6th July
We have been in the Isle of pines for a few days now enjoying the quiet activities of Kuto bay. We are anchored in front of the modern Hotel Kou-Bugny where we hired a car and drove all about yesterday (Right hand side, no lines and no markers, and not exceeding 50kms/hr which is the max so as not to run over the locals hitch hiking), we swam in La Priscine Naturelle where the water is like a bath and the fish types and corals are too numerous to mention. A backdrop of Limestone formations like mushrooms make it truly a unique place. We had it almost to ourselves as the P&O cruise ship that came into the bay left just as quickly when they could not get their passengers off due to the swell entering the bay, oh well! Bad luck for the locals who had set up to sell all kinds of clothing, food and skillfully made decorations from palm leaves. So we bought t-shirts and some food from the local market , checked out the local pirogues (outrigger with a sail), and tasted the No.1 beer again and the French wine which I have to say is damn good. Does it beat the Aussie wine…well very close! The local Bakery (alimentary) sells croissants and baguets and just about everything else, and is a short walk toward the old convict ruins. As the sky was a little overcast today we ventured 5nm to nearby Ilot Brosse walked the silica beach, viewed the reef up close and personal, and Go Proed as best we could with our limited talents. Tonight is movie night, so we will see how that goes! Most parts of my anatomy were draped over the front of the dinghy, so I hope the skipper realizes the sacrifices I make for his pleasure and entertainment! Now we are snug back in Kuto bay with a light shower washing the salt off the decks, reading about the next anchorages and checking the weather as our French is not yet good enough to work out whether quatre is four kts or 40!
Au Revoir from La plage (the beach!)
Carol and Sam