Happy Canada Day from Tonga

Mt Talau view looking east

Mt Talau view looking south

Ian from Trouble in Paradise? working on our engine

Happy Canada Day

July 1, 2015

Well, all of Canada will be celebrating tomorrow but we have out the red hats. A local bar is serving poutine tonight. We are having a much too long visit with Ian, the mechanic from Vancouver who worked on our engine. Rob went to start the engine to change the oil and it was a repeat of Swarrow, with the engine not starting or even turning over. Ian and Rob have been working all of Tues and Wed so far. A relay needed to be replaced  but the bigger issue is that one of the cylinders has sea water in it. It is amazing that we got it to start to get here. They are also looking at where it might be getting in. Ian's company is called appropriately "Trouble in Paradise". Since he retired and moved here he hasn't stopped working. I won't send this until I get an update.

Sunday after church we hiked up the highest hill here, Mt Talau. There is a National park with the hike and look outs. It was worth the climb to see the layout of all the bays and islands. Four local teenaged boys sat with us at the top and asked if they could sing for us. They did a good rendition of several English and Tongan church songs. We enjoyed them although they did eventually ask for money for their "church".

Chapter 2 is now in the bay after a rough passage from American Samoa. Yesterday we spent the afternoon with them and Tahawus doing eye testing. We are scheduled to do more children on another island on Sat. They have invited us to a Tongan Feast afterwards. Janet had inexpensive glasses of various strengths to give the adults. They were very appreciative.

The day before we arrived here we could hear one side of a  conversation on the VHF regarding a rescue operation. We have heard a follow up on the local net as the owner is safely in town here. They had to abandon his boat. The rudder was stuck to one side and the engine didn't work. The seas were too high for a tow in. Someone may find this boat as it is still floating and heading to Fiji. Another boat to the south also had crew rescued but their boat was sinking. We heard of another abandoned boat on the trip from Galapagos to Marquesas. They had a rudder breakage with water entering. We are considering ourselves lucky to be having trouble in a safe place.

July 2

The engine is working now! Ian finished up after dark yesterday. Today Rob purchased a clamp for a leaky pipe and new coolant that was drained. Then he is going to change the oil. And we should be good to move in the morning. The only remaining question is why and how did that sea water get into the system so we can prevent a repeat?