|
|
|
|
Carina |
Tucked into Kolonia Harbor |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kijro |
John and Jean Ranahan live in Pohnpei and John is active in the SSCA, acting as the local Cruising Station. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Learning Leggos from a Pro |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Reef Tames the Raging Surf |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MV Kumer to Nan Madol |
Jeff ably helping Kumer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Lone Mangrove Clings to Solid Ground |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dawas - The Famous Wall |
of Nan Madol |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It Looks Small Until You Get Up Close |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paolo and Philip Enjoying Nan Madol
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No One Knows The Story... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
But Kastom Dictates Someone Still Gets Paid |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COM-FSM |
celebrates its 20th anniversary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Flag Bearers |
carried flags from all countries around the Pacific. Leslie's student Benhurst is in the center. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yapese Students |
gather together in the chilly rain |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Even Vehicles |
provided by the college were given a face-lift |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pohnpeian Campus |
girls waited in the rain for the parade to begin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Princess and Prince |
representing Pingelap and Mwokil were elegantly dressed and very patient |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Little boys of the Sapwuafik clan |
acted cool when we asked them for their photo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Math Science |
adminstrator Mary Manuel dressed in her finest Pohnpeian hibiscus and looked lovely |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Pohnpeian Princess |
was anxious to get ready and is using the van as a mirror as another student was spreading coconut oil on her back |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Students representing |
Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi atolls formed a team |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Those from Pingelap and Mwokil |
also assembled at the ballfield at the Spanish Wall, a historic reminder of earlier European visitors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Triton Trumpet Horns |
sounded and the parade got underway |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Flag Bearers |
kept up a brisk pace, though those carrying the banner were barefoot |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Chuukese |
boys showed spirit and a wee bit of insouciance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Instructors |
helped the teams...here the Chinese language instructor, adorned with a Yapese headpiece, snaps photos |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Chuukese |
girls were pretty in white. Leslie's student Satleen is in the center of the group |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Sapwuafik |
kids had trouble with a few low hanging wires as the sail of their canoe/float sailed down main street |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kosrean |
students demonstrated traditional food preparation in their elaborate float |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And, they |
were having fun |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sapwuafik |
students were colorful and gleeful even despite the rain. Leslie's student Macksy is third from left |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yapese |
thought perhaps they could buy a win...with a personally signed piece of stone money |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pingelap |
and Mwokil boys had by far the most imaginative headdresses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yapese |
girls show off hand woven skirts that are a common site on campus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pohnpei Campus |
students swished gracefully down the street in their skirts made from the inner bark of hibiscus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sapwuafik |
marchers followed their float closely |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pohnpeian |
Mom, dressed in a popular everyday style of skirt, shoots photos as the parade winds by the botanical garden |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And the gorgeous |
shiny black hair swayed with the rhythm of the march |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yapese |
student dancers costumes were the most dramatic against the grey backdrop of the rainy day |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Pohnpeian |
prince and princess made a handsome and regal pair |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At PICS |
Pohnpei Island Central School, the parade ended and the dancing began. Even future students dressed up for the celebration |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spirits |
were high as dignitaries made speeches and recognized the achievements of the college |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At last the performances began |
with the sweet singing of the Chuukese girls |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Everyone patiently |
waited and watched as the competing teams made their presentation before judges |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The spirit |
the Chuukese boys showed in their marching carried through to their dancing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jacoline |
is a smart young woman who's taking Leslie's class |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kosrean |
students gave a warm and mellow performance of traditional song |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pohnpeian Campus |
students pulled out all the stops for their traditional Pohnpeian dance set to the percussion of dokia sticks. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bougainvillea |
mwarmwars looked gorgeous against the cascading black hair of the Pohnpeian students |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Yapese |
took the stage |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And Began... |
a series of lively dances, precisely timed and visually brilliant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Specific |
dancers called movements that supplemented the calls by the students dance coach, seated nearby |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And the performances |
came to a spectacular denouement |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taki and Keizo |
JH3QFL and JH3ACZ visited Pohnpei. They set up an impressive set of four amateur radio antennas on the lawn of the South Park Hotel. Friend Lance from Montana hoped to reach them here in Pohnpei. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kassie |
While in Pohnpei we bought a miniature Mazda Demio imported from Japan with starboard side drive. Leslie called her Kassie because her license read "Kaselehlie" (hello in Pohnpeian). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boats from Afar... |
Visit Pohnpei. This is the ship the Lady Emily hailing from Oz. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Summer |
also brought us spectacular skies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And Fishing Tournaments |
This one hosted by Kumer and Antonia's Blue Nile. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
When Leslie wasn't Teaching |
We were sewing. "Carina Canvas" helped us to make many improvements to our good ship including this roller furling staysail. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Simain Mix's |
market was a daily haunt. Simain, eager to expand his product line, happily took Seeds Worth Sewing we acquired from the USA. Leaf taro followed thanks to |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Flip Brothers |
Kelly (shown) and his crew Glen departed Pohnpei during typhoon season, confident the fate of Kelly's last boat wouldn't haunt them. Instead a typhoon caught them at Woleai and they were shipwrecked. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MV Micronesia |
readying for departure from Pohnpei with supplies purchased for Backbeat, holed at Woleai |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
These Supplies |
helped refloat Backbeat but the story doesn't end there... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
With fall.. |
new boats began arriving. These boats were all headed towards Japan - Giebateau (from Holland), Latitude Attitude (from Korea) and Gaku (from Japan). While in Pohnpei, we took a trip to Manta Road. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Latitude Attitude's Crew |
were Henry (Bong's nephew) and Daniel (Bong's son). Nice young men who made everyone around them smile. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We Threw a Party |
to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary (2013) Food and beverages were abundant and we stayed up well past cruiser's midnight visiting. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cruisers Always Share |
resources and expertise. Here Gaku and Giebateau work through the generation of Google Earth .kap chartlets. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The US Thanksgiving |
celebration brought together almost 25 people including Ben and Joshua aboard Maria, Glenda and Eddy of Helena, and colleagues from COM-FSM including Yen-ti and her husband Ray. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sokeh's Harbor.. |
became almost crowded at Christmastime 2013. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The First Annual SSCA Gam |
coincided with the holidays. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The SSCA Gam |
included a fabulous workshop on first aid and CPR, a rigging roundtable, a BBQ and party and then a Google Earth chartlet workshop. Excursions were planned for the following week. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Pingelap People |
whose 'burb is the east side of Sokehs Island, had been training for canoe races for months. Here their neighbors from the Kapingamarangi 'burb watch the races while tied off to Carina's stern. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Racing Canoes and Teams |
were colored coded. Pohnpei's commercial wharf, a mile away, forms the backdrop. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One Excursion |
we made was the so-called "Six Waterfalls" hike. The trailhead was difficult to find and to drive to. Phililp was elected to drive. (Lorelei Photo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crews from |
Sharkface, On Verra and Lorelei joined us that day. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Hike |
took all day on unmarked trails that were sometimes very slippery. (Lorelei Photo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is Waterfall #2 |
awesome...but this isn't the best picture... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This IS |
the best picture of waterfall #2 (Lorelei Photo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Waterfall #2 |
was a fun place to take a dip. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All the Waterfalls |
fell into the same river. (Lorelei Photo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Sixth Waterfall |
was only accessed by swimming up a deep and narrow ravine and into a secret valley. (Lorelei Photo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Everyone Survived |
smiling and with no broken bones (Lorelei Photo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Philip's Shoes |
were our only casualty. They were pronounced DOA. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mix Farm |
in Palikir is reached by crossing a river on a styrofoam float. It is a lovely spot with views of Pohnpei's tallest mountain. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saimon Mix and Leslie |
collaborated with Ray Grogan, a Hawaii -based taro enthusiast to import and cultivate corms from a new variety of taro for Pohnpei. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Tiny Taro Flourished |
This variety's leaves are sold in grocery stores in Hawaii. Taro leaf is highly nutritious. Simain is hoping to sell this in his farmstand in Kolonia and we are hoping to promote health through greater acceptance of delicious island foods. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Free Gas |
Saimon built this methane plant from old 55 gallon drums. A bucketful of pig poo will produce enough methane (in one day) to fuel the cookstove shown. Add water, stir and let the bugs ferment. Voila. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Another Excursion |
we took, at long last, was a hike up Sokehs Ridge. Here there are WWII guns and bunkers in excellent condition. Philip and Evan Dill of SV Java inspect one of the larger guns. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Imagine the |
range of such guns which were set here to protect Pohnpei from an allied invasion. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This Tomb |
of an unknown soldier from that era has a sign written in English, Pohnpeian and Japanse |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
An Environmental Disaster |
in the making, the Ping Da 7 ran up onto Pohnpei's outer reef on Dec 30, 2013. A week later her AIS transponder was still putting out a signal indicating she was "steaming". We heard the crew abandoned ship and immediately left town. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At Last it Came |
the sad time to leave Pohnpei. But leave we must. Our last evening ashore was spent with many friends at Mangrove Bay. We will miss Pohnpei, particularly the good Kumer and Antonia. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leaving Pohnpei |
was difficult but thankfully our first stop was close-by. Ant Atoll. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And What Boat |
should arrive there? Is it Dr. Hook? It is Dr. Hook with Kumer and Antonia aboard. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ant Atoll's |
Pasa Island (motu) is the site of a small tourist cabin, infrequently occupied. We were anchored about a mile south. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Our Spot |
was idyllic and we spent many hours just soaking up the fresh air and relaxing after weeks of frenzied activity. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Water |
at Ant is crystal clear and an amazing color. It's pass offers world class diving. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Water is |
so clear it was difficult to tell exactly how deep it was. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ant is |
also in Pohnpei's rainshadow, so we had lovely days and even lovelier nights of dry tradewind chilled weather |
|
|
|
|
|
|