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Mischief - Mischief Blog Lombok to Christmas Island 16/9/2018 to 22/9/2018



Lombok to Christmas Islands

Firstly, I need to apologies to Lillian Tipton for the recent unreliable postings of the Mischief blog. Unfortunately the diligent Charlie Baynes has been replaced with "Nearly Neen" who sometimes is a little slow at reporting Mischief shenanigans. I will endeavor to rectify this but sometimes teaching your son to sail has to be addressed as a priority.

Big seas, 25 knots of wind and a big tanker do their utmost to throw our Skipper, who had to stay in command in difficult conditions as Mabel had retreated to her nest in the hope it would all be over in the morning when the crew would serve her slices of her favourite cheeses. It's fair to say Lillian that "Yer boy done good" with the spinnaker flying, he steered the crew through the enormous waves and managed to avoid a "fliipin' big boat". The crew including the commander Wendy Knight, Mark Curtis, Unc and Nearly Neen helped Dave to lower the spinnaker with no dramas at all. Excitement over for now, the crew settled into the daily routine that is necessitated to cross an ocean. One joyous little moment happened to disturbed the strict nautical regime when an insubordinate squid, who did not like his passage plans being disrupted by a foreign yacht, showed his displeasure by squirting from his vantage point in the sea, a blob a slime all over the Skippers leg. Shot!!!! Evening meal is also a big deal on board, it provides a time not only to replenish energy levels but also a social time when all the crew are together and can exchange stories and plans for the forth coming day. Also a time to tease each other and have a good laugh together. Food therefore has become a competitive thing on board. Not really "Come dine with me" as apart from boobies {birds that is}, squid and the odd flying fish we don't receive many guests on passage. This passage Unc and Neen were strong contenders with a delicate little pasta dish that Unc had to monitor to stop Neen from adding all of her favourite ingredients. When asked about the ingredients he said really this meal was more about what he managed to avoid being added rather than the actual content. Mark was also in with a chance with his tasted pasta, olive thingy but winner of the ultimate prize with 3 points out of a hundred was Skipper's Chicken Curry. Delicious. You'll be alright for dinner Lillian when he gets home!!!!

And so to Christmas Island, not quite the view we expected as we entered the bay in the dark hoping to tie up securely to Misto without obliterating her or the enormous concrete buoy on the port side. Needless to say Lillian, once again "the boy done good" Thank goodness for the awesome crew and the big help of Misto pointing out all the unlit bits and bobs we should avoid in the dark. Christmas Island, what an unusual place, a juxtaposition of concrete, bright colourful utilitarian housing and phosphate mines set against a back drop of the jungle, blow holes created by the force of the Indian ocean and crabs indigenous to this beautiful island. Galapagos meets Widness, Manchester. Pink, orange and blue concrete tenement blocks house the Chinese, Malay and European workers. All live in designated areas by nationality yet they all reside happily together. Coming to together to celebrate Christmas etc as a united little island.

A bar-b-que on the beach with a drinks and a party to celebrate Brita's birthday made for a jolly start to the brief visit. Despite our efforts neither Santa nor the elves could be found on this first evening. However, he did sent a Praying Mantas, a green one, who took to Mark's leg for a bit of comfort nestled in the hairs there. Next morning Mark did a dive and was rewarded with sightings of sharks! Luckily they didn't bite. While they were submerged they had a group birthday photo for Brita before they entered the underwater cave. Neen and Unc had a run to Rocky point, aptly named and on the way visited a Christian Church built in the 1960's. Again more concrete. Highlight was one of the Islands many dove's who are unperturbed by the presence of humans stayed to chat for a while. After a very hot run we enjoyed a cooling swim back to the boat. Unc making the perfect otter with his flippers and bag of goodies on his chest as he swam on his back, to return to Mischief.

The Island tour turned into a magical event where huge, Robber crabs and their smaller jungle friends, the Red crab live in the jungle clearing it of debris and fallen leaves. Perfect gardeners!!!! Weird to see a tidy jungle floor devoid of vegetation, leaving only the trees and the parasite Banyan Tree that grows around the host tree slowly taking all the hosts nourishment until it eventually succumbs to the Banyan assault. Specially built bridges provide a safe place for these protected creatures to safely cross the roads. The blow holes of the Island were spectacular, the Indian ocean eroding huge holes in the limestone to allow these powerful plumes of water to be forced hundreds of feet into the air.

The evening was spent with many of our ARC friends at the local pub where food and local beer was enjoyed. This was the hostelry where the inhabitants of the Island spend their Friday nights. Bluey and Adam who had clearly enjoyed copious amounts of the local brew whilst enjoying Aussie Footie were intimidated by the affluent foreign yachtsman. We quickly allayed their fears and Wendy was soon sharing Bluey's mussels. The shelled type.

Next morning the delightful lady from the tourist office, Renata treated us to Malay roti's and Mischief welcomed Renata and her gorgeous baby girl on board where they enjoyed the boat and were entertained by Renata's tales of Christmas Island. Sadly it was with heavy heart and lumps in our throats that we had to say our farewells to Unc. A great team player and so much fun too, you will be greatly missed by the the Mischief family.

All in all, not at all what we were expecting, no red and green decorations or Santa and his helpers but a memorable trip on the island of contrasts that we will never forget. Merry Christmas Lillian xxx




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