To Mount Yasur

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sat 31 Oct 2015 23:27
Our Drive to Mount
Yasur
![]() ![]() Stanley organised our trip to the
village of Etapu – hopefully for us to have our National Geographic moment and
on to Mount Yasur to feel and hear the power of an active volcano – a perfectly
ordinary Saturday for the crew of Beez Neez. Promptly at one thirty, Sam turned
up at the yacht club in his pick-up truck. I loaded into the
back and Bear settled in the front with gentle reggae music and the very
knowledgeable and friendly Sam. Very soon it became clear to me that our
thoughtful driver would slow over the very bumpy bits and only speed up on the few flat
bits.
![]() Soon we were leaving behind the
cyclone battered but well kept village of
Ireupuow.
![]() ![]() Then I saw the
first of many banyans, this one shading a cow enjoying a munch. Tanna is
famous for these impressive trees and boasts the biggest in the world. We
climbed then and I got a quick look at Beez,
just in the picture on the left.
![]() ![]() After an hour of scenery along the one track road we turned right into the track that
would take us to the neatly kept village where we would meet Chief Jack and his
fellow dancers. As we turned there was a bit of a traffic jam as two cars passed each other.
![]() ![]() ![]() After our exquisite village
experience we headed toward Mount Yasur. Everyone we passed laughed and waved,
especially when they saw I had a painted face. One young
lad tried to stay ‘cool’ but after I had taken his picture he collapsed
into fits of giggles. We saw Unicef tents as well as
houses that had survived Cyclone Pam, many with hasty
repairs to the roof – so pleased to see all the evidence of the relief
effort.
![]() One lady whooped and we both did a
wiggle dance. She had been out collecting plants which she put on her head so it
looked like a purple-green wig.
![]() A football
pitch was not what we expected to see......
![]() At the turning to the track up to the
volcano, I could look back and see the range that has Mount Maureun at 1047
metres [seen here shrouded in mist with the threat of rain] and further to the
right Mount Tukosmera at 1084 metres. A very smart tree
house dully called Mount Yasur Veiw which is available to
rent.
![]() ![]() We stopped at a ‘kiosk’ where Sam
paid our entry fee and whilst he was gone I got an opportunity to ask Bear to
pose next to this very big banyan. We pulled away and
I took another picture to get a bit more of this giant in veiw. The building seen to the right of the tree when finished,
will house the ticket office, interpretation centre, grockle shop and toilets.
![]() ![]() ![]() The next bit of the journey was up
through the tree ferns, flattish to begin with it
soon got very steep.
![]() ![]() Behind and
ahead, I did have to hold on tight for this bit.
![]() ![]() Perhaps the most
remarkable road we have been on...........
![]() ...........then the verge began to
smoke.
![]() Nearly there, the
vegetation suddenly stopped in an almost straight line.
![]() Mount Yasur
[the steep track up to the crater just visible toward the right] and one little
building – have to ask Sam what it is.
![]() The cinder valley complete with lone toilet as Sam told
us.
![]() Looking left toward the mountain range, we felt the scenery to have
taken on a moon-like vista.
ALL IN ALL A GREAT WAY TO SEE
SOME THE ISLAND
INTERESTING AND LUMPY
JOURNEY |