Everywhere we go on our coconut milk run we encounter flies. Usually, within a day of getting somewhere they’ve found us and start harassing us. They don’t bite, but they’re annoying when they land on you. Once we head off to the next place the wind blows them away. Today, I’m happy we’re moving as they’re here in great numbers this morning.
We also have other on-board residents. Shssh, don’t tell the agriculture inspectors! Two geckos are on board. What they’re living on we can’t fathom. Maybe they can catch some of these flies. We put out small pools of jam for them to eat, trying to keep them going. The first one hadn’t been seen in a week until the night before last. Then yesterday, I found a second one; he jumped on my leg as I stood in the galley. Why do they always jump on you and scare the life out of you? Geeze. I took him up to the cockpit to join the other gecko. He’s much smaller, so I’m certain it’s a second one.
Yesterday we went on a long, long dinghy expedition. The dinghy was filled to the brim with equipment. Our dive stuff for Susan and I. Steve’s hookah and the three of us. We entered and explored Swallows Cave. It’s a pretty cave marred with lots of graffiti. Some of it dates back to whaling times. I’m certain most of it doesn’t though. The “blue grotto” effect of the water was pretty. Outside the cave we did our first dive. It’s a steep wall dive and once you’re down to about 40 feet everything dies out and all color disappears. We only dove for about 20 minutes and decided to move on.
We dinghyed over to Mariner’s Cave and couldn’t realy find it. So, we headed back over to A’a island. The diving there was even better and there were lots of new corals to see. Many of the fish we’ve seen snorkeling, but there were a few new ones.
Today’s my birthday here, but not there. So, am I 47 or not, since I was born on that side of the dateline? I opened my presents anyway. Howard made a little bag of things, including a flower lei. Susan and I decided we’d celebrate twice each. Her birthday is the 21st.
2020 Update: For my birthday we tied up to a mooring ball so we could go to the Spanish Restaurant where they serve only paella. The warm and friendly family that run the place are great. It’s their mooring ball just for customers. The paella was pretty good until you tried to discern what the boney meat that was in it. I suspect it was chicken backs alone. It was still fabulous and we were serenaded afterwards. It’s a treasured memory. The floating art gallery was close to where we tied up for my birthday dinner. Really adorable. Underneath the boat the bottom was all sand and covered as far as the eye could see with blue starfish. They were socially distanced. Picture below from Susan in Australia, but this is the same species.
Best wishes to Donald and Katie as their big day approaches. I hope the weather cools a little before the big day. Val said it’s hot. It is here too, the humidity has come up the last couple of days.