CAIRNS - Shhhh Lyndon fished on a Sunday.

Finally a perfect weekend, all be it a Sunday so Bill, Luke and Lyndon packed up the boat and we headed out to the reef for some fishing. Being Lyndon's first fishing trip on a Sunday since departing for Tonga he was a little interested to see if the God's would shine on him. On our way out the weather improved the further out we got. Also I warned Bill that I am a DPI magnet (fisheries officers) and he just laughed "never see them out here" he said. There were heaps of people out but the fishing was extremely hard with no bait around, bad tides and 1/2 moon but when the weather permits it seems nothing will stop people heading out, even the cost of fuel which isn't much better in Oz these days.

Bill loves his new toy and she rides well too. Although in weather like this BLAH BLAH would too.

It seems Dyl and Luke run the same fishing theories on fishing, the Dad's drive and they sleep. That is until a reel goes off then get out of their road.

Now this could be a reef off Tonga it was that nice. Luke took the chance to flick some lures at some schools of fish off Sudbury Cay.

Just cause I can! Shame it isn't in the water I fixed that quickly after taking this shot though. 

Luke was keeping score and some how he even had negative points??? Bill had no dramas as he pulled in coral trout like this one.

Now this could be a good negative fish. Luke was quite the shark wrangler.

This Barracuda was more on the money and from our last stop too. Now back to the "DPI magnet" comment from earlier. Not minutes after pulling in this fish we had a boat come screaming around the corner. "Hello boys can we come aboard?" I was smiling so much I forgot to ask them for a photo, Bill wasn't smiling as much as it was his first visit and he now has a few small things to fix before the next boating trip but thankfully I didn't have to swim home.

Seems that both Dyl and Luke like driving boats. Best we be careful it wont be long and all Bill and I will be doing is dropping them off at the ramp.

Luke and some of the haul. 3 coral trout, 1 red throat emperor and 2 large Barracuda which got cut into fridge size pieces and dropped off to the Tongan boys. They ate them raw that same night too. Yum Quirky, when are you going fishing again? Not soon enough my friends, not soon enough. Thanks Bill and Luke it was a great day and hopefully we will have many more when we return to Cairns.

VOEA PANGAI - Cairns slipping

Only days after we returned from our Vava'u trip Lyndon had to re-pack and fly to Cairns to relieve Dave at Tropical Reef Shipyard on VOEA PANGAI. PANGAI is conducting a Nation funded slipping as well as Hull modifications and a Communications upgrade and all in (hopefully) 8weeks. The boat was already in the floating dock when he arrived and the boys well into the ship staff maintenance. It's a great opportunity for them to learn a few tricks from the yard staff too.

PANGAI in the floating Dock with the seamen doing some painting prep's. 

The view across the yard from half way up the mast. Our office is in the white building in the middle.

The ship is nearly gutted to conduct the Hull modifications. This is the view looking up toward the Junior Sailors accommodation. Not too many trip hazards.

The bridge has also been gutted as part of the Communications upgrade which includes re-running all the cables. Spaghetti central in some areas.

We tested our Engine room fire depression system (Hi-Fog) you could be in the space as it is only water but the better / dryer spot is through the main access hatch. A first for most of us.

The boys are so keen they were preparing the outside while the welding contractors were burning from the inside. The brown spot is actually burning paint.

Who said 20mm gun mounts only have one use? They make a nice pillow for a lunch time nap too. Especially if it's in the shade.

The boys enjoying some VB on the esplanade courts.

A rare sighting one Bay class customs vessel, one Armidale Class vessel (ACPB) and one mighty Pacific class vessel (PPB) all docked at Norship slipyard. Our contractor DMS (Defence Maritime Services) conduct the maintenance support for all three classes.

Vava'u - Our last weekend in Neiafu

After our glorious week on board ESCAPADE NZ we had the weekend to recuperate in the main town of Vava'u - Neiafu while we waited for our flight home Monday. We stayed at Hakula Lodge and visited various places around town including the marketi, Tonga Beach resort and main shops.

The view of ESCAPADE from Hakula's wharf.

Our wharf entrance up to our Lodge, the gardens are filled with colour.

The view from our deck.

The kids loved Jeff's carving they were everywhere.

Similar to Nuku'alofa, Sunday is no action day in Vava'u so we headed to the Tonga Beach resort for the BBQ and family day.

Looking back at our daughter enjoying our table under the trees.

Em gave us a run for our money in scrabble without cheating too.

"If you jump I will Dad!"

Dyl found some mates to play with all day and here he is showing off some of his gymnastics skills.

Em loved the slide. Feet first, Head first, every which way but they always ended in a splash down.

Brotherly love Dyl helps Em out of the water.

The vanilla man was all over it. You can take a photo after you purchase some Vanilla beans! Lucky we had some spare Vodka to make some essence.

This is a very famous mural in the centre of town.

The kids designing their own T-shirts to remember the trip.

While we were on our way to lunch we spotted the Tongan Waka's returning after 8months away.

Just happens a friend of ours was on this journey. So we popped down to the wharf to surprise Mercy.

Now that was a hair raising holiday. Best Lyndon visits Shina for a Kosi Ulu before he returns to work!

Vava'u Cruising the Island group.

We passed so many different sights and crazy island just sticking up out of the ocean so this is more different views from through out the weeks adventure.

The Tongan Beach resort as we headed out of the main harbour.

Some of the islands- there is no way onto them yet they have strange animals living on them eg goats so we were told.

Some of the larger rock walls have caves and cracks that you can snorkel right up into and one you even have to dive up into. We opted out of that one, group decision.

Some of the colours in the water ways is crazy as you look through little passage ways between islands.

Another example of the colour changes and we found an awesome nemo near this lot.

Jodie and Dyl called this one the chocolate cheese cake Island.

So many little nooks and crannies to explore in both the boat and snorkeling.

We didn't get the opportunity to explore this hole but it looked cool as.

Another Island miles of the coast as we headed south to chase our Marlin not far out from it the ocean bed drops straight down to 500+metres.

This is where we saw our first close up whales, splashing around.

We'd be trawling along and all of a sudden we would change course because some big whale would pop up to see whats going on.

This was one of the biggest whales and it was having a ball.

The entrance into our overnight Anchorage. Yep, between those rocks, known to the locals as "the whole in the wall".

Rocks to the left of us.

Boulders to the right.

Another opening further along the same rock wall.

Nature at it's best. Rain forest and jungle all the way to the reef.

A secluded beach right near the Japanese coral gardens.

Looking back across the break wall behind the Japanese coral gardens and it opens up into another bay called the blue lagoon.