Raiatea and the luxury mooring ball
Nickanddenisesailing
Sun 20 Aug 2017 04:51
So we are just finishing up our couple of days on Raiatea. We arrived here after a blustery motor sail from Tahaa and had a nightmare trying to find somewhere to anchor. Seems like it was a popular move to head around this side of the island to get shelter from this wind so we found it super tricky to find anywhere to anchor. We tried a few spots and the anchor just kept dragging so we ended up opting for the most expensive mooring ball ever - at the yacht charter marina. We do get water and warm showers with this price tag so we are making use of it!
The first day we got here we walked into the main town. This town is the second largest in french Polynesia after Papetee on Tahiti. After an hours walk we had a leisurely walk around before having a drink in the one bar in the town. We searched for the illusive steak baguettes again before giving in and going to the only place open in town. A small Chinese restaurant, with dilapidated walls but delicious food. This made the long walk home in the dark all the more worth while.
We hired a car yesterday and managed to get a few boat jobs done - like getting some more LPG. The most expensive we have ever come across. While we were waiting for the bottles it was shocking to see so many boats in the yard that had hit the reef. Including some super expensive nice looking boats. A big reality check.
Our drive around the island was great fun. We enjoyed many of the historical sites, including the largest Marae in french Polynesia and the place where the Maori spirits (from NZ) are supposed to go back to. We were also able to do a hike upto a waterfall and have a nice little swim in the jungle.
So we are now just getting ourselves organised to leave as we head over to Bora Bora today. Just sorting out last things like water and our bill for this very expensive bit of rope and float that we are hanging on to.......
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