September 1-7, 2014
Anchorage #30 is on the very eastern side of the Vava’u group. It was pretty amazing…
Logbook – September 1, 2014 (Nuku Island to Anchorage #30)
Passage Log Highlights
- 1050 Engines on
- 1053 Depart
- VHF relay re: vessel needing assistance. Relay between Analulu (land based) & M/V The Godfather Vessel Fidel w/ steering. Position as of 1052 am: 19 deg 09.9 S, 173 deg 37.8W drifting WNW @ 2mi/45min. 12 m ketch. Single hander. No sails up. Black hull, white deck. Godfather heading to Fidel – ETA ~ 3 hrs.
- 1220 – 19 deg 09.9 S 173 deg 39.3 W (updated position from Analulu. No VHF contact with Godfather)
- 1300 Engines off Anchorage #30
Daily Notes
- Happy hour on Exodus w/ LC, Sudoeste, Dafne, Moana Roa
- Before – boys play on beach, D/T shallow snorkel
Logbook – September 2, 2014 (Anchorage #30)
Daily Notes
- Boys choose LC hull cleaning instead of school
- T/D – walk up the ridge, beers in the tree house
- Joel’s 10th bday party. Roasted hot dogs & capture the flag
Email to family and friends dated September 2, 2014
Subject: Exodus – Kenutu
We are anchored in the lee of a small island called Kenutu on the eastern fringe of the Vava’u island group. It is spectacular here. It is a string of small islands, and the surf rushes through the gaps and sends a spray up producing quite a show. The island isn’t very big, but there is a short hike up to the top where there is a view of the rugged Western side, and Tim and I even saw a sea turtle chillin in the surf below. We are with a horde of kid boats right now (five boats, 11 kids), and yesterday was Joel’s 10th birthday, so there was a party on the beach with hot dog roasting and capture the flag. Good times. The night before we had all the parents over on Exodus and all 11 kids went over to Dafne (another catamaran) and the kids weren’t allowed to play video games or watch a movie. Not a surprise that Alex turned into a small kid jumping bag. They had a good time, and we will be sad to see most of this group, including Lady Carolina, leave for Fiji within the next week.
Love and miss you all,
-D.
Logbook – September 3, 2014 (Anchorage #30)
Daily Notes
- D – run laps on the beach then hike along the ridge
- T/S/Kyle – spearfish on outside – Tim came back w/ a parrot fish and rock cod
- Potluck w/ LC
Logbook – September 4, 2014 (Anchorage #30)
Daily Notes
- Started Spanish lessons
- T – installed 12 V outlet @ nav station
- Yummy fish for dinner
Email to family and friends dated September 4, 2014
Subject: Exodus – Fish!
Last night we enjoyed parrot fish and rock cod sauteed in garlic and red pepper flakes. Tim had some success spear fishing on the other side of the island, in the washing machine of the Pacific Ocean. It was a nice treat. We hadn’t had fish like that since Mexico.
We are still at Kenutu, all alone now after all the other kid boats have left. We had a pleasant quiet evening yesterday, but today I think we will move to be closer to town. Sunday, we will head into town to have a couple days to shop and clean and get ready for Dad and Karen’s visit.
The boys and I started Spanish lessons yesterday. When we left on this trip I thought we would pick up languages, but it hasn’t quite panned out, so I’ve decided to add it to their curriculum. I let them choose between French and Spanish, but they had to do the same one. I’m glad they chose Spanish, since I can be a better teacher with spelling and pronunciation than I could be with French. Brenden seemed to enjoy it. He tries hard with his pronunciation, and he happily engaged in Spanish conversation with me the rest of the day…”Hola, como esta?” Alex is going through the motions and just seems annoyed by it all. Teenagers.
-D.
Logbook – September 5, 2014 (Anchorage #30)
Daily Notes
- T/B spearfish – rock cod
- Family hike on Unuma to massive cave w/ pool
Email to family and friends dated September 5, 2014
Subject: Exodus – Seclusion
There’s something to be said for having an anchorage all to yourselves. And this one is pretty special, I’m surprised no one else has shown up in the last 24 hours. Night before last we had another boat that played loud country music, but last night it was just us and the sound of the surf. Yesderday morning, Tim and Brenden went spear fishing yesterday and came back with another Rock Cod. Then in the afternoon, we all dinghied up to the next island, called ‘Umuma, and hiked around and climbed down into a huge cave with a fresh water pool inside. At least the guidebook said it was freshwater, none of us tested it to be sure.
-D.
Logbook – September 6, 2015 (Anchorage #30 to Nuku Island)
Passage Log Highlights
- 0935 Engines on
- 0945 Depart
- 1122 Arrive Nuku Island
Daily Notes
- D/T snorkel at a’a. A/B – beach games w/ kids
- Potluck w/ LC on Exodus
- Bonfire w/ LC, Dafne, Moxie (Mike, Denise, 2 girls), twin boys from Elena
September 7, 2014 (Nuku Island to Neiafu)
Passage Log Highlights
- 1718 Engines on
- 1725 Depart
- 1733 Port engine off
- 1825 Port engine on
- 1851 Engines off Neiafu
Daily Notes
- T/Steve – spearfish, D-solo snorkel
- A/B beach day all day w/ LC & Dafne
- Adios to Lady Carolina – they are headed to Fiji, we will meet up in NZ
Email to family and friends dated September 7, 2014
Subject: Exodus – Back in Neiafu
We are once again back in town to do some shopping, laundry, etc. We said good-bye to Lady Carolina yesterday, since they are leaving for Fiji this morning, possibly they’ve already departed. We’ve been cruising with them since last June, so it’s sort of like the end of an era or something. The kids are pretty bummed, so luckily Papa and Nana are coming to lift their spirits! After we left Kenutu we spent the night at Nuku where there were several other kid boats as well, and we had a beach bonfire and yesterday the kids were on the beach from about 11am to 4pm. Luckily one of the other moms brought sandwiches for all the kids, since my boys had only a couple small bags of trail mix. I figure, at 12 and 13, when they’re hungry, they’ll come home for lunch, right? Anyway, instead of delivering my kids lunch I went for a solo snorkel along the island of Nuku.
-D.
Gresham Family Exodus 