Today started with a big rainsquall that lasted about an hour. We were on the west side of Tutuila Island. If you like waterfalls then today’s cruise was for you! There was no “civilization” with the exception of one remote coastal village tucked in an inlet. A series of waterfalls one after another dotted the mountainsides and from the distance we were from shore, you could tell that they were very tall as it was obvious of what they were. Sights like this will always be remembered just as the way I remember going through the Inside Passage from Seattle to Alaska in 2002. You can see the same view in a magazine but it is distinctive when you are here seeing it for yourself.
This side consists mainly of American Samoa National Park. I have only been to one part but have not explored the entire park. When I first came here in 2002, I had an interest in seeing it because it was so remote and far removed from rest of the parks on the mainland. When I returned to Washington, I read an article somewhere; I do not recall if it was the newspaper or magazine, that American Samoa National Park was the most remote park in the National Park Service. I did not return to American Samoa until two years ago. I did stop here in 2004 with the KA but that was just an overnighter.
“L” and I stopped off at the park office in 2008 but we did not go to the park itself. After spending time in her and the relatives village mat weaving just didn’t look interesting since I saw her family do it for real. Looking at the Tutuila maps, I may rent a car and drive around the island and actually spend some time to explore the park on my time off. But I have said that before and never delivered so I will not go into anymore of future planning. I will probably have something come up where I will be working OT the entire time and never make it.
“L” reminded me in a conversation tonight that it was in Pago Pago, American Samoa where we met around Thanksgiving in 2002. I responded by saying that my memories, despite getting older and showing first signs of forgetting things, still recall that night in vivid details. The very first time I saw her, we looked at each other and she came over to sit with me. I do not think either of us would have thought we would be married. Nearly eight years later; we are married and still separated due to my profession. It was similar to the time we were cohabitating where I would sail, come back and stay for a bit. It was ironic that I would spend time in her home, family and village last month while she stayed at my “crib” in Seattle. Anything could happen!
Today was “Murphy’s Day.” As it was near quitting time, the camera used to monitor boat launches and recoveries decided to go on strike, just when the boats were coming back. I put in OT and didn’t eat dinner as the problem was caused by a leak in the splice. I wanted to wrap things to shield it from the weather and continue in the morning. This was in the middle of another troubleshooting of disappeared data streams from the gyrocompass. But hey, one of the other cameras that was a problem works now! What did I do? I guess I pushed the right button at the right time.
Manuia-po from American Samoa
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