We have taken a short detour from the World ARC schedule and are in Apia, Samoa. We managed to get to some US soil and sailed to Pago Pago, American Samoa after departing from Suwarrow. Unfortunately rainy weather didn't permit us to do much touring. It was a great place though to do some provisioning for the boat and refill some bilges. Being an American Island, there was a big bulk store with familiar products. So we were able to find diet coke (no more of the coke light) and Karson's preferred mayonnaise and really big bags of dried fruit. After some nice rendezvous with those of the fleet who also detoured, we made our evening move over to Apia. The overnight sail was very pleasant, but Pago Pago didn't want us to leave. While hauling the anchor up, we managed to hook on to a sunken mooring line. With the strong winds we had in the harbor, it would not slip off. After numerous attempts to free Dancer by driving in small circles, we had to lower the dinghy and go forward and cut ourselves free. There was no problems with the boat or crew, but did push us back a little from our pre sunset departure.
With good sunny weather, here in Apia, we enjoyed a nice morning of watching the police band proceed down the main street for the raising of the Samoan flag. This is traditionally done every morning and is quite a nice site to see. After we made our way to the fish market to pick up the local bus to Vailima where Robert Luis Stevenson spent the later years of his life (although he only lived to 44). It is a beautifully kept home, with a trail leading up the mountain to his gravesite.
We will hopefully do a little more sight seeing, maybe a big waterfall hike, scuba dive and fire dancing event. Also a stop over to the local fruit and veg market for some coconut water and watch the local men play dominos while drinking the kava.
Next stop Tonga!
The Wind Dancer Crew