Hmm its been a while since Ive put finger tips to plastic to do another bulky, but Waldo has definatley been on the move….. Vanuatu… well what is there to say but starnge, there is a weird mix of european (french) influence and the Ni-vans working their asses off, the biggest thing is here you don’t have to do sevusevu evey time you anchor, or at all, and the locals are friendly, curious and generous without expecting anything in return, nice change to Fiji where they always want something in return - and often too much.

 So whats been doing - well spent a couple of weeks mooching between Vila and around the western side of Efate at Havanna Passage… a nice set of anchorages, where the US navy used as a base in WWII with lots of relics of that era scattered around including crashed planes, old sunken mooring buoys and Coke bottles…. Yes COKE BOTTLES thousands of them, in the bush buried, where the locals have been digging them up and selling them - all around the mid 1940's in age…. Weird.

 A few good snorkelling spots. Saw a Green Turtle and hundred and hundreds of fish, then on our second trip to the passage we had Mum on board and did much of the same stuff and visited a village on the Western side where there was a crashed fighter plane. Then it was back to Vila to drop mum off and resupply for the trip a little north to Santo to dive and snorkel and generally frolick about in the sun (didn't know I knew the word Frolick did you!!!) and so far we are half way to Epi where we will be stopping for a couple of days before heading up to Santo… yes that’s right Im writing while sailing again - probably should keep my eyes on the water but not too much traffic around at the mo, and it daylight so hopefully they should see us…

Check the website for more photos some time - cos we went to the Mele Cascades about a week ago and have some nice photos of the falls and stuff, I guess they were about 30 metres high but not as full as they usually were as they haven't had much rain for the last 4 months… that was until yesterday!!!! It was absolutle amazing we were coming towards Havana Passage and these huge BLACK clouds drew up behind us, then all of a sudden the wind switched and it all drew quite quiet. The breeze began to build and we experienced a very mild WHITE SQUALL - I haven't seen mother so beautiful and intriguing for quite some time, it was a wall of white and that may sound silly but it was as if a fuzzy cement wall was moving quickly towards us preceeded by a steadily building breeze, then it hit us - with the wind going from 10 to 35 knots instantly and accompanied by a sharp shower of very heavy hard rain (it hurt my precious sensitive shoulders- poor me) as we hurried! ly pull the sails down and drove into the squall - it had finished as quickly as it had started and left us with a 15 not breeze of drizzly crap from almost 180deg different direction….

 The sheer beauty of it was something to behold and it was tough to keep working on getting the main down instead of simply standing there and watching it hit us…..it was definitely a kodak moment,,,,

 Well that’s enough for now it 10:29am Van time on the 5^th October so take it easy and I'll get back to this some time…..

 11:24AM 8 October

We're on the move again up the coast of Malekula which is north of Epi and Efate, Epi was great if only for one night catching up with people and doing a little snorkelling… FINALLY saw a Dugong (sea cow) big ugly herbivores that are kinda crossed between a seal and walrus … kinda….. and more green turtles…. After a night in Lamen Bay where we have had to lay a second stern anchor out FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!!!!! It was off to Banam bay of the eastern side of Malekula where we saw some custom dancing and sampled some more Lap Lap…. Not to my taste but the traditional dish of the islands…. See photos for the dancing, very interesting with a primal beat that should not be missed…

Snorkelling off banam bay was extra cool to except there was a reasonable swell running so a snorkel full of water was not to be unexpected… saw another turtle, some really big and colourful parrot fish and yet another SHARK! But looked like a little (4-5 foot) nurse shark so not a problem… and then there was the great Lobster expedition at least it would have been if the locals had decided to show up that night….bugger! so no lobster and it was back to the boat to sit survive through the Chicago DVD … what an exciting life we lead…. And that’s about it - this morning we took off in about 20 knots of breeze - popped out from underneath some clouds and it has dropped away to s*%$T all and the cast iron spinnaker has been forced into duty to keep us moving!!! The his Waldo outta here…

 Just arrived in Lugenville on Espiritu Santo All Is well

 Spent the last couple of nights in Port Stanley taking it easy and snorkelling of Uri Island where the local village has created a marine reserve and the Chief Fredrick took great pride in explaining to me the courses in Resource management he had taken on the mainland etc…. very surprising but good to hear… after a couple of progressive meals with the other boats (indulgence II, Julia and Silver Ruffian) we have proceeded on mass up to Lugenville to hang out and do some diving… we will all have to see how that goes… and that’s about it - except the one that got away story… we were cruising past Bouganville passage when the reel started giving the odd screech…. Ohh Shit a fish… you could actually see it persuing the lure… very coool but then it hit the lure and took offf…… lets just say about a minute later I was less 500metres of Monofilament and a very nice lure…. We were spooled and that was that…. Looked to be a decent fish , and could obviously swim w! ell but shit happens I guess. No more strikes today and nothing more to report so take care all…whereever you are and don’t stop…

 

Seeing ya… Waldo!!   - Sorry no photos have arrived yet!

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