December 21 - Not in Alofi, Niue

We were supposed to be in Niue today, but instead we’re somewhere in the South Pacific sailing through a totally calm ocean (the Pacific is living up to its name) at the blazing speed of seven knots on a course heading 274.4° W.  Our stop in Niue was canceled because there is limited capacity for shipping  and a cargo ship was scheduled to be there today.  Since everything on the island must be brought in by ship, it’s understandable to me that a ship carrying cargo would take priority over a bunch of cruise ship passengers.  Instead, we are headed directly to our next stop in Tonga.

Since I last wrote we skipped another port, Aitutaki, one of the Cook Islands, because of rough seas which made it impossible for us to enter through the reef and launch tenders to go ashore. For several days before we arrived in the Society Islands (French Polynesia) we were sailing along the eastern edge of a weather system which caused our rough seas and difficulty getting into a couple of ports.  I think that system has finally moved on because yesterday and today we’ve been sailing in flat calm seas. If this were a sailing vessel we might be becalmed and it is also hotter than blazes outside.

Water, water everywhere!

We did manage to stop in Rarotanga, Cook Islands.  These islands are an independent country in the area called Oceania in the South Pacific and they are in a free association with New Zealand. Most of the Cook Islanders are dual citizens holding New Zealand citizenship as while as from Cook Islands.  The official currency is the NZ dollar. We tendered ashore in Avarua, the capital of the islands.  Rarotonga is the largest of the island group with an area of a little over 26 sq. miles.  It’s volcanic with several tall mountain peaks, all of which are covered with lush vegetation.  Two friends and I tendered ashore and walked around in the little downtown area.  There was a local market selling arts and crafts as well as fruits and vegetables.  Under a little tent there was a four-piece band playing music on a bandstand with rows of chairs for onlookers.  Outside, a couple from our ship began dancing and one of the local vendors was dancing with a chair for a partner.  Just behind that pavilion was what appeared to be an outdoor food court with people having lunch from a variety of food vendors.  We really weren’t tempted because among other things it was awfully hot and humid.  We looked in a couple of the shops and stands but didn’t see anything we were tempted to buy.  We did see a Christmas tree made of coconut husks and decorated with flowers which was very unusual.

This and the next two are views of Rarotanga

Looking down the market street

The coconut husk tree

The little local band

After walking to what appeared to be the end of the town we did find a place where we could take some good pictures of our home away from home.  Feeling hot and sweaty we decided it was time for the walk back to the tender dock and a return to the air-conditioning on our ship.  There is something about intense heat and humidity which is very draining.

Aside from that these sea days have been the typical lazy ones.  I’ve gone to several talks by the guest conversationalists.  I’ve heard about the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, Australia’s position in the Indo-Pacific region and tales of old sea captains including some interesting old sea shanties.  So far none of the speakers has been able to offer a solution to any of the world’s problems.  Too bad.  I have found it interesting that most of them don’t have any idea of what to expect from the incoming administration.  I’ve heard one who seems to think that Putin preferred the outcome we had in our election and another who said he thought Putin and other leaders would be kept more off balance and thus more cautious with the new leadership.  I’m not an expert like they are, but I tend to believe the latter is truer.  Anyway, time will tell.

I realize this hasn’t been a particularly exciting few weeks as I’ve sailed to new parts of the world.  I should have expected that these tropical islands, many of them little more than atolls or volcanic rocks in the middle of the ocean, are all very similar and all very hot and humid.  I’ve seen them now and I think my curiosity has been satisfied.  Overnight this evening we'll be crossing the International Date Line and December 22 will vanish from our lives.  Tomorrow when I get up I will have been transported to December 23rd and will have lost a day of my life.  Technically we aren't crossing the line until around 9 AM but for operational reasons and to keep our brains from being completely muddled we'll make the change while we sleep.  Regardless of what my watch and devices say I know that what counts is what the captain says the time and day are and that's what I'm going by.  So bye bye from somewhere at 4:30 PM on December 21, 2024.