web photos

Ripple2
Thu 6 Jul 2006 01:09
 
 
 
Our first sight of land in 21 days. Fatu Hiva. The clouds are at about 3,000 feet.
                                                                                                                                   
 
   
 
The small island is very high for it's size. A hugh piece of volcanic rock sticking out of
the ocean.
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Approaching The Bay of Virgins or Hanavave. I could not think of a more dramatic place to arrive after an ocean crossing. Every minute of the day the light and mood of the rock formations would give us a new  perspective.
 
 Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Landfall at last. Time for some champs.
 
 
 
 
We had the whole Bay of Virgins to ourselves for 2 glorious days, here is the view looking down from the town - another boat has arrived.
 
 
 
The sunsets were beautiful and right off our stern.
 
 
 
So begins our 'waterfall adventure' - complete with horse guarding the bridge ( Bon bon??)
 
 
 
It was absolutely freezing in the pool, and very deep, but fine once you'd been in for a while.. I couldn't resist a Timotei moment.
 
 
 
Actually the water coming from the waterfall was lovely and warm. Well worth the 4 hour trek to get there.
 
 
This is a new noni plantation ( The plant that is, not the person Noni Patton - our niece), a field of coconut trees had been cleared to plant it - I guess noni is worth more than copra these days.
 
 
 
Some more of the lush tropical scenery - here are banana, mango and coconut trees - and I couldn't resist one more shot of the sunset.
After a mere 4 days in this beautiful place we tore ourselves away to the next island, Taohoie, 70 miles away - more pics coming up.