Niue to Tonga
Wayward Adventure
Tue 18 Aug 2009 21:31
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18:55.015s 170:51.542w
On route to Tonga, Left at 2 a.m. so we would have
a full day Wednesday to navigate the passage into Neiafu and clear
customs during the daylight hours. Niue was quite a surprise and we
are glad we went there. We rented a car with a couple from the boat
Kalalau and drove around the island stopping to look at all the different
attractions. Interestingly George from Kalalau was the captain
of "Adventuress" a 130ft schooner that people may have seen traveling
around the Pacific Northwest doing sail training. Niue being a raised
coral atoll, means that it once was an atoll with lagoon and motus but at
some point the entire island was pushed up and the coast and lagoon
became the highlands and the reef became the coast. So when you walk
around you are looking at coral formations that used to be underwater.
Will post pictures. The amount of whales in this area is
unbelievable and I am told that Tonga is full of them as well. Since
it is winter here they come up from Antarctica and have their babies
and then head back south in the summer months to feed. The weather is fine
and we are making good time, seems strange to see four countries in 3
weeks, but we will be slowing down and making Tonga home for a while.
Looking forward to reuniting with some of the cruisers that we have not seen in
a while since Bora Bora as many boats went in different directions but all will
congregate there for a while.
AP
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