We're just awake from a 4-hour, much needed nap, groggy, but in our room on Raiatea.

On our trip south and west, our first stop was in Oakland to visit with Conni's father, LaVerne. Staying with LaVerne was, as it always is, a delight. We spent a few days teaching him to use the old iPad that I had replaced so we now have email with him...don't we, LaVerne? He's one of our main resources so it's wonderful to have direct communication with him, finally.

With our engine work this year, we're carrying much less weight in gear than usual. 3 blue boxes, my Bill Bag, Conni's duffle, and both of our backpacks: quite a load, but much less than in years past. Our boxes were in the high 30-pound range rather than the usual 48-49-pounds each, and it made everything easier. In fact, when we opened them just now here in our Raiatea room, they had not been opened by TSA or Air Tahiti Nui, the FIRST time in all of our years of traveling. We had feared that our lifejacket CO2 cartridges might be removed, but they survived. Of course, every emergency life vest on the aircraft use the same cartridges, but they have been confiscated from other sailors. 3M 303, a UV protectant for plastics also survived, as did some caulk that we can't buy here.

After having to change every leg in our travel itinerary because of my surgery, we arrived in Papeete at 9PM local, but departed Papeete the this morning at 6AM. As most would do, we elected to stay in the airport for those hours rather than rent an expensive bed. We each had a cart of gear to watch, a pack for a pillow, and the worlds's hardest steel benches for a bed. I suppose the less said the better, but what a sleepless night it was. The very nice but loud welcoming dance group and drum group...well, they finally broke at midnight.

We're here in our usual bungalow C, with all of ur boxes and mess.

We did visit Wings and she is musty and dank, but seems OK in general. Tomorrow, it's our first day of work and we'll try to clear the cabin before we begin any other new projects.

Snore...