Sunday, October 12, 2008

Port Vila


A Fijian Igauna at the Secret Gardens.


A Pacific Boa - Hamish was the only one brave enough to have a hold of it.




Throughout the gardens there were lots of these posters telling stories and legends from all over Vanuatu. This one I thought was a good warning to Lindsay!





The famous Seafood Chowder in an Edible Bowl. The reason we came to Vanuatu! (Also the place where I caught my tummy bug.)




Moored along the small sea wall while sorting out the generator. It was scary climbing the plank to get on and off.





A venemous Lion fish (we think) that wondered by the sea wall right by Blue Heron.

Kiwi friends Thomas and Olivia. On the odd occasion that they were not all swimming or zipping round in dinghies.

We had thought to be in Noumea about now. Sadly I was struck down with a violent tummy bug on Saturday, the day that we were supposed to depart (we had cleared customs as well). The lesson learned here was that it is not a good idea to go out for dinner 2 days before an ocean passage, especially in a hot, humid country like Vanuatu.

The next day I was able to keep water inside me but couldn’t eat. I still had a killer headache and was pretty washed out. The weather was indicating a lot of wind and rough seas for the first third of the trip and then no wind and likely still rough seas – not good with an upset tum. We had been ok abut the trip as the boat is comfortable and goes well to windward.

It all became academic anyway as on the Sunday Lindsay had trouble starting the generator after about 1 and a half hours swearing and tinkering he got it started but after about half an hour it suddenly stopped pumping water through it. It is salt water cooled. Turned off and checked the sea strainer and sure enough a large guey leaf had been sucked up. Problem fixed and it started first crank!

He was monitoring it as he packed some things away in preparation for the passage to Noumea. Five minutes after checking it the silly thing again stopped pumping water and suddenly our cabin smelt of burning rubber. Yet again he stopped the engine. This time the sea strainer was clear and possibly a blockage further along the system. He worked in the 30+ degree heat to fix it but it now appears to have died. Part of us was devastated as we have no alternative charging for the boat other than a small solar panel. The other part is glad as it has been nothing but a pain since we bought the boat. We have had it overhauled twice and the last time we were told it had over 2000 hours and we have done about 200 of that. It was leaking oil badly and has always been noisy.

So we have come back to the wall in port and plugged into shore power. We have bought a small petrol generator which is sited outside and also got another larger solar panel. We were always intending to put solar panels on but were planning on doing that in Australia.

Somethings are meant to be as we have met some nice people while on the wall including some seasoned yachties who have given us heaps of good advice about New Caledonia and Australia. Kate and Hamish have met new friends and are enjoying the extra time here. We have been given a Bill Bryson book on Australia which is very funny and informative.

In addition the weather is looking better for the trip tomorrow. I am feeling about 100% fit again and looking forward to New Calendonia.