Fahiti ho!

 3.5 miles across the strait from Naqaiqai lies the island of Kioa.  Kind of a strange history.  It is not Fijian in culture, the entire island coming from Tuvulu.  Their own language and customs.  I had always seen the village when exiting Naqaiqai and thought 'some day I have to go visit.'  Well today was the day.  I motored over and anchored in 50 feet of water with a sand bottom.  The bay shallows very quickly - I think I could hit the shore with a rock. When I came in there were boats coming from all over, people dressed in white shirts and unloading all sorts of paraphernalia like chests and rolled up things.  Uh oh - I've come during a religious ceremony.  But, not to be daunted, I loaded up the eyeglasses and paddle boarded to the beach.  Found the first adult I could and asked to see the headman.  This guy was a visitor, too, but he asked somebody else and I got directed to the headman's house.  Where I found out ...

 A favorite of mine and Nick's last year.  Willie and Morena and Eddie made us so welcome.  It was Willie that made kava for us in the video I shared on FB.  Unfortunately, Morena had just died; her grave was up on the hillside, the red funeral flags waving in the breeze.  Willie was down in Suva with relatives, so it was just Eddie and me this time. Had kava last night with Eddie.  He complimented me on my choice of kava (like I would know) and I even got to pound it.  We had avocado with lemon juice and fried eggplant for dinner.  And surprisingly I made it back to the boat on the paddle board without drowning.  The kava seemed to have no effect on me; Eddie, on the other hand, was getting very mellow.

 Eroni is the guy who watches my boat when it's in Nawi Marina.  He told me his family is from Nasali Village in Viani Bay, so of course I had to visit there to pay my respects.  Not even sure it's called Nasali, but it's on Nasali Point, so I'm sticking with it. I met his mother right off.  She didn't speak any English, but two ladies there did.  I put her in touch with Eroni by phone and that was a big hit.  She got a pair of glasses from me, too. Did sevusevu and people kept coming to the headman's porch so I just stayed there and tried to match people with glasses.  Readers were by far the most popular; the strong prescription glasses may get left in the States the next trip.   Moved on to a covered area and found many more matches.  Video below.  I asked the folks to thank the Lions, since the Keweenaw Lions Club donated a majority of the eyeglasses this trip.

 I really liked the rainbow of colors last night.  The pic really doesn't do it justice.

 Nobody said you can't eat well while sailing. General's Chicken.  Found this recipe online and I had everything except green onions.  The sauce was a bit heavy on the Hoisin, but otherwise very tasty.  A sprinkle of chili peppers really helped spice it up. Ripe papaya with fresh lemon juice for breakfast.  Tasty!

 It's three am. Bang!  WTF?  Something hit my boat at 3 am?  Usain Bolt couldn't have moved faster to the companionway than I did.  Grabbed my headlamp on the way. Took a walk around the deck.  Nothing.  Flat calm water.  Anchor chain straight down.  Went back inside, checked Anchor Sentry.  I was right where I should be.  Turned on depth finder.  35 feet. Went back to bed.  Five minutes later - Bang!  I think the boat shook this time. Ok, now I'm pissed.  Grabbed the headlamp again and went all around the topsides.  Did I miss a coral pinnacle that I somehow floated over?  No sign with the light.  Still dead calm, clear night. Went back to bed.  Four am - Bang!  Less of a bang this time, but enough to wake me up.  This time I didn't get up.  Whatever it is, it will wait until morning. So it's morning.  All systems fine.   Best guess?  A big fish was feeding ...

 Ok.  Got 'ya to read with that title, right?  Yah, deny it if you want.   So the gas line fix worked.  The seal held and I was all happy.  Then I got to thinking...what if this thing fell apart when I'm miles up a creek or worse, out in choppy swells?  If it fell apart there would be no recourse except to row.  I needed to bypass this whole contraption and make it robust.  (The enquiring reader will note that this could have been done in Savusavu.) I had the inspiration to see if I could find a pipe nipple of the right diameter.  And sure enough, after digging around in Joe's endless bin 'o parts I found exactly what I needed - an NPT thread to hose nipple.  The nipple wasn't quite big enough (keep the jokes to yourself - you know who you are) but with two hose clamps it did the trick.  I now have a fuel line locked to the tank, no sealant required. Now just so the motor fitting doesn't go on me...