Today we're anchored at Ouvea Island, about 60 miles east of the main island ("Grand Terre") of New Caledonia, inside a large atoll with clear turquoise water and white sand as fine as flour. We arrived here on Monday, but had to stay aboard until Tuesday when the Customs, Immigration, Health and Agriculture officials arrived from the capital, Noumea, to clear us in. Formalities completed by early afternoon, we headed to the beach in our dinghy to explore. Just in from the beach where we landed was a luxurious resort with large open-air lobby, restaurant, pool, and about a dozen separate little houses for guests. Passing through the lobby we came to the only road in Ouvea, which runs from one end of this ribbon thin string of islets to the other. We walked about a mile to the bridge connecting two of these islets across a shallow inlet. From the bridge we looked down and saw young tuna, job fish, a sea turtle and a school of strange looking pipefish. No need to go snorkeling today! Turning around at the bridge we retraced our steps to the resort, stopping to watch as the school bus dropped of half a dozen kids at the ferry waiting to shuttle them across to another small island--this one with no bridge. It is much cooler here than the more northerly pacific islands we've visited. Water at the surface on a calm day is about 80F, but it gets cooler quickly as you go below...similar to Seneca Lake. I'm writing this at 7:30 am on Wednesday, and it is cool enough for a long-sleeved shirt as I sit here in the main cabin. Should be good weather for the bus tour of the island we have planned for this afternoon!