the other side

I've mentioned before that I try to write both sides of cruising. The fun is so fun and the difficulties can be so difficult. After such an amazing day on Sunday, we're now having two days of chores, frustrations and planning. There's always a list of last minute things to do before we head on to a new place. In this case, we're intending to stop in the central island group of Tonga, which has very little information published about it. Pete has been going from boat to boat with blank CD's and a memory stick, copying cruising guides, lists of uncharted reefs, and radio schedules. Someone recently remarked that modern sailors spend more time fiddling with their computers than with their sails. It's true. Pete also borrowed a DVD burner to back up our laptop, and after about 4 hours of messing around and letting it work, it ruined 3 DVD's and we had no back up. In the end, he did find something that worked, so we now have a disc with our whole life on it. I spent yesterday doing dishes, teaching school, putting on clean sheets, putting away laundry and cooking. Nothing unusual about that, it's basically what I did at home. Water is not free here or easy to get, so we're rationing a bit and it didn't seem unreasonable to pay $25 to have four loads of laundry washed, dried and folded.

We had hoped to be on our way today, but after a crazy day of computing, cleaning up, sharing digital pics with Dolphins and fixing the sailing dinghy mast, we didn't have it in us to stow the dinghies, put away the snorkel gear and leave at 4 a.m. The trip to Ha'apai is 60 miles, and with light winds predicted, that might take up to 12 hours. It's best to leave plenty early in the morning to arrive in daylight. Night entries around here are not safe, with all the coral and uncharted reefs. Luckily there is a full moon, so an early morning departure should be no problem.

Now today, I'm doing my usual school, dishes, cooking and cleaning up. The kids are jumping in the water off the rope swing and Pete is scraping green slime off the bottom of the boat. When we only travel at 5-7 mph, every bit of drag we can eliminate is helpful. "Imagine" really needs new bottom paint, which is on our to do list for New Zealand.

The kids have been extremely whiny lately, which isn't helping our general stress level at all. We keep enforcing that respect for one another is important. I am neither a maid or a short order cook. There will always be someone who doesn't like what I cook and someone who needs to pick up their own mess. Pete is thinking hard about making this next bit safe and sane. He's having another bout of insomnia, so isn't as up to his usual energy level. We have enjoyed Tonga, but it's been a bit tainted with the stress we're feeling about the future.

A number of people commented after the birthday party that I should coordinate events at home. Gee do you think so? I am really looking forward to some normal life for a while. I feel myself slipping into bouts of frustration and missing my own life at home. I've left a lot of myself behind for this trip and yet I've been stretched in new directions that I think will change me forever. Pete is the opposite and is really concerned about the future and his career opportunities. He would go on sailing forever. Our faith is pulling us through a difficult time, and your prayers are really appreciated.

Back to work- Kellie