Happy Halloween
29 October 2012 | Neiafu, Tonga
Bill
Halloween is a new concept in Tonga but thanks to the Aquarium restraunts owner Mike Smith(not a common Tongan name) a great party was had by all. Melody won best costume, this was not a category but after 3 hrs the owner realized she was not a boy and gave her 2 milkshakes! The boys took second in the egg toss and the Tug of War had everyone a winner. They played games in the 90' sun ate popsicles and no-one has asked where's the candy. It reminded me of holidays in our neighborhood in Walla Walla.
Tonga is know for excellent diving and we are finding it difficult to disagree, visibility is often 100'+ and the health of the reef is the best we have seen.
The kids are slowly getting settled into there new school thankfully a few friends are also using Calvert and this has helped witht the transition.
Boats are beginning to head to NZ a calm weather window opend this week and although it will be a lot of motoring several boats elected to go and avoid the other extreme. The trip is about 1000miles 7-9 days for most of us, the fronts pass through NZ every 5 days so you will encounter at least one frontal system on your passage. Last week 60kt winds were encountered and made us thankfull for procrastinating. We are also trying to time our passage with a total eclipse on the 13/14th of November. The best location will be 260 miles N of NZ at 11am, it gets very nerve racking studying the weather so we will focus on the eclipse, realize we will hit one storm and pray for a clear day on the 14th.
Until then the diving should be good today, I am up early and I can see the bottom 30' off the side of the boat under a full moon!