On Suwarrow Cook Island Atoll
We attended our last shark feed and potluck dinner on Suwarrow last night. They are so very special. In the morning,James demonstrated how to make coconut pancakes by first collecting the sprouted coconut pod with no more than two to three leaves,inside, the coconut milk is solid ,spongy and sweet,the meat ,closest to the shell is at this stage,hard opaque and bland tasting,to be tossed. One grates the "pod" and then combines equal parts flour ,sugar to taste and then mix with enough fresh water to create a consistency like that of a cow pie. Then they are ready to deep fry. I recommend using coconut oil - just enough to coat the pan . It was special too as John had collected upon the reef many purple spined sea urchins. A delicacy ,one eats them freshly opened ,with condiments as one would dress oysters,I enhanced the slither with lime and hot sauce ,conscious of it's high price at restaurants world wide .I had to trust the park ranger in John in his call to share the creatures with us. I had just began to collect on the beach the washed up purple pencil shaped coral/ shells that were once the live spikes on the sea urchins body. I'm going to send them home for my girlfriends...The entire atoll is made up of coral of course and Ive been really disciplined about not bringing too much aboard. The evening was fun and entertaining as always . I really get a kick out of the two older American men solo sailing ,Kennedy,a lawyer from Alabama aboard FarStar and Jerry aboard Challenger,a North Carolina man who caught his first shark at age 12. Just to hear the two of them speak on the radio is a daily treat.Last night Kennedy commented on my dress,I like a lady who dresses up. Oh man! I couldn't measure up to the feminine glam of those southern gals. Oh yes ,practicing divorce law for27 years he confessed,displayed many a gilded woman...
To think I was forlorn and I was sad to see our new friends leave on Saturday and didn't think the " new fleet" would find me a friend,however,I find with yachties we nomads have a very strong bond in our common denominator. I met a woman last night,Jo,born in Canada,married Rob,an Aussie.His family are boat builders and while they were married and honeymooned in Bequia,they designed,BlueMoon before returning home to build her. They are now enroute back to NZ where they bought a fine strip of land on the north island where they plan on building an earth bound home. There is one powerboat among our fleet,a rarity and the couple,Adam and Eve are from Los Angeles ,the boat called...Eden! they seem so clean and fit and young and talk passionately about the tv series,she saying thats all there is to do.I suspect,I betchcha,that they've got a little gym aboard! I really enjoy Warren and Marie aboard,( I forget)Met them in Riatea. they are Dutch and I got all excited talking about Laura and Guppy and Jillian.( as I always do and realize I miss them both and often wonder how Laura is doing and where she is,Marie informed me that she is already entering the Torres Strait!! Almost clearing Australia!!)
Yesterday I thought,if I can see something even a little thrilling of nature daily and talk to someone I've just met,daily I think this trip is indeed healthy and bountiful. However,not complete,even Eli says ,one needs a hobby. Ive tried to engage Olivia in some sewing,the machine is poised and if we cant sew in Suwarrow,we never will!!...? The last few days I've struggled with that pull between the frenetic life I've left behind and living so very close to nature at a pace that is,at present not very demanding. I'm reading and swimming daily,cooking and being a little social.David today seems happy and proud as he just cooked his first loaf of bread.I've decided we all need to take turns ,I made the one white loaf underway,Olivia spent. A day making traditional boiled and baked bagels and next will be Eli who wants to make Naan ,Indian bread.
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