Tidbits

- Looking back at previous posts, I realize I did not tell the story of LB's sinking boat. LB and Dave leased a boat from Palauan named Swing and I had the good fortune and accompanying them on many trips earlier in the year. Back in May, Dave got a call from Swing saying that the boat had sunk. They kept the boat near the Malakal causeway tied to a buoy in shallower water, so when they found it the boat was not completely submerged. Using a series of ropes and Dave's car for muscle, they were able to right the boat and get it floating long enough to take it Neco for repairs. The fiberglass hull had small cracks that had let enough water in to overwhelm the pump. The boat was in the shop until July. They were able to take it out briefly before they left for their trip to Indonesia, but while they were gone it sank again. This time it was near Neco and it went right back into the shop for more fiberglass work. By the time it was finally ready, the Kregenows were in their last days and didn't get any use out it. Essentially, they (and their friends) were not able to use the boat they leased for the final third of their time in Palau. It just confirms the old maxim that the two happiest moments in boat ownership is the date of purchase and the date of sale.

- My departure from Palau is set. I leave the evening of Friday, October 5 and after stops in Manila and Sydney, I arrive in Auckland, New Zealand. I will be spending two and half weeks playing tourist around New Zealand. I will tour the North Island for about a week by myself and then fly down to Christchurch and meet up with my father and we will tour the South Island together. We leave New Zealand on October 24 and due to the date line arrive back in Michigan just before midnight that same day. I have a hectic few weeks ahead of me filled with lots of packing and shipping, but they'll still be time for more adventures and a chance to say goodbye to Palau.