Author: richwest3

June 2012

Who knew that managing bananas was both a skill and an art.  I wish I’d taken classes in school.  First, you need to know how green a bunch to get then you soon learn they all ripen at once.  You also learn that if you cut the stalk, it leaks a clear, sticky fluid that turns dried-blood-red-brown the next day and refuses to come off no matter what you do (this is why the bunch is hanging where it is).

Our cushions and dingy now look a little like a brutal crime scene.  We have been told that the stains fade in the sun – we’re still waiting to see if that’s true.

Bananas are so plentiful here that they aren’t even sold in the stores.  Why would anyone need to buy them?  Why wouldn’t you just go to your front yard and pick a bunch?  Because our front yard is small and bananas won’t grow on fiberglass (at least not yet).–Rich

June 17, 2012

Always a challenge on a boat as we don’t have a room nor electricity for a toaster.  We think we’ve perfected our system.

June 15 – 18, 2012

It’s kind of a rare day when we don’t see a rainbow!

June 16, 2012

Since we last posted:

We sailed about five miles west to Daniel’s Bay. It’s actually two small bights and after turning right into the east bight, we were treated to another beautiful bay that appeared to be completely land-locked because of the turn at the entrance. Also because of this turn, it was a very calm bay and it may have been our stillest night on the boat since leaving Redondo Beach.

At Daniel’s Bay we hiked to the Vaipo waterfall – we’re told the third tallest waterfall in the world. It was about a two and a half hour hike to the falls. I just don’t have the words to describe the incredible beauty on walk to the falls. Whether it be God or Nature, I am in awe of it’s creator!

At the falls, we swam in wonderful cool pools with water cascading into the pool. Crayfish-like things cleaned our legs and feet. Strange, glowing growth lined the top of a deep crevice. After the hike back out, we had coffee at a local’s house. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful day!

Now we’ve sailed back to the island of Ua Pou in a bay by the main town–the one that was too crowded for us last time we tried. We caught up with our friends Dean and Sabina on Local Talent here and went out for, what else, pizza.

The weather’s looking good for a Monday departure on the 450 mile trip to the Tuamotus Atolls. It should take us three or four days. We’re not even sure which atoll we’ll head for and are planning to sail in the general direction of Takaroa and see what happens as we get closer. The fall-back is about another day’s sail: Fakarava. Google Earth should easily locate these. We’ll also try to check in with the Pacific Seafarers Net so there might be some updated tracking information on the “Track Us” link. -Rich

June 13, 2012

After the hike we were exhausted.  See for yourselves…

And yet we had to stop by a local resident’s house for “coffee” – she wouldn’t take no for an answer.  It was fun.  The coffee was good and hit the spot.  She also made some little pancake-like things.  We even ended up going back the next day for a delicious breakfast.

After coffee, we had to cross the river one more time to get back to our side of the bay.

Only to be met by these two lovely horses on our beach.  A perfect end to a perfect day.