I never miss a chance to look goofy.
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The Port Resolution Yacht Club--the cat was the commodore.
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9-5-2011 Although we were having a blast in Port Vila, it was time to move on. We left our spot at the sea wall, filled with fuel, and anchored out. We had pizza with Ken and Lori (S/V Trim) at the Numbawan restaurant right on the water and watched a gorgeous sunset. We left the next morning and were soon sailing with 15 to 20 knots off the port bow and six to eight foot seas. We passed behind Erramango Island at night and arrived at Port Resolution (so named by Captain Cook) on Tanna Island by 7 AM. We anchored in front of our friend Rick, who had sailed his Westsail 32 from Alaska. We stopped at Tanna Island as it has the 'world's most accessable volcano'. We visited the 'yacht club' and the rustic village that had solar panels. We paid Stanley (the local guide)to arrange for our ride up to Mount Yasur - the active volcano. After picking up a few more people (we had ten people in the back of the mid-sized truck and five in the front) we headed up the mountain. Riding to the top of Mt Yasur we passed through an unbelievable ash and pumice field that looked like the surface of the moon. As we arrived at the top parking area we were immediately hit in the face by fine ash. We were later told that the wind was not coming from the usual direction which brought the ash and fumes to us. We hiked up to the rim of the caldera and were amazed (frightened?) by the eruptions of the two active vents three hundrd feet below us. The vents woud rumble and grumble - then explode with violent force shooting gases and red lava bombs hundreds of feet into the air. We felt as though we were standing on the rim of a dragon's lair. We stayed until nightfall and watched the amazing display of red lava. We hiked down the mountain early as the fumes were choking us and waited in the dark for our bumpy ride back to Port Resolution. As we sped down the mountainside--over bumps, holes, trees, logs, etc.-- our driver was texting all the way--driving with one hand. No 'texting while driving' laws here. When we got back to Serenity she was covered in balck ash--which is more like course sand. We cleaned up the best we could and prepared for our departure the next day. Next stop--New Caledonia.
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A clown fish protecting his anemone home--they will charge right out into your mask!
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...pink coral...
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...mailing 'water-proof' postcards to Jack and Owen, our grandsons.
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