Tag: travel

  • Arrived Tuamotus!

    The winds and swells are unfortunately from the SSE, which is not conducive to the passage.  We are heading a bit too much westerly and hope to make this up and drop south in the next 24 hours when the winds and seas calm.  It is quite a bumpy ride today and we are heavily…

  • Passage from Marquesas to Tuamotus: First Half

    Day 1  We spent the morning getting ready for the passage, planning to leave in the afternoon.  We dinghied over to the local valley farm, picking fruit with the owner and loading a wheelbarrow and two bags FULL of green bananas, green mangos, limes, starfruit, green papaya, coconuts, pamplemouse, and basil.  This is our fruit…

  • Final days in the Marquesas; Passage tomorrow

    Upon arrival to Controleur Bay, we went up the now familiar river entrance at almost high tide on full step with SY Flora (yee-haw!) and strolled around town, picking up some produce and beer at the local Magasin.  Enjoyed the full moon rising over the island mountains.  Dinner was exquisite – fresh tuna sashimi, a…

  • Nuka Hiva: Muddy Buddy Adventures

    Chris off to the bakery today to bring home fresh croissants for our 26nm journey to the island north of us, Nuka Hiva.  We made excellent time on the journey motor-sailing.  Nuka Hiva (population 3,151) is the second largest island in French Polynesia (after Tahiti). We pulled into Taioa Bay with its two coves of…

  • Ua Pou: A Cathedral of Cascades, Chocolate, & Croissants

    Ua Pou is sheer craggy basalt rock coalesced into various patterns and formations that we could not take our eyes off, as we rounded the southern tip up the western side of the island to our destination of Hakahetuau.  Into the anchorage, huge basalt pillars jut up out of the valley reaching into the clouds. …

  • Snorkeling, Tropical Homestead, & Night Passage

    Moving to our new anchorage, a gust of 47 knots hit us; one of the top gusts we have ever experienced!  Tucked happily into Hanatefau anchorage on Tahuata island, anchor buried in sand, steep green-covered cliff walls blocking much of the wind.                Into the water we went, clearly seeing our anchor dug and hidden…

  • Sharks, Fruit, Friends, & Nightwatch

    We continue to explore the Marquesas islands, planning to spend about 4 weeks here before our next passage to the Tuamotus, about 500 miles away.  Our trip across the Pacific Ocean is only about 1/3 complete and the next 6 months will be passage-making between island groups, each passage with its own challenges.  Thankfully, we…

  • Hiva Oa Cultural Tour

                  Cruising is best balanced with 50% work and 50% play; today was a day of play, a land tour with Kaoha Excursion Yoan (WhatsApp: 689-87-200-459) on Hiva Oa, which we highly recommend.  This all-day tour was in a 4-door diesel manual transmission Toyota Hilux open back canvas-covered rig with double-bench seats (vehicle details from…

  • Vaitahu Bay and Project Days

    April 27, 2024 (Saturday):  Vaitahu Bay, Tahuata We moved only a few miles south to Vaitahu, the largest village on the island of Tahuata, which sits in a stunningly steep and lush valley.  The dinghy landing situation here is notoriously challenging, as there is a cement wall, metal ladder, and lots of swell; necessitating some…

  • Hanamoenoa Bay, Tahuata Island

    April 25, 2024:  Hanamoenoa Bay, Tahuata Island               We had a “learning experience” this morning after we picked up our very full, dry bag of clean laundry including all our clothes, sheets, and towels from the last month.  We placed the bag in the dinghy then went to the store for a few items; the…