After a very pleasant week anchored off the Va'i Moana resort, we are ready to move on. The bug started to set in a couple of days ago. We are finding we consciously need to slow ourselves down. We have the time in our amended cruising schedule, and part of the goal is to take in the local culture.

It took a few days before we really started to engage. We quickly met the resort guests, but have also gotten to know the staff by name, and have conversations with them as we wait for meals. (We are not being charged to anchor off the resort, and use their beach and showers, so we try to have a meal a day in their restaurant.) Yesterday Sophie visited the village school and spent half a day with them - I am hoping she will write a post and describe this in more detail. Joanna from the resort invited us to attend church with her on Sunday, but I think at this point we do need to get moving again. The longer we stay in a place though, the deeper the experience.

The snorkeling here has been great for the kids. Lots of very colorful fish in shallower water to build their confidence. Across the bay there is a coral island that used to be the airstrip. The ocean side of this island is the best snorkeling we have had on the trip so far. There are also fantastic shells on the island, I believe left there by the birds.

Our next planned stop is Niuatoputabu, a Northern island of Tonga. We will either leave tonight if the winds are fair for loading the dinghy and transiting the pass, or more likely at first light tomorrow. This should put us in on Sunday. We can't clear in on Sunday, but it will be a short wait until Monday morning and a little isolation time to tidy the boat and do school work will be nice. If the weather is unsettled as we approach Niuatoputabu we will continue on to the Vavau group, arriving around Tuesday. As always, this could change with the weather.