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NOUS ARRIVE!

We arrived here yesterday, anchored, had a few cold beers, and a couple of tequila sunrises, and I went to sleep. Meanwhile Adrienne typed out her ecstatic blog post, Which you can read below.

This is a very beautiful place. Our mountain is part of an old volcanic crater mostly eroded away, and the mountain has its own cloud, yin to its yang, which clings moistly atop its mystical summit. It is awesome, magical. This mountain could be in a movie! The hills are spiny, like alligator or croc backs. The bay is simple, crowded with yachts from many countries, and the French are quite laid back about customs and immigration, office open from 7 - 11 am, come when you're ready. Its a holiday today, all shut. Went ashore, walked past people fishing off the wharf, to the gas station/store (closed) and out on the breakwater. Helped a fellow cruiser who had anchoring problems, they just arrived, like us, exhausted, across from Mexico.

The land is wild, rugged, raw, and hardly touched by the human smear. A few house perched up on the hills. You know - we could live here!! --- first time THAT idea has cropped up. Photos will show some of the grandeur when I can get internet. Paul Gaugin came here, is buried here. Gaugin museum (no originals!)in the town, Atuona, will visit tomorrow. It's a good life.


26 days out, around 3,000 nautical miles sailed, biggest passage we have ever done, the rest is short hops back to Australia!

The boat is still, level, quiet, moving gently, and seems bigger - now out of the ocean swells. This is the life!

Much to be done, though, when I have rested - autopilot, wind vane to fix, and many small things . .. But for now, just like paradise . . .