Making our way down to Hummocky Island (Engineer Group)

Our first experience of trading was at Basilaki Bay. Not long after we dropped anchor 2 canoes started paddling out to us. Bridget came out with her son Joshua who is 5 while Rose came out with Edwin a 13 year old boy who was very quite and didn’t speak a word to us even when we asked him questions. Bridget and Rose stayed for a while and had a chat. Bridget asked she could have our address so that she could write we said that would be great so we exchanged addresses. We talked also about trading for some fruit and veggies which we did later when we went ashore. Then we were visited by about 8 other canoes who wanted to trade we had no idea what we were doing but we had fun.

It didn’t take us long to realize what we thought was a fair trade as we moved through the islands most people were fair but at a few islands we got done and had to learn to be more alert of what was going on and to say no. We had a big lesson at one island when before we realized what was happening we had traded a T-shirt for 1 egg which was way to much as they only cost less than a kina. The worse trade we did was from the same woman who had a wild foul egg which she said was fresh. She had just left the boat when we looked at it and decided to crack it there was a half formed chick in it Daniel nearly threw up.

From here we sailed into the wind which wasn’t very comfortable to Hummocky Island in the Engineer Group well worth a visit the people here made us feel very welcome. We had our first Cray fish for the trip as fresh as they come.

Our first feed of Cray fish and they went down really well, YUMMY!!!

The kids had a great time playing with the local kids Daniel was almost always with Michael who had a group of boys around them. Michael made a good friend Penwell who sat together and made model canoes from wood. Michael has a long way to go but Penwell can make them in about 30mins all they used was a knife. They also made model knifes etc and painted some.

Michael and Penwell carving which they did for hours.

Kathleen made a friend Melissa they did a lot of walking around. Kathleen wanted to learn how to weave baskets or how to make anything as she loves crafty things but Melissa said that she didn’t know how to make anything. Amy had a great time swimming in the shallow water with the little kids.

Amy with some of her friends what a location.

We signed the first visitors book we were the 4th yacht to call in this year as most yachts go straight down to the cruising grounds and had paid for a customs officer to be flown down for a week to clear them in at Misima (which we didn’t know was an option at the time) 14 yachts were cleared in and out at the same time which saved them going anywhere to clear again.

Father’s Day happened while we were at Hummocky it was a Sunday and church goes until lunch time so we stayed on the boat until it was over and did some housework and organizing. Ian’s ulcer on his foot was still not looking really great but better than it was and he was trying to keep it dry so stayed on the boat. When we got to the shore everyone came and sat around us and then Robinson came and sat down with a guitar and everyone started singing songs people got up and shook each others hands and gave each other a hug us included. I went back to the boat to ask Ian if he would like to come and join us as it was heaps of fun. He said that he would so he came and got in and out of the dingy without getting him foot wet.

The villagers with us on Father's Day it was a great day, we were made very welcome.

A few of the kids started singing with Robinson when Ian came over. Soloman the local priest gave Ian the flower necklace that was made of frangipani which he was wearing for Fathers Day. MJ the local parrot who was raised by the locals was quite happy walking around on his head. I took a couple of group photos of everyone so that I could send a copy back to them when we got back to Australia. They don’t have many if any photos of themselves here. The people have been really lovely here and we had a great time.

It started to rain so Daniel went back to the boat with me to close the hatches and put everything that was dry inside. While I was gone Ian had gone to Soloman’s house with him to shelter. When I got there Rose (Soloman’s wife) was starting to bring out food for us to eat. We had yams, rice, dumplings, chicken and smoked fish which was really nice of them. We tried a bit of everything except the fish we had already eaten before going ashore but thought it may be rude not to try something. The yams were much nicer than the way I had tried to cook them. We then went for a walk with Soloman around the village before we left we hope to leave in the morning as the winds are starting to die down. Miriam gave Amy a carving of the main piece of a small canoe to take home. We said goodbye to everyone on the beach and told them we would call back in on the way back to Samaria. Penwell’s mum is making a bag for Michael and Henry said that he is going to make something for Amy.