To Kroko Atoll
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Tue 16 Aug 2016 22:37
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To Kroko
Atoll
  Up and ready to leave by half past
seven for the hundred and fifty mile journey, almost due
south, to Kroko Atoll. A local lady complete
with sail waved in bon voyage fashion. Main up and genoa out as soon as
we were out of the atoll and in deep water. The engine had to stay on for an
hour as we had to punch through wind over tide to clear the bottom of the atoll,
once in clear ocean we enjoyed perfect sailing conditions, a little too much
lean to the right to manage backgammon so we settled to an afternoon of
Tri-ominoes.
  Bear took some steep losses but he
remains in the lead. Growl. He enjoyed afternoon
Zzzzz’s as I became absorbed listening to The Wrong Door. Not sure about
the peg-tooth-look and my how fast his beard grows, note to self – get the mower
out in Kroko.
 A gentle approach
to nightfall as opposed to a sunset.
   I had quite a bright moon that dodged behind a
cloud before rising high in the
sky.
  At
five in the morning we had thirty odd miles to go. Out to my left I had
seen a dark blob from about three o’clock, as I went to bed at six the active
volcano Mount Komba was clear to see.
 I came on duty at six to a slight sulphur taint on the air,
but looking out a bit of a
wow.
 For a split second I had the sunrise.
  We both now feel
that we are cruising, a couple of friends nearby but away from the herd. We will
meet up with a handful of boats and enjoy Kroko Atoll and find a couple of
non-rally stops before Maumere and the next round of festivities, but for now I
sit alone and enjoy the view.
   All too soon I’m
dragged from my wistful thinking as things on the AIS became
a bit busy. Chums coming from both directions, Ocean Progress on course –
uncomfortably so for a meeting with Beez Neez, time to make a few degree change
in course. I took pictures of both chums details for
Pepe’s collection.
   Pepe will be sad to
have missed this – Ocean Progress from the left and
OOCL Houston from the right.
  I got up at ten to find
Bear brimming with his chum adventures, indeed I was sad to have missed the fun
but what a view to look out to, yet another active
volcano. Looking at the chartplotter, just seven miles to
go, time for a couple of games after breakfast.
 Following Wishful
Thinking around the fringing reef to a fabulous
anchorage, it will be lovely to catch up with this select
group.
     Views on our way in, so many potential spots to
snorkel.
 We find fourteen metres
to anchor in, just a dozen rally boats here all invited to Michael’s birthday
bash on the little sand island just in front of us at four o’clock, time for a
snorkel. A local boat filled with giggling children
call “hello Mister”. We are going to enjoy our stay here, that’s for sure. A
perfect spot.
 ALL IN ALL FANTASTIC JOURNEY
TO A BEAUTIFUL ANCHORAGE
BRILLIANT SAIL UNTIL THE WIND DIED BUT WHAT AN IDYLLIC
FINISH |