Breakfast Eggs and Spaceships

So this morning Kim was fixing leftovers for her breakfast, and I though ” hum, a good idea”, so I pulled out my leftovers from last night dinner from the frig. As I cooked the eggs, and heated up the black beans and rice from Isabel, (Flanders & NW 10th, Portland) I asked Kim if she thought I could flip the eggs without a spatula. She said “sure, but do it over the sink, Ace!” Ace is Kim’s nick name for me when she knows things are not going to go well. I grab the pan, move over to the sink, start moving, my hand and pan, back and forth. Kim then states, ” Hey, Ace, those are the last two eggs, and Daniel and Lindsay might not have any.” (For the readers who do not know, Daniel and Lindsay are our neighbors in the building we live in. We raid each other’s pantry for items we need. Often, the items are never to be replaced. Needless to say our building is a tight group of people. P.S. check out Daniel Stark Photography, just one of the best photographers on the west coast.) Moving on, I decide that I can not waste my two eggs, and start to look for the damn spatula, (which I misspelled so bad, that the spell check only idea was spaceship) Kim took the pan from me and flipped the eggs. WOW!! All of past years working in the restaurant industry paid off. I always liked it when she was in that line of work, I got free drinks where she worked and our cats got pate’ and salmon for dinner. So I had a great egg and leftover breakfast. Yeah Kim, Isabel and the chickens from Wes & Randy’s backyard that laid the two eggs.

But I am not really writing about breakfast as much as I want to mention last night Happy Hour, which turned into dinner night out, etc.,. So, after contacting the usual suspects about a non-scheduled H.H., we met up at Caps & Corks, (Lovejoy & NW 10th) to have a few drinks. Caps & Corks is great because 1. in our neighborhood 2. beer, wine, cocktails and food 3. staff is always nice 4. you can watch the Portland Streetcar roll past, while having a drink. After a few drinks, we decided to move on to Olympic Provisions, (Thurman & NW 16th) to get a bite to eat. We show up, need a table for three, INSTEAD of allowing us to seat at a four-top, which we asked for, the hostess seats us at a bench facing the window. This seating arrangement is fine for one or two, but not three. We asked to take the other table and were told ” We are saving it in case four people might come in. We decide that her answer is just too lame, and leave. I have eaten at Olympic Provisions a few times and hosted a private party for 13, (I know unlucky number) there in the past. Not that I think I should get special treatment, but really who holds a table for 4 maybes, when 3 are there standing in front of you. Where do we go now?

I suggest the restaurant named after a women that has great food in the Pearl. We could not remember the name, but we have eaten there before and liked it. OK, the restaurant is the one that is in that little concrete building with the weird looking pillar in the courtyard. You know the one with all of the windows, and has the great Sangria. Isabel, (Flanders & NW 10th) that is the place. I thought it was Sara’s, sorry Isabel. Right when we walk in, checking out the specials’ chalkboard, the staff greet us and start chatting. We have a great dinner, great service, great Sangria, and a great leftover breakfast. All this because Olympic Provisions, hostess was to snobby to seat us where we could talk and eat. Thanks Isabel’s for a great dinner, thanks Kim and Isabel’s for a great breakfast, thank Caps & Corks for getting it started and thank you for reading my blog, Travis.

The Other Islands in Tonga

Well I finally took the time to go through the charts and maps i had photos of to really catalog our Tongan journey. This was not easy because there are many islands and we did not have the computer on at all during much of our travel. So I have prepared the names and locations of the islands in chronology with some photos.

Niuatoputapu island and Tafahi island our first Tongan island and check into country.
This island is small and surrounded by amazing coral reefs. On our snorkeling we were seeing turtles and large fish like grouper, and reef sharks. Very healthy coral considering this area was devastated by a tsunami a few years back. The other island, Niuatoputapu, 5 miles away was indeed devastated, but seeing some return.

The weaving hut

Cinda, Bruce and Fred ready for sing-a-long

Just off the stern of Far Fetched

What a long beach! Kim on a hike

The hike through farm land on Kapa(Port Maurelle)

Near Matamaka

Cinda, Randy, Jenny waffle breakfast.

I am warmed up rowing!

Kapa and anchorage

Nice Fish

Travis, Bruce and Snapper Bruce speared(dinner)

Travis and Kim Snorkel Hunga Island

The crew of Slip Away, Mystic, Far Fetched, Songline.

Kim and Travis Coral Gardens

Randy sailing Fatty Knees

Our next island in the Kingdom of Tonga was the Vava’au group. There were many to see. Check in at Neiafu and shop for provisions.
We then sailed to Nuapapu. Our latitude and longitude for anchor was 18’42.352′s 174’04.205′w. Nice anchorage and we were near sailing vessel Songline, with Cinda and Fred from Juneau Alaska. Bruce, Travis and I took the Crib over to Kulo a very small island and snorkeled around it. We sayw huge fan coral and huge giant clams!! It seemed prehistoric to be sure.

Near Matamaka

We toured the children’s school on Nuapapu.
After touring the school, we sat for the show they put on for us from the class room. The teacher likes to have the children practice their english, and to hear about other professions from the sailors/cruisers. Most of the families on this island are either fishermen or weavers, so to present the children with other careers is opening their world a little. They did speak English well and they sang beautifully.

The weaving hut

Cinda, Bruce and Fred ready for sing-a-long

Just off the stern of Far Fetched

We left the island and pulled up anchor and sailed to our next destination, Kapa Island and the area called Port Maurelle. This island has a beautiful beach, an area to hike on shore to a farm and village and huge huge white beach, plus a small island called Luakapa to snorkel around. It was safe anchorage out of the wind and had sand bottom to anchor or mooring balls to rent. Our latitude longitude for anchor: 18′ 41.980′south and 174′ 01.788″ west.

What a long beach! Kim on a hike

The hike went through beach, mud road for livestock not vehicles, farm land, then beach again then repeat back again.

The hike through farm land on Kapa(Port Maurelle)

While at anchor here we were gladly joined by Songline, Fred and Cinda, then Mystic, Randy and Jenny. There was a storm on the way whck is why we chose such secure anchorage, and we had agreed to have these guys over for waffles in morning. We did and it was pouring down rain outside while the 7 of us were tucked away down below in Far Fetched, the 38.5′ Oceana sailing vessel we had spent the last month crewing on.

Cinda, Randy, Jenny waffle breakfast.

The photo looks steamed up because all the hatches are closed due to rain yet we are cooking and creating heat. The plan for the rest of the day is Travis wants to satay on boat and make pizza,(Yum), Bruce, Randy, Jenny, Fred, and Kim(myself), will take the Crib(inflatable dingy with outboard) and Dingy(Fatty Knees with oars) to the small island of Luakafa and dive and circumnavigate, then proceed to swallows cave via Crib. Cinda decided to stay on Songline, and the trip to dive/snorkel went great. The entire region had big coral, nice overhanging gardens, big fish and good visibility.

Nice Fish

I finished first because even with my 3/2 wetsuit I get chilled in 82 degree water. Toward the en of my trip around it started to pour down again with big rain, I was cold so I pulled myself into Crib and put my fleece vest on and a hat and hunkered down in the bottom of Crib. Soon after Bruce, Jenny, Randy and Fred all come up. I decide I am too cold to go to swallows cave, so I offer to row the more than a mile back to the comfort of the boat, while they take the Crib to Swallows Cave. I was glad to row so I could warm up, but that is when I saw the lightening off to the south and more wind and rain on its way, so I rowed fast and steady until I safely tied up to Far Fetched.

I am warmed up rowing!

Kapa and anchorage

Well the next day we were all going to head over to another anchorage, Hunga island, again known for very protected and good sandy bottom for anchorage. Its not like it was a race or not but Jenny and Randy pulled up anchor and sailed out of anchorage, we were ready but visited by Jason from S/V YOLO who inquired about the Honda Generator that Bruce has on board. I should mention that our power for the electricity we use is by solar, which keep our battery banks charged, so the last few days we had rain as I mentioned, so we all had to use generators or engine starting to rejuve the battery bank power. Well Jason wanted to know about the generator so we spent a bit of time before we pulled up anchor to leave, and of course we were just sure that Randy and Jenny payed Jason to slow us down on our departure so they would get to pick the best anchorage spot at Hunga Island…..We sail out of anchorage(which is cool as heck by the way), we work the sails to gain on Mystic as much as we could, but we did make gains, however they of course still beat us to anchorage. Songline left after we did and they were not far behind. We were anchored and I dove to look at the anchors for both Mystic and Far Fetched, and came up with a decent report, good sand with some coral around the area. Our Latitude and longitude for anchor, 18’4.990’2 by 174’07.990w Before long Fred had his hammock hung as did Randy, and we were all either diving or relaxing.

Travis, Bruce and Snapper Bruce speared(dinner)

We took the Crib out to the entrance to the anchorage area and snorkeled/dove this for quite a ways and then Travis and I swam back to Far Fetched while the others continued their dive. It was a great swim and we saw a school of squid doing their synchronized swim routine, a 5ft reef shark and super good coral.

Travis and Kim Snorkel Hunga Island

Well that night we had Mystic, Songline and Slip Away over for dinner on Far Fetched. What was on the menu you ask? Snapper, lentil salad, rice, and Texas Sheet Cake!! The cake was from Slip Away and the ability to have fresh baked cake is unbelievable to say the least, we were all very happy that night indeed!

The crew of Slip Away, Mystic, Far Fetched, Songline.

Well we had many more fun times and anchorages but I will post this now and continue the rest at a later date. Stay tuned for meeting Aldebaron, picking up Skyler in the Ha’Apaii group, and more photos of paradise.

Kim and Travis Coral Gardens

Randy sailing Fatty Knees

Random Photos from New Zealand

Kim is asleep, and I have a fresh pot of coffee, and wifi. So, I thought I would share a few photos. Notice I have not turned into a Kiwi, by having a pot of tea. We were in Wellington when I started writing, put it away and I am now in Auckland. We have had a visit with our friend Sam from Portland, who is visiting New Zealand for a few months. Got to meet her aunt and we all have coffee together.

In Napier with Sam, having a long black. "Coffee"

Kim and I are chilling in Auckland, going to see music at night and walking the city by day. Having a great time, with just three days left.

Kim and I at waterfront in Wellington

Travis lakeside, with glacier in background, somewhere near middle earth

Boat House

Waterfall

More of the South Island

We really had a great time on the west coast of New Zealand South Island.
The Hostel we stayed in was like a resort i swear. Very impressive and comfortable. We Kayaked from the hostel out to the bay. We also met our new friend Don who lives in Little Akaloa bay near Christchurch on East coast.

We enjoyed or time in the area north of Greymouth called Punakaiki( pancake rocks).
We were then headed to our next camp spot, Lake Mapourika, near glacier area, Franz Joseph and Fox. The area in the picture in distant mountain is the Southern Alps here in New Zealand. It was a cold lake but i put my 3/2 wetsuit on and swam, not for long but swam to enjoy the moment. We did one of the hikes at Franz Joseph and met a fellow hiker, Steve, from Yorkshire England. The hike was pretty tough but the view was well worth the work. We did it in 6 hours and enjoyed getting the view..
The Next few days were on the way to Lake Waitikure and then on to Queenstown and The southern region of South island. We Will update again soon but it is hard to sit at the computer and not get out and enjoy more. To be continued….

New Zealand Stuff

First things first, I am not knocking New Zealand with this writing, I am just writing about how things are different then what I am use to, which makes sense, since I have never been here before.

“It is a good day for it…” people say this to you but never follow up with what it is a good day for. I have never been here, so I am thinking give me some more information will yah. I mean a little more of what it might be nice to do would be great. For a bloke that hasn’t been tramping across paddock before, a wee bit of information is sweet as.

This is what I am up against. But the truth is, I love it here. I am sure the country has its issues, social problems, shortage of fair this and that. But, I do love it. The people are normal people, they speak a language that would be easy for me to learn. The climate is how I like it, because it will change in a day or two. The outdoor activities are overwhelming, and not to busy. I like to be around the water, the country is a two large islands, with smaller ones here and there. The cities have character and things to do. The country is rural with all that goes along with it. Yea, I like NZ and I am evening drinking their Pinot Gris, with my kiwi friend Don H. Who saw that coming?

Driving for the first time on the other side of the road is a RUSH. I, right away turned into oncoming traffic. But the locals were kind and just waved at me, as if saying silly Americans do not know how to drive proper. No horns blowing. Which by the way I noticed is a way to say thanks, by lightly tapping the horn. All of the stuff to drive with is on the opposite side of the car. And I keep jumping in the passenger seat, and think where in hell did the steering wheel go?

Travis, Kim and Don H. having a nice Kiwi evening

Final Sailing Leg

I shared Kim’s taxi from the wharf in Nukualofa, Tonga to the market. She went on to catch her flight to Sydney, while I shopped for produce for the sailboat. We got stuck here, in the capitol a little longer than planned. First, because when we arrived we thought it was Thursday, and it was actually Friday. Secondly, Monday was a national holiday for Tonga. So, the quick over night stop to clear customs in the country of Tonga took six days, really five, but I have to make up the day we lost somewhere so I have added here. That is what we refer to as authors’ discretion. Then to add a little more, if you work for the government in Tonga, it is a given that the day you go back to work, after a holiday is only half day. You only do your job after lunch. So, we cleared the harbor around 430 p.m. Yeah!
We sailed out and headed towards the South by South West. We were going to head for Manirva Reef, which is a reef that is a 4 mile circle in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, about 3 feet below the surface. The reef is sort of a hull catcher, under the right conditions. These conditions being any boat that is not paying attention and going in that general direction will hit it and sink. So, we sailed under light winds the 175 miles and had a nice sail.
We did not hit the reef, we did find the entrance and found other boats at anchorage. We hung out for two days, and were visited by the New Zealand Air Force, and the Tonga Navy. We swam, and had a nice time.
We left and stopped at the next reef, which is about 40 miles away. Here the diving was great. We were in 20 feet of water with the reef being completely vertical. This reef rarely gets visitors, so the sea life was very much abundant. After eating lobster, that night we decided we would get up and make the push to New Zealand.

The distance is about 800 miles, as the sea gull flies. But the wind did not work with us, so we had to sail more towards the West, and hope later in the trip, that the Screamers would show up. Screamers are a weather occurrence down in this part of the world , when weather from Australia causes huge amount of wind to come straight out of the West. This wind came help you or hurt you depending on where you are located. We were betting that it would help.
We had a few days of some rough stuff, I managed to get sick twice. I can not recommend the Seasick diet, unless you really want to lose some weight, and get closer to whom ever you believe in. I did have a beautiful sunset, And do not believe that “red skies at night” thing. The next day we were hammered.

At the helm when I finally see New Zealand. It was a great experience and will ever be thankful for it.

The Lovely “Welly”

So We were able to stay a bit in Wellington(“Welly”) as it is sometimes called. We stayed with a mate of Travis’ from fire days, Jock and his wife Jenny. We were able to dry out our camping gear and launder our clothes in addition to hanging out with very cool people. Jock and Jenny were the consummate hosts. The town is the capitol of New Zealand, and it is arranged around this beautiful bay and the straight. Known for its windy weather most of the time, (only 1000km from Antarctica), and rainfall as well as the Beehive( Parliament building).

Well It is a beautiful city and we plan to return and stay a couple nights again on our return trip form South Island. Just a few photos so far but enjoy.

Today we are staying in Hanmer Hot Springs. Great little town that thrives on mountain bike in summer and ski in winter. They also have amazing huge hot springs pools that we will go soak in after we take a hike. We are finding hostels with really wonderful people,( our age and younger), and good camping spots and community kitchens.

I will send more information and photos later.