May 20....Hi all...so you have read my post from a week or so ago in Rangoria. We tried for quite awhile to post it but the wifi would not connect and slack tide was approaching. We ended up motoring all the way to Toua. It was an overnight passage.The first with out Anna and Brian. Back to 3 on 3 off. The winds were right on our bow at about 20 to 24 knots. We tried to sail and then tack back but we were going in the opposite direction. Note: funny things you think about on you night watch. The price of potato chips. People that know me know my love for potato chips..especially Tims Cascade. Well while at costco we purchased 5 bags of the Kirkland chips. Brian likes them too. I am now down to the bottom of the last bag. Yes, they do have Lays chips here. I stood in front the giant bag at the market in Rangoria but could not do it. 1275 francs or about $15 US. So I will enjoy these and put them on my Seattle list for next November. We arrived at Anse Aymot at 7:30 this morning. This is a very shallow bay and you anchor just inside the opening, very protected. Gaston and Valentine have a house and several small buildings for their businesses. They have coconuts for the copra and they also have fish pens on the shallow coral reefs. My understanding is that the pens keep the fish fresh for eating and also to load on the cargo ships for sale back in Payette. They have installed about 10 morning buoys off the shore for cruisers. What a joy to just pick one up and be done with anchoring. Valentine said we can pay by the day$5 or if we like to come Ashore in the evening to visit and buy a beer for $5 it is a wash. They have a nice outdoor area covered with chairs and tables. They were working shucking the coconuts when we went ashore but so welcoming. We ended up with about a dozen Kava fruit. They are about the size of large limes, same color, but taste like lychee fruit This place is so beautiful. Because it is such a shallow bay the water color is spectacular. We think we will be here for awhile. May 21... Last night we were invited in to visit before dinner. There is one other boat here and this is their 3 time. They have become good friends with valentine and gaston so they help with the copra and fish pens. Bob and I offered to help too. So this morning we went on about 9 am. They were working back in the coconut plantation. Gaston and Phillip were busy shucking the coconuts. Before this he has gone through selected the coconuts and sliced them in half. Then he stacks them to dry for 3 to four days. So they would sit and shuck the copra and then we would but it in a burlap bag, into the wheelbarrow and take it to the drying shed. We were also pilling up the dry palm branches and setting them on fire. We must have done about 10 piles this morning. On the way to the drying table we would pick up the coconut seed. It is soft and can be eaten. But we took it for the pigs. There are 3 large pigs and about 8 little ones. If we stay until Sunday valentine will roast a pig. She said I could pick one of the little ones! No not my job I said. The reason for the pig roast is that Sunday is mother celebration ..or Mothers Day. Bob went out with Stephan and Gaston to work on the fish traps..they call them fish parks. First they stretch out the wire fencing then Gaston drives stakes through them. Then Bob and Stephan tie them off. This requires your mask and snorkel because you have to go down to the coral floor. Bob said there were two large turtles in the pen and Gaston just picked them up and through them outside.He also said there was a black tip shark swimming at one end..he had got caught....while Bob was securing the new fence he look down just in time to see the shark swim through his legs and out the opening. Heart rate check! When the ship comes in next week it will anchor outside the bay opening. Gaston will take out the dried copra and fish. He will go to the park and spear them. Valentine says they get $10 for 4 fish..does not matter what kind. They will be taken back to Papeete. 4 boats came in yesterday..but left this morning. Winds are suppose to be strong tomorrow through Monday. They said they did not want to get stuck. They are on a schedule to see as much as they can before their 90 day visa expires. This is why we went through all the work to get out extended visa..we are good for a year. Just did boat projects today..outdoor shower is now hooked up..batteries were acting up Bob found the problem. I did cabin cleaning and laundry. Today we went in to help with the copra. It is good exercise and they so appreciate the help. Valentine was showing pearls to Glenn and Erin off of Sundance. I got side tracked from work to look at hundreds of pearls. Valentine use to run a pearl farm but stopped about 2 years ago..she said it is a lot of work. 18 months before you can begin to harvest. Of course I found some I like...I will go through to boat looking for some items to trade. They really prefer that if it something they can not acquire locally. Monday May 26... Talking to Kate last night she mentioned plans for the holiday. Finally I asked and she said Memorial Day. We are so out of touch. Hope everyone had a good weekend and that the weather was OK. We are presently motoring to the atoll of Fakarava. The wind finally died down yesterday so the sea is calmer today. As I mentioned earlier we are going against the wind so calmer is better. This will be our last stop this far south. Fakarava is the second largest atoll with a north and south passage. We heard that the diving is suppose to be the best in French Polynesia. Yesterday was a great day spent with Valentine, Gaston, their friends and family. It started with church. They have a small building that had about 12 chairs in a semi circle then a table up front filled with fresh flowers.They started with singing. The hymns we in French or Tahitian. We tried our best to follow along while Valentine played the ukulele . She passed out bibles ours was in English. We followed along as best we could. It was nice to be included. After church we returned to the boat to get together our food for the dinner. Oh yes, on our way into the dock for church Gaston was just finishing cleaning the pig. I thought they were going to BBQ it but instead they boiled it on the grill. For coals they use coconut shells. Once it was done Valentine made a wonderful sauce with cabbage, onions and carrots. I made a pasta salad with lots of our dehydrated vegetables. I also took some of the dried apples that Anna got at costco and hydrated them for apple sauce. The French were not sure of them, but once they tasted them they said Bon! Valentine also made several custard pies. When it came time to serve them they went over to one of the trees and picked these leaves, about the size of small plates, to put the pies on. Martha Stuart would have loved this! We have enjoyed our time here so much that we decided to make a stop on our way back before heading to Papeete. We told Valentine that we could bring things back from Fakarava if she wanted. So this morning we got our shopping list. The cargo ship comes on Wednesday but these were things she has run out of since she put her order in for the ship. Gaston and Phillip were out working the fish pens today to be ready for the ship. The copra is almost dry then they will bag it up and take it to the ship . Tuesday morning....We have found a small shop that has Internet so I will hope all of goes through. I know this is long but thanks for following along. Xxoo Joyce
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 19:02:59 +0000
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