SATURDAY, 24TH APRIL, 2010.

 

We have had the most fantastic week.  On Monday, 19th April we motored in quite rough seas around to 'Daniel's Bay' or Hakaui Bay which is it's real name.  It was called Daniel's Bay as a local by the name set up a freshwater hose from the stream so that yachts could fill up with fresh water.  Along came an American film crew to make 'Survivors' and paid him to leave the bay, he never returned.  We all, the BWR that is, gathered on the beach in the late afternoon for a picnic.  It was a huge sucess and fun.  When it got dark somebody made a fire so many of us stayed on and sang songs and played Charades until 12 mn. It was magical sitting under the stars with a crescent moon on a white sand beach under palm trees, because it had not rained for months we were not bothered by the 'No no flies', have to admit the singing was well lubricated by wine and whisky. 

Tuesday 20th, we did a two hour walk up to the third highest waterfall in the world, at least it would have been but after six months of no rain it was dry.  The hike up was amazing through jungle and rocky paths, with Mango trees dropping their fruit and just missing us, a coconut palm shed a coconut within feet of the guide.  When we got there, past anceint ruined settelments of the Taioa Tribe, we swam in the fresh water pool just under the waterfall; our feet were nibbled by fresh water Crayfish, Jonathan regretted not bringing his net.  We also fed the freshwater eels with bread, they didn't come near us thank goodness.  Allan came along, not a keen walker these days, but really enjoyed it.  That night about thirty of us gathered together on a BWR Cat' with our bring your own BBQ food to use their BBQ, after we all gathered on the huge fore-deck for more Charades, quite a crazy evening as each time you did a charade you had to down an egg cup size of Tequila.........

Wed' 21st:- we, just Aqualuna, set sail for Ua Pou in lumpy seas with 20 -25 knots of wind.  The island, see attached photo, was something staight out of Lord of the Rings with its Volcanic core mountains.  On the way over we lost our turning block for the main halyard at the bottom of the mast, the pin had come out as it wore the hole due to no washer being in place, supplied like that.  Jonathan went over to the Swan 72' anchored near us, the same one which passed us at the beggining of our Pacific crossing, to borrow a large vise to straighten it again. Some of the crew came for drinks on board later, they also gave us loads of fruit which had been given to them by villagers on their way up through the islands.  Miss Tippy, a BWR yacht, was also in the bay, and the children, aged 12,11 and 9 came over with some cake and a bracelet they had made.  They are amazing kids  ahd have been through many crises at sea since leaving Europe.  They work together with their parents as a good team, maybe we should all do these things with our children in early life befoe they gain a sense of fear and rebellion, especially inner city kids.

Thursday, 22nd,  I had a bad night's sleep as we were rolling quite a bit so missed out on the 6am walk ashore with 'the boys'

They came back with fresh, hot french bread for breakfast.  We then set sail back to Nuka Hiva and Chrles took us all out to dinner as it was his last night.

Friday, 23rd April,  Charles flew back to the UK.  We will misshim, a good friend, with a sense of humour and a great crew both below and above decks.  We set sail, after doing a shop and laundry, for an overnight sail to Tahuata.

Saturday 24th April, We arrived in the bay of Hananoenoa at 10 am, written as one of the most beautiful bays in French Polynesia, a horse shoe bay with gold sands, palm trees and turquoise waters.  We plan to stay here for a day and night before going on to Hiva Oa on Sunday afternoon.  Hiva Oa was where Paul Gauguin lived and died and also where a famous Belgian song writer and poet, Jacques Brel, lived and is buried.

At last I have caught up with my blog.  I did try to send an earlier one from Nuka Hiva but the internet kept crashing so I have had to jpeg the photos and copy them on to the yacht computer and hope I can send them all by Iridium. J is a bit fussy about how many I send out as it can take a long time to send them. If I have to delete some I will send them at a later date from my Apple.