Update on Tahiti

Tuesday 29th April

We arrived in Tahiti on the afternoon of the 20th April, to a very threatening sky. Apparantly it rain here most afternoons from about 1 till 3. I have to say it hasn't rained all that much so far.
When you arrive at the pass in the reef to enter Papeete you have to contact the port control for clearance to enter. The clearance is from the Air Traffic Control people. You actually go around both ends of the runway as you go to the marina we tied up to. You can imagine what a Jumbo taking off or landing would do the a boat on the water not more than a few hundred metres away. On arrival we got a good berth alongside the main walkway on the marina, with water & power laid on. The showers and toilets are about 500 metres away but the bikes took care of that.

I unfortunately seem to have trapped my sciatic nerve which means I am hobbling around on 1 & 1/2 legs, not an elegant sight.

I arranged for an electrician to come and check the batteries and watermaker wiring. First thing he said was that the batteries are connected wrongly! He then reconnected the earth return lead to the correct battery and we turned off the shore power that night. All was well with the battery charge state in the morning! No new batteries required, at least for now. Hw also checked the wiring on the watermaker and it seems to be OK, but will investigate further.

There is a huge Carrefour supermarket near the marina and we have been doing our shopping there at expensive prices, but good food and wines. We have also been into Papeete, and didn't feel impressed, but its a real shock to see, hear and smell so much traffic all at once! There are horns blowing and emergency sirens and lots more noise. Very strange to us having seen only a few cars here and there for the last few months. I suppose we'll all get used to it again.

Sunday saw a real shocker of a squall arrive. Winds were up to 35 knots on the marina and the surf coming over the reef was about 3 metres high. As well as that it poured down rain and the spray off the sea brought the visibility to about 20 metres only. This went on for about an hour, and then gradually fadede. The wind went from South East to North West just before this all started.

Saturday I went to a physio in Papeete and he pulled and pushed me around and declared that I had a mechanical problem only and that I should be OK in a couple of days....still not right after the appointment, so I have another one tomorrow.

Since we arrived we have moved to the centre of Papeete onto another marina along with most of the WARC boats. Should be a good couple of days partying! Fingers crossed by nack and leg get better soon...