Fruit Stall

After 4 planes and a boat ride I was back home aboard Sunflower with Julie in Ua-Pou after 2 days and all was well, so relaxing landing in the islands there's no stress at all. I was on a bit of a mission though we had a lot to do to try to make the weather window to sail for the Tuamotos. We had to clean the bottom, clean anchor chains and ropes as they were all fouled with weed and coral, get water, diesel, stores ect ect as well as say good bye to all Julie's new friends she had made. The people are just so nice here, they really are the kindest we have met to the extent it's really too much!! For instance we did our stores ($1000 of beer) and the owner said he would bring us some fruit the next day to leave with, we turn up at his shop and he has 3 stalks of bananas, 2 sacks of pumplemouses (grapefruit) about 20kg each and a huge box of green mangoes!! We are like wow we can start a fruit stall?! So in the shop there is a fisherman we met when we first arrived and offere
d to take us back to the boat with all this fruit and I said if he's around tomorrow I have some fishing squid skirts I bought for him. So the next day comes and he brings another stalk of ripe bananas as he saw the others were green, a massive sack of avocados, bag of limes and some more mangoes!!! His wife was with him and they are all dressed up after coming from church and then she gives Julie a little box with another gift, matching pearl necklace, bracelet and earrings which she had made!! We are like gobsmacked thinking this is way too much, who gives this much to people they hardly know?!! But that seems to be the Marquesian way, they give you gifts to remember them and how nice they are it really is amazing.
Anyway we managed to get away on time leaving Monday afternoon and sailed across to the next island of Nuku-Hiva and picked up Julie's 1 year visa which had arrived and by lunch time Tuesday we had the anchor up and were on our way to Amanu in the Tuamotos. The forecast was for lightish winds on the beam or just forward of it and that's what we have had, absolutely perfect sailing in relatively calm seas making great miles and should be there in just under 4 days tomorrow after 535nm, happy days!!

Ua-Pou

I wrote this blog a few weeks ago but never posted it, I'm now back and heading for Tuamotos.

Marquases has been amazing, beautiful place with the friendliest people you could imagine that always seem happy and nothing seems to bother them, they have the time that's for sure. After we left Ua-Pou last time I wrote we went to Tahuata Island to a Bay called Hanamanoa, stunning spot with a white sandy beach, palm trees, super clear water and only one guy living there, we stayed for a week just hanging out and were joined by our Aussie friends on Mat-Lau which was really nice. From there we went to Hiva-Oa to check out the main anchorage there and only stayed a night as it wasn't so nice at all and then sailed 50nm south to Fatu Hiva, Bay of Virgins also another absolutely stunning spot, the scenery you just can't explain. We spent just a couple of days there, hiked up to a waterfall with Mat-Lau and traded some rum for freshly plucked chickens and fruit and then we had to leave as I was expecting a call from work so wanted to find a good spot to leave Julie anchored in.
We sailed back to Ua-Pou to see if there was a spot tucked in at the corner arriving just on dark there wasn't but the next day a catamaran left and we set ourselves up tucked in behind the wall and wharf with a stern anchor.
Then sure enough that day the call came from work and it was on and a fair old stress trying to book flights back to Aus with Internet that won't even open a page or skyscanner App so luckily my sister offered to find flights for me and I could get out on time. So as beautiful spot as it is it is though the hardest spot we have been trying to fit in with my work, it's really not easy between the flights, no internet and lack of decent anchorages it really makes it hard but I am VERY lucky to have Julie who's patience is just hanging in there and the trooper she is is hanging in and making the most of it. Being such a remote place with not so many yachts staying there for any amount of time Julie has met a good group of locals, the ladies inviting her to the gym and Polynesian dance classes and also for lunches which is really nice plus a couple of yachts coming and going she is keeping herself busy which is good especially as I've been asked to stay 8 weeks at work which is l
onger than normal as things are picking up again but I should be back within 2 weeks and we will sail for the Tuamotos which we are both very excited about.