We got locked down anchored off the island of Tahiti during the Corvid-19 scare in French Polynesia. Now the country was free of the virus inter-island travel has resumed and we were anxious to get sailing again.
BUT HOLD THE PRESSES!
Of course something else had to break on the boat delaying our departure. After many attempts by my humans to repair our leaky freezer evaporator plates, we had to admit they were beyond salvaging. We had two choices.
1.Wait until international flight resumed in a few weeks, and get some new plates sent in. Which could bring the virus back into the country too or,
2.Go sailing without a freezer.
Which do you think they choose?
The humans jarred up all the frozen fish and seafood from the freezer using the pressure cooker.
And learned to jerked the rest of our other meats. Finally we can go?
YES! A weather window opened and we headed East. Our destination, the atoll of Toau in the northern end of the Tuamotus.
The first night for my ‘furry paws’ was a bit squally, but in the morning the skies cleared and we had much better weather over the next two days.
Light winds made the rest of the passage slow, but settled. Settled enough to play on deck.
No rough weather interupting my siesta. Before we knew it land was in sight.
The low lying reef and motu (small coral islands) of the Tuamotus are startling different from the lush volcanic islands of Tahiti that we just left. We headed for a small ‘cul-du-sec’ in the northern end of the atoll called Anse Amyot. It is here we were to meet up with friends.
And there they are. Ada and John from sv Rhapsody. We have not seen them since Tahanea. They were quarantined in the Tumamotus and are looking forward to goodies we have brought from Tahiti. They are even out on their dingy ready to help us tie onto one of the moorings here.
A view of Anse Amyot from above.
Spirit of Argo is one of three boats moored in the ‘false’ pass of Anse Amyot. The home of Gaston and Valentine on the motu behind.
First order of business after a passage is a good run ashore to stretch my legs. Next some snorkeling, right off the boat, with mates.
Silly human antics under the sea.
The coral here is very healthy. Using the moorings provided helps to keep it that way.
There is very little Ciguatera (fish poisoning) in Toau, but Gaston and Valentine ask cruisers NOT to spear fish within the pass to keep fish pleantiful and friendly for visitors.
Our visit here was too short. A weather window opened up to sail south to Fakarava, We say goodbye to OLD and NEW friends hoping to return soon.
Sharing some home made pineapple rum with NEW friend Valintine and OLD friends John and Ada. Life is full of magical moments!
