12th August 2014
Our change of anchorage overnight proved interesting. The other side of the bay while free of roll, was hit hard by 25kts+ and roared all night! We had our dinghy up ready to go, but were far enough out to be out of harms way although we were on a lee shore! As it eased next morning we ventured ashore to top up the digicel usage for phone and internet, went to the market and had a great pizza at the Beachfront resort run by an Aussie guy in thongs with a VB Beer in hand (What!) While listening to the Vanuatu net we found out that Pacific Fuel had dumped some bad petrol in Vanuatu during the past 2 weeks, we think we are ok, but will keep a close eye and hope we do not need any more. We had an interesting time returning from shore after shopping, the wind had picked up and the tide was coming in, dinghy had been rolling about madly. We got wet to the waist, had to get the oars out and row away from the shore before starting the motor as it was too rough, we lost our anchor as we pulled the rope in and then got bloody rained on! Nice one! Well at least the dunny rolls stayed dry!
We awoke feeling part of the flotsam and jetsum soup of the bay, the wind still blowing strong and still on a lee shore so we ventured on to calmer waters at Nth Peterson bay behind Oyster Island about 12 nm nth of Luganville. As suggested the Oysters are supposed to be good here, Sam will check them out later ,but alas they were all eaten on the weekend, as was the eggs and bacon! So instead we had a dinghy ride up to the “Blue Hole”it was like going up the Amazon, vines hanging, tropical plants everywhere and at the end of the 1.5k a beautiful blue swimming area with jungle vines to jump off (If you felt you had to!) and ladders up the Banyan trees. Once again today we are seeing the locals transport copra, this time on a small barge from Oyster Island to be picked up by ute to be taken to port. For humour, how much do you think Sam’s bunch of banana’s cost in the picture, please read on??
Sam and I checked out the coral gardens nxt day in the dinghi and Sam dived on the prop of a sunken sea plane from WW11 before sliding over the reefs at high tide heading for Ambae Island to the east. Ambae has volcanic lakes that froth and bubble from time to time keeping Volcanologists the world over on their toes. As we entered the lagoon that is an extinct volcanoe with its side blown out to seaward, we kept a close eye on the depth as we slid in with barely 1.9 under the keel. The weather is expected to blow up by Friday where we hope to be at Pentacost Island where the locals dive from high towers on vines. ( unfortunately we missed this event, it is during the wet season)
OK Sam’s bananas cost 400vt, the same as 3 coconuts, and a short taxi ride! That’s about 50c Aus, but ours also cost a dinghi anchor and 2 pairs of thongs as we left them on the beach!
That’s it from the Pacific rim of fire!
Carol and Sam