Rugby, King Trish,and Good-by to new friends.

Beach at Trish's Barefoot Bar

We returned to American Samoa to retrieve the new batteries and await Ron and Sooz return. Slow Dance tied up on the fisherman's docks, where we made new cruiser, as well as local Samoan friends. The fisherman gifted us each day with fresh Wahoo, Mahi-Mahi, and Red Snapper.


Sean, BJ, and I met Ron and Sooz at the airport with funny sign's and a big truck. Good thing, as they had a ton of stuff, including these cool collapsible bicycles.


Ron and I headed out one day on the local bus to Tupua, for Tisha's Barefoot Bar; a little paradise on a stretch of white sand beach. The view was great, as you can see.                       

King Trish

Even Trini loved the new Bikes

Ron took a spin

Little Darma, tiny Dancer

Alec and Nettie, really miss you guys

Thank you Jerry for all your help

Not everyone thought the Rugby game was exciting

Good-by to Maka, a special friend

Sailing Away

Samoa vs Australia (Samoa kicked butt)

Sean, Cody, Ruth, Neil, and me (Alec took the photo)

At Trish's Barefoot Bar, Ron opted for a snorkel while I was content for a swim. The current in the channel proved fierce and Ron got a real workout swimming in. After a rinse under the outdoor shower, we sat for a drink with a lovely couple who were getting married in a few days time. These love birds new each other in high school and recently reconnected on Facebook. Humm? He is Samoan, educated in USA, and she is a nurse from California. They had not seen each other for 25 years and she just got off the plane 4 days ago. Ain't love grand. 

Tisha (Tee-sha) is the eldest daughter of the deceased chief of her village. Eldest daughters carry alot of weight in the Samoan family structure. Tisha went to collage in San Diego and married herself a Kiwi man. Girls are never Chief, however, Tisha changed that with her successful Bar and great marketing skills. All the land that was her village is her's to rule and the villagers come to her for assistance and advise. I thought she made an excellent Chief and her lunch was the best Samoan food, to date. Apparently the coconut is roasted in the ground, then shredded out and mixed with young taro leaves. The small bananas, were marked on a hot grill, pealed, and served warm. They had a pleasant smokey flavor. Also served were banana chips, lightly salted and crispy. I had the swordfish. which was just okay, but the view more than made up for the fish.

Grace, Hedi, and the cook

Red Snapper

The snapper was delicious. It was prepared in two ways: dipped in egg and dredged in flour, lightly sauteed' with garlic and Italian herbs. Served with Angel Hair pasta, garlic tomato sauce. The second night I cooked the fish whole after rubbing the inside with olive oil, lemon, and then stuffing with garlic, onion, and peppers. The skin pulls away when the fish is roasted whole in a hot oven.

Trini with her ears in the wind

Vava'u Tonga, is beyond beautiful. Below is Faka town, which is very gritty, but once out around the islands it is amazing There are caves to dive and snorkel in, deserted beaches to swim and have bond fires at night. We are still snapping photo's and once we get to Fiji, I will post the photo's which can never capture the beauty of this place.

Neiafu, Vava'u, Tonga

Signing off, until next time......