Finally the day has come to leave this enchanted island in the middle of its vast watery space. I have to admit I became ever more fascinated as the days went on. And the last day...well, that was something that remains in one's memory....a 7.5 kilometer walk to the third highest waterfall in the world, through magnificent forests, old stones of civilizations, rocky craggy paths all accompanied on our left by sheer cliffs reaching 2000 feet into the air. The waterfall was dry as rain has been scarce but that allowed a swim in its deep dark fresh pool of water and looking straight up imagining the millions of gallons of water usually cascading into the pool.....I have video but Im afraid only the human eye can really see the truth in such cases.

Jennifer Labbe, a former sailing student and friend is accompanying me on the short hop to the Tuamotos on the way to Papeete. Came all this way to see 'what its like'. Then its off alone again for the second half of the voyage.