Love In Aboard Rhythm

Our good buddies Rob and Squeak are here and ,as I was swimming Rob sat on the bow and we chatted ,we started talking about way way way back. Where and when and who ,how did our silky web of friendships begin? My nephew is here playing a sound track and it too is taking me home,as though he stole an old CD from us 10 yrs ago and brought it back. Earlier this morning I kayaked up a green jungle river which meandered Nam like. The smell of stagnant water took me really far back to our backyard on Russell hill rd. But it was names and narrative that inspired my heart and this long over due entry.
Joey left from Tahiti the night Sq,Rob,Charlie and Brooke arrived. He's gone to cram in two gr12 math credits at Yonge and Eg., staying with my parents. Enjoying the cottage with Jeremy, and his loving big sister . My sisters son,Eli,18 is our replacement crew for the summer..Dynamically,it's much more harmonious for me- without the Hitler youth(Joey,first mate..cough arrogant cough brat) With Joey,I react,run to my birth and slam the door . Eli is just great,into fishing,already been spear fishing,game to learn and quick to step up to task. I am facetious about Joey,we do miss him...
We have traveled from Tahiti to Moorea,and are now moored in a second spot in Raiatea of Iles de les societe . Tomorrow we head the twenty miles to Bora Bora .On the fourteenth,under the light and magic of a full moon we look forward to a Fr Polynesian national holiday ,likened to Mardi Gras. Rob leaves the next day .Sq and kids stay for July.
Having Sq and Rob is full on cottage mode holiday grunge,lots of wet towels and now after the initiation of all our mental rules,we hear our voices taken up and crew scold crew in water consumption,blah,blah,much fuss over the flush and swim concepts. Squeak came laden with goodies,not that my more sedate lifestyle needs reinforcement,however,the one size up in a new pair of lulu lemon shorts helps make room for my beloved Ginger people candies,black licorice . Rob answered my longing for Patron,such decadence and such fun. Together we have gone on hikes ,snorkeling with rays and sharks ,rented a beach bungalow for 4 days and nights that we shared in Moorea, bike ride in Huahine .We have just loved dinner parties by the beach uniting old friends and new friends.
Patty sent ' rhythm ' T shirts for all and got us new iPods and a fat hard drive for the photos and video I can now download. Michael arranged the boys flights for us. Jennifer and Sue dropped hand written notes to send with Eli,what an unexpected gift! Books and black licorice hearts from Jen,many thanks.
Once we trade back teen boys,we will head to Tonga and on down to the north Island of New Zealand. There,due to weather patterns and Olivias semi aborted early high school education,we hang our hats for a season. We may stay or Olivia may stay but we need to do something to facilitate her conventional education .
Anyone care to join us for Christmas!? Jeremy and Philippa and my parents will be down . We would adore it if you could join us..
It's been challenging but the skipper is merry,Joey is very well,Olivia and I wouldn't miss it and have much to be very grateful and thrilled about but but...it is hard to carve a little " you" aboard such a caravan. I can't even begin to imagine the return trip,I'm still trying to figure out who am I anyway? The answers I give myself so far are not too illuminative ,no epiphany ,no " by George Ive got it!!"
The friendships make as we gypsy about are a very sweet butter of the journey.
The friendships back home help us feel grounded as we float about on the metaphoric swelling ,rushing, lapping,roaring,undulating waters of the earth we share.
Until Later and with Elis help,pictures!!!! Stand by.Over.

Re: It's about time

Thanks for the imagery....stunning! Very jealous!! What a great
experience for everyone. Mags and I are committed to getting back on the
water next spring, and I can't wait! We rented a boat the other day to
check out one of our club's outstations on the islands and it was so nice
to be back in the environment. I hope you'll consider a Pacific Northwest
leg to your journey as it really is stunning here, if not quite as
culturally divergent (or hot, I'd imagine). ;)

Love to all,

Sean

On 11-06-29 10:13 PM, "Peggy Hill" <peghill6@gmail.com> wrote:

>I'm writing this before I've even got an Internet connection. I see David
>typing away on his real computer with his paid connection the past
>weeks,I've sent wee missiles via satellite but ,oh- to have my old iPad
>and it's familiar screen....simple. It's merely a virtual exercise right
>now.
>We are enroute to Tahiti from the smaller island of Moorea.
>A brief catch up geographically..We landed in French Polynesia after
>almost 17 days crossing from Galapagos,landing in Fatu Hiva of the
>Marquesas .Gorgeous ! Then Rangiroa of the Tuamoto group. We stayed there
>for 3 weeks..We were anchored in Moorea for 4 nights. There was an annual
>puddle-jump regatta thingy,"Tahiti Moorea Rendezvous "to be exact . The
>cruisers choreographed- locals hired,inspired with much dance,delivering
>to all your childhood expectations ,3 woman sitting keepers of a long
>bountiful spread of tropical flowers for us to create as many floral lays
>( you know,the floral necklace) as our hearts desire- anything to perfume
>our mildewy homes..I took much footage of the dancers,very
>Maori,Hawaii,Tahitian . Both Joey and Olivia were in outrigger canoe
>races ,winning heats,Joey and Magalis team got to the finals and lost in
>a dramatic smash splash photo finish- not a lot of this in their lives.
> Joey leaves from the city , Papeete tomorrow night at 11:45 pm and
>Squeak,Rob ,Charlie and Brooke arrive at 9:30 pm .A two hour airport
>party! Joey and Magali have the most precious calf love relationship,so
>tender and affectionate and darling. Someday David and I may reach that
>level of innocent non competitive compatibility,but,then again this ain't
>no island summer youth inspired medium...oy! OY! It is!
> Nephew Eli arrived a couple of days ago and slipped right in
>,fitting like a fine salty dog.He is such a congenial,entertaining,fun
>loving character,a perfect Patty/ Michael cocktail. Rhythms pontoons
>will be low to the water as every bed will soon be concave with bodies.
>Magali,Joeys insanely adorable girlfriend is aboard for the airport
>pilgrimage,apparently Air Tahiti may be on strike- Joeys exit
>airline....Everyday,I try and live by ," being O.K with ' what is'" Very
>challenging! This life,especially at anchorage is very social,like a
>Florida complex with better decor.....So the challenge is to be free and
>liberated,to go with the proverbial f l o w,but still,just yesterday I
>find myself behaving like an impatient child while David chats to a
>cruiser about the local chow mien ,Dios Mio! LETS GO!!! Like wise,we are
>both braced and very very excited to have the Ridout/Armstrong s here for
>July( Rob leaves on July16th)
>
>So,Joey is going home for math and back Aug 31 st It will be very
>interesting how this change reverberates in the collective ego here
>aboard Rhythm
>
>We r now anchored in the Miami of the French Polynesians, Tahiti,very
>Hawaii,very comfy- flash showy vessels,the biggest 100 ft + cat. Ive
>ever seen. It's now night with David and I quiet aboard,having done my
>first gourmand grocery shop since Panama,ooo,la la! The French know salts
>and cheese and tapenade and chocolate and relish ' aubergene ,rice
>crackers and here ,we reap the imports from NZ,pomme de crisp de sweet
>de fresh!
>We now have Internet,we now are surrounded by sculpted local athletes
>,like the boy men who raced beside our boat,just like Dolphins ,they in
>slim sleek kayaks and cutting edge competitive outriggers,the tattooed
>young sponsored indigenous studs were the most auspicious welcome we' ve
>ever had. I now need to rise at dawn to catch up from weeks of pre-"
>throw in the towel"physical fitness /do this at home maintenance.
>We think the flights are on for Joey tomorrow night so, now,the kids are
>on land with the intension and energy of a bon voyage.
>At 7:45, the sun set a while ago,pre dinner full,Im heading for bed.It
>will take a couple of hours but,Im enjoying music wafting from
>somewhere,the declining temperature,the feeling of a caravan community re
>settled and tomorrows departures and arrivals to catalyze mo'emo.
>I think of y'll everyday no matter how hard I try and stay present.I just
>had to bring you along
>love ,love,Peg
>P.S. Please,if Ive forgotten anyone,help me out amigos,just scooping
>lovingly from the golden pond of contacts in head heart and in de iPad.
>
>
>Sent from my iPad