The quay in Papeete downtown

The market downtown

A pretty quiet day. Ann did laundry and then we walked downtown to the Ace Hardware (we always need parts of some kind) and then the local equivalent to West Marine ( we always…,well you get the idea). The Latitude 38/Polynesian Tourist Board put on a party prior to tomorrow’s boat rally/race over to Moorea for the weekend. There will be more parties there this weekend and a Polynesian sports day that includes an outrigger race. I’ve already been recruited to “team big guys”. If we don’t sink, we’re gonna win. Hey that should be our motto! The party was fun. We got to see folks that we’ve only been hearing over the radio for the last three months or so. There was also a blessing of the fleet by a local Chief as well as male and female Hula dancing to music provided by a 20 piece drum and ukelele band. Unfortunately there was also boat captain hula dancing which meant I and the other skippers had to take off our shirts and shoes and dance the hula. The best part of this was getting a kiss from one of the Hulu dancers and a lei. Now I was official. But I don’t think they are going to invite me to be in their dance troupe. And my feet hurt from the pounding. Ann said I did OK though.

So, tomorrow we set sail at 0930 for Moorea. It’s all of about 12 miles, so shouldn’t take too long before we’re anchored in one of Polynesia’s most idyllic bays. Then (drum roll Sue), next week we’ll be back in Papeete and will have time to upload pictures and perhaps I’ll be able to put together a video of our adventure swim with the sharks.

But for now, I’ve got to go rest my feet. They’re killing me and I have to be ready for the big guys paddle event on Sunday. It may become Epic enough to make the pages of Latitude 38 later this summer (Andy took pictures of our tattoos, so they might be in there as well.

Stayed tuned.