Last Day in Nuka Hiva

Tuesday 8th April

We are on the north side of Nuka Hiva in a bay where there is supposed to be a resturant owned by the town's mayor. We were here on Sunday and I spoke to the WARC lady Yvonne, who told me the restaurant would be open last night. We arrived in the bay, and after some difficulty getting ashore due to the huge swell, we got to the restuarant - to find it closed!! Anyway, Shin to the rescue again - he made a delicious tomato and mozarella salad, follwed by pasta with salmon, cream and lemon. There is no end to his talents!

This bay is overlooked by the maddona of Hatiiheu, a white statue built by Frere Blanc in 1872. The unique crown is made of a branch of coral. The village was a favourite spot for Robert Louis Stevenson. There are also 3 archeological sites here. One is up the hill where the goddess Tevanauawas and a huge Banyan tree stands. I got very badly bitten and stung there on Sunday - I read in our guide books that mosquitoes and nonos abound.

We are off to Rangiroa today, which is about 4 days sailing. We will stay there for a couple of days. We are getiing rave reports from Sue on Storytellar about it. We both feel at this time we are so near now having done 2 oceans. We are getting a bit cabin feverish!! However, we are looking forward to Tahiti and beyond.