Kelcey Chandler-Yates and Jim Yates present...

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August 7, 2003

My goodness time flies!! Well once Barb and Jimmy, James and Ruth left we sank into a state of rest. The local who was to tour the island with us and then give us a tour flaked out and we were too tired to care-there will be plenty of time to try to reconnect-perhaps the roosters at her house kept her up all night also!! At any rate Jim decided that we had been so hectic for the last few months that all he wanted to do is unwind. Out came the earring making supplies and his tools and my cleaning supplies and total disorganization is the result! So much for unwinding! Slowly over the last week we have made progress with the 'put off' cleaning, laundry, the making of earrings and maintenance of the boat. With people around almost constantly we felt extremely behind and lethargic besides. Although our guests have been wonderful and undemanding it has been nice to not have the stress of entertaining on our shoulders. We have noticed this year how isolated we have become from the "average" way of life. Those who do not visit often or who hang about at a resort and not on the boat while visiting are really into the go go go routine along with drinking and eating to the max. After a few times living with us visitors tend to get into the kicked back custom. This year has been full of newbees and it is hard to keep up with the continuous "vacation". You know you are tired when diving is to you like one more trip to Disneyland is to southern Californians!! Now with the winds clamed and the kids hanging with two New Zealand girls, who did not leave with the rush of boats currently on their way to Suvarow, we are back to practicing our informal cruising lifestyle. School till three, exercise in the water, visiting the other yachters, dinner and at 8:30 in bed reading a book or watching a movie! Yesterday I was invited to another New Zealand boat (kiwi boat as we call them) and we were all comparing recipes for our favorite desserts. You can't just buy them out here!!.-It was nice to have some just cruising girl time!!

August 10 2003, Bora Bora eastern side

Last Wednesday I called Sylvia in Tahiti-she was to arrive on Saturday-Marital bliss was cramping her style so in tears she explained she would not be coming to Bora. We were very sad as she has done so much for us we wanted to return her kindness but on the other hand we were happy as we are just plain burnt out on having others on the boat!! I was to call on Friday to see if she might just join us alone and she would send an e-mail to me explaining everything. No answer at work, no answer at home-a call to Leones cell phone and he said none would be able to come as he had not seen Sylvia in 3 days-another call to work where Hinanno, another friend, speaks English-she informed me Sylvia had not been to work in 3 days??-so back out to the boat-a mile away-I will call again tomorrow just to make sure--- no answer again-what was I to think-they are not coming-no email either!!-well the weather was right so off to the east side of the Island where the Mantas reside-we have been waiting for them for almost a month! Just settled in with kid boats all around and a grand BBQ under our belt at shore we were enjoying the sunset and across the VHF I hear-Kelcey-- Kelcey-Sylvia here-do you hear me???-and on went a conversation of telling her that there was too shallow of water to come all the way to the other side of the island and there was no light-take a taxi to this side!!-No she said!!-you come here-No I said it is too dangerous for the boat-she said No again and was very put out!!-Time to call in some help!!-Another boat to the rescue who speak French!-They talked them into coming to this side!!-thank God!!-So in the dark we meandered through the coral for over 20 minutes and ended up at the Meridian resort -They would not let us land!!-Finally I spoke with a French guy who talked them into letting us use their dock-after 30 min of waiting the gendarme showed up and in the paddy wagon was not only Sylvia and Leon but their 13 year old Melissa!! Regroup to company time!! Change the sheets, prepare the meals and get ready to entertain!!-First meal-Melissa wont eat-too spicy!! Where is the rice!! Thankfully Sylvia brought two loaves of wonderful French bread!!-Unfortunately this is the side of the island with NO stores!!-I was not provisioned for these guys as they don't eat meat and there is no fish to eat in this scummy lagoon!!!!-oh well-could be interesting!!

August 12, 2003

Today we were scheduled to go over to the other side of the island to provision and show these guys that part of the island - instead they wanted to snorkel with the mantas. Well we dove and only saw two and they saw none-but it was a huge surprise when they informed us that they were leaving in the morning to go to Tahaa!-Leon decided that he wanted to visit his family and be able to speak French-and Melissa also. I knew they wanted to go over there but with 20 knot trade winds again there is no way we want to beat into the wind for 8 hours-once again they were mad at us because they have no idea what it takes to live on a boat-you can't just turn the key and go!! Anyhow they decided they would go to shore and take the ferry over--- So off they went to shore-VERY remarkable!!----VERY strange.  

August 14, 2003, Bora Bora Yacht Club

Well for the last two days all we have done is clean and do laundry! It began to blow fairly strong after Sylvia and them left so we sailed back over to the Yacht Club which is no more than a dock with a restaurant and moorings but the name sounds good!! Free water also which was what drew us back here. Last night we were glad we had a mooring as it got blowing up to 30 knots with gusts of I don't know how much but it was enough to wake me several times during the night! The bulk of our laundry was taken down earlier in the eve but the remnant rugs and towels had to stay up due to their dampness. All I could think of all night long in my dreaming was magic carpet rides!! Everything left up was full of salt spray this morning so rinse away we did! Really appreciate the free water!!-

August 20, 2003, South west end of Motu Topua

For the past few days we have been cleaning, cooking and doing a bit of entertaining-It was Jim's birthday on the 17th and we had met some very nice people on the boat Vellamo, a beautiful 48 foot Swan which for you non boaters is the Mercedes of mono-hulls. Anyhow they are unpretentious and very enjoyable, intelligent and fun loving hence we hit it off. They came over for dinner of vanilla mahi mahi, which is just a white butter sauce I added some vanilla bean to-delicious! Anyhow-- Denise who had No desire to see sharks was a sport and dove with the lemon sharks much to Phillips chagrin. Good divers and sporting. He also has a kite surfer, which if the wind picks up Chris will be all over! Yesterday we went out to the sand canyon where usually we see 80 or so eagle rays but on this dive two HUGE mantas came directly toward us from "the mists" beyond! The visibility was about 80 foot so while we were meandering along it seemed as if the mantas came through the mist in the distance-it was a beautiful site Jim captured on video as they swam 3 foot directly over our heads seemingly not noticing us. My friend Sue from LA will be here on Saturday so we are enjoying some "waiting" time still here on Bora Bora. Once she arrives we plan to leave for Maupiti where we hope to be able to spearfish and have some local interaction. Bora is sooooo tourist oriented that shore and locals are not our favorite pastimes. The folks from Vellamo did talk us into going for cocktails at the Bora Bora Nuie resort where Jacques Chirac stayed when he was here a month ago. (See Barb and Jimmies visit) August 23, 2003 Sue arrived so time for a new entry!