Hello Everyone!

We're finally out of Hiva Oa - which we call "The Jail!" The town is too far, the water is murky, and the anchorage is really rolly. After being trapped by a boat on our stern and bow, we decided it was time to go.

We've been dark for 3 days because our monitor for the ship's computer went out. This caused me to go to back up systems that haven't been touched in 18 months. They were a mess and I've been having trouble finding all the drivers and such. Another cruiser in our anchorage had an old monitor, so we should be okay until we get someplace to replace our broken monitor.

Kathy's weekly boring blog has more details. Here's a quick recap of the last few days.

We're finally out of Hiva Oa. After near killing myself on a super hike with another cruiser that had highlights of me sleeping near the summit under a bed of ferns; hiking at 2 am under 25 knot gusts of wind and rain on muddy ridges around 3000 feet. We walked for 23 out of 30 hours. It's a hike everyone should have to do once. I'm finally starting to recover. My knees were very sore for a few days and I had some pretty good cuts and scrapes on my hands and legs. For those of you wondering... Yes, we did get lost. Yes, I tried hugging a tree and calling for help. The boy scout handbook saved us because we eventually turned around.

Casey got two of her toes stuck in the hinge of our forward hatch. They look horrible and we all had a sleepless night trying to control her bleeding and pain. Kathy made me clean up all the blood. She's been a brave girl and we found a nurse on Tahuata to clean and bandage her wounds. Nothing is broken, but won't be in the water for awhile. It happened two days ago. She's still in some pain, but milking it for all it's worth. "Dad! I think I should have my own bell. You know - for when I need something."

Kathy cut her hand yesterday, but is otherwise okay. IT's a minor cut, but she's using it to get out of washing dishes. Tara is the only one unscathed., but thinks her dad should be washing all the dishes.

The bay here is beautiful. The water is very clear and warm. It's windy here though and one night the wind topped at 35 knots in the anchorage. It's from the land and coming off the mountains.