Meeting Iguana

When we were in Mopelia, the last island we visited in French Polynesia, the local guy Hio told us the story of a guy who had been there just before us and was spearfishing near the pass and had his dinghy attacked by a shark. Then even later when we were in Pago Pago the customs guy told me the story of a boat who left without proper outbound clearance and when they arrived in Apia Western Samoa, they wouldn’t let them in. We also heard from our friends on True Blue V and Lady Carolina, both of whom have Island Packets, that there was this young guy with an Island Packet who had attached ice chests right to his deck for storage.

Finally, in Tonga, we caught up with the infamous Iguana. While we were at the Lape Island Tongan feast, Tim and a young man, Jack from Iguana, started talking. It turns out that Jack had also already heard of Tim and his spearfishing and was interested in going out with him. So, the next time we were in Neiafu, they went out to free dive the wreck in the harbor. Here’s what I wrote in my status email at the time…”When we were still in Neiafu, Tim went spearfishing with a kid, and by kid, I mean he’s probably in his late 20s or so, on the shipwreck there in the harbor. Tim had previously dived on it with the hookah, because it’s at 70-100 feet deep. Well, I guess when Jack (the kid) suggested it, Tim couldn’t resist the challenge, and off they went. Yes, Tim can still keep up with the youngsters. They came back with 5 fish between them, and we had trevally last night for dinner, which I can’t say any of us enjoyed very much. Except Brenden, that kid just loves fish.

Our next Exodus potluck, we invited Jack and Camille, but only Jack came. At the time I thought it was weird that Camille didn’t come, but spoiler alert, Camille is awesome, and we end up having a lot of fun hanging out together. It turns out we are pretty similar in that sometimes she just needs her me time. I can relate! At the potluck Theo and Wanda (Et Voila) brought some really good steak that had been vacuum sealed and brought from California. What a treat! But no one enjoyed it quite as much as Jack. I think they eat fish even more than we do!