I spend a glorious couple of days cruising around some of the nearby islands. One small island (20 minutes to walk all the way around) has a big white obelisk on it - no light, no radar reflector, no radio beacon. No signal of any sort. They call this Signal Island. While cleaning the bottom of the boat here I am joined by some large mullet. They are worth CFP600 a kilo (four pounds sterling). But I leave them alone. A couple of turtles also paddle by but at the time do not have my camera. They are the slowest creatures on earth. They are deliberately placed in the Pacific Ocean to make the indigineous population seem energetic!

　

Sad to be leaving New Caledonia for Australia (the big pink island) but the cyclone season is approaching. Choosing a weather window is tricky. It is All saints Day so everything here is closed. I'll go ashore in the morning for last minute shopping and be off by lunchtime. Destination Brisbane, eight days if all goes to plan. Not that plans and Anthony have much in common...