There are long two bus lines. "Clockwise" and "Anti-Clockwise" since there is really only one road around the island

Some of the scenery (in this case a papaya plantation)

Today, we were finally able to leave the boats for the day. Seems like the dredging is done and since we’re tucked into a corner of the wharf, we’re not in the way of any ships that come in. So we went for a scooter tour.

Did I mention yet that you drive on the wrong side of the road in the Cook Islands. So not only am I getting used to piloting a scooter, but doing it on the wrong side of the road. We really have to stay alert. Ann’s job is to say; “Left side!” whenever we enter the roadway. The good news is that like Aitutaki, 80% or more of the traffic is scooters. It’s definitely the preferred mode of transport by locals and tourists alike. You see moms with little babies in their lap, the gardener carrying a weed whacker while cavalierly steering his scooter with one hand and my favorite, the very large woman who tied a cord around her stomach and then around her six year old in the back because the six year old’s arms were not big enough to hang on to her very large mother. In Aitutaki our favorite scooter was the dad wearing a harness that allowed his son, about 3 years old and carrying a chocolate donut, to hang on with his available hand. We could only imagine the collision between the donut and dad’s back at the first stop!

After a leisurely breakfast, we mounted our trusty steed and headed out clockwise around the island. There is only one road and you either go clockwise or anticlockwise. There are a few radial roads than go in ½ a kilometer, but the mountain in the middle of the island is so high and rugged that it dominates and doesn’t allow for development. Thus, this is quite a beautiful and unspoiled island. Very mountainous and jungle covered.

It was fun touring the island. We stopped for a fish burger lunch and later on for a coconut milkshake. In the mean time we stopped at a few deserted beaches and just went for a walk down the sand.

Our other fun event was visiting a gent who we met at the wharf. His name is Colin. He was on a scooter with his grandson Colin and they were off to their farm to do some weeding and were just looking at the boats when we started a conversation (we, sitting in our cockpit at the time). Turns out he has a jewelry business that he runs out of his home on the other side of the island and invited us over to see it. So we stopped by. He has a gorgeous piece of land right up on the mountain on the edge of the jungle. We brought some crystals that we found in Baja that we were interested in what to do with them. He pronounced them as possibly amethyst and cleaned them in his ultra sound machine and they absolutely sparkle. Fun! We might go back later in the week with some other crystals we have and see what we shall see about them.

Tomorrow we’re going to hike across the island with Lisa from Orcinius. It’s probably a six mile, 400 meter height adventure. When we get to the other side we’ll decide whether to take the “Clockwise” or “Anti Clockwise” bus back to the wharf.

Simple Pleasures.

Here’s a night-time addendum: Ann’s listening to the evening radio net to see where our friends are. They are scattered all over this part of the pacific from Samoa (Blue Rodeo) to Suwarrow (Ladybug, The Rose and others), Aitutaki (Sockdologer) and Bora Bora (Bright Angel) and the fun part is we are talking to them on the shortwave (note to future cruisers-this is an important piece of equipment. You don’t have the same social contact on a sat-phone).

More locally, there’s a tugboat just across the small harbor and I can see one of the crew fishing for dinner off the stern of the boat. Also, the stars tonight are unusually bright and I’m looking out of the cockpit right up to the Southern Cross which is beckoning just over the top of the mountain we’re going to hike across tomorrow. A good omen!