It's 5:30PM, now, raining, and we're afloat in the little launch slip at the Carenage. What a day!

This is the day that we had hoped to be launched, since we could stay in their launch slip and take on water and use their electricity for one last time. We want batteries and all electronics to be fully charged when we depart.

On Wednesday, we worked all day on various projects, primarily my work on the aft head. I replaced the entire pump and re-routed the entry water hose so that it properly ran through the vented loop. Without much detail, a vented loop, or siphon break, allows water to be pumped through under pressure, but when the pumping stops, the resulting lower pressure triggers the vented loop to open and water isn't allowed to siphon from the ocean to inside the boat. It's a clever device that works well. I had foolishly used the hose routing that was on the boat when we bought her, but that was wrong and I should have changed it years ago. It's done, now, although it was an all-day affair.

Thursday, we did...NOTHING! We read and lay around, our first day of no work in 3 weeks and neither of us felt bad about it. It was so nice to just relax and look at the world without several important tasks to accomplish.

Conni and I would like to recommend the Raiatea Carenage for their exemplary service to us. True to his work, Dominique produced a replacement fixture for our bow bicolor that he broke. He had one of his sons wire it in place this afternoon. No scrimping, he bought an LED-powered lamp and got it installed. Thank you, Dominique.

Today, we knew...we hoped...that we'd be in the water today. We did what we could to prepare and when the trailer backed to lift the boat, we were paying our bill in preparation for departure. They launch sailboats with a standard TraveLift, the device with wheels that maneuvers over of a boat and lifts it with slings, but they pack in the boats with a trailer since they can stack the boats closer. I hope to have photos of the machine hand-off posted tonight.

We'll get the water tanks filled tonight or tomorrow. Our main engine started quickly, a huge deal for us. Our battery cranked it and the engine started easily. Our solar panels are doing very well. Our generator works. We have two working heads, again. All of our B&G electronics seem to function although we've got sea trials for the new autopilot at some point. All in all, we had hoped to have 3 weeks of work and 7 of sailing and we're down to 5 weeks of work and 5 of sailing, but "it is what it is."

Tomorrow, we'll complete our tasks and motor out of here. I've got no idea when I can post another blog or webpage, but I'll try.

Our tentative schedule is to cross the pass between Raiatea and Taha'a, our sister island in the same lagoon. We'll spend the first night, tomorrow night, in Apu Bay, directly across from us, although perhaps a few nights. Then, we'll travel up the Taha'a coast to Tapuamu Bay and stay several days there. There's a rum distillery that we love to visit. Afterward, we'll have a good idea on boat condition so we'll probably make it across to Huahine. Fare, the main village will be our first stop, as usual. We can re-provision there, get some Internet, and a cheeseburger in paradise! Later, we'll follow the Huahine coast to Avea Bay, one of our favorites. My birthday will be spent, as many before, enjoying a good meal at the Relais Mahana Lodge. Check out these places.

After I wrote this, an Australian friend dropped by and invite us to dinner tonight. We accepted, so all of the schedule is delayed by one night.