This morning we got a call on the VHF from customs asking us to come in at 8 o'clock to clear in. I knew the Immigration department at the Police office didn't open until 9 o'clock so we negotiated a 9 o'clock appointment. The town we are moored off is called Alofi and they have a unique way of handling dinghies when you come ashore. The wharf has no protection from sea swells so you can't leave you dinghy tied to the dock. Instead they have a DIY electric crane to lift your dinghy out of the water to store it on the quay while you're ashore. It's a lot simpler than it sounds. One pulls up, off loads people, bags, rubbish on to the steps and you take the hook and put it through a rope attached to the front and back of your dinghy, hop ashore and press the 'up' button. Your dinghy is majestically lifted clear of the water. You use a rope to pull the crane arm in and lower dinghy onto a trailer which you wheel to the dinghy park.
We did our clear in, got some NZ dollars from the bank, signed up for internet service and went to the yacht club for an ice cream. Sometimes it can be easy. Stuart from Imagine had picked up tourist info leaflets for us and we had time to read them and discover how many must sees there are here. The island is uplifted coral and this has led to the formation of caves, chasms and swimming pools around the coastline. The way to see it is to hire a car. The island is about 40 miles in circumference with a maximum 40mph speed limit
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