We arrived at the entrance to the pass here at Manihi at 9:00 a.m. Friday morning, May 8th which worked out well with s/v "Thumbs Up". They were about an hour ahead of us and were led into the pass first. Fernando, the local chieftan and guide led us in soon after we arrived. So glad we hired him to do this as the current ran out of the bay just like the rapids in Desolation Sound. With the engine at full throttle, we managed to maneuver around the whirlpools and past the rapids doing about a half a knot, 7 knots through the water. We passed over the 8' deep area and then motored over to where everyone else was anchored in front of the hotel in 35' of beautiful turquoise water and coral heads for snorkeling nearby.

It felt like setting up camp in a State Park thereafter, putting up our big awning that easily catches rainwater for us, getting the dinghy and kayak into the water, setting up the wind socks to bring a nice breeze into the cabin, and finally fixing lunch. Fernando gave us a couple of loaves of bread and a fresh grouper fish and arranged for us to go with him on a tour of a pearl farm that afternoon. George and I each received one very nice black pearl while at the farm. Mine was perfect, George's had a little bump on it, but still nice.

We've been enjoying the Black Pearl Resort at Manihi resort while here, using the pool and wifi, buying lunch and dinner. Tomorrow we have arranged to go SCUBA diving with a dive master. Others have told us how there are thousands of fish just outside the pass where we will go. All the fish wait there while the tide washes nutrients out of the lagoon. Some of the fish are quite large and we could see some small sharks.

Mother's Day we went to the Mormon Church service, enjoying the many families in attendance and singing hymns along with everyone. Apparently the elder who led the service said a prayer in French for us boaters who had come to visit them, praying for good weather. There was also a short sermon on the importance of family. Fernando, being one of the pillars of the church had invited us to come. We took Katie and Lee with us as the boat they are currently crewing on is staying here for a while. Nice to finally catch up with them again. We'll take them with us to Papeete if they are nearby when we go at the end of the month.

A little rain today washed down Julia Max finally. Wished we had had the gusher that fell on the little town on the other side of the lagoon. No place to get water ashore here.