Pacific Odyssey - Leg 3

We are out at sea and the entire group is meeting in the stern to talk about the trip and how things are going for everyone.  It´s a good chance to talk about the positive aspects of our lives on the ship and the issues that need improving.  The night is beautiful; the moon is waxing and it´s already so bright we can see each other on deck.  The sky is clear so there may be some stargazing during night watches.  We do not have very far to go so we have just the starboard course up and it´s moving us along at a nice 5kts, hopefully slow enough to get us to Savai´i by first light.  There is a gentle rocking motion on the ship; Tom has already been coughing up over the side.  He has been such a good sport about his seasickness; he takes it in stride and after heaving, often has something very funny to say; he keeps us laughing.  Savai´i is the second largest island in Independent Samoa. It is less peopled and everyone we talk to says it is beautiful.  We will have a day and a bit to look around before we start our passage to Tonga.  Today was a good day, but a very hot day. Saturday is a relatively quiet day in Samoa, most shops close by lunch and don´t open until Monday.  Sunday is a day for church and life slows right down. About half of the trainees visited Fatumea Pool, 18km east of Apia.  Here you can swim in clean, clear springs and explore water-filled caves.  Susan and Jen both shared with the group how they were nervous to swim below the water and through the caves, but that, with encouragement from Tom, Chris and Carolyn C. they did it, and felt incredibly satisfied with them selves because of it.  Karen, Katie, Gillian and Jose visited Robert Louis Stevenson´s house and hiked up Mt. Vaea to see the view and the gravestone.  Jaimie told us tonight that although snorkelling in deep water makes her anxious, she went with Chris to the reef at Palmerston to check out the fish, sharks and tortoises. The wind was blowing wildly and the waves kept filling up her snorkel but she swam the 200m to the reef.  When Chris was stung by a jellyfish, she offered to return to the ship with him.  On their return, she saw a huge tortoise swim by and she grabbed Chris and told him how she was quite nervous and could she please hold on to his arm.  It´s wonderful to see and learn about what is in the ocean, but being in such an abyss of blueness and seemingly bottomless-ness, can be un-nerving.  Chris let her hold on to his arm, sticking it out again for her to grab once she had taken a photo of the tortoise, and checking regularly to see if she was okay, waiting for her ´thumbs-up´ signal before continuing.  She said he was wonderful, so gracious, and when she reached the Grace again, she didn´t care that she saw toilet paper floating, she was thankful to be climbing up the rope ladder.  She laughed as she told the story, we laughed with her, she told it so wonderfully.  Yesterday Jordan shaved Noah´s head.  He´s not bald, but it´s pretty short.  Noah loves it and his little brother Simon, now has a hair appointment with Jordan for tomorrow.  Susan had her hair trimmed by the resident barber; she says she feels pounds lighter.  A small group of us went and asked permission to spend a few hours in the swimming pool belonging to the Aggie Grey´s Hotel.  It was wonderful to play in fresh water; it felt very luxurious lounging among the paying guests, staying cool, enjoying the sun and trying to read a few pages of a book.  The kids loved it and were in the pool the entire time.  Several trainees and crew returned to the Maketi fou, the market, and came home with some great souvenirs; bowls, swords and trays made of wood and carved with Samoan motifs.  Before leaving the dock at about 1830 today, many crew and trainees were able to squeeze in a final fresh water shower.  I found out today that Tristan´s parents are also coming to Fiji to visit the boat.  It should be a good time.  This is it, good night, until tomorrow, Bonice.