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6 May
2001 Hiva Oa, Marquesas
Yesterday evening(/Last night) Pedro walked a little around in(side) the cockpit
before suddenly taking off, heading for(/flying towards) land.
It is 04:00 a.m. and I'm now at the anchorage. There has been poor wind all day
and I decided on entering in the dark(/in darkness) since there's(/it's) a full
moon tonight. And just as well(/a good thing too) because I don't have a(ny) map
of Polynesia, only a GPS position for the port from some book.
It was a bit "nerve-racking"(/"thrilling") entering a bay via a canal and I had
no idea what it looked like before arriving here. But as mentioned there's a(/it
is) full moon so I was able to see something. And I had the(/my) echo sounder
turned on and would immediately go out and park it on open water, should any
doubts arise. But luckily that wasn't necessary.
I don't think that a whole lot(/many) people have tried being alone(/on their
own) for 32 days, without seeing or hearing a living soul.
There's a lot of swell in here so I have put(/laid) out two anchors.
At once(/Immediately) after arriving, two guys started their dinghy and came
over and helped me putting(/laying) out the stern anchor. I guess they were a
little drunk, and I could hear the music playing from their boat, but nice to
get some help. Everybody else has two anchors out and Trojka would have (been)
swinging(/turning) until I had got the dinghy inflated and laid out the anchor.
Beacon isn't here(/is nowhere to be seen). I spoke with Guy, one of the guys
that came over by dinghy to help me (out). He said that they haven't been here
for the last week that he's been here, so I'm hoping that they are on their way,
so we can spend a bit of time together before moving on towards Papeete, Tahiti.
We'll probably come to a halt on(/at) some of the atolls on our way.
And now I think it's good night or Holden. It's been a long and
strenuous(/exhausting) day, I have gotten used(/accustomed) to lying around
loafing all day during this journey.
6 May 2001
II was up early today, or how should I put it. Until yesterday night, I have
been on Panama time and Hiva Oa is 9.5 hours ahead of UTC, so I adjusted the
time. I woke up at sunrise, 06:00 local time, and was sitting in(side) the
cockpit when David on Oratari (why are all Englishmen called David? - (Well,)
just makes it easier for me) came over to invite me (over) for some breakfast.
He's a single sailor too. Today we're having something "special"(/"out of the
ordinary"), pancakes. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I had had it
practically every day. David is 56 years old. David told a lot of great stories,
among other things that his new girlfriend Jill is coming this Tuesday. He (had)
met her in Mexico and has only known her for 48 hours. It's so sweet, because
Jill has called his Mom to ask (her), "Who is this guy?". "Am I making a
mistake(/doing anything wrong) going with him???". And his mom of
cause(/naturally) just said(/told her); "Nope, you don't have to worry about
going with him, he's all right".
I spent a couple of hours with David(/at David's) and we made plans to go to the
vegetable market together etc. When I sailed from(/left) his boat, the neighbour
yelled if I wanted a cup of coffee. It was Niel, who's also a single sailor.
Niel I guess is in his early sixties. He gave me fruit(s) and vegetables:
"Well, it is Sunday, so you're not able to go shopping. Why don't you come over
here for dinner tonight?". "Well, I'd be more than happy to do (just) that,
Niel".
And now I want to see if I can report at the Customs House(/clear through
customs) on a Sunday. David lend me some local money(/currency). "The bank's
closed too. If you need more just say the word". Now that's damn good
neighbourliness, you get to know each other. Us single sailors are
standing(/sticking) together - though, that also goes for the "married" ones. |