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Begin forwarded message:
From: Antoinette Ridout <antoinette.ridout@gmail.com>
Date: September 24, 2011 5:29:19 PM GMT-11:00
To: Peggy Hill <peghill6@gmail.com>
Subject: Goodbye Summer....
Thinking of you on Satday night.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Fwd: Goodbye Summer....
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Begin forwarded message:
Sunday, September 25, 2011
I declare,I Love Tonga
I declare,I Love Tonga
Joey is back aboard!
One week ago,
O.K, two weeks ago
we arrived to the aftermath of the full moon party we were bound from American Samoa to join. Many sailing friends were here for the local regatta, sailboat races, ridiculous races,parties,games,all proceeds for the enhancement of the local education . Early that Sunday morning,coming into the green,flat topped hilly islands we were initiated into Tongas splendor ,astounded by the presence and arc of a humpback whale.I cannot find the words to express the feeling it invoked in me.
We moored at Niafu ,the town where immigration checks us into The Vava' U group of the 170 Tongan islands.We choose a mooring,advised by friends who have been amongst the large group participating in the towns regatta. A sailing race had taken many to a beach at the far end and they were sailing back Monday morning . Don Quixote,Discovery,Salamander,Steel Sapphire,Julianno2 ,Top Secret,Yaringa,Narama -and long anticipated,Wendy on Beyond all here .Over the weeks more friends from longer ago and further away , trickle back into our GPS.New friends merge,moving with us through and passed new places.
We moored and Joey and Olivia vamoosed to Kirks boat Discovery to join Don Quixote and others who were seeking a quiet anchorage to hang over for a night.
David and I went to track down Beyond ,anchored at the races end,a beach a car ride away.
We had an exuberant visit with John and Wendy,two dinners and a party BBQ for the regatta awards.A great band satisfied my enduring longing to get up and dance,like a tribal claim. They left for Fiji last week, completing a five year circumnavigation. WOW! We will meet them before our final leg to NewZealand .
In the Vava' U there are 42 numbered anchorages,the names too difficult to pronounce.We have been to two so far,#7 and # 17. Peaceful,easy,temperate with rain,caves that take you out of your comfort zone..,outrageous coral- seen from my kayak and through mask. swimming- so healing and comforting,despite the odd jelly fish....
Today,Sunday morning,peaceful,early is Mums Birthday.So strange to think we are a day ahead of our home Canada. On Thursday David,Joey and Olivia choreographed. a perfect birthday for me. David arranged with the locals at anchorage17 to have a Tongan feast,a " porker party" with fish salad,roast spuds ,grilled fish and all our neighbors in the anchorage.It poured rain but we got close on the porch of the local one room school house .We sat and ate our abundantly full plates at small wood desks established with Tongan names written in each right hand corner and English words taped to the backs of things . It would have been a perfect day if I could have had Jeremy and Philippa and all my loves from home walk with David and I that morning on a big lonely beach and share the sight - a spout of exclaim from a far off whale. The funny part,with all the nice to Peg for a day slogans,when I woke the next morning I found that I could use the worlds rotation to declare that in Canada,it was in fact still my birthday! despite my huge surprise of a new computer(!!) I haven't been able to get to face book and have only had a few exchanges via our ocens satellite email account.I sooo look forward to notes from home .
Today we are going to church,with our appropriate length dresses and most certainly a camera in hand," Sunday best" here in the islands is extreme,colorful and delightful.
Joey is back aboard!
One week ago,
O.K, two weeks ago
we arrived to the aftermath of the full moon party we were bound from American Samoa to join. Many sailing friends were here for the local regatta, sailboat races, ridiculous races,parties,games,all proceeds for the enhancement of the local education . Early that Sunday morning,coming into the green,flat topped hilly islands we were initiated into Tongas splendor ,astounded by the presence and arc of a humpback whale.I cannot find the words to express the feeling it invoked in me.
We moored at Niafu ,the town where immigration checks us into The Vava' U group of the 170 Tongan islands.We choose a mooring,advised by friends who have been amongst the large group participating in the towns regatta. A sailing race had taken many to a beach at the far end and they were sailing back Monday morning . Don Quixote,Discovery,Salamander,Steel Sapphire,Julianno2 ,Top Secret,Yaringa,Narama -and long anticipated,Wendy on Beyond all here .Over the weeks more friends from longer ago and further away , trickle back into our GPS.New friends merge,moving with us through and passed new places.
We moored and Joey and Olivia vamoosed to Kirks boat Discovery to join Don Quixote and others who were seeking a quiet anchorage to hang over for a night.
David and I went to track down Beyond ,anchored at the races end,a beach a car ride away.
We had an exuberant visit with John and Wendy,two dinners and a party BBQ for the regatta awards.A great band satisfied my enduring longing to get up and dance,like a tribal claim. They left for Fiji last week, completing a five year circumnavigation. WOW! We will meet them before our final leg to NewZealand .
In the Vava' U there are 42 numbered anchorages,the names too difficult to pronounce.We have been to two so far,#7 and # 17. Peaceful,easy,temperate with rain,caves that take you out of your comfort zone..,outrageous coral- seen from my kayak and through mask. swimming- so healing and comforting,despite the odd jelly fish....
Today,Sunday morning,peaceful,early is Mums Birthday.So strange to think we are a day ahead of our home Canada. On Thursday David,Joey and Olivia choreographed. a perfect birthday for me. David arranged with the locals at anchorage17 to have a Tongan feast,a " porker party" with fish salad,roast spuds ,grilled fish and all our neighbors in the anchorage.It poured rain but we got close on the porch of the local one room school house .We sat and ate our abundantly full plates at small wood desks established with Tongan names written in each right hand corner and English words taped to the backs of things . It would have been a perfect day if I could have had Jeremy and Philippa and all my loves from home walk with David and I that morning on a big lonely beach and share the sight - a spout of exclaim from a far off whale. The funny part,with all the nice to Peg for a day slogans,when I woke the next morning I found that I could use the worlds rotation to declare that in Canada,it was in fact still my birthday! despite my huge surprise of a new computer(!!) I haven't been able to get to face book and have only had a few exchanges via our ocens satellite email account.I sooo look forward to notes from home .
Today we are going to church,with our appropriate length dresses and most certainly a camera in hand," Sunday best" here in the islands is extreme,colorful and delightful.
Sent from my iPad
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