Tonga doesn’t like Imagine or Imagine doesn’t like Tonga. I’m not sure which one. When I was here in 2019 the engine salt water pump stopped working and the Gopro camera that we use mostly for underwater videos and pictures, died. I had to get replacement ones sent from New Zealand. Funny but not funny this is happening again: the saltwater pump is leaking, which means it needs to be replaced as we cannot run the engine without that cooling water pump; and guess what? the Gopro didn’t survived an accidental underwater case opening. Luckily my brother and family are coming soon to Tonga to meet up with us and they are kind enough to bring those items from New Zealand.
We have no more ham on the bone left and B keeps eyeing up the local pigs as we go down the road. She can only get close enough to take pictures. If you come across a three legged pig it may be that B caught it. The whole pig would be too much for our freezer. In Tonga pigs are like the cows in India, they roam free in the street.
B has been talking to locals and other boaties, which help us to find a place to buy a leg of lamb and some chicken breasts. The lady at the shop said that what was available now is all they have and the next shipment would be in two months. Also this morning B asked a local fishermen who was passing by Imagine in his dinghy, chasing a school of mackerel if he could catch some for us and he came back an hour later offering us two mackerel which I fileted straight away. This is Christmas in July!
After two days anchored in Neiafu, getting fuel and food we have had enough. Despite the winter season it is quite warm and humide here and we needed a swim, so we have moved back to Vaku’Eitu Island. There is a storm coming and this bay should give us shelter.
