Time for a leisurely walk along the water edge, check out the shops and stop for a drink and some lunch.
Streets are so clean, people friendly.
So close to the sea always makes it better.
Could look out to sea all day.
Trader Jacks for lunch.
And of course with a view.
Even the birds were chilling.
A great couple of days spent here, I promise I will be back.
Sad to leave Rarotonga, but what a good-bye.
Next stop Fiji.
Feeling a lot better after a relaxing 3 day voyage we arrive at Rarotonga, Wow what a difference compared to Tahiti, clean, friendly and not French (Just my opinion).
Lush and very inviting.
Kapowai berthed, time to explore.
First sign I come across and a reminder of the dangers of living so close to the waters edge. I wonder if there is a bar.
Here is one of the local buses, there is only two bus routes, can you guess what the other one is?
An absolutely stunning place, more photos next time.
We did an overnight trip to Tahiti and arrived around ten in the morning, unfortunately I picked up some sort of virus which really knocked me for six and I didn’t leave Kapowai for a few days, apparently I didn’t miss much, we were berthed close to a main road and the town was pretty dismal. Later we moved down the coast to a nicer mariner passing these guys on the way, actual they passed us.
Passing the end of the runway, we didn’t time it right and have a plane land right over our heads.
Some nice looking holiday huts, I bet they don’t say how close to the runway they are in the glossy brochure.
I think we did a bit of shopping and had a nice meal but I really can’t remember much of Tahiti, I know we fuelled up and headed out to open water again, passing this nice looking island, I think it was Moorea.
Next stop Rarotonga.
Six days and nights of pretty calm sailing and we arrived at Vaitape, the largest city Bora Bora, first impressions were good.
After visiting customs at the local police station we had a look around town, 15 minutes later we stopped for lunch, tour complete.
One street, a market and the normal visitors tat shops, don’t get me wrong! it’s a loverly place, but I can imagine the tourist keep to the 5 star resorts.
The brightest shop.
So what else to do in Bora Bora, back to Kapowai for a large G&T i think.
Vaitape is the largest city of island Bora Bora in French Polynesia. It has a population of 4,927, about half of the island’s population which is about 9,000. It is located about 130 mi (210 km) northwest of Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia. The main language of Vaitape is French, although 20 percent of the population speaks Tahitian.
The area was first settled by early Polynesians who arrived on canoes during the 4th century. The early Polynesians built grass huts and hunted fish with spears and sticks. The Tahitians lost the French Tahitian War making Tahiti and all the other islands belong to France. During the California Gold Rush, many people left Vaitape in search for gold. By the 1900s the population of the area had grown significantly, and during World War II it served as a military supply base, and it had an oil depot, an airstrip, and a seaplane base.
It wasn’t really boxing day, but we were leaving Christmas Island and it felt like it, it was a great place to visit, friendly people and the food was stunning, but it was time to leave, we were sad to leave, so it sort of had that feeling of boxing day.
We pulled anchor and turned south, we got our day back we had lost and for the next couple of miles had our own farewell feathered entourage.
Next stop Bora Bora.
We arrived at the hotel and saw the safe delivery of bedding, this is one of the new rooms at the hotel for which said bedding is for.
Rest of the hotel.
A small walk through the grounds and a sign of other guests.
And onto a great view of the lagoon in the centre of the island, apparently one of the best places in the world to snorkel.
We left the hotel for a quick tour of the island, not really a lot to see except coconut tree’s or palm’s, botanically it is a Drupe not a nut.
Some of the local transportation. I can see why as it was very very hot.
Local wildlife.
Once checked in at the marine office it was time to explore, 10 minutes later that was complete, there wasn’t a lot around, the marine itself was very nice, new and with good facilities, but a long way from anywhere, ok if you had a car.
Talking of cars, I found this beauty in the car park.
Further around the bay were four very nice resorts, each with it’s own lagoon.
These we could swim in, but not the hotel pools, they were for guests only. This is the one I would sneak into.
Later that first night Sean and I went out for a meal, found a bar with a view, watched the canoes go by with a cold beer.
Later that night the rain started, it was a downpour like I had never seen before, the barman gave us a poncho each for the walk back to Kapowai, these didn’t make a bit of difference, I found out why the following morning when I found them in my pocket still in their wrapper. Half way back to the boat I remember taking off my Jandals (flip flops) because they were too slippery, as soon as I got them off I ended up on my ar$e, yeah my bare feet were no match for this rain.
This was the scene the following day, just as well as we didn’t feel much like venturing out.
After 11 days at sea we finally arrived in Hawaii, it was a pleasant trip, I was a bit sea sick for a couple of days out of San Diego but soon got my sea legs.
There was not a lot to see on the way, very little wild life, one ship and a large steel pipe floating vertically out of the water, unfortunately I was off shift and didn’t get a photo.
Honolulu in the distance, looks a bit stormy, still a nice sight after days at sea.
We sailed past Honolulu, past one airport, past another airport until we found our marina, it was a very nice marina but a long way from anywhere.
Kapowai at berth.
A long walk to dry land, but after only having 60 odd feet to walk around in this was very nice.
The walk was worth it.
Yes I am still alive, I know it’s been awhile, but life gets in the way occasionally, after my epic Atlantic crossing in February 2016 I thought I would never be able to top a trip like that, I was wrong.
It all started again on the 28th August 2016, nearly didn’t make the flight to L.A. as I only had a one way ticket and my visa didn’t cover that, after some negotiation pleading and then bribery grovelling I made it, I then had the same on arrival in L.A.
Anyway, now in L.A. I made my way to the domestic terminal to get a flight to San Diego, ticket in hand, bag checked in, I joined the queue to be body scanned, now as I took my belt and shoes off all the TSA (Transport Security Administration) staff suddenly ran off, now I know it had been a long day……… Oh wait it wasn’t my feet after all, there was a suspected shooter.
Now most people were pretty cool but a lot were running, screaming and crying, bags had been dropped, pushchairs had kids grabbed out of them and both parent and child were long gone leaving the pushchair behind, me being daft walked with my shoes still in the tray to the balcony to see if I could see the shooter, my thought was rather than just run, at least see the shooter first and run in the opposite direction, I decided to put my shoes on now and did so keeping one eye on the floor below. The airport was now going into lockdown, everyone was directed to one location while heavily armed police checked everywhere.
After about two hours of nervous chit chat with fellow travellers we all seem to receive a text message, now I never have my phone on vibrate, data roaming was off, wifi was off but my phone still vibrated and the tone was something that isn’t even built into my phone, very spooky, this was the message.
I love it when technology like this works.
Finally boarded a flight to San Diego, short taxi ride and I was met at the marine gate by my brother Sean for the short walk to Kapowai, bags dumped, quick chat and bed, it’s been a long day. At this point I didn’t know Kapowai would be my home for the next 90+ days.
The voyage.
Well all good things must come to an end, We spent the last days cruising up and down the coast between Deep Bay and Jolly Harbour meeting some great people on the way, During one trip to Jolly Harbour we picked up my Son Sean and his Girlfriend Katie, they flew out from the UK to join us for my last ten days, later we ended up back at English Harbour where a couple of days later we said goodbye to Kate, Jordan and Matt, so sad to see them leave, and now i’ll have to make my own cocktails, and at least the bathroom is free of makeup, creams and hair products, (I don’t think you forgot anything Jordan!)
Sean and Katie on their own private beach.
Back in time for cocktails.
Leaving Deep Bay.
I spent 37 days on Kapowai, some feeling seasick, some feeling hungover but most feeling totally relaxed, safe and very well looked after, Thanks again to Sean & Lois.
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