9 August

We've been here for 4 weeks. Although we've tried to take it a bit easier, it's still been fairly constant work. We're NOT working today! We had a great sleep on this mooring and the predicted wind event has just arrived, about 16 hours late.

The port captain motored through the mooring field this morning and asked to be paid, so we'll splash the dinghy, mount the outboard, and go pay. With luck, we can dump some garbage and get a shower key: we have in the past. We'll also ask if we can siphon 5 gallons of water. We'll take every opportunity to acquire it, although our tanks hold 140 gallons.

Fridge Report: Last night, the fridge drained 62 AHr of energy (an Amp x 12V x time = energy) from our batteries, about 1/2 of the old fridge, and it STILL froze our milk! Conni will reduce the control again, to its lowest setting, and if needed, I can set the entire system on "Low", the least energy possible (it's on 1/3 presently). At 62 AHr, the solar panels can make a dent for a few days. I'm VERY impressed!

We did go to the harbor master's office and we did get a shower key: hot showers when we're here!

10 August

It was a lazy morning and my birthday: 74 years. We had both noticed that our two solar panels were not performing well, so late in the afternoon and after the sun abated for a bit, I tracked the problem after some searching, and got them rolling, I hope.

Conni prepared a fine hors d'oeuvres setting and a great cocktail of gin, Schwepps' Indian Tonic, unavailable in the US, and we enjoyed the last light of the day. Afterwards, we jumped into the dinghy and enjoyed a hot shower (not to be underestimated). We strolled over to our reservation to Voile d'Or, a small restaurant at the Apooiti Marina, home of Sunsail and Mooring yacht charter services.

We each had a great meal! Mine was red tuna, seared with spices and raw in the middle as it should be, and Conni's was white tuna with curry. Our server was a riot, constantly making fun of our French: Bill-"Merci", server "you want mercy from my jokes?" Very fun evening.

11 August

We awakened late today: 0800, late for us. Our panels were already putting in 3 amps! By 1000, they were running the fridge and still putting in 6-7 amps. Unbelievable!

We motored to the port captain and requested another night here, since the weather is supposed to be crap tonight. We'll go pay tomorrow and depart by noon or so. We would like to stay in Apu Bay on Taha'a tomorrow, and on to Bora Bora the day after. Well, that's the plan...