The guest of honor at the pig roast (that's bananas on top)

Yes, we have no bananas...

One of our hosts on Hanamenu

Mark and Bob with the Chief

Ruins. This is the PaePae or platform for their huts. The stonework is fantastic.

More ruins in the jungle

We left Atuona and are going around Hiva Oa in a clockwise direction. Today we sailed up the West side of the island in a nice 15-20 knot SE breeze. The North side of the island has about three nice anchorages, of which this one is the first we’ll stop at. Got here and dropped the hook about 1600. Our friends on Blue Rodeo are here as well and after we had anchored and taken our bucket showers (Ann soaped up and jumped in the bay to rinse, I sat in the cockpit during a squall and soaped up and just let the rain shower rinse me) they came over for a cocktail. We also had a bet as to whose equator crossing costumes were the best. We had seen pictures of theirs and were impressed, but they saw ours tonight and declared us the winners. After they went back to their boat, Ann made up a salad for dinner and we’ve been sitting in the warm evening air in this lovely cove. Waves breaking on the shore, half-moon shinning down, Southern Cross hanging to the South, Big Dipper pointing the way in the North. Just lovely. We’re so glad to be underway again.

Last night we went to a pig roast. One of the other boats arranged it with a local. It was truly an event. It was at his house, so didn’t feel commercial, and we got 20 people together from all the boats in the anchorage and they arranged transportation to his house up on the hill overlooking the bay. It was a great event. The food was spectacular. Pig, roasted goat, poi, baked bananas, poisson cru and several other delicacies. The man’s daughter danced several gorgeous Marquesan Hulas after dinner.

I wish I could send pictures, but there’s just no good internet here. Just the shortwave or wireless at the post office, which is really only good for text. I tried uploading pictures and it stalled. So, you all will have to live with descriptions until we’re somewhere with better access. The next place with a post office (therefore internet) is in about a week or so. We’ll see how we do then.

It really is amazing being here. Ann and I were sitting on the cabin top tonight, enjoying a glass of wine after dinner, looking out over this little bay (a cove really-it’s not very large) and marveling at how lucky we are to be in such a beautiful place.

Au revoir for now.