Tarao, Maloelap

Tarao was a big Japanese base during the war. The Americans bombed it nearly flat. It is simply littered with airplane pieces that were blown up along side the runways. It seems like 3/4 of teh island is covered in what used to be ashfalt and concret. The bomb craters are still visable, everywhere.



Trinda, kids and ladies making bead necklaces and such. They rotated through all day.
A supply ship came with passengers and to buy copra (dried coconut for processing or oil) while we were there. They loaded gunney sacks of copra all night.
The church ladies group gave us these at the welcoming meeting. 5 papia, squash, coconuts to drink and boiled pandanes all in these nice baskets made from palm leaves.
We anchored next to a sunken Japanese ship, 2 masts nearly rusted off after 60 some years.
Reverand Cam and his model outrigger. They have tournments sailing these.
After we had the constable and his family out to spaghetti dinner, they gave us a couple of coconut crabs already cooked, still warm. I almost forgot to take this befor we ate them!An old hit'n'miss engine and a winch with a rope capstan just in the constable's yard. He knew nothing about it even though it has been there his whole life.

A Yanmar diesel left by the Japanese. Must be a 12" cylinder.
A sunset from the anchorage before we left.

Airik, Maloelap

Trinda passing out lolys (this time they were blow-pops) on main street Airik. Actually the only road on the island.
Making fish meatballs like the ones we made in Mexico with the constable, Romeo at his daughter-in-law's house. That's the kitchen in the background.
It was "All Christian's Day". They insisted we come to church, then fed us a nice lunch.The ladies preparing lunch and dividing the rice, chicken and pork after we were fed.
We got the only table and nearly the only chairs.

Tobal

I can't spell them, but Boolang and his wife Patlin. He is the Iroj, or king of Tabol. She was one of the passengers on the way back.
Spike and me fixing a generator.
Spike and Anglia taking some guys out fishing. It was a poor effort, only a few tuna. More got off the line than we got aboard.
Anglia the "doctor". They carry some medical supplies and treat bad sores. This is baby Spike with scabies on his legs. He was named after Spike on Holokai.
Spike the "doctor" treating a absess on an ankle. Flies get on them and cause small scratches to get really bad.
Unloading the rest of the freight. Spike offered his dinghy since they are out of gasoline.

Aur and the Frieght

Unloading the "cargos" for Aur. The island was running out of food. We took 3 passengers, 400 lbs. rice, 200 lbs sugar, 20 lbs flour and various boxes.

The remaining freight for Tabol.

Our passenger, Lipton, and Trinda with his son.

Trinda passing out sewing needles to the ladies.

Aur to Majuro

We went back to Tobal, Aur, just 30 some miles south of Maloelap to pick up our 1 or 2 passengers. They all wanted to come with us, but we drew the line at 3. Then they started asking more and a friend from the last trip said, "Please, my wife too". I said OK and then he has a son too! We really drew the line at 5. A guy turned up with a bad tooth ache and a dentist appt., so one daughter got traded for the tooth ache.

I sold the last of my dinghy gasoline (5 1/2 gal) to the chief and the doctor and we started loading up. Between them the said "Only one box of cargo.", they don't count suitcases or handicrafts! We had 4 suitcases and a 2x3x4 plastic container, PLUS the one box! Oh well, it was fun.

I asked for a stalk of bananas, kinda for the fare and they brought coconuts, breadfruit and squash. Even a couple of handicrafts for Trinda. A wall hanging about 18" diameter woven of the treated palm and pandanas leaves.

We left at 1:00 PM, thru the pass by 3:) and motoring with no wind till after supper. The wind finally filled in and a nice smooth sail til around 3AM. A big rain squall with 30 knot winds then it died completely. we motored the rest of the way. Reached the pass at Majuro at sunup, then motored the 12 miles in to the buoy.

Trinda made fried breadfruit chips, rice pancakes and fried SPAM for supper. They really liked it. Then they made fried (previously roasted) pork and more SPAM for breakfast. At least I got to eat!

John on Hawkeye helped with the mooring and then hauled half of the people and stuff ashore.

In Aur

I could not get the mail to work yesterday. So we are in Aur now and leaving for Majuro tomorrow afternoon.

Heading Back Toward Majuro

We had a really nice time here in Tarao, but running out of supplies. We are planning to start back in the morning.

The folks from Aur called on the radio and asked if we would stop by and sell the remainder of our gas and take a passenger back to Majuro. I guess we will. So plan to head for Tobal, Aur tomorrow morning then on to Majuro the next day and night.

Maybe I can get some pictures posted when we get back.

The model sailing was neat. It really zipped. He took it out on the reef in a bay on the ocean side of the island and let it sail back toward the beach.

The constable, Zacharias, wife Balinda, daughter Yomiko, and his other two kids really enjoyed the day on the boat. They boiled a couple more coconut crabs for us as a surprise yesterday. Really good lunch! Today He and I walked around the island to look at some of the Japanese artifacts left from the war. one was an antique Yanmar Diesel! An old single cylinder, must have been 12" bore! More airplane parts and lots of cement. The Americans really bombed the heck out of this place!

Heading Back Toward Majuro

We had a really nice time here in Tarao, but running out of supplies. We are planning to start back in the morning.

The folks from Aur called on the radio and asked if we would stop by and sell the remainder of our gas and take a passenger back to Majuro. I guess we will. So plan to head for Tobal, Aur tomorrow morning then on to Majuro the next day and night.

Maybe I can get some pictures posted when we get back.

The model sailing was neat. It really zipped. He took it out on the reef in a bay on the ocean side of the island and let it sail back toward the beach.

The constable, Zacharias, wife Balinda, daughter Yomiko, and his other two kids really enjoyed the day on the boat. They boiled a couple more coconut crabs for us as a surprise yesterday. Really good lunch! Today He and I walked around the island to look at some of the Japanese artifacts left from the war. one was an antique Yanmar Diesel! An old single cylinder, must have been 12" bore! More airplane parts and lots of cement. The Americans really bombed the heck out of this place!

Tarao, Maloelap

Trinda used up the rest of her blow-pops here. The kids and even most of the adults got one.

I fixed a starter rope on the MIMRA fishing boat. They are an organization to help the outer islands with boats, and resources for fishing and stuff I think. Probably spelled it wrong. Here they have a refrigerated container and an ice maker. But no fuel to run it. The island is out of gasoline, diesel and tabaco.

The ladies group of the church had a welcoming ceremony for us. They gave us a bunch of coconuts, papia, boiled pandanis fruit, etc.

Trinda took another batch of beads ashore yesterday and helped the kids and some ladies make earrings, bracelets and such. Didn't go through quite as many beads as at Aur though.

We had the local constable and his family out for lunch today. Spaghetti with fish meatballs, garlic toast from local bread, apricot cobbler and chocolate pudding. They took the recipe for the cobbler with them as well as the remaining cobbler and spaghetti.

I have been asked to fix a generator tomorrow. and to watch Reverend Col sail his model outrigger canoe. Should be fun.

We hope to leave Monday back to Majuro. I was asked to stop back in Aur for a passenger or two. Haven't decided yet.

Anchored in Airik, Maloelap

Safe passage. Tired. Only 7 hours of easy motoring. Will go ashore for the first time, tomorrow.

Aur and Tobal

Having a good time. ixing generators for the locals and visiting. Trinda spent a day with the ladies making things with beads. She didn't quite go through half of the beads Sherry sent.

We may head up to Maloelap tomorrow.

Radio e-mail is really unreliable here. too far from everywhere.