The way to see a place is by paddleboard. Today the wind was light and we took the boards out for a spin. It was just going to be an out and back but turned into an over three mile, 4 hour journey.

A little "art" shot at one of the stops on a beach, with the help of our waterproof camera.

Great for island hopping from beach to beach.

First we went over to a spot known as the “swimming pool”. It’s where there is a very small cut that goes from the inside lagoon out to the outer reef and ocean. On either side of the cut are deep pools that are fun to snorkel in slack water. With any kind of in or out current, it can be near impossible as the current rushes through the small gap that’s maybe 4 meters across. Once outside, we very quickly saw the waves were too strong for our little boards and we quickly ducked back inside the lagoon.

Next up? Across the bay from the sand spit to what looked like a lovely beach on the other side about ¼ mile away. Guess what? It WAS a lovely beach. Sometimes they look nice, but are really sharp, uncomfortable coral. This one was pure, barefoot sand. Nice. We walked around a bit and decided what the heck, let’s try for the village anchorage. So off we went through the motus in search of a “paddleboard route” to the anchorage. Weaving in and out of little bays and cuts that boats and even dinghies cannot manage due to the shallow water, we emerged into the little bay where we were anchored when we first came in. A quick stop on the beach for a picture to prove we made it that far and to stretch our legs and then back out.

We can even stop for a quick water break in between islands at a shallow reef (my feet are just touching for a short rest).

Not 100 meters out from the beach we saw another small cut through the island with a promising looking spot on the other side. We had never noticed it before because it was so small, but with the paddleboards… onward we went and found another secluded little bay. The colors of turquoise water against sandy beaches and the greens and umbers of the coconut trees provided the perfect backdrop to a tropical adventure. Just then, I noticed what at first glance looked like some seaweed up ahead. A second look and…a turtle taking a sunbath! It was huge, almost three feet across! We snuck up on it floating silently along. Getting within about ten yards it stuck its head up and took a look at us, but not seeing anything terribly alarming put its head back in the water and continued sunbathing – even flapping a flipper in the air. Then as we got within about 10 feet it took another look and realized that something really strange was approaching. With a splash, Mr. Turtle was gone. But how much fun to be weaving in out of paradise and to see such a lovely sight. And this was about the sixth turtle we’ve seen since we were here. That’s good news. We only saw one or two last year.

So, four hours later on our “three hour tour” we were back at Charisma. A late lunch and up went the hammock for an afternoon snooze. THIS is cruising! Others aboard went for a swim to stretch out her arm muscles. Lovely afternoon.

Our friends Ed and Nila from Quixotic, who we met in Tonga two years ago, came over for sundowners and now it’s blogging time and then some stargazing.

Maybe from the hammock, although I don’t want to wear it out.