Photo Gallery - January 2004
Pictures can be clicked to see a large
version of the image.
Rick
from "Infidien" with Jonah and Jessie in the dinghy getting ready for
'skerfing' in the anchorage at Annemwanot (Majuro).
Tristan
from "Roxanne" is first and here he sits waiting for the ride to
begin. Skerfing is a combination of skiing and surfing.
Here
he goes!
It's
Jonah's turn. This is the first time he has done this on a real surfboard. Once
before he had tried this on a 'boogieboard' (a much smaller, soft foam board)
but he was very young at the time (like 4 1/2).
And
away we go!
Standing
up, but not moving!
The
S/V Dancer with Jim and Jeanette aboard. We met Dancer in Kiribati in October
and again in Majuro. They are avid scuba divers and very nice people. Jeanette
is the first person I have met cruising who actually works from her boat doing
custom computer software (for Wall St.). She has quite a monthly sat phone
bill.
This
school of squid seems to really like hanging around the hull of the Queen Jane.
This was Ok with us since we really like eating them. Catching squid is not
always easy as the little buggers are quite cautious and great patience is
sometimes required.
The
Queen Jane anchored at Annemwanot.
View
of the mooring fields at Majuro taken by Kate from the top of the mast. In the
foreground the part you see is the top end of the roller furler.
Another
shot from the masthead, this one unobstructed.
Looking
down onto the deck from the masthead you can just see the skipper standing in
front of the mast.
Ash
and Rixenne from "Karmaladen". This shot, and the next few, were taken
at the Tide Table restaurant on Taco Night a weekly event held every Tuesday
which attracts almost every cruiser in the bay.
Christe
(Windrunner) and Kate ham for the camera.
Waiting
for dinner to be served. From left, Jeanette (Dancer), Martin (Windrunner), Jim
(Dancer) and James (Rainbow Chaser).
The
skipper (Jordan) talking with Richard from "Windswept" a super-fast
TriMaran he built himself in California. At right in profile is Karen from
"Seal". You may notice that Jordan is drinking ice water. This is
because he is feeling under the weather and is about to get a nasty case of
strep throat which will lay him low for about 9 days.
Jordan
and Kate at Taco Night.
From
left, Carey (Seal), Dr. Robyn McIntyre (a former and honorary cruiser from
Kiwiland who lives and works in Majuro) and Monique from "Libby Lane"
whom we had just met that night.
Jonah
and Kate at Taco Night.
Playing
"Connect Four" with Kate. To Jonah's left is Mary from "Rayon
Vert" (in English, Green Flash) and opposite her is, of course, Christe.
Ollie
from "Athanor" walking Mia with Jonah. Mia was adopted by the Athanor
clan while at Majuro.
Ollie
and Jonah.
Lobsters
on the menu tonight! This picture was taken at Maloelap Atoll which we sailed to
from Majuro on January 20th. We bought the lobsters from some locals for about
$3 each.
On
hold in the sink. Since I wanted to cook the lobster for dinner in the chinese
style (Lobster with Rice Wind and Ginger) I needed the raw tail meat. Of course
they were live and so I had to rip their tales off and remove the meat instead
of dropping them in boiling water (though we did save 2 for lunch which we
cooked in that traditional manner).
Here
we see the four lobster tails after having been removed from their owners.
Unlike Maine (Atlantic) lobsters, these babies are called Spiny Lobsters and for
good reason. They are festooned with very sharp spines and have much tougher
shells then Atlantic Lobsters. I wore large rubber gloves when handling them to
avoid cutting my hands open.
Jonah
and Jeanette (Dancer) playing Monopoly. Jeanette offered to "babysit"
with Jonah while Kate and I went diving one day. Although we have left him alone
on the boat several times lately while we dive (about an hour or hour and a
half) Jeanette seemed to really want to do it so we didn't argue. Jonah thought
it was a "play date"!
The
beach at Taroa and islet of Maloelap Atoll. In Polynesia this would be called a
Motu but in Micronesia they don't seem to just called the islands. Like all
Atolls, Maloelap is a former high island which has sunk over the eons leaving a
fringing coral reef which has developed a series of small islets that remain.
Another
view of the beach at Taroa. The tranquil waters of the lagoon are separated from
the raging ocean only by these little islets (motus) which are dotted along the
perimeter of the lagoon. In many cases these islands are only yards wide, in
some places as large as a half mile. Always you can hear the ocean surf from the
lagoon side pounding on the outside of the islets.
Schoolhouse
on Taroa islet.
Inside
the school small classes of kids read and do schoolwork. This room seems to be
divided into a library on one side and a classroom on the other side of the
bookshelves.
Another
classroom with younger kids. We always try to bring Jonah to visit the local
school on the islands we visit and bring gifts of books he has outgrown and
teaching materials we are no longer using. Usually they are received with great
enthusiasm by both teachers and kids.
This
photo is of the former Japanese Headquarters on Taroa. This islet was the main
airbase in the Marshall Islands both before and during WWII when the Marshalls
were occupied (and colonized) by the Japanese.
Up
until recently this three story cement structure was occupied by local people
who lived there. Currently the structure is so dilapidated it must have been
deemed unsafe to continue doing so. It is quite impressive and especially stark
as large palm trees are growing out of the second floor. Nature is well on its
way to reclaiming and reducing the rubble everything the American bombers did
not destroy.
These
fascinating objects were made of aluminum and seemed quite well preserved.
Although some kids told me they were floats (pontoons for float planes) to my
eye they seemed like external fuel tanks, though I do not have the expertise to
make that determination. I would really love to know exactly what they are, but
certainly they are one or the other.
A
large concrete fuel bunker which must have been hit when the US bombed the
island in January, 1944. US forces neutralized Taroa with a relentless
bombing campaign but never sent forces to take the island from the Japanese. As
a result, after being bombed, the Japanese on Taroa were cut off from their
supply lines and many of the survivors starved before the war ended.
This
photo depicts a bomb crater with two trees growing in it. This part of the
island which we walked through to reach the airfield was dotted with bomb
craters all of which had trees and plants growing in them.
A
Japanese airplane wreck near the airfield. Taroa is littered with wrecked
airplanes and airplane engines as well as other debris and war materials.
One
of several airplane engine near the airfield.
Jonah
standing atop another airplane engine, this one with its propeller mostly
intact.
Kate
and a pack of island kids (and Jonah) walking towards the airstrip. This area,
the former airfield, is now home to one or two families.
The
airstrip at Taroa looking North towards the ocean. The strip was paved when in
use but is now overgrown with grass. When kick the grass and look closely you
can see the old asphalt.
Another
view of the airstrip facing in the opposite direction.
Jonah
and some kids climbing up a wall on a demolished building.
Jonah
sitting on the wall.
Walking
the island in search of war artifacts with kids in tow.
We
came across this tree decorated with ribbons, flowers and other objects and were
unable to get the kids with us to tell us what it was due the language
barrier. My guess is that it is some type of war memorial.
Jonah
and kids sitting on a bomb. There are a bunch of these things littered around in
this area. Most of them are rusted out badly but some are fairly intact.
Some
more bombs in the area.
Some
very, very large fuel storage bunkers on Taroa.
