2ND NOVEMBER,2013
Around the world with the Aqualunies
Jonathan & Gabrielle Lyne
Fri 15 Nov 2013 14:21
We noticed two of the little boys from the village, Billy and Tom, messing around on the shore and looking across to us so we went across in the dingy to pick them up and bring them on the yacht for cold drinks and some chocolate for a half an hour before returning them, they were mesmerised by the yacht and the full working galley.
Sadly my iphoto is playing up with a constant 'death wheel' turning and freezing so I am unable to down load any photos at the moment. I'm not sure when or where I will be able to sort it. If any of my readers have any idea then please email me at :- aqualuna {CHANGE TO AT} mailasail {DOT} com thanks. I have had to force quit the programme several times but still comes back to the turning wheel which is a pain. Most probably due to the photo file being very full so was planning to delete some files which I already have on disc but it won't even let me do that at the moment.
In the afternoon we sailed around the Royal Explorings Yacht Club, endorsed by the King of Tonga. The club is owned by the same chap who owns the Copra Shed in Savusavu. He also owns the large estate on this headland. The lagoon where the club is is very sheltered, very isolated and very blue. We took snorkel and masks and eplored a little coral outcrop with some soft coral on it. Saw a few turtles and hundreds of lovely fish. The Yacht Club was closed and empty due to it being the end of the season (we are a little late) but we had the whole place to ourselves. The club looks amazing, with a bar and tree trunks as stools, a well kept grass area, and various terraces, one with a platform on a rocky outcrop for diving off. I would imagine in high season it would be a very much a party place and lots of fun.
The following morning we went for a walk up 272 steps to the top of the peninsular and walked through the village where the caretakers live. We were met by the manager of the plantation and signed the visitors book. The village was very neat and tidy and even had dry stone walling made out of volcanic rock. There were a flock of Rams no sheep, all quite young very shorn rams. We carried on walking, avoiding the many spider webs with large spiders in them to the look out and took some amazing photos of the islands (like floating gardens) in blue water from the top. The water is crystal clear as well. Back to the yacht for lunch and a much deserved swim.