After 48 hours of fairly active pitching at anchor we managed to move further into the bay when a Belgian yacht left for Gambier in the south eastern Tuamotos.  Combined with a drop in the wind we now are much more comfortable than earlier.  Today we have signed up for a 6 day tour round many of the off lying islands.  We are going on an eighty foot motor yacht with steadying sails.  She has a very good reputation and an excellent itinerary.  We have been somewhat heartened to discover that we are paying just half of the amount that cruising friends who booked the same tour but a week earlier than us are paying. Suddenly our big expenditure seems cheap!  Funny thing human nature.  They pre booked  the tour so fellow sailors note it is worth just turning up and taking a chance, especially out of the popular season.

We have seen much wild life just by walking round this delightful town.  Iguanas sit on the pavement.  Pelicans are everywhere and yesterday a huge heron strolled across the road in front of me.  We have also seen four of the eight types of finches that the islands are home to.  We have not yet been able to photograph these as they move fast and in some cases rather unsteadily,  however drawings have been made for scientific purposes.

  

 

 

Yesterday I went diving off the Gordon rocks.  An interesting expedition which involved a drive across the island, a boat trip to some small islands near the dive site.  A training dive then off to the dive site itself which is quite rough on the surface.  We had two dives with an hour off in the smooth anchorage in between.  We saw lots of bigger fish than I was used to, schools of rays but no hammerhead sharks for which the area is famous.  Unfortunately on the second dive my ears were giving me a lot of discomfort and carried on doing so for some hours afterwards.  When Annabelle and I got back and found that Stuart, Annette and Chris had also had a marvellous time snorkelling amongst the sea lions I think that I shall ease off on the diving for a bit.  We have made friends with a young couple, he is an American and she a local girl.  They have offered to take us up into the interior and show us around.  All in all we feel that we are making the most out of the place and are thoroughly enjoying the atmosphere.  Everyone is very friendly, something one does not always get in what has to be admitted is a tourist trap.

Will report again when we have been on our trip.

Happy times to you all from the crew of 'Noodles'.  As many of you will know this is Bill Gates's name for Nordlys.

PS For Lymington/Boldre residents it should be noted that Herons are seen strolling in Academy Bay as well as Rope Hill.