TONGA!!!! We arrived Tongatapu - Nuku'alofa approximately 1500 hours. The run up from Minerva was nice - sailed for about a day and a half then motor sailed to ensure we arrived here in the daylight. It is picture postcard beautiful. We anchored at Pangiamotu in front of Big Mama's place. We had a swim, showers a meal at the table then a good night's sleep in a flat bed. Heaven.
Today we completed customs and immigration formalities. We motored over to the ferry dock and tied up at the cement pier. The customs office is strategically hidden in an unmarked building surrounded by containers. But we found it and it had a/c - wow! and it is warm so it was definitely appreciated. After filling out forms with the same information in at least 4 different places, we were good to go from customs. The customs guy called the health guys and the quarantine (biosecurity) guy and lo and behold, the first one was there waiting by the time we walked back to the boat and the Health guy was there within 5 minutes of the Quarantine guy leaving. Sorted.
We mistakenly thought we had to go back to the customs guy - so we did. He told us we have 3 month visas - this is contrary to everything we have heard, so need to check that out tomorrow. Dennis asked him about fuel, and he directed us to the 2 fuel suppliers. No joy on having 400 litres of diesel delivered to where we were tied up. Seems they have no empty drums in the country and don't know when they will and won't bring the truck to deliver any less than 1000 litres (yeah not so much lol). So we walked back to the boat and got a taxi to take Dennis to the gas station to fill up the jerry jugs. 20 gallons down - at least 80 more to go........... An ATM was found and Tongan money obtained. Dennis brought back a cold diet coke from the gas station - OMG ambrosia from the gods. By this time we were all hot and hungry. It seems we forgot to have breakfast - we did have coffee, so at least we were awake, hot and hungry. Back to Pangiamotu where we managed to get the anchor down on the second try.
Nachos for lunch!!! The dinghy is in the water, the newly obtained fuel in the tank - YAY time to play. Met the neighbors (who also loaned us Tongan money to get through check in) and went in to Big Mama's for a beer or two. Sadly I am not all the way into cruising mode, cuz I forgot my camera :(. Oh well guess we'll have to go back tomorrow.
So Big Mama's. Yes there is a big Mama and her husband Earl. really only pictures can tell the story. There's a wreck out front that is used as the sign for the place. Gita did a number on some of the buildings, but the beer is cold and there is shade. They have pigs - 3 adults and 5 babies. Imagine a big pig running down the beach to cool off in the water. Crazy! Earl will help us get more fuel later this week.
Tomorrow the plan is to get up and remove the rudder bearing in time to catch the ferry into town at 0900. We will then try to obtain sim cards, fresh food and info on replacing the rudder bearing (cross your fingers there). If all goes well we'll get the 1100 ferry back and then relax in the water in the afternoon. I'll let you know how that goes.
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