Still in the Marquesas
Ripple2
Tue 4 Jul 2006 08:52
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Well in the Galapagos we had sea lions frolicking
around the boat, and on our passages we have had dolphins playing in our bow
waves, and here in Taopatie on Nuku Hiva we have hammerhead sharks swimming
around the boat!
We heve been in the Marquesas island group for 10
days now and it's been just lovely. After we left Fatu Hiva, laden with fruit
and fish we headed for a smaller island and anchored at a beautiful beach.
(Hanamoenoa Bay on Tahuata Island). There we found a white sand beach, turquoise
water and great snorkelling on a small reef with loads of interesting new
'pacific' fish - some similar to our 'caribbean' fish like puffers and pompanos
and sting rays but many more new characters - more like NEMO - we actually saw
'Gill', stripy yellow,black and white with a long nose and long flowing dorsal
fin. Trigger fish with colourful markings like masks and groupers with large
orange spots and loads more. To my absolute delight there were also lots of big
speckled cowrie shells and small ones with purple backs and some with the backs
worn off so they are flat 'button'shaped, perfect for making into anklets and
bracelets and necklaces - shell heaven.
We had 3 days there and had a wonderful time - our
first real swim in the Pacific Ocean on this trip. One morning a pod of dolphins
swam through the anchorage, we had a picnic on the beach and generally just
soaked it up. It reminded us of White Bay on Jost van Dyke but without the bars
- only 6-7 boats at most. We had to tear ourselves away from there - and it was
very hard to leave but there are many miles and many islands and beaches to see
before we finish so on we went.
An overnight passage to the next island - Oa Pou -
the trip was rough, no sleep to be had and the island and it's anchorages very
dramatic to say the least. We sailed along the west coast for a few hours and
found a spot to set our anchor with a backdrop of pinnacles so high
they were shrouded in clouds. We were so tired from the sleepless passage that
we just flopped about on the boat but in the evening we listened to some island
music coming from the shore and went to sleep to the sound of the
drums...
And now we are on the 'big' island of Nuku Hiva -
where we will check in and change money and all that stuff and hopefully enjoy a
meal on dry land. Stay tuned and we'll let you know what this island has in
store for us.
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