Yesterday we left Lombarto and the boats dispersed in all directions. The day before had been long and gruelling and the farewell ceremony running until midnight. As we drifted off on a flat sea in magnificent conditions we elected to go below Adonara Island rather than back up the same passage we had come in on. This took us away from the fleet and just ourselves and a couple of other boats motored slowly off in this direction.

Conditions were calm just a wiff of breeze right on the bow so as the day progressed we ran first one motor to chill the fridge and freezer and then the other to make water, the first since leaving Darwin, and to make a steady and slow passage away from Kawula across Selat Lamakera or the Straights of Lamakera towards Selat Solor. We were in no hurry and in these conditions speed, time cruising all merged into one with no pressure to be anywhere or get anywhere. As we cruised along the coast close to Adonara Island we passed many villages, new houses getting built including a large modern house with a tiled roof, something we had not seen in Indonesia before.

The trip down Selat Solor was quite spectacular with the current against us, then with us, then swirling and the same again. I now have the currents and tides fully worked out here, you stand facing your nose in the direction you want to go and the tide and current will then flow from that direction! Progressively the breeze predictably came in, conveniently the wind dies off every night and comes in mid morning. We set the headsail and motor sailed on through the Straights. Inter- Island ferries ply the Islands loaded with people, motor scooters and whatever else. Often overloaded and poorly trimmed we pass several of these in each direction. A larger ship is seen from time to time that goes to the major ports presumably with people and cargo. Of course then there is the small and smaller fishing boats here and there setting nets or line fishing. It is necessary to keep a constant lookout for floats and nets.

We passed a fairly new port type complex with a new building. Constantly dotted along the Islands are villages on the coast and villages right up to the top of the hills and mountains.

At about 2.30 we chose a destination to anchor up for the night just before Selat Flores and headed towards it. How nice it was to be away from the crowd, although it was great being with them at the time. Our good friends Jenny and Peter on Tiaki were tracking down this path as well and we notified them of our destination.

Arriving in the bay we had chosen we sounded the area as the water throughout Indonesia is very deep from hundreds to thousands of meters and much to deep for anchoring. Close to shore we found 30/40 metres and even closer, we are talking a hundred metres or so we found twenty and below so anchored up. A little later Tiaki joined us and two Kiwi boats went past to round the point only to find the water too deep for anchoring so came back and we gave them a position in front of us.

The wind then died down to a flat, calm and beautiful anchorage and we call congregated on Charmar for sundowners which continued on until about 8.30 under a full moon on dead calm water. Is it just so serene and beautiful to be out here. The surrounding islands and patches on the hills light up as the villages with electricity showed themselves. Fishing vessels went out to do their thing and the occasional ferry, one all light up (although no nav lights) and quite loud music (was it a bemo ferry) looked just like a dinner cruise boat only it continued past down the straight so must have been a ferry.

We are off a small village but yesterday evening the "dad's army" or cadets were drilling and marching left, right, left right, whistle whistle whistle!!! This morning at about 5 they were up at it again. This is a very small village has a large concrete landing dock from days gone by, a few motorcycles and the omniprescent kids although we did not go ashore here, revelling in some quite time and the great conditions.

This morning there is a breeze coming up and we will head off through Selat Flores after debating the tides and currents last night. As a fairly narrow passage there could be a strong tidal run here. Again the conditions are good.

Coconut groves line the coast, the country is a bit dry and parts burnt off on the steep hillsides.

The sailing areas we are in at present are superb with sheltered and protected waters between the islands with the odd passage back out into open waters as we break free from island areas.

The country and waterways are quite different than I anticipated and pictured. We should have expected but there are villages everywhere.

It is now 7.30 and we depart at 8.00 for the Selar Flores which should be interesting so we will be off and readying now.