in Wallis. It was a nice way to say good bye. Now, as we say our good byes to the South Pacific and to the tropical North Pacific, our planned stops feel very much like Thierry's ride through the old familiar spots. We have been to both Tarawa and Majuro before. Indeed, this will be our third visit to the Marshalls, so it is a chance to see places where we have made a memory. I like that.

Last night was a working night. We had some weather come up and keep us busy all through the night. This was a bit of a surprise because the day had been so quiet, but then, it's the equatorial zone, and funny things develop here. As the sun set yesterday, it was simply amazing, the likes and beauty I have not seen before. The sea was like a mill pond, and it reflected the images of the clouds that were building. They looked like little (but still very huge) nuclear mushroom clouds floating with flat bottoms about 1000 feet or so above the sea. Very beautiful in the colors of the sunset, (but promising work to come). But it was just spectacular. I took some photos and we will see how they turn out.

Today is a lazy day, and we are getting nearer to Tarawa every minute. It looks as though we will arrive on Wednesday afternoon if we keep our current speed.



Be Excellent to One Another, Rod and Elisabeth, "Your Rock and Roll Argonauts" "Les Pirates d'Honneur"