Captain's log August 13, 2008

I admit it; I haven't done real well keeping you posted on what's going on. You have to understand it is very busy out here. Where will we snorkel today? What boat will we watch the sun set on? What's for dinner? Why is the moon so bright? Busy, Busy, Busy.
We are at the end of our stay in French Polynesia. Hard to believe it has been 3 months since we got here. If you read my last blog Barbara and I were a little down with all the boat mechanical problems. But soon after the last blog we got everything working and we have been that way ever since. Water maker completely is overhauled and working. In fact it is working and making water better now than it ever did. Our dinghy went to the dinghy hospital and had a major healing. The fuel leak fixed and nonexistent. All is well TODAY; tomorrow that can all change.
Our stay in all the islands has been very memorable. A few of my highlights. I will never forget the first land fall in the Marquesas. After being on the open ocean for 21 days and seeing the island of Fatu Hiva with its lush green valleys and mountains. What a welcome sight. It was a tremendous sense of accomplishment to sail that far and hit the target. The modern world of navigation is really great. The Marquesas were like going back in time very rural and rustic.
Our next stop was the Tuamotu's. We had a great time there because Barbara and I checked into a luxury resort hotel and stayed 3 days. These islands are very different because they are really reefs that have formed a big circle with a lagoon in the middle (called an atoll). The reef part has developed enough to support trees and land for growing things and a few villages. I don't think there is anything quite like these islands anywhere in the world. We were lucky to be able to spend a few days there. One of our highlights was doing a dive at one of the passes into the atoll of Rangiroa. They drop you off outside the pass and then the current swipes you through the pass and then they pick you up on the inside. The water on the surface is rough and the current is even rougher. Under the water it is a different world. It would be like swimming in an aquarium. The fish and coral are so abundant it literally takes your breath away.
After a few days we were off to the Society Islands with Tahiti being our first landfall. Seeing Tahiti for the first time was really inspiring. This is one of those life goals that were finally coming true. Barbara and I kept saying to each other, "we are in Tahiti". One of our main goals in Tahiti was to get the boat fixed and working again. We were very lucky to be able to get a slip in the largest marina in Papeete. Normally we anchor out from land but with what we needed to do to get the boat fixed it was great being at the marina. In 2 weeks we were all well and ready to go again.
From Tahiti we sailed to Moorea, just 10 miles but a world apart. This island is truly what you think about when you think about French Polynesia. The bays between the mountains and the reefs with all the colorful fish. We liked it so much we stayed here for 2 weeks. A high point for me was being able to swim with the Stingrays and sharks. Sounds pretty intense but was a very serene experience being a part of their world for a few moments. The rays would come right up to you and allow you to touch them. A really awesome experience.
During the middle of July we were blessed to have Jeri Lyn and Jeff Martin, close friends from Denver, join us for a few days sailing and exploring the other islands. As luck would have it for them the weather was not very kind to them. Three of the 5 days they were on board it rained. In spite of all that it was memorable to me because they came all that way to see us. They were great sports and we had a great time anyway. On their last night with us in Bora Bora we had dinner at a restaurant that might have been the best food I have ever eaten. The restaurant is Villa Mahana and we want to thank Mac and Pamela Buckland for the recommendation.
The days pass quickly in these islands. It is now time to go to a new land and a new adventure. One thing stays constant, the people we get to associate with our like no other. It is a very special community of people where everyone watches out for each other. We feel lucky and blessed because of it. We are both excited about what tomorrow brings. You have to be careful and not get ahead of yourself. Very important to live in the moment probably want be this way again. I hope this gives you a perspective of my last 3 months. It's been a great time but I can't wait for the next land fall. Destiny back to 1-6!