So after a pleasant night of bright stars, the children start to stir. By the time breakfast is done everyone is ready to do something!
First order of business is to generate some sort of a story for everyone to write. Innocence writes a one-paragraph story about being a princess, or dressing up in pretty dresses, and then draws a picture to go with what she wrote.
Integrity always likes to write about fishing, or catching a blue marlin! No matter what Integrity's story is though the drawing is always themed to him fishing and a blue marlin swimming past the hook, or biting it!
Intrepid has the most variety, but the theme of being the biggest helper is always there. Yesterday his story was a out taking the boat by himself to a deserted island, and today was about taking the dingy to the shore and collecting firewood for a bonfire!
Vitality is responsible for taking Valiant swinging so the rest of the children have a quiet time doing their schoolwork.
Then it is off to the beach with a snack until lunchtime. This afternoon the water was a perfect blue, (sometimes it is a perfect green), with fantastic visibility! We had some beautiful snorkeling, watched the garden eels, and tried to hold our breaths as long as the fish.
Until next time!
Courage
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Volcano
The volcano down here in Tonga is now erupting so much that airlines are unable to land here. People are now stranded here in Tonga. Might be time to start a tour operation!
Courage
Courage
Friday, January 9, 2015
Exploring our secret island -
The shells seem so big when you are small. This is a muscle shell.
Exploring the secret of the trees, on our new secret island.
New Anchorage -
I was turning this way and I was turning that way! There were reefs everywhere! Whew! Good thing I have helpers! Intrepid was up the mast, but still learning what to tell me about what he is seeing. I am more thinking that he is up there to point to the deep water, and let me know if he sees any reefs. Intrepid, on the other hand, thinks he is up there to watch everything, and loves giving reports about who’s turn it is on the swing, where his banana peel landed, (didn't quite make it over the side), and that he can see the tiny drops of blood from Valiant’s cut toe. It is a work in progress!
But now we are at our newest secret anchorage. Looks like a great place for marshmallows and a giant bonfire! It is getting hot down here! The children spent most of the morning in the water, and not even getting cool! Looks like an afternoon of swimming too!
Courage
But now we are at our newest secret anchorage. Looks like a great place for marshmallows and a giant bonfire! It is getting hot down here! The children spent most of the morning in the water, and not even getting cool! Looks like an afternoon of swimming too!
Courage
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Heading Out -
We were down to our last bottle of propane from Bora Bora, and also had not fueled up since Bora Bora. It was time to get serious with resupplying.
We had heard that you could go to the end of the bay and get the propane via dingy. It sounded so easy! When we got where we thought we were supposed to be all we found was a guy beaching his Sea Runner Trimaran. After discussing the merits of a beachable boat he showed us where to go. The propane was hunt was "getting" interesting, you take the dingy tiny little dock, maybe 6 feet long, then climb up these, steep, twisting stairs that are perched on the cliff edge. My propane helpers were Vitality and Valiant. After about a 50 foot climb the trail becomes more of a jungle excursion. After a while we come to a six-foot high fence with barbed wire on top, and inside the enclosure is the propane filling station. I could see someone's legs tapping out a rhythm so I gave a few hollers! He came down and with minimal talk took the propane tanks as I handed them between the top of the fence and the lowest barbed wire. During this time Vitality though it would be good to test our her hiding skills, and the last I saw of her was a shaved head rounding the corner to the steep stairs down to the dingy. Valiant on the other hand thought he saw a chicken, and drug me up and down the path trying to find if again. The propane bottles came back over the fence, and the heavy climb back to the dingy started all over again. Vitality was found, smirking at her success, hiding near the dingy, and Valiant fell down the stairs with only ego injuries.
The diesel was a little trickier. You call the diesel truck and arrange for it to arrive at the wharf at whatever time is convent for them. Now tying up to the wharf is tricky. The last time I had done it I had Shannon, Cassidy, Wolfie, and a friendly boater, and there had been some minor issues, but nothing serious, just some black marks on the hull.
This time the children let me know how close I was, and when we were within a few feet I managed to throw a rope around a Bullard and get the bow tied off, then Intrepid was able to jump from the top of the pulpit onto the dock and do the stern line. Down here diesel is $8 per gallon. So I only got enough to last us a few months. When we leave we can get it duty free at about half price.
Courage
We had heard that you could go to the end of the bay and get the propane via dingy. It sounded so easy! When we got where we thought we were supposed to be all we found was a guy beaching his Sea Runner Trimaran. After discussing the merits of a beachable boat he showed us where to go. The propane was hunt was "getting" interesting, you take the dingy tiny little dock, maybe 6 feet long, then climb up these, steep, twisting stairs that are perched on the cliff edge. My propane helpers were Vitality and Valiant. After about a 50 foot climb the trail becomes more of a jungle excursion. After a while we come to a six-foot high fence with barbed wire on top, and inside the enclosure is the propane filling station. I could see someone's legs tapping out a rhythm so I gave a few hollers! He came down and with minimal talk took the propane tanks as I handed them between the top of the fence and the lowest barbed wire. During this time Vitality though it would be good to test our her hiding skills, and the last I saw of her was a shaved head rounding the corner to the steep stairs down to the dingy. Valiant on the other hand thought he saw a chicken, and drug me up and down the path trying to find if again. The propane bottles came back over the fence, and the heavy climb back to the dingy started all over again. Vitality was found, smirking at her success, hiding near the dingy, and Valiant fell down the stairs with only ego injuries.
The diesel was a little trickier. You call the diesel truck and arrange for it to arrive at the wharf at whatever time is convent for them. Now tying up to the wharf is tricky. The last time I had done it I had Shannon, Cassidy, Wolfie, and a friendly boater, and there had been some minor issues, but nothing serious, just some black marks on the hull.
This time the children let me know how close I was, and when we were within a few feet I managed to throw a rope around a Bullard and get the bow tied off, then Intrepid was able to jump from the top of the pulpit onto the dock and do the stern line. Down here diesel is $8 per gallon. So I only got enough to last us a few months. When we leave we can get it duty free at about half price.
Courage
School -
Learning to write a story about Integrity. If you look real close you can see the story on the paper hanging from the wall. Most stories have to be about Integrity or he loses interest pretty fast.
Courage —
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Birthday Party in Tonga -
Good times.
Integrity celebrating his 8th birthday with a bunch of friends!
Birthday Time -
So, it is official both Integrity and Vision will be having their birthdays on the same day!
Because when it is January 5th in Tonga it's the 4th in California! It is official, they are birthday twins!
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