Well, it's been quite a wild ride since we last wrote. We had left Port Vila intending to stay a few days at Mele Bay, Hideaway Island. Jenny was there, and it is a nice little anchorage. It is situated in a protected cove just in front of the Mele Village and the Hideaway island Resort. There is a nice little bar on the beach called......You guessed it - Beach Bar! They have a wood fired pizza oven, free fire dancing on Fridays, free movie with cheap pizza on Tuesdays, and happy hour every day, so there is lots to like. We especially liked that they have lots of big inflatable water toys that not only tourist kids get to play with, but the local village kids too. Good job, Beach Bar.

Anyway, we no sooner got there, and we got sick again. This time it was a flu that knocked us both down flat in our bunks for a whole week. We thought it might be dengue,, but it didn't totally fit the description. It was just a nasty flu. During this time, the weather took a dump, and it rained nearly non-stop for two weeks. Finally, we felt better, good enough to travel, but the weather was miserable. So then, we opted to stay a little longer even though we wanted to move. Then, we decided that the computer need a new virus protection, so into the bus to Port Vila we went. Got the software labeled "Not For Resale" "To Be sold With New Hardware Only". But this is Vanuatu - the third world. Some things you simply do not question. But the software wouldn't register, so this required another day trip into Port Vila. The guys needed to keep the computer over night to get it to work. Ok then, a third trip, just for the computer. It now works!

Then, the electrical solenoid for the propane system quit. This involved another day searching unsuccessfully for the elusive part. It was not to be found, so we operate our tank manually now. We are cruising yachties - we can make things work!

But it just seemed like one thing after another. Finally, the weather is nice. (We actually have had sunshine for the first time in a long time yesterday and today.) So today, we raised anchor and headed out of Mele Bay. We are at anchor tonight in a little bay called Esema. There is a very small village here - maybe 20 people. Already, a nice couple canoed out to say hello. They were off to their garden on the other side of the mangroves and asked if we might like some tomatoes. What a treat. Tomatoes are hard to find here in Vanuatu, so of course, we jumped at the chance. So our afternoon was spent watching an incredible sunset, listening to the birds and watching a huge sea turtle diving near the boat. Later, our new friends paddled back with a nice collection of beautiful red as well as some green tomatoes for us. We insisted that we pay the market price (or pretty close anyway).

Dinner was fresh fried green tomatoes. Mmmmmmm, good! So, it has been a special day. We will probably stay here a day or so before we move on further north. We have the anchorage completely to ourselves, and will probably go kayaking in the mangroves tomorrow. What a treat.

This then, is, "Your, No Longer Sick, Rock and Roll Argonauts" wishing you the best!