To Noumea
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Mon 9 Nov 2015 23:57
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To Noumea, New
Caledonia
  We sat and enjoyed sunrise in the cockpit eating our cereal, a lovely start to
the day.
 At seven o’clock we were on the move,
leaving White Bay behind. Just before supper the wind
stopped and we had a really good nights sleep.
 A herd of sea
birds came to entertain us.
 Our first look at
Noumea – is that a tower block or two.........My, my, seems such a long
time since we have seen this vista.
 We turned right at a strange looking lump, seen behind us here.
 The full picture behind us.
 After we had passed a mooring field to
our left we saw a working girl, out for
maintenance.
 Ahead of us a
chum.
 To our right Port
Moselle Marina. Bear radioed in and a nice lady told us to head to A24
Visitors Pontoon and help would be there to take our ropes. I slowed for the
skipper to get fenders ready, fold down our ‘ears’ – solar panels and thumbs up,
in I went. This is a massive marina, always busy and a popular place for the
locals to book for the cyclone season. We have fingers crossed that we can stay
while we sort ourselves out. The most important chore here is to sort out our
Australian Visas. That done, we hope to see a bit of modern city life, visit the
museums, zoo and aquarium. Oh and to get Beez spick and span for our Australian
check in.
 As we entered the marina we saw two working girls on our left.
 Minutes later we were settled. Georges and Cedric helped Bear, the boys spoke very good
English but odd to hear a deep, French accent after so long. They pointed to the
various offices he would need to present himself. Ralph, [a German] on the boat
next door introduced himself and apologised for the oil drums on the pontoon. He
had left Vanuatu and four days out realised he had been sold very dodgy diesel,
so he diverted here to have it drained and replaced with new. He asked where we
were headed and a thousand miles seemed a respectable distance to Sydney. He
hopes to leave on Wednesday straight to Bali. Our jaws dropped and I managed to
ask how long will that take ??? “Oh six to seven weeks, I’ve had enough of the
Pacific.” Well. What can you say other than safe trip. Alan from Zebedee came
bouncing along, all smiles. He is checking out on the morrow heading back to New
Zealand on Wednesday. Bear went to the marina office. We can stay put unless
there is an influx of visiting yachts or a pre-booked local wants our place
ready for the 1st of December to batten down. Fingers crossed. Bear came back
and Quarantine would follow. Melanie appeared, a lovely lady who spoke very good
English, she took a few tomatoes and eggs, filled in her forms and that was
that. In the morning Bear has to take himself into town to do the Immigration
bit and if Customs doesn’t show up, not to worry. Off he went again and came
back with new eggs and tomatoes, a wonderful smelling French stick and a box of
chocolate pains. Marvellous.
ALL IN ALL FEELS JUST LIKE
FRANCE
ANOTHER PACIFIC
EXTREME |