5 September 2024 – Tahiti
It was a nice day when I woke and we had no scheduled jobs or workmen today. However, I was due to meet Nadia, one of the waitresses from Casa Blanca, who was getting us some greatest hits CDs of Tahiti at 8.00am. I was also due to pick up the main parts package from Tahiti Crew which had been delivered to them yesterday. I therefore went ashore at 8.00am and waited until 8.10am and Nadia did not show. I went to the Tahiti Crew office and the person with the key had not arrived and they were waiting for them.
I returned to Stormbird having failed in both missions but then cooked bacon, avocado and eggs on toast for breakfast. After breakfast Tristian from Tahiti Crew brought me my package which seemed to me correct and I text the riggers with the picture. They will be here tomorrow to fit them I hope.
I had been thinking overnight about our gas situation as we ran out of gas last night when cooking on the small cylinder. Whilst I had another small cylinder and a large full cylinder in the event I cannot refill before New Zealand we may be a bit short. I have heard of others filling cylinders by gravity on their own so I contacted Paul who helped with the watermaker to see if he could help. After some communication he directed me to a place in Papeete. We therefore got in the car and spent about an hour trying to see if we can get them filled. The computer says no.
We therefore decided to abandon this and headed south and down the west coast which I have done before but Keith has not.
We stopped at some caves (Grottes) under the cliffs on the way full of fresh water and there were effectively 3 caves of different sizes full of water and with long ferns and creepers growing up and down to them. We carried on and came to the Jardin de Vaihpi. These were lovely botanical gardens demonstrating the wide variety of shrubs and plants that grow here.
We continued our westerly travel and eventually came to Taravao, the town at the isthmus between Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Iti island which are joined here. We were heading to Teahupoo which is the western most point where the road runs out and this is where the Olympic surfing was held this year. The road only goes south for about 18km form Taravao and as you go further west it gets more beautiful in terms of the gardens and foliage with all the colours. I get the sense it is quite wet here and it began to rain as we arrived in Teahupoo. We parked up and could look across at the waves that the Olympians surfed this summer and the platform which the TV cameras used is still there. The waves were calmer today.
We went to the local snack bar and had a baguette sandwich which was good and walked around the area where all the surfers performed. The picture of the day is me going through a barrel!!
We slowly drove back up the western coast and then we went into Papeete. Keith found a Hinano tee shirt and I tried to find some Tahitian music but anyone who would sell such a thing was closed. We therefore could not get any music.
We returned to Stormbird and then went to find Nadia – but she had forgotten again!! She suggested we return tomorrow at 9.00am. We are beginning to run out of hope but we will see.
Keith cooked some Atlantic Pollock we had with ratatouille and green beans which was very good. We have had another great tour of the island and we have a busy day tomorrow with works.
Urgent Crewing Opportunity
Mark will take Corinne home so if anyone would like to join Keith and I to see some more of The Society Islands now and until 29 September 2024 please get in touch. This could be a unique opportunity to see these islands. This is your chance.
Crewing Opportunity Year Two
In year two I will be going from New Zealand in early January 2025 across to Sydney and up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and then through Bali, Singapore and on to Thailand to end year two about the end of November 2025. I will need some more crew.
If there is any interest do email me at hine.nick9@gmail.com
The blog will continue as we move through French Polynesia and beyond. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com