Well, we get farther and farther from civilization now. When we left French Polynesia, the passages got longer and the places more remote. Our first stop was the island of Suwarrow in the Cooks. What an interesting place. It is the Cook Islands' only National Park, home to seabirds and rich marine life. Two atoll managers (Harry and Charlie) live there six months of the years and then return to Rarotonga. The only way to get there is by private yacht. We weathered quite a storm in the anchorage safely. There were barbeques on the beach, snorkeling to see the large manta rays and time for boat projects and washing. We did that in buckets from their cistern. It was a great experience. Something not to be forgotten. Charlie and Harry were great hosts. They would like other "yachties" to know that they need coffee, sugar and rum. They get no supplies delivered there except what they bring with them. Anything is appreciated.
Then, we were off to American Samoa. The crossing was rough, but we needed to pick up packages from the US post office there. They were waiting on our arrival, great service! We anchored in the port at Pago Pago. There is a large Tuna processing plant and fishing fleet. Also and occasional cruise boat. It is a great place for provisioning (we needed lots of things). We rented a car with other "Yachties" and checked out the hardware stores, auto parts, "Cost U Less", etc. Came back with lots of goodies to get us through the Tongan Islands to Fiji. Many choicesm, hurray! It is always a great adventure to be able to buy luncheon meat and cheese, fresh vegetables and fruit, eggs , etc. I had to rearranged the lockers again to bring it all aboard. There is a new National Park in American Samoa. We got a wonderful tour with the Ranger Pua and lots of help from Sam in the office. It was a lovely way to see the place. We heard the legends as well as the history. They love American here and the people are the friendliest we have met. They are very Christian in their values but not exclusive, if you know what I mean. They treat everyone wonderfully. I was especially drawn to the young people, who always greated us with smiles.

Next stop, the northern group of the Tongan Islands, a little island called Niuatoputapu. What an interesting place. This is a very remote place. They only receive supplies from a supply ship every three months. We were in luck. The ship, with the new King and Queen of Tonga was arriving the next day for a visit. The local people (all 500 of them) put their best foot forward for their king and we got to tag along. Sia, a local woman who has taken the "Yachties" under her wing, help us all enjoy the festivities and she and her family cooked us a Tongan meal, served on the sand of an atoll that was very close by. Niuatoputapu was devastated by a tsunami in 2009 and a cyclone last year. They have basically been starting from scratch. We all went back to our boats and took inventory. What could we do without? We brought many things into Sia and she drove us around to distribute. It was fun to imagine the young ladies wearing my clothes or shoes. They had so little. The mature ladies needed bigger sizes  They dress very traditionally. Shoulders and knees always covered. They wear woven mats around the middle of their bodies. Those who are grieving wear black with very large mats on top. The more difficult the death of their loved ones, the bigger and more uncomfortable are the mats. They also make them very tattered to show their sadness. Watching a grieving wife dance was very moving for me. You can see a picture of her in the gallery.

We went to a school, where folks gave supplies that were so appreciated. The kids and staff were great and you can also see pictures of them in the gallery. These are experiences that we will hold dear for the rest of our lives. Sometimes the passages to get to these places are a real challenge for me, but the destinations never disappoint.
We have now moved to the Vava'u Group of Tongan Islands. We are in a small town called Neiafu. There are some local fruits and vegetables here for sale and handicrafts. We found some things for the grandchildren and were able to mail them. Tonga is known for their stamps and we spent over an hour handpicking the stamps for the postcards and the little gifts. The staff was so much help. Mailing is such a big deal here. They went out of their way to help us make it happen. There are so few ways that we can keep connected to those we love. They must seem small to the recipients, but our hearts are in them from this end.

We always have small things that are broken and need attention on the boat (that have stumped us). We found a man who has helped us through them one by one and are feeling much relieved. Also, he gave us a contact for a possible crew member for the trip rom Fiji to New Zealand. I am not anxious to do that leg and want someone who has done it several times before to help us. Possibilities are opening up and I am glad. We will spend about a month here and will explore the outer islands. Our boat broker will be here from New Zealand on September 9th, and we will make our contractural agreement to put Realtime on the market. The plan is to sell her in New Zealand. We will live on her until she sells and then we will need to find housing until the Hawaii house is available. It is rented for the next 2 years. We will use the rental fees to do the upgrades that we want before moving back in while they can be deducted from our income taxes. In the meantime, we will look for housesitting situations of rent a small place. Maybe back in Mexico, where it is easier to get back to the states for visits. We'll see. There are lots of possibilities. We have to pinch ourselves that we have made it so far. What an adventure we are having. I will have to wait until I can find a shop with internet access to post this. So there will be a little delay. Also need that to create the gallery. Make sure and check out the pictures. These experiences are so visual. I hope you enjoy them. Malo...Karyn