Vaoto Lodge Ofu

On August 1 we headed off to Ofu and Olesaga, two small islands that lie 80 miles east of Tutuila, the main island of America Samoa. It was supposed to be a 5 day excursion, to celebrate our 6th anniversary. The day we arrived we sat down for what Marge, the owner of the Vaoto Lodge, where we were staying, called a turkey and cheese sandwich, after we got off the airplane. It turned out to be cheese on white bread, not that I am complaining, we were on Ofu. Straight after lunch we headed for...

[Just as daylight was creeping up on the small island of Ofu, I stirred myself from my bed. I wanted to catch the sunrise. I mounted one of the bikes the lodge let us use, and headed off towards the beach. The dogs bolted out of the house after me, exstatic to have a companion for a morning run. I got to the beach just as the deep reds were being painted by the sun's reflection on the clouds above the islands. I enjoyed the soft breeze which cooled my sweat filled forehead, and drank in the s...

After 10 days on Ofu, working, snorkeling, cooking, cleaning, watching sunset, playing cards, and generally relaxing in the sun. We hadn't had enough. Jim had left 2 days prior, and asked us, "Are you guys sure you are leaving on Friday?" We had been, but when Friday came around, we kept arguing back and forth while we were painting away. About mid-day, we talked it out with Marge, and decided to stay for a month more. Called the airlines, changed the tickets, and it was done. We were to be ...

The Lunar Eclipse came as a suprise to Tom and I who had gotten used to the same routine for the last few weeks on Ofu. We would wake up, watch the CNN news, which covered a group of miners being trapped in Utah for at least 9 days, followed by which celebrity was in jail for what on TV over breakfast, work on the suite, which we painted (inside and out), sanded, varnished, stuckoed and the like all of which sound like they don't take too long but end up taking at least a day more than you ex...

The runway on this island was on the longest flattest section of land on the island. Which, in all reality wasn't really long enough. It worked though, even if landing here for the first time was an experience of itself. The plane starts descending, and you think he is going to land right on the beach, which you just clear, and then stop right before ending up on the other beach. Anyways, enjoy the video.

The guys running these machines were staying at the Lodge we were working at. They were dredging the harbor so the supply boat could come in. They could paddle their wharf around with the big diggers, check it out!! Props to Justin and Tony.

Why is it that when you are in the wilderness, you get tired as soon as the sun sets? It got dark around 7:30 or so last night and Dart and I both crashed out. Of course, this may have had something to do with the long walk on the beach, the excitement of the smoke-filled plane (see yesterday's posting), or the bat-watching, too. We took a long beach walk yesterday afternoon - the shore is covered in pristine coral fragments, shells, and is free from trash (unfortunately, I can't say this abo...